bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurs as authentic leaders: impact on employees' attitudes
Authors: Jensen Susan M. , Luthans Fred
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The leadership of entrepreneurs/business founders, as perceived by their employees, has received limited research attention. Using the Authentic Leadership Model as a guiding framework, this study seeks to provide an exploratory examination of the linkage between employees' perception of the business founder as an authentic leader and the employees' attitudes and happiness.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants are employees (n=179) of 62 newer, smaller businesses. Each business represented in the study had been founded by a single owner still active in the daily operations of the company. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze the two levels of data (individual and business level) gathered in the study.

Findings

As hypothesized, the employees' perception of authentic leadership serves as the strongest single predictor of employee job satisfaction (t=6.453, p=0.000), organizational commitment (t=6.665, p=0.000), and work happiness (t=5.488, p=0.000).

Research limitations/implications

A convenience sampling method limits the generalizability of results. Experimental and longitudinal future research is needed to assess issues of causality as well as the strength and duration of relationships noted. Future research should focus on how the authentic leadership of the founder/entrepreneur impacts not only employee attitudes, but also the performance and long‐term viability of the emerging organization.

Originality/value

This exploratory study offers the first application of the Authentic Leadership Model within the context of entrepreneurial ventures, and provides new insights into the relationship between entrepreneur/leader behavior and employee attitudes. Findings indicate that if employees in newer, small organizations view their founder/entrepreneur as an authentic leader, it can have a positive impact on their work‐related attitudes and happiness.
Individual differences in servant leadership: the roles of values and personality
Authors: Washington Rynetta R. , Sutton Charlotte D. , Feild Hubert S.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The paper seeks to address the lack of empirical research on servant leadership by investigating relationships between servant leadership and four individual differences – values of empathy, integrity, and competence and the five‐factor model's personality factor of agreeableness.

Design/methodology/approach

Dennis and Winston's servant leadership scale (a revision of Page and Wong's servant leadership instrument), Braithwaite and Law's Goal and Mode Values Inventories, Mayer and Davis' integrity scale, and Costa and McCrae's NEO Five‐Factor Inventory were used with 288 followers and 126 leaders in three organizations in order to measure relationships between followers' ratings of leaders' servant leadership, followers' ratings of leaders' values of empathy, integrity, and competence and leaders' ratings of their own agreeableness.

Findings

Followers' ratings of leaders' servant leadership were positively related to followers' ratings of leaders' values of empathy, integrity, and competence. Followers' ratings of leaders' servant leadership were also positively related to leaders' ratings of their own agreeableness.

Research limitations/implications

Common method bias is a potential limitation due to respondents' tendency toward consistency in responses.

Practical implications

Organizations embracing servant leadership may benefit from selecting leaders partly on the basis of certain personal attributes such as those investigated in the present study. Furthermore, in order to maintain a servant leadership culture and to retain leaders in a servant leadership organization, recruiters and trainers in servant leadership organizations would likely benefit from communicating accurate information about attributes valued in a servant leadership culture – e.g. attributes explored in the present research.

Originality/value

The study extends our understanding of servant leadership research by offering support for individual attributes related to the practice of servant leadership.
Scalpel please, robot: Penelope's debut in the operating room
Authors: Kochan Anna
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Aims to demonstrate how robot technology, machine vision, voice recognition and artificial intelligence can be applied to creating an automated surgeon's assistant that is functional and cost‐effective.

Design/methodology/approach

Presents the development process that led to the construction of the Penelope Surgical Instrument Server (SIS), outlines the mechanical design of the robot, describes the control strategy and reports on the first real live implementation in an operating room. Machine vision, voice recognition and artificial intelligence are combined to create a robot assistant that is able to anticipate a specific surgeon's needs for a specific surgical procedure.

Findings

Finds that a robot can manage an array of surgical instruments and present the right one to the surgeon at the right time.

Practical implications

A robot for assisting a surgeon can relieve support staff in hospital operating rooms of repetitive tasks and thereby improve patient care.

Originality/value

Introduces the concept of a robot for assisting surgeons in operating rooms and freeing up scarce financial and human resources to provide for better nursing coverage in patient care areas.
Japanese prototype service robot R&D trends and examples
Authors: Ranky Gregory N. , Ranky Paul G.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Offers a broad overview on Japanese prototype service robot R&D trends and examples.

Design/methodology/approach

Displays two examples of service robotics: the forestry robot WOODY‐1, and the android presenter and entertainer/informer/guide Repliee Q1.

Findings

More and more frequently robotics usage has expanded into more diverse areas that involve work outside the confines of the factory floor. The paper highlights interesting Japanese service robot prototypes, as well as identifies some new R&D trends and requirements.

Research limitations/implications

The potential for new service robotics applications is enormous, ranging from childcare and nursing, to forestry.

Practical implications

The practical implications of the increased diversity of service robotics will reduce human workload and environmental strain.

Originality/value

Reveals examples of innovation in service robot design and application.
Ford welds a winner
Authors: Bloss Richard
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To report on the design and development of a robotic automobile aluminium frame welding system.

Design/methodology/approach

The customer contracted with a team of suppliers, each with unique skills and products necessary for welding thin aluminium framing. The team employed simulation to help in the design process to avoid problems and to speed the time to complete.

Findings

Careful planning, detailed simulation and attention to details helped insure that working production systems was in service to meet a tight deadline.

Practical implications

Companies looking to develop welding systems for structures from aluminium or other materials can learn from the benefits of a team approach to complex application development. As the auto industry moves to more use of lightweight materials such as alumnus, successful automation of its welding will be ever widely appreciated.

Originality/value

Any user planning an automated aluminium frame welding system can learn from the success of Ford Motor and its welding system design partners. Careful planning and teamwork can help in meeting production and timetable goals.
Flexible full‐body tactile sensor of low cost and minimal output connections for service robot
Authors: Pan Zengxi , Zhu Zhenqi
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to design a new full‐body tactile sensor which is essential for the application of personal service robot similar to human skin.

Design/methodology/approach

The largest difficulty for designing a full‐body tactile sensor is the huge number of output connections. The sensor introduced in this paper is a special multi‐layer structure, which could minimize the output connections while sensing both the position and force information. Since it is made of conductive and non‐conductive textiles, the sensor could be used to cover the curved surface of robot body.

Findings

With better structure design, output connectors and signal measurement times could be dramatically reduced.

Research limitations/implications

Sensor area and performance are limited by the sensitivity of the measurement circuits.

Originality/value

Introduces an innovate design of full‐body tactile sensor.
SOHO security with mini self‐balancing robots
Authors: Ko Albert , Lau H.Y.K. , Lau T.L.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To present the design and control of a low cost, two‐wheeled, self‐balancing robot for detecting and reporting fire and intruders in a small home/office setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Implement an intelligent control system to make up for instabilities of low‐cost components.

Findings

Biologically inspired suppression system can effectively eliminate undesired sensor noises.

Research limitations/implications

Improving self‐balancing robots' tolerant to impulsive forces from the sides allows them to be designed with smaller front‐prints.

Practical implications

Inherited high maneuverability together with miniature design enables self‐balancing robots to navigate smoothly through tight space.

Originality/value

Demonstrates the control of a dynamically unstable system can be controlled using a simple suppression mechanism.
Robot‐by‐voice: experiments on commanding an industrial robot using the human voice
Authors: Norberto Pires J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper reports a few results of an ongoing research project that aims to explore ways to command an industrial robot using the human voice. This feature can be interesting with several industrial, laboratory and clean‐room applications, where a close cooperation between robots and humans is desirable.

Design/methodology/approach

A demonstration is presented using two industrial robots and a personal computer (PC) equipped with a sound board and a headset microphone. The demonstration was coded using the Microsoft Visual Basic and C#.NET 2003 and associated with two simple robot applications: one capable of picking‐and‐placing objects and going to predefined positions, and the other capable of performing a simple linear weld on a work‐piece. The speech recognition grammar is specified using the grammar builder from the Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1. The paper also introduces the concepts of text‐to‐speech translation and voice recognition, and shows how these features can be used with applications built using the Microsoft.NET framework.

Findings

Two simple examples designed to operate with a state‐of‐the‐art industrial robot manipulator are then built to demonstrate the applicability to laboratory and industrial applications. The paper is very detailed in showing implementation aspects enabling the reader to explore immediately from the presented concepts and tools. Namely, the connection between the PC and the robot is explained in detail since it was built using a RPC socket mechanism completely developed from the scratch.

Practical implications

Finally, the paper discusses application to industrial cases where close cooperation between humans and robots is necessary.

Originality/value

The presented code and examples, along with the fairly interesting and reliable results, indicate clearly that the technology is suitable for industrial utilization.
Robots help label before molding
Authors: Bloss Richard
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Seeks to review how a relatively new technology, in mold labelling of injection moulded items, can be achieved in a cost‐effective way with robots.

Design/methodology/approach

A custom‐designed robot combined with a custom‐designed end‐of‐arm unit, both applies labels in the mold before the injection process and removes finished items. A vision system checks for label placement and quality. A second robot packs finished items into shipping cartons.

Findings

The automated system can produce tens of millions of items per year in a very cost‐effective manner.

Practical implications

Users need to turn to robotic system designers who can combine several operations within one robotic cycle and apply emerging technologies. Custom designed end‐of‐arm units and reviewing even the shipping carton may provide critical answers.

Originality/value

Combining new technologies with custom robotics can help users meet many production goals with one solution.
Science crew operations and utility testbed
Authors: Rochlis J. , Delgado F. , Graham J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The goal of this research has been to design and field test a multi‐use planetary rover vehicle. SCOUT has been developed to test advanced rover hardware and software technologies and to enable the development and demonstration of mission operations concepts applicable to future planetary rover vehicle development activities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a description of the SCOUT vehicle capabilities and the results of the remote field testing conducted recently in Meteor Crater, AZ. These tests included (among others) onboard driving by suited crewmembers, remote teleoperation, autonomous point‐to‐point navigation, obstacle avoidance, human tracking and following, gesture recognition and onboard suit‐recharge.

Findings

SCOUT was successfully tested in all three driving modes (onboard by two suited crewmembers, teleoperation and autonomous) and additional capabilities verified over the course of the testing period.

Research limitations/impilications

Various tests experienced periodic telemetry drop‐outs to the vehicle. Future research should improve upon the communications architecture to minimize the loading on system bandwidth.

Practical implications

A multi‐use planetary rover will prove very useful on future Lunar and Martian exploration missions on an assortment of activities. In addition to equipment transport, riding on the rover will allow crewmembers to cover more surface area while conserving important extravehicular activity suit consumables.

Originality/value

Several new concepts for rover technologies are presented here including on‐board suit recharge, stereo‐vision human tracking and following, gesture recognition and autonomous driving and navigation.
Automated robot programming based on sensor fusion
Authors: Zhang Hui , Chen Heping , Xi Ning
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Aims to demonstrate how an automated robot program generation method can be developed and implemented.

Design/methodology/approach

A visual and force servoing method to automatically generate robot paths and robot programs, based on position, force and vision sensor fusion, was developed.

Findings

By using a hybrid control algorithm the robot is controlled to follow the feature on a surface with position and orientation control.

Originality/value

The developed method can be applied to generate tool paths for many manufacturing tasks automatically, which can greatly reduce the robot programming time and decrease the manufacturing cost.
Mobile robot sensor and networking design to enable cooperative behavior
Authors: Ranky Gregory N.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Offers an example of mobile robot networking and sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

Displays an example of a prototype mobile robot called M‐Tran III.

Findings

Teams of simple, modular robots can assume a wide variety of shapes to allow movement and cooperative behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The ability for modular robots to network through physical and electronic means allows more adaptable teams and systems.

Practical implications

The practical implications of improved mobile robot sensors, both internal and external, will allow greater adaptability and intelligence for exploration and construction.

Originality/value

Reveals innovations in mobile robot communication and re‐configurability.
BMW creates production “triangle” in the UK to manufacture the new Mini
Authors: Mortimer John
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how BMW in the UK has put together a production “triangle” that brings together three of its four manufacturing plants in Britain to produce the latest version of the Mini passenger car.

Design/methodology/approach

Describes the major production line techniques that are used in the manufacture of the body‐in‐white (BIW) structure as well as the functions of painting and final assembly of the vehicle. The BIW techniques include logistics, spot‐welding and adhesives, as well as optical and laser inspection.

Findings

Over the space of the last three or four years, the management of BMW Group has come to realize the importance of integrating three of its four manufacturing units in the UK with purpose of achieving greater utilization of its existing capacity, and improving productivity.

Research limitations/implications

The BMW Group continually assesses all of the functions involved in the manufacture of a motor vehicle, and in this context is working both with its own plants as well as with suppliers of equipment and components to enhance production and quality processes. This includes all of the processes of joining steel and other materials using spot welding and adhesives. There is also much to be gained from the interchange of information between the various plants in the group worldwide with a view to implementing continuous improvement. The benefits achieved from one process in one particular plant are quickly communicated to other facilities, again with the object of improving quality and productivity.

Practical implications

It is likely that arising out of greater plant integration and utilization, the management of BMW Group will be able to further increase the capacity of its Mini production units to be in a position to move to the next stage of expansion, namely to reach a target of 300,000 units a year.

Originality/value

This is the first time in the UK that BMW has integrated three of its production facilities with those of three major component suppliers to produce a finished vehicle. There is a heavy concentration of KUKA robots within the BIW and sub‐assembly manufacturing facilities.
Automation of welding face shaping process for tubular structures
Authors: Oysu Cuneyt
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a low cost fully automatic computer controlled oxy‐fuel cutting system for tubular members. Operation of the system should be easy even for unskilled technicians.

Design/methodology/approach

The robot consists of one revolute axis and two linear axes. As the pipe rotates, two cutting torches move linearly at both ends of the pipe to complete the cutting process in one rotation. Both torch's cutting paths are calculated in a computer offline. Tool paths are then loaded in a micro control unit for each cutting. When the pipe is attached to the system, the whole cutting process can be completed automatically. The mathematical method for calculation of the geometry of intersecting cylinders is also explained in this paper.

Findings

The automation of oxy‐fuel cutting process brings enhancement in the final product quality, considerable increase of repeatability, reduction of rework and reduction of the cutting time.

Originality/value

The use of this automated flame cutting system proved to be extremely viable. Although, there are commercial devices for cutting tubular members, the product shown here is completely different than the previous systems. This device can be called a CNC system due to its capability of being completely programmable and automatically carrying through all cutting activities. This is the first system cutting both sides of pipe simultaneously to reduce cutting time.
A multi‐stage matching algorithm for mobile robot navigation
Authors: Hou Jian , Qi Nai M. , Zhang Hong
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Stereo vision is an attractive perception technique for mobile robots navigation. Stereo matching is a crucial part of stereo vision and its precision dominates the precision of reconstruction. Based on a geometry constraint applicable to natural terrain, the purpose of this paper is to present a multi‐stage stereo matching algorithm to improve matching accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

In the multi‐stage matching algorithm, points with larger intensity gradient are matched in earlier stages. Using several constraints and statistical means, information from earlier stages is utilized to assist in matching of later stages to improve matching accuracy.

Findings

The multi‐stage matching algorithm improves the matching accuracy of stereo pairs of natural terrain in various conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The algorithm demonstrates advantages over area‐matching algorithm both in matching accuracy and computation efficiency. However, if used for real‐time navigation, it still needs the assistance of specialized hardware or window selection technique.

Practical implications

The algorithm is able to produce dense disparity maps of natural terrain with fairly high accuracy and can be used for the navigation of planetary rover or other outdoor mobile robots.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new approach to produce accurate and dense disparity maps of natural terrain, which laid the foundation for its use in outdoor mobile robots navigation.
Head gesture recognition for hands‐free control of an intelligent wheelchair
Authors: Jia Pei , Hu Huosheng H. , Lu Tao , Yuan Kui
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper presents a novel hands‐free control system for intelligent wheelchairs (IWs) based on visual recognition of head gestures.

Design/methodology/approach

A robust head gesture‐based interface (HGI), is designed for head gesture recognition of the RoboChair user. The recognised gestures are used to generate motion control commands to the low‐level DSP motion controller so that it can control the motion of the RoboChair according to the user's intention. Adaboost face detection algorithm and Camshift object tracking algorithm are combined in our system to achieve accurate face detection, tracking and gesture recognition in real time. It is intended to be used as a human‐friendly interface for elderly and disabled people to operate our intelligent wheelchair using their head gestures rather than their hands.

Findings

This is an extremely useful system for the users who have restricted limb movements caused by some diseases such as Parkinson's disease and quadriplegics.

Practical implications

In this paper, a novel integrated approach to real‐time face detection, tracking and gesture recognition is proposed, namely HGI.

Originality/value

It is an useful human‐robot interface for IWs.
Colonial subjects: race and gender in French West Africa
Authors: Griffiths Claire H.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this monograph is to present the first English translation of a unique French colonial report on women living under colonial rule in West Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The issue begins with a discussion of the contribution this report makes to the history of social development policy in Africa, and how it serves the on‐going critique of colonisation. This is followed by the English translation of the original report held in the National Archives of Senegal. The translation is accompanied by explanatory notes, translator’s comments, a glossary of African and technical terms, and a bibliography.

Findings

The discussion highlights contemporary social development policies and practices which featured in identical or similar forms in French colonial social policy.

Practical implications

As the report demonstrates, access to basic education and improving maternal/infant health care have dominated the social development agenda for women in sub‐Saharan Africa for over a century, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future in the Millennium Development Goals which define the international community’s agenda for social development to 2015. The parallels between colonial and post‐colonial social policies in Africa raise questions about the philosophical and cultural foundations of contemporary social development policy in Africa and the direction policy is following in the 21st century.

Originality/value

Though the discussion adopts a consciously postcolonial perspective, the report that follows presents a consciously colonial view of the “Other”. Given the parallels identified here between contemporary and colonial policy‐making, this can only add to the value of the document in exploring the values that underpin contemporary social development practice.
The effects of quality management – a survey of Swedish quality professionals
Authors: Lagrosen Yvonne , Lagrosen Stefan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

In this study, the effects of the different models and tools of quality management are examined. The purpose is to identify differences in the effects generated by different quality management models and tools.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was mailed to 500 Swedish quality professionals. The questions concerned their companies' adoption of the values of TQM, the use of the models and tools of TQM and the effects they notice. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were carried out.

Findings

The findings show that there is statistical correlation between the adoption of the values of TQM and successful quality management. The usefulness of the Swedish Quality Award, the European Quality Award and ISO 9000 as well as several of the quality management tools is also indicated. Regarding ISO 9000 specific effects have been found.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of the study is that the financial outcomes of the quality management practices are not measured but only the managers' perceptions of effects produced. The implication for further research is an increased knowledge of the different effects of the quality management practices and the significance of the values, particularly three values that were included in the multiple regression models.

Practical implications

The specific findings on the effects of ISO 9000 are useful for managers when implementing the standard. The results of the study also indicate the importance of emphasising the values for successful quality management.

Originality/value

This study has provided more detailed knowledge of the effects of the different quality management practices, particularly of ISO 9000.
Strategic predictors of successful enterprise system deployment
Authors: Ettlie John E. , Perotti Victor J. , Joseph Daniel A. , Cotteleer Mark J.
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe delivered wisdom to date has enterprise system purchase and implementation as one of the most hazardous projects any organization can undertake. The aim was to reduce this risk by both theoretically and empirically finding those key predictors of a successful enterprise system deployment.Design/methodology/approachA representative sample of 60 firms drawn from the Fortune 1000 that had recently (1999‐2000) adopted enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems was used to test a model of adoption performance with significant results.FindingsLeadership (social learning theory), business process re‐engineering (change the company not the technology) and acquisition strategy (buy, do not make) were found to be significant predictors of adoption performance (final model R2=43 percent, F=5.5, p<0.001, df=7.52), controlling for industry (manufacturing versus service), project start date and scale (sales). Electronic data interchange (EDI) usage was found to be inversely and significantly related to adoption performance which supports the notion that prior company investments in earlier generations of technology for integration might inhibit adoption of later, more radical or complex alternatives. We validated these results with a focused follow‐up study (2005) using mailed and interview protocols identical to the first questionnaire and 20 new cases of ERP deployment. We found near perfect agreement (p<0.001 binomial test) with our initial findings.Originality/valueThe “four factor” model we validate is a robust predictor of ERP adoption success and can be used by any organization to audit plans and progress for this undertaking.
A framework for analysing manufacturing flexibility
Authors: Oke Adegoke
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe issue of manufacturing flexibility has been widely discussed in the literature. One major area of focus has been the development of taxonomies for flexibility. This paper aims to review the contributions in this area and to propose a new classification and a framework for analysing flexibility in manufacturing companies.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a case study methodology approach. The framework proposed is used to analyse the implementation of flexibility in four UK manufacturing plants in four major industrial sectors: electronics, process, household and general goods and food.FindingsFrom the empirical analysis, various enablers of flexibility are identified. These are classified into three broad sources of flexibility namely fundamental enablers, indirect enablers and generic enablers as well as flexibility avoidance strategies referred to as flexibility evaders.Practical implicationsThe implication is that a mix of flexibility solutions rather than a single solution may be the most appropriate way for delivering flexibility in an organisation. However, the drivers of the need for flexibility have to be correctly identified in order to determine the best solutions for delivering system flexibility.Originality/valueThe development of a refined framework for analysing manufacturing flexibility as well as the identification of various enablers of strategic flexibility are the major contributions of this paper.
Improving order picking performance utilizing slotting and golden zone storage
Authors: Petersen Charles G. , Siu Charles , Heiser Daniel R.
Published: January 2007

PurposeWith the current interest in all aspects of supply chain management, the demands on warehousing have changed significantly within the past few years. In an attempt to meet this challenge, warehouses have become more concerned with proper slotting and storage techniques. This paper seeks to evaluate slotting measures and storage assignment strategies in a simulated manual bin‐shelving (low level picker‐to‐part) warehouse in terms of travel distance and the fulfillment time to complete an order.Design/methodology/approachThe approach utilises Monte Carlo simulation of a manual bin‐shelving pick area.FindingsThe results illustrate that popularity, turnover, and cube‐per‐order index (COI) performed best among slotting measures. Several new storage assignment strategies utilizing the concept of “golden zone” picking, which slots high demand stock‐keeping units (SKUs) at the height between the picker's waist and shoulders, were introduced. Results from the simulation study show that the golden zone storage assignment strategies generated significant savings in order fulfillment time compared to storage policies that ignore the golden zone concept.Originality/valueProvides an evaluation of slotting measures and storage assignment strategies that generated significant savings in order fulfillment time.
Editorial: the birth of a journal
Authors: Colin New Christopher
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide a summary of the founding of IJOPM.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides a brief review of the philosophy, birth pains and early years.

Findings

Outlines the founding philosophy of IJOPM and the early developments.

Originality/value

Provides an introduction to the special issue.
Editorial by Keith Howard
Authors: Howard Keith
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide an outline of an editor's experiences in the early years of publishing IJOPM.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides a brief summary of the author's experiences.

Findings

Being a new journal, it was found that there was insufficient copy, and this was not helped by the limited number of potential authors. However, the objective of increasing the number of issues in a volume was achieved by the publication of an extra issue each year from 1985 to 1993, with papers of quality. Editorship of a journal subject to the scrutiny of academics is a challenging task.

Originality/value

Provides an introduction to the special issue.
Editorial by Bob Hollier
Authors: Hollier Bob
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide an outline of the experiences of an editor of IJOPM.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides a brief summary of the author's experiences.

Findings

Notes that it was interesting to observe the way in which topics waxed and waned. A crucial test for any academic journal is whether it is regarded highly by those working in the field – there is evidence that this journal has established a strong International reputation in its subject area.

Originality/value

Provides an introduction to the special issue.
Paradigms of manufacturing strategy re‐visited
Authors: Voss C.A.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Seeks to provide observations on a paper published in 1995.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is a review and observations about the 1987 work.

Findings

In the 1995 paper, “Alternative paradigms for manufacturing strategy”, the history of the development of manufacturing strategy was reviewed and it was concluded that three paradigms had emerged: competing through manufacturing; strategic choices in manufacturing, and best practice. Looking back on this work these three paradigms are remarkably robust. However, there has been considerable development in the intervening years both intellectually and in practice that needs to be considered when reviewing this paper.

Originality/value

Shows that the three paradigms have remained robust, but there has been considerable development in practice and theory that both broadens the content and informs the nature of each paradigm.
The evolution of performance measurement research
Authors: Neely Andy
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper provides an update of Neely et al.'s (1995) literature review “Performance measurement system design”. It was commissioned to appear in a special issue of the International Journal of Operations & Production Management to celebrate the journal's 25th anniversary.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a citation/co‐citation analysis of work in the field of performance measurement to explore developments in the field globally.

Findings

The paper argues that scholars working in the field of performance measurement agree about the key research questions despite the fact that they come from different disciplinary backgrounds. The paper identifies the key contributors to the field based on a citation/co‐citation analysis and argues that the field is now entering a phase of empirical investigation and theoretical verification of some core concepts.

Research limitations/implications

The research reported in the paper is limited to work that deals directly with performance measurement. It excludes related research – such as literature on management control and performance management – and clearly could be extended to include these literatures.

Originality/value

The paper will be valuable to scholars working in the field of performance measurement who wish to understand how the field has developed and evolved and/or those who are interested in avenues for future research.
Service operations management: from the roots up
Authors: Johnston Robert
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess developments in the service literature over the last six years and to lay out some challenges and opportunities for the operations management academic community.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on issues raised in a previous paper and contains the results of a literature review and a content analysis of around 250 papers from three journals.

Findings

The paper suggests that there is a window of opportunity for operations academics to engage in the service arena and apply their knowledge and skills to answer fundamental questions in the areas of quality, productivity and efficiency, and to apply their expertise in business services and the not‐for‐profit and voluntary sectors.

Research limitations/implications

This polemic reflects the biased opinions of the author.

Originality/value

Assesses developments in the service literature.
The pervasive human resource picture in interdependent supply relationships
Authors: Koulikoff‐Souviron Marie , Harrison Alan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the influence of human resource (HR) practices in shaping inter‐organisational supply relationships, and to describe the extent to which supply partners seek to adapt their internal HR practices to the external relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Inter‐organisational relationships are known to be multi‐dimensional in nature. Using seven dimensions to collect empirical evidence, the focus was on a dyadic supply relationship as the unit of analysis. A total of 48 interviews was undertaken from informants in both organisations.

Findings

It is shown that the supply relationship tends to be taken for granted at operational levels, and not subject to the relatively high levels of strategic alignment to be found at senior levels in both organizations. Operational aspects of the relationship are tested primarily in failure mode when poorly prepared to respond, for example, as a result of facility breakdowns and quality problems. Inter‐organisational HR practices were relatively weakly prioritised and – despite their acknowledged importance at operator level – were not clearly identified and supported in the way that intra‐organisational practices were.

Originality/value

An in‐depth, operations‐based study of HR practices has been undertaken in a reciprocally interdependent supply relationship from the perspectives of both partners.
Greening the automotive supply chain: a relationship perspective
Authors: Simpson Dayna , Power Damien , Samson Daniel
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This study seeks to explore the moderating impact of relationship conditions existing between a customer and its suppliers on the uptake and effectiveness of the customer's environmental performance requirements (otherwise known as “green‐supply”).

Design/methodology/approach

The study assesses the extent to which a supplier's environmental performance is influenced by its customer's environmental performance requirements when specific relationship conditions (investment, contracting and monitoring routines) are taken into account. Data were collected through a survey of first and second tier component manufacturers in the Australian automotive industry and analysed using linear regression and MMR.

Findings

Suppliers were found to be more responsive to their customers' environmental performance requirements where increasing levels of relationship‐specific investment occurred. As the level of investment in the customer‐supplier relationship increased, suppliers become less likely to believe that they would be penalized for non‐compliance with the customer's environmental performance requirements.

Research limitations/implications

Survey data were collected in 2004 and are limited to the Australian automotive industry. The sample size available for the regression analysis also precluded the use of more comprehensive analytic techniques.

Practical implications

The research offers new insight into the issue of how firms might improve the environmental performance of suppliers and the sustainability of their supply chain.

Originality/value

Virtually no research exists on the actual effectiveness of green supply requirements when placed in context with the realities of inter‐organizational dynamics. The findings suggest that traditional operations theory on inter‐organizational performance improvement is just as relevant to the use of environmental performance requirements.
Managers' perceptions of learning in new product development
Authors: Koners Ursula , Goffin Keith
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Post‐project reviews (PPRs) are widely recommended as an appropriate mechanism to stimulate project‐to‐project learning in new product development (NPD) teams. However, empirical research on their potential is limited and so this study aims to answer two questions: how do NPD professionals perceive PPRs? and is tacit knowledge created during PPRs?

Design/methodology/approach

Five in‐depth case studies were conducted in German companies. The main sources of data were: company documentation; in‐depth interviews with managers; and observation of PPRs. The different data sources enabled extensive data triangulation and a high degree of reliability and validity to be achieved.

Findings

The results indicate that NPD personnel perceive PPRs to be a very useful mechanism. They also show that social interactions and tacit knowledge play key roles in NPD learning.

Research limitations/implications

Tacit knowledge was investigated using a proxy measure – the usage of metaphors and stories in NPD discussions and documents. More robust ways of studying the generation and transfer of tacit knowledge are needed. The whole area of knowledge and learning in NPD requires significant further study.

Practical implications

Management needs to drive the dissemination of the results of PPRs more effectively, in order to make more use of the tacit knowledge generated.

Originality/value

The main contributions of this study are the insights it provides on how PPRs are perceived and the exploratory investigation it makes of tacit knowledge – a complex topic that has previously only been discussed at a theoretical level.
The impact of forecast information quality on supply chain performance
Authors: Forslund Helena , Jonsson Patrik
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the extent of supplier access to customer forecast information and the perceived quality of such information and also to explain the impact of forecast information access and forecast information quality (FIQ) on supply chain performance.

Design/methodology/approach

FIQ is defined, and a measurement instrument is developed from theory. The analysis is based on a survey of the most important suppliers of 136 Swedish companies.

Findings

Findings show that a large proportion of the suppliers receive customer forecasts, but that the FIQ is lower further upstream in the supply chain and, in some variables, lower for make‐to‐order suppliers. The greatest information quality deficiency of the forecast was that it was considered unreliable. The only significant difference in supply chain performance found between make‐to‐stock suppliers with and without access to forecast was related to the use of safety stock in finished goods inventory.

Research limitations/implications

The study contains two types of conclusions: those developed from the conceptual discussion in the theoretical framework and those of the empirical study. In the theoretical framework, measurement instruments for FIQ and supply chain performance (corrective actions, preventive actions and customer service performance) were developed. The study identified several empirical relationships, but it was conducted on a sample with a lot of variation.

Practical implications

The understanding of the performance impact of FIQ. FIQ shows quality deficiencies on all variables, which indicates room for improvement.

Originality/value

Research on supply chain information quality as well as dyadic research approaches are rare.
Structuring front office and back office work in service delivery systems
Authors: Zomerdijk Leonieke G. , de Vries Jan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate how the distinction between contact and non‐contact activities influences the design of service delivery systems and to identify key design decisions for structuring front office and back office work.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on current literature, the paper identifies three design decisions and associated performance trade‐offs. The design decisions regard the degree of customer contact in the process, the decoupling of activities and the grouping of employees. The design decisions and the trade‐offs are empirically validated in five case studies of 15 service delivery systems in the financial services sector.

Findings

Distinguishing between the three design decisions is more suitable for describing today's practices than traditional front office – back office thinking. For each design decision a trade‐off was observed consisting of several design considerations. However, the trade‐offs do not involve the weighing of one set of performance objectives against another, as the design choices contribute to the same objectives, yet in different ways.

Research limitations/implications

This study concentrated on a limited number of cases in the financial services sector. The contents of the trade‐offs should be tested on a larger scale and in different industries. In order to develop design guidelines, future research should also examine the impact of contingency factors, such as the service being delivered and strategic priorities.

Originality/value

The three design decisions and the trade‐offs improve understanding of the impact of customer contact on a service organisation and provide support for designing service delivery systems in practice.
Karl Knies, Austrians, and Max Weber: a Heidelberg connection?
Authors: Yagi Kiichiro
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To establish the place of Karl Knies in the history of economics of the German‐speaking academics.

Design/methodology/approach

Knies's economics teaching is summarized on the basis of a student's notebook of the course on general economics in Heidelberg, 1886. Knies's relation with two Austrian visitors, Friedrich Wieser and Eugen Böhm‐Bawerk, is explored. Finally, Knies's influence on Max Weber and Weber's difference from Knies is discussed.

Findings

This paper provides the structure and the summary of Knies's lecture, illuminates his inability to grasp the significance of Austrian value theory, and shows the new position that Max Weber acquired by absorbing the Austrian theory into the framework of historicism.

Research limitations/implications

The comparison of (possibly) remaining notes of Knies's lectures may reveal the development as well as the wide coverage of his teaching in Heidelberg. Knies's influence on Max Weber should be studied more in detail by an archival investigation of young Weber's unpublished writings.

Originality/value

The mild and synthetic feature of the real teaching of Knies, “the methodologist of the Historical School”, and the true distinction of the Austrian value theory from the “use value” theory of German economists are shown clearly. Thus, the relation between Historicists and Austrians is established from the viewpoint of the economic theory.