Showing papers in "IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management in 1986"

Selecting interrelated R & D projects in space technology planning

Abstract: A decision support model and solution procedure are presented for selecting interrelated R and D projects in space technology planning. Technical and benefit interactions among projects are explicitly considered. The problem addressed is that of selecting among technologically enabling and value enhancing projects. A 0-1 integer programming model is formulated and a solution technique is presented that places technology project sets into two categories: (1) those the decision-maker should consider, and (2) those that are dominated by sets in the first category. Use of the model and solution techniques is demonstrated in the context of a NASA case example pertaining to Earth resources space programs. The efficiency of the model (with the solution technique) in reducing an unmanageably large number of feasible and efficient sets is demonstrated in the example problem.

R&d and marketing managers in high-tech companies: Are they different?

Abstract: Although R and D marketing integration is essential for innovation success, their interactions are often difficult and conflict ridden. It has been suggested that sociocultural differences between them in terms of their orientation towards time, types of projects they prefer to work on, their tolerance for ambiguity, and their professional and bureaucratic orientations can significantly contribute to the quality of the vital interface. The findings of this study of R and D and marketing managers in high-tech companies contradict the generally held beliefs that these managers are socioculturally different and that their orientations affect the integration process. In fact, more similarities than differences were found. It is therefore proposed that the R and D marketing integration problem may not be simple `people' problem. Its solution may depend as much on organization design variables.

What's all the fighting about? Conflicts in project management

Abstract: The issues that are most likely to create conflict during a project, and how the intensity of these conflicts varies over the life cycle of a project, were investigated. Conflict management styles utilized by project managers were also explored. The author describes how conflicts were affected by individual and organization factors such as gender, age, managerial responsibilities, project size, and organizational structure. Almost 300 project managers were surveyed from a cross sample of organizations for this study. Comparisons with previous studies are noted.

Technology transfer between universities and the U.K. offshore industry

Abstract: The author examines the acquisition of technology with specified reference to the UK offshore industry and its attempts to use university research results as one input to its new product development effort. Three main issues are examined: (i) the circumstances precipitating companies to use universities as a source of R and D capability; (ii) the barriers impeding the transfer of technology from universities to industry; and (iii) alternative ways of overcoming such barriers. The findings suggest that there are a variety of circumstances which precipitate companies to tap the R and D capability of the academic sector. Moreover, it appears that the original circumstances leading to collaboration affect the types of project carried out and the type of industry commitment given in such projects. Three main types of barriers to industry-university collaboration were found and alternative means of overcoming these barriers are considered.

The relationship between factors in the work environment and turnover propensities among engineering and technical support personnel

Abstract: Engineering, scientific, and technical support personnel from the electronics division of a large US firm were sampled in this study of influences on turnover decisions. While the literature, which is briefly reviewed, suggests a multiplicity of causal influences, this investigation focuses on specific factors in the work unit which are influenced by the effectiveness of the technical manager. The results indicate that approximately 30% of the variance in turnover propensities is explained by factors in the immediate work environment. Satisfaction with supervision, altruism on the part of the manager, and unit morale were found to be the more important influences on intentions to stay for technical support personnel. However, for the engineers factors such as autonomy and goal congruence (with one's superior) were found to have greater influence. Thus, factors influencing retention are found to be somewhat different for engineers than for technical support personnel. The findings suggest areas of content for management training in order to enhance retention.

Technical management notes: Delphic Goal Programming (DGP): A multi-objective cost/benefit approach to R&D portfolio analysis

Abstract: A systematic way for allocating resources among different research and development (R&D) projects in a multiple objective environment is developed. For this purpose, the Delphic Goal Programming (DGP) is proposed as follows: initially, a Delphi inquiry is conducted to identify the objectives to be considered in problem formulation. Successive rounds of Delphi are then utilized to prioritize these objectives, and to determine the relative weight and the aspiration level for each objective. Finally, through Delphi inquiry, a portfolio of R&D projects to achieve these objectives is identified. The results of the Delphi inquiry are used to build a goal programming model. This model than provides an allocation pattern for projects to achieve organizational objectives. The application of the model is discussed and illustrated.

Quality of research measured by citation method and by peer review — A comparison

Abstract: A comparison has been performed between two methods of evaluating the quality of research as applied to seven areas of research in Sweden. The first method is that of peer review performed by specially appointed international experts; the other method is citation analysis. The comparison indicates a very considerable difference in cost between the two methods, the citation method being about 200 times less costly in terms of money as well as time. The citation method measures only one parameter of the quality of research, that of international visibility, and has a rank correlation coefficient of about 0.6 compared to peer review.

Delphic goal programming (DGP): a multi-objective cost/benefit approach to R and D portfolio analysis

Abstract: On decrit cette nouvelle approche comme un moyen systematique pour allouer des ressources entre differents projets de recherche et developpement dans un environnement multiobjectif

Evaluating space station applications of automation and robotics

Abstract: A methodology for evaluating and ranking different approaches to automating the functions and tasks planned for a space station is presented. Special attention is given to the impact of advanced automation on human productivity. The methodology is based on the analytic hierarchy process, which permits the introduction of individual judgments to resolve the conflict that arises when incomparable criteria underly the selection process. The overall problem is decomposed into four subproblems focusing on human productivity, economics, design, and operations, respectively. The results from each are then combined to yield the final rankings. To demonstrate the methodology, an example is developed based on the selection of an on-orbit assembly system. Five alternatives for performing this task are identified. Computational results are presented along with their implications. A final parametric analysis shows that the outcome is locally insensitive to all but complete reversals in performance.

The contribution of the group process to successful project planning in R&D settings

Abstract: An empirical study that compares the relative effectiveness of groups vs. individuals in developing a project plan and focuses on two aspects of planning effectiveness (quality and acceptance) is presented. Members of 80 groups completed a simulation, the Project Planning Situation, first individually and then as interacting groups. The results show that the quality of the project plans developed by the groups was significantly higher than the average quality of the plans developed by members working independently. The groups' plans also were better than those that were derived through nominal techniques. It is open to question, however, whether the groups' plans were always superior to those of their best members. The effectiveness of the groups in planning is related to the two basic elements of group process: the rational and the interpersonal. The rational elements of process determined the quality of the plan and the interpersonal factor were associated with the groups' acceptance of the project plan. The management implications of these findings are discussed.

Occupational stressors for engineers

Abstract: General organizational sources (macro) as well as job related sources (micro) of stress are considered. For all engineers at different job levels, the macro source contributed more to their stress than the micro sources. Problems with the organizational reward system and time pressure were found to be the top sources of stress. Moreover, the lack of opportunities for development and for the use of abilities to the fullest came next on the list of stressors. The results also shown that the first level supervisors perceived the highest stress level while the third level supervisors expressed the lowest stress level. The implications of these results are discussed.

R&D project selection: Behavior and practice in a newly industrializing country

Abstract: An empirical study is presented on the practices of research and development management with special emphasis on the project selection behavior in Korea. Based on a review of literature pertaining to the R&D project selection, a survey framework was first generated. The data were collected from 73 laboratories of Korean private companies through a structured questionnaire, via a mail survey supplemented by some telephone interviews. As expected, the usage of formal models in R&D project selection are considerably limited in Korea. The findings, however, suggest that the formal models utilized by the research laboratories are varied distinctively according to research types. Exploratory and supportive R&D projects are selected by using screening models, while high-risk, new business development projects are selected by using evaluation models. For the selection of exploratory and supportive R&D projects, the major decision makers are laboratory directors, and the important decision criteria are technical factors. On the other hand, the major decision makers for the high-risk new business development projects come from the top management of firms, and they consider the market factors important as well as strategic factors. Several aspects of idea generation and collection for the R&D project selection are also presented.

Academic achievement, task characteristics, and first job performance of young engineers

Abstract: Empirical findings on the relationship between the titled factors are presented. Task characteristics and performance evaluation criteria were examined. It was found that a significant portion of total variance in overall performance rating could be accounted for by a mixed measure of the student's intellectual, motivational, and interpersonal qualities. No significant relationship, however, was found between academic achievement and job performance overall. Instead, the results suggest that academic achievement might be only one of several important factors that could affect job performance.

Organizational systems barriers to engineering effectiveness

Abstract: An approach to the design of surveys for detecting organizational systems barriers that suppress effectiveness of engineers is presented. The approach views organizations as open systems and specifies the conditions necessary for engineers to be effective within the content of the larger systems. A survey of engineers is conducted to determine where organizational systems pose barriers to effectiveness and estimate the cost impact of these barriers. One application to a large design engineering unit is presented. The results reveal substantial barriers to effectiveness, removal of which could save the company millions of dollars annually mainly in reduced warranty and manufacturing costs. The survey approach and its underlying model of productive organizational systems appear to provide a tool for measuring barriers to effectiveness of engineers and white collar workers generally.

Technical and management notes: Strategic planning for factory automation by the championing process

Abstract: The traditional approach to implementing change has not been very successful in bringing about factory automation. Borrowing from the concept of the `product champion', a process-championing procedure for strategic change is advocated. This approach is described and examples are given to illustrate the procedure. Some implementation guidelines are offered to facilitate the use of this process for achieving strategic-level change.

Matrix structures, quality of working life, and engineering productivity

Abstract: The relationships between matrix management structures and the quality of working life values are explored, as they appear in Quebec engineering projects. The impact of matrix structures on work motivation and satisfaction is investigated in comparison to a traditional pyramidal one-boss structure. The perceptions of engineers on the relationship between matrix and productivity are looked at, taking into account their own work and the project as a whole. The implications of the above for engineering management are expounded.

A national probability survey on education and training for CAD/CAM

Abstract: Manufacturing facilities having CAD/CAM in place were surveyed to access their training priorities. In addition, factors explaining variations in training programs were explored. The results indicate that not all plants have seen a need for training (especially those which are smaller and have less automated equipment). For those who have training programs, the programs were found to teach generic as well as traditional machine skills to a variety of occupations. An organization's decision to adopt a CAM/CAM training program was primarily related to three factors: the amount of CAD/CAM equipment installed, plant size, and relative size of manufacturing operations (integrations of the CAD/CAM equipment and market variables were less influential). An organization's decision about scope or extensiveness of the training was related to somewhat different and more varied factors including the degree to which the CAD/CAM equipment is integrated, and growth in the firm's industry. Implications of these findings for research and practise are discussed.

The impact of organizational change on the technological gatekeeper role

Abstract: Technical communication patterns are studied over a seven-year period in a military engineering research and development laboratory. The same individuals are consistently identified as gatekeepers despite changes in organizational structure and a dynamic research environment. Efforts to manage the flow of technical information are also discussed.

Finding the cost of software quality

Abstract: A guide to the application of Juran's quality improvement program is presented to assist software engineering management in the identification and control of quality costs. The cost of information is tightly coupled to the cost of the software that processes and directs it. More and more system solutions include embedded software. Quality affects a company's economics through its effect on income and its effect on costs. Although there is a growing need for a quantitative study of these effects in the software industry, there is an apparent inability to apply quality cost reduction programs proven successful in other high-tech industries.

Technical management notes; additional evidence on the r&d/marketing interface

Abstract: Factors associated with interfirm differences in the R & D/marketing interface are investigated. The analysis suggests that relationships can be improved through organizational change, but some aspects of disharmony may be inherent given the strategic mission of the group.

Career events, communication activities, and working hours investment among research and development employees

Abstract: Communication activities and the weekly working hour investment are analyzed for employees who experienced one of the following career events; reaching a career plateau, organizational entry, or internal job change. Using questionnaire data from a sample of 140 R and D professionals, new hires are found to be less well integrated into communication networks than job changers, who work longer hours than both plateaus and new hires. Career events frequently moderate relationships between studied behavioral variables and outcome variables. Findings are discussed in terms of personal needs and situational opportunities for communication activities coinciding with various career events, and the implications for effective R and D management.

The role of the National Bureau of standards in supporting industrial innovation

Abstract: The role of the US National Bureau of Standards (NBS) is analyzed within the context of the innovation process and the various rationales for government support of this process. Industry is found to systematically underinvest in evaluated data and such nonproprietary technologies as measurement and test methods. Underinvestment by industry in measurement-related data and technologies results from both the nonproprietary character of these infratechnologies and from the existence of economics of scale and scope in the research required to produce them. Efficiency gains therefore exist from provision of these infratechnologies by a single government laboratory. Role criteria are synthesized, based on the nature of underinvestment phenomena, for a government laboratory conducting and transferring measurement-related data and technologies across a wide range of economic sectors. Industry impact studies of the NBS economic roles indicate aggregate rates of return at least as high as the average return for private sector innovations. Data and measurement technologies are found to leverage private sector activity at all stages of the technological change process: research and development production, and market development. Projections of future trends in the NBS economic role and the NBS strategic planning approach is presented.

Creativity management: Systems and contingencies from a literature review

Abstract: Based on certain literature, theoretical considerations are developed for the area of creativity management in industrial technological innovation. The creative individual is viewed as progressing through a multistage process in which multimodal methods of management are applicable. A preliminary case scenario illustrates how a variety of mechanisms may be applied by an inventor in creating a new product. Consideration of organic and mechanistic stages in the creative process led to the hypothesis that a bimodal management model is most appropriate. The postulated model allows for flexibility in providing slack or constrained environments depending on earlier performance and on whether initiation or implementation modes are desirable for stimulating creative advances.

Academic success and job performance of engineering and scientific personnel

Abstract: The relationship between the college grade point average (GPA) and job performance of research engineers and scientists was studied. The question as to whether raising the GPA requirement for hire was likely to improve the quality of the work force was examined. The results of the study indicated that GPA was not generally related to job performance. However, GPA was found to have a somewhat stronger relationship with performance for employees receiving their degrees from less prestigious university departments than for employees from highly prestigious university departments. Overall, the data suggested that managers of engineering R&D organizations need to consider other information besides GPA in making selection decisions if they hope to improve their work force. Several additional selection techniques are discussed, including work sample problems, situational exercises, situational interviews, and personality type measures.

Engineering quality improvement through tqc activity

Abstract: The author describes the total quality control (TQC) principle and techniques for use in an engineering department, on the basis of practical experience of one Japanese manufacturer. In the example, TQC activity adoption significantly improved design quality and engineer activity. The main measures were data-based decision process and quality conscious attitude revolution for engineers and all company members related to the product. TQC was originated in Japan, and its concepts and measures are based on Japanese industrial culture. The problems caused by the introduction of these measures into a particular industrial culture are discussed.

A technique for lowering risks during contract negotiations

Abstract: A method for organizing the negotiation process to reduce the risks of the seller has been presented. The resulting equations are used to estimate contract costs for different negotiation parameters. The user can then add to this his/her profit margin, percent buy-in, etc. when necessary. It can be used to quickly estimate a minimum bid for fluctuating contract terms during negotiations. The method is built on regression analysis and two illustrative examples of its use are provided.

Identifying intertemporal relationships in corporate R&D expenditures

Abstract: Estimates are empirically derived for the determinants of the research and development (R&D), dividend, investment, and financing decisions of 303 firms during the 1978-82 period. Composite variables are constructed to gain insights into the intertemporal relationships among the firms' financial decision variables. Empirical estimates are provided for tradeoffs among decision variables and these relationships are incorporated into a model that sets R&D, dividend, financing, and investment policies in a manner that is consistent with stock price maximization.

Technical management notes

Abstract: Product gamma has been proposed as a new tool for assisting managers in making short-run production decisions. Because it has not been fully understood, a liner programming model to examine its meaning is formulated. It is found that product gamma is equivalent to the monthly rate of return of invested capital when there is no capacity constraint.

Editorial: Engineering management — New perspectives

Abstract: THE EDITORSHIP of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT transfers from Prof. Albert H. Rubenstein to me with this issue. I consider it an honor to serve the engineering management community in this capacity. It is a challenge as well as an opportunity to assume the editorial responsibility at this time. It is a challenge because I am following Al Rubenstein, the legendary editor of this TRANSACTIONS for quarter of a century, who brought a high level of visibility, respect, and prestige to it. At the same time, I see major opportunities ahead of us at a time when engineering management is experiencing an explosive growth pattern toward establishing itself as a recognized field of study. When the first issue of this TRANSACTIONS appeared thirty two years ago, only a handful of educational institutions had engineering management programs; almost 100 universities are offering B.S., M. S., or Ph.D. degrees in engineering management now. While a very small number of research projects were being conducted on limited aspects of engineering management in the early days of this TRANSACTIONS, several hundred researchers are studying a wide range of engineering management-related concepts and methodologies, and expanding the scope and boundaries of this field now.