The measurement of meaning

Purpose – The aim of this research paper is to present the critical factors that constitute a successful implementation of lean manufacturing within manufacturing SMEs.Design/methodology/approach – A combination of comprehensive literature review and visits to ten SMEs based in the East of the UK were employed in the study. The companies' practices were observed to highlight the degree of lean manufacturing utilisation within these companies. This was followed by interviewing of the relevant and key personnel involved in lean implementation. Results were analysed and validated through workshops, case studies and Delphi techniques.Findings – Several critical factors that determine the success of implementing the concept of lean manufacturing within SMEs are identified. Leadership, management, finance organisational culture and skills and expertise, amongst other factors; are classified as the most pertinent issues critical for the successful adoption of lean manufacturing within SMEs environment.Research l...

Critical success factors for lean implementation within SMEs

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system solutions are currently in high demand by both manufacturing and service organisations because they provide a tightly integrated solution to an organisation's information system needs. During the last decade, ERP systems have received a significant amount of attention from researchers and practitioners from a variety of functional disciplines. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the research literature (1990‐2003) concerning ERP systems is presented. The literature is further classified and the major outcomes of each study are addressed and analysed. Following a comprehensive review of the literature, proposals for future research are formulated to identify topics where fruitful opportunities exist.

Enterprise resource planning: An integrative review

Purpose – To explore the current literature base of critical success factors (CSFs) of ERP implementations, prepare a compilation, and identify any gaps that might exist.Design/methodology/approach – Hundreds of journals were searched using key terms identified in a preliminary literature review. Successive rounds of article abstract reviews resulted in 45 articles being selected for the compilation. CSF constructs were then identified using content analysis methodology and an inductive coding technique. A subsequent critical analysis identified gaps in the literature base.Findings – The most significant finding is the lack of research that has focused on the identification of CSFs from the perspectives of key stakeholders. Additionally, there appears to be much variance with respect to what exactly is encompassed by change management, one of the most widely cited CSFs, and little detail of specific implementation tactics.Research limitations/implications – There is a need to focus future research efforts...

ERP implementation: a compilation and analysis of critical success factors

Examining the critical success factors in the adoption of enterprise resource planning

http://www.shuhab.com/Downloads/WhyERP_UmblesCS.pdf

Enterprise resource planning: Implementation procedures and critical success factors

Utilizing buffer management to improve performance in a healthcare environment

The Edward Jones Company recently initiated financial sponsorship of team-based competitions in six undergraduate business core classes at Baylor University. The challenges were chosen to take place in an introductory freshman business class, Managerial Accounting, Principles of Marketing, Corporate Finance, Operations Management, and Strategic Management. Teams of students in each course competed for monetary awards ranging up to $1,000 per team member. This article describes the rationale behind the Edward Jones Challenge, reviews the literature as to the expected benefits of the group projects involved in the competition, summarizes the projects used in the various classes, analyzes the results of a student survey, tests a set of hypotheses relating project structure to the expected benefits, examines the positive results derived from the Edward Jones initiative, and discusses the lessons learned from the experience.

Enhancing Undergraduates' Capabilities through Team-Based Competitions: The Edward Jones Challenge.

Using Active Learning to Transform the Monte Hall Problem into an Invaluable Classroom Exercise

The basic production dice game is a powerful active learning exercise that has been extensively used in both undergraduate and graduate operations management classes as well as in numerous executive seminars and workshops This paper goes beyond the basic model and demonstrates how eight additional models can be utilized to clearly illustrate the impact of dependency and variability on output and work-in-process inventory in balanced processes Four additional models demonstrate the impact of dependency and variability in unbalanced processes and the importance of developing appropriate buffer and material release policies This paper also illustrates how spreadsheet simulation can be used to reinforce the results generated in the classroom The simulation results yield estimates of output and inventory for each model and clearly show the impact of dependency and variability on system performance

/pdf/the-production-dice-game-an-active-learning-classroom-10aw7osmrl.pdf

Michael Umble

Papers

Enterprise resource planning: Implementation procedures and critical success factors

Utilizing buffer management to improve performance in a healthcare environment

Enhancing Undergraduates' Capabilities through Team-Based Competitions: The Edward Jones Challenge.

Using Active Learning to Transform the Monte Hall Problem into an Invaluable Classroom Exercise

The Production Dice Game: An Active Learning Classroom Exercise and Spreadsheet Simulation