Much of the prior research on interorganizational learning has focused on the role of absorptive capacity, a firm's ability to value, assimilate, and utilize new external knowledge. However, this definition of the construct suggests that a firm has an equal capacity to learn from all other organizations. We reconceptualize the firm-level construct absorptive capacity as a learning dyad-level construct, relative absorptive capacity. One firm's ability to learn from another firm is argued to depend on the similarity of both firms' (1) knowledge bases, (2) organizational structures and compensation policies, and (3) dominant logics. We then test the model using a sample of pharmaceutical–biotechnology R&D alliances. As predicted, the similarity of the partners' basic knowledge, lower management formalization, research centralization, compensation practices, and research communities were positively related to interorganizational learning. The relative absorptive capacity measures are also shown to have greater explanatory power than the established measure of absorptive capacity, R&D spending. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Relative absorptive capacity and interorganizational learning

Although the literature converges regarding the reasons why and how networks of technology alliances are formed, there is still lack of agreement on what constitutes an optimal network structure, once it has been formed. The aim of this paper is to fill this void and to determine what constitutes an optimal network structure for exploration and exploitation. To study this, we differentiate among a firm?s direct ties, indirect ties and the redundancy among them. Analyzing their role in the pharmaceutical, chemical and automotive industry we show that the exploration-exploitation distinction forms an important factor for understanding a firm?s optimal network structure, and that the differences in network optimality between both tasks is one of degree. Moreover, we find that this differential role of a firm?s alliance network remains invariant across the three industries, enhancing the generalisability of the empirical results.

AOM Best Paper Proceedings 2006: explorative and exploitative learning strategies in technology-based alliance networks

PurposeBlockchain is an evolving technology that has an impact on a variety of industries and related operations including food supply chain. There are several challenges associated in the implementation of blockchain in the food supply chain. As a result, the goal of this research is to identify and analyse the barriers associated with the implementation of blockchain in food supply chains.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify 16 primary barriers associated with the implementation of blockchain technology in the food supply chain and experts finalise these identified barriers and further categorise them into four groups. Furthermore, the best worst method is used to prioritise the finalised barriers.FindingsThe findings suggest that “technological barriers” and “organisational barriers” are primary barriers among the identified barriers for the implementation of blockchain. These barriers could be mitigated through supply chain collaboration, efficient blockchain technology development through research and development, and increasing technical competence.Research limitations/implicationsIn terms of limitation, there is a possibility that some barriers were overlooked in the literature review process, and expert judgement might be prejudiced. This paper examines the blockchain implementation in the food supply chain, to assist policymakers in overcoming these barriers and ensuring effective adoption.Originality/valueThis study focuses on the effective implementation of blockchain technology in the food supply chain in the context of emerging economies.

Investigating the barriers of blockchain technology integrated food supply chain: a BWM approach

Article history: Received 15 December 2016 Received in revised form 8 September 2017 Accepted 13 October 2017 The growing concern of the negative impact of manufacturing activities on triple bottom line has led researchers to embark on sustainable manufacturing study. Empirical evidence from previous research has demonstrated that sustainable manufacturing is a comprehensive strategy to minimize the negative impact to the environment. However, study on the link of sustainable manufacturing drivers and firm performance in Malaysia remains inconclusive, thus need for further investigation. Moreover, the possible explanation for the inconsistent relationship is due to the difference in firm size of manufacturing firms involved in sustainable manufacturing activities. This research intends to investigate the moderating effect of firm size on the relationship between SM drivers and firm performance. Data was collected from selected industries in manufacturing firms in Malaysia and analyzed with SEM-AMOS. The empirical result revealed that firm size moderates the relationship between market forces and strategic leadership with firm performance. The relationships between policy and regulation and resource availability with firm performance were not significantly moderated by firm size. The results indicate that larger firms will experience a higher rate of firm performance as having advantage of firm size compared to smaller firms.

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Sustainable manufacturing drivers and firm performance: Moderating effect of firm size

The global and domestic challenges that confront the Malaysia industrial sector nowadays, had made Malaysia learnt that the past industrial approaches based on heavy dependence of large-scale injection of foreign capital to boost labor productivity are no longer viable. The Malaysia’s industrial plan on heavy reliance to foreign direct investments (FDIs) for the industrial and technological development faced major threat. Prior to 1986 and the three decades onward, the three Malaysia Industrial Master Plans (IMP1, IMP2 and IMP3) policies were adjusted to focus on total productivity growth, which requires strong synergy among all factors of technology and innovation system. This study highlighted on the specific focus of each of the three Malaysia’s Industrial Master Plans (IMPs) and to relate these focus on the technology and innovation used to increase productivity at the time. The essence of the new growth strategy was a shift from assembly-intensive manufacturing technology to an integrated and innovative value-added, industry-wide approach encompassing both manufacturing and related services. The purpose of this study is to establish the importance of technology and innovation in Malaysia Industry and relate to the vital need of STI Policy to align back with Malaysia’s Industrial Master Plan, to drive export competitiveness for realization of the nation’s industrial development agenda. In conclusion, the two vital policies, which are the Industrial Master Plan Polices and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy need to move forward together, aligned and support each other, in order to ensure effective and strategic development of Malaysia industry.

Malaysia Industry Masterplans (IMPs) and the Focus on the Nation Technology and Innovation Development

The essence of value engineering technique involves the critical analysis of the functions of a product/process over all of its stages and producing a creative and innovative way to achieve the function at the lowest cost. Value added management practice (VAMP) is a very efficient technique to identify and remove/improve unnecessary and inefficient processes in order to optimize both time and cost of production stages. The aim of the present paper is to develop a model to improve the admission process in hospitals using the steps of value-added management practice and its concepts. The KIMS Hospital in Bangalore (Karnataka, India) was selected to perform the case study. A Value engineering team was formed with medical professionals and the current admission process of a hospital was studied in detail and all the involved processes were drawn as a model using Lucid Chart software. A brainstorming session was conducted to identify the unnecessary and inefficient processes and to formulate creative and innovative ideas to remove/improve those processes. Simulation technique was used to record the performance of the current admission process and the improved admission process. Comparing the results, it was revealed that about 40 minutes will be saved if innovative and creative ideas are applied on the current admission procedure. Thus, it is concluded that value added management practice is an efficient method to improve the performance of services in the healthcare system.

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Application of Value-Added Management Practice to Improve Admission Process in Healthcare Centers: A Case Study

Supply chain traceability is one of the most important problems faced by all organizations globally. Tracking any commodity is a tedious job and requires a lot of manual attention. The existing system uses a centralised database system to track a commodity. Blockchain is a decentralised, immutable ledger managed by a cluster of computers. The very nature of blockchain makes it suitable technology for traceability in a supply chain. Blockchain creates immutable records. Once a transaction is stored in the blockchain, it is impossible to tamper it illegally. This immutability of blockchain builds trust among the participants that conduct business in a lack of trust environment. Using consensus protocols, blockchain builds trust between the various participants. Blockchain provides traceability since immutable records are added in blockchain; it is easy to track the source of the product. This paper illustrates the Application of Blockchain in Agri-Food Supply Chain. It unfolds how blockchain technology can be integrated to an Agri Supply Chain and improves the traceability. This integration enables companies to quickly track unsafe products back to their source and see where else they have been distributed. This integration can result to prevent illness and save lives, as well as reduce the cost of product recalls.

Application of Blockchain in Agri-Food Supply Chain

An Energy Monitor is a device used for measuring energy and displaying the energy consumption. It is widely used in industrial and large commercial settings where high power is consumed.  It has been observed that energy consumption can be reduced if monitored regularly and right actions are taken based on observations. There exists a need to integrate cloud technology with conventional technology in electronics product space, thus a Wi-Fi based Energy Monitor helps to achieve new heights in energy conservation. This technical paper aims to optimize cost and weight of a Wi-Fi based energy monitor to drive profitability, improve the reliability and increase the Value proposition of the product by the application of Value Analysis Methodology. A cross-functional Value Engineering team was formed to perform a case study on the Wi-Fi based Energy Monitor to identify the potential areas for optimization through Functional Analysis and Decision Matrix. The application of VAVE tools resulted in higher savings, decreased fault rate and reduction in weight of the product which led to a decrease in freight charges for the organization and increased the overall Value to the customers.

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Application of Value Analysis Methodology on a Wi-Fi Based Energy Monitor: A Case Study

Manufacturers are allocating more of their resources to achieve customer delight by providing a better quality product and additional features at the lowest possible cost not only to acquire the market for existing product but also to increase and secure the demand for future products. With the increase in trend of travelling, the manufacturers need to meet and exceed the demands of their customers, the most vital demand of travellers are comfortable, reliable and multifunctional backpacks. Therefore, it become a necessity for manufacturers to control the cost and introduce new features to the rucksack. The aim of the paper “Application of Value Analysis Techniques on a Rucksack” is to perform a case study to improve and introduce new features in a rucksack through VA/VE methodology. The essence of value engineering technique involves the critical analysis of the functions of a product over all of its stages and producing a creative and innovative way to achieve the function at the lowest cost. Value analysis is an approach to improve the value of an item or process by understanding its constituent components and their associated costs. It then seeks to find improvements to the components by either reducing their cost or increasing the value of the functions. Upon application of VA methodology, a potential saving and multifunctionality is observed in the rucksack.

https://bircu-journal.com/index.php/birex/article/download/702/pdf

Utkarsh Tiwari

Papers

Application of Value-Added Management Practice to Improve Admission Process in Healthcare Centers: A Case Study

Application of Blockchain in Agri-Food Supply Chain

Application of Value Analysis Methodology on a Wi-Fi Based Energy Monitor: A Case Study

Application of Value Analysis Techniques on a Rucksack: A Case Study

Investigation of Film Boiling Over Tandem Arrangement of Elliptical Cylinders in Vertical Crossflow of Saturated Liquid