Showing papers in "IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management in 1979"
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TL;DR: The SCERT (synergistic contingency evaluation and response techniques) project as discussed by the authors is an attempt to provide a systematic approach to the planning and financial evaluation of large engineering projects involving significant risks.
Abstract: Describes the current status of SCERT (synergistic contingency evaluation and response techniques). SCERT is an attempt to provide a systematic approach to the planning and financial evaluation of large engineering projects involving significant risks. Its mathematical basis is a decision tree/semi-Markov process representation of a project. This basis is integrated with qualitative risk assessment procedures. The emphasis is preplanning positive responses to potential contingencies, the need to get approximate answers to the right questions, and the need to integrate specialist expert opinion of various kinds and more general seasoned intuition.
61 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the importance placed on specific values by engineers and managing engineers are compared using the Rokeach Value Survey, and the results of the study are encouraging, and suggest that information about personal values might play some role in organizational decisions regarding job placement, promotion, formation of special groups, and in the design of employee motivation and incentive programs.
Abstract: Personal value orientations of engineers employed in high technology industries are investigated. The importance placed on specific values by engineers and managing engineers are compared using the Rokeach Value Survey. Although there were significant differences between these two groups on both values involving desirable end states of existence (terminal values) and those referring to preferable end states of existence (terminal values) and those referring to preferable modes of conduct (instrumental values), in general the value orientations were similar. Value orientations were found, however, to be related to levels of employee success. Engineers whose performance was above average reported significantly different value orientations from below-average success engineers. Despite overall similarity, personal values also demonstrated significant discriminative and predictive validity in distinguishing managing engineers from nonmanagement engineers. The results of the study are encouraging, and suggest that information about personal values might play some role in organizational decisions regarding job placement, promotion, formation of special groups, and in the design of employee motivation and incentive programs.
25 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of non-routine requirements and a high-pressure situation on the process of technological information acquisition by R&D managers for problem-solving in research groups are explored.
Abstract: Explores the effects of nonroutine requirements and a high-pressure situation on the process of technological information acquisition by R&D managers for problem solving in R&D groups. A survey of R&D managers in 116 firms in four industries reveals that nonroutine requirements in a contingency situation do affect their technical information acquisition behavior. Firm size and the direction of past involvement with the nonroutine requirements appear to be particularly important determinants of the degree of change experienced in technological information acquisition. Information sources that are informal and which provide access to a wide variety of experience appear to be the most valuable sources in such situations.
23 citations
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TL;DR: Presents an application of stochastic integer-programming formulation to a portfolio of projects (each of which were planned with the aid of a decision-tree structure) and follow-up studies undertaken one year later are described to assess the accuracy of the data and adequacy of the model in practice.
Abstract: Presents an application of stochastic integer-programming formulation to a portfolio of projects (each of which were planned with the aid of a decision-tree structure) Follow-up studies undertaken one year later are described in an attempt to assess the accuracy of the data and adequacy of the model in practice
19 citations
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TL;DR: A demographic analysis of industrial innovation projects by examining their characteristics and consequences is presented in this paper. And a total of 23 factors were found to be associated with the success and failure of industrial projects, in addition to 14 factors which were specifically associated with R&D-marketing interface.
Abstract: Presents a demographic analysis of industrial innovation projects by examining their characteristics and consequences. A total of 23 factors were found to be associated with the success and failure of industrial projects, in addition to a total of 14 factors which were specifically associated with the R&D-marketing interface. The results provide an in-depth picture of the important factors which can influence the commercial success of industrial innovations.
18 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the predictive power of the cosmopolitan-local construct was explored using data from over 400 civilian scientists and engineers in four Air Force Research and Development Laboratories (AFRL).
Abstract: Data from over 400 civilian scientists and engineers in four Air Force Research and Development Laboratories were used to explore the predictive power of the cosmopolitan-local construct. Those respondents who scored high on the cosmopolitan dimension (concern with contribution to science) tended to score high on the scientific productivity dimension (publish papers in professional journals and present papers at symposia). Similarly, high scores on the local dimensions (concern for the employing organization) were found with high scores on the organizational productivity dimension (write laboratory technical reports and memoranda). Job satisfaction was positively associated with the local orientation and unassociated with the cosmopolitan orientation. The interaction or combined effect of the two orientations yielded no additional predictive power over that of the separate orientations.
16 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, an exploratory study designed to develop and validate a selection battery for R&D professional employees was conducted with 256 participants from three applied research organizations, and the results suggest that the battery of seven personality variables and education was validated over a one-year time period in the three organizations for the five job-related performance criteria that were studied.
Abstract: An exploratory study designed to develop and validate a selection battery for R&D professional employees was conducted with 256 participants from three applied R&D organizations. The results suggest that the battery of seven personality variables and education was validated over a one-year time period in the three organizations for the five job-related performance criteria that were studied. The potential utility of the battery for R&D managers as a selection device, as well as limitations of the study are discussed.
16 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed and tested a model concerning perceived innovation in the R&D subsystems of six organizations and analyzed data from a sample of 102 research scientists, representing six industries.
Abstract: This study proposes and tests a model concerning perceived innovation in the R&D subsystems of six organisations. Data from a sample of 102 research scientists, representing six industries, are analyzed. It was found that perceived R&D subsystem innovativeness was significantly influenced by the climate of the R&D subsystem, the R&D subsystem structure, and the personal characteristics of the R&D personnel. Managerial implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
6 citations
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TL;DR: Potential diseconomies arising from mismatching of workload with capacity when the size of the R&D department and exploiting capability remain fixed are described and strategies for alleviating such dis economies are discussed.
Abstract: Increasing size of R&D projects poses problems of matching workload with capacity when the size of the R&D department and exploiting capability remain fixed. Potential diseconomies arising from such mismatching are described, and strategies for alleviating such diseconomies are discussed.
4 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the Galbraith model is analyzed as an instrument to differentiate matrix structures, and other variables are introduced to improve the model, and a matrix index is formed based on these new variables.
Abstract: The Galbraith model is analyzed as an instrument to differentiate matrix structures. Then, other variables are introduced to improve the model, and a matrix index is formed based on these new variables. This index is a valuable tool for the management consultant and for the researcher on matrix structures because it can be used to highlight the differences among the several types of matrices. The data presented were collected from 211 technical researchers and managers of 17 Brazilian research institutes operating in a matrix mode. A comparison is made between the Galbraith model and the matrix index. As an example of the use of the matrix index, a comparison is made between the matrix structures of institutes with high and low percentage of income from the sale of projects. Results showed that institutes with higher percentage of income coming from the sale of projects had a matrix design with more emphasis on the project structure.
2 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the DELPHI method was used to generate ideas for products and processes to be developed in Israel, which would result in new markets in the US and Europe.
Abstract: This paper presents an application of the DELPHI method to generate ideas for products and/or processes to be developed in Israel, which would result in new markets in the US and Europe. The ideas were generated by utilizing a group of technical experts. Two DELPHI rounds conducted in Israel generated ideas in the same area as those generated in the US; however, the specific ideas within an area were different, due to different backgrounds of the participants. Approximately 15 percent of the ideas generated were found to be useful and the identified contacts who were named on the product idea forms provided beneficial technical, economic, and market information. Analysis of the use of the DELPHI method indicates that, 1) feedback of new product ideas yields new suggestions in succeeding rounds, 2) increasingly specific ideas are generated in later rounds, and 3) there are a slightly higher number of ideas generated per person by scientists in industry and by university faculty than by engineers in industry.
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TL;DR: The special issue on Project Management as discussed by the authors brings together some of the latest research and practices in project management in Europe, South America, and the United States, and deals with organizational structures for project management, the role and authority of the project manager, the use of matrix structures, project control methods, and managing large-scale project risks.
Abstract: This Special Issue on Project Management brings together some of the latest research and practices in project management in Europe, South America, and the United States. The papers in this issue deal with organizational structures for project management, the role and authority of the project manager, the use of matrix structures, project control methods, and managing large-scale project risks. To provide a proper context for these papers, it is useful to briefly examine the history of project management, some of its problems, and its future potentials.
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TL;DR: In this paper, an integrated computerized planning and control system is developed based upon network computations and the principles of budgeting and control with cumulative S curves for network projects in a Belgian construction form.
Abstract: Deals with the financial control of network projects in a Belgian construction form. An integrated computerized planning and control system is developed based upon network computations and the principles of budgeting and control with cumulative S curves. Budget forecasts are made for each new projects. During the execution of the project, feedback information concerning work progress and associated cash flows is provided at the end of each planning period. Special attention is given to the inflation phenomenon. Modifications of the initial plan are taken into account during the execution of the projects. The proposed method controls both expenses and revenues.
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TL;DR: In this article, a program-oriented second-and third-level engineering management matrix is described which was used successfully to manage over 800 engineering personnel on several major programs, and the advantages and disadvantages of this concept are discussed together with the impact of people's behavior and the general increase of effectiveness of the company.
Abstract: The functional organization is described together with several forms of matrix organizations which have been successfully implemented. Engineering management's responsibility and contribution to the work output when the engineering organization is also matrixed for a large program are somewhat different from that in either a functional or single-matrix organization. A program-oriented second- and third-level engineering management matrix is described which was used successfully to manage over 800 engineering personnel on several major programs. The responsibilities remaining with the functional engineering organization and those unique to the matrix organization are defined. Advantages and disadvantages of this concept are discussed together with the impact of people's behavior and the general increase of effectiveness of the company. Problems and snags in implementation and a before and after comparison, showing how things are improved by the matrix system, are also presented.