Showing papers in "Industrial Management and Data Systems in 2001"

Benefits of information sharing with supply chain partnerships

Abstract: The power of information technology can be harnessed to help supply chain members establish partnerships for better supply chain system performance. Supply chain partnerships can mitigate deficiencies associated with decentralized control and reduce the “bullwhip effect”. This study illustrates the benefits of supply chain partnerships based on information sharing. For a decentralized supply chain comprising a manufacturer and a retailer, we derive the members’ optimal inventory policies under different information sharing scenarios. We show that increasing information sharing among the members in a decentralized supply chain will lead to Pareto improvement in the performance of the entire chain. Specifically, the supply chain members can reap benefits in terms of reductions in inventory levels and cost savings from forming partnerships with one another. A case study is provided for illustration.

Perceived security and World Wide Web purchase intention

Abstract: While Web‐based consumer activity is poised on the brink of dramatic growth, concerns about security have the potential to limit this growth by arousing shopper’s concerns about the Web‐based channel. One key aspect to consumer participation in Web commerce may be the extent to which they perceive risk to their sensitive information. This study describes the creation of a scale to measure perceived Web security. We apply the scale in a causal model to investigate the relative impact of beliefs about Web shopping on intent to purchase products using the World Wide Web. Data from two samples is used to develop the scale and to perform the causal analysis. Our findings indicate the favorable psychometric properties of the scale, and the causal analysis from our sample indicates that security is a greater influence on intent to purchase using the Web than is the ease and utility of purchasing products.

The relationship of logistics to supply chain management: developing a common industry definition

Abstract: Over the past few years there has been confusion and disagreement among general business practitioners and operations professionals concerning the terms “logistics” and “supply chain management”. Various formal definitions have been offered for both terms. In addition, the common usage of each term in industry varies. Business terms are often defined over time, by the common use or application of the term. Examines the historical definitions of both terms, looks at current practitioner views of the terms, and proposes a hierarchy for the relationship between logistics and supply chain management.

Development of electronic commerce user‐consumer satisfaction index (ECUSI) for Internet shopping

Abstract: Customers in an Internet shopping environment actually play dual roles. One is the role as a customer in a shopping place, and the other is the role as a user of information technology. In both cases, the level of satisfaction is of great concern. In this vein, a way of measuring the satisfaction level that takes both roles into account is needed. However, in past research indexes for consumer satisfaction and indexes for user information satisfaction have been developed separately in the fields of marketing and management information systems. Because of this lack of interaction between the two streams of research, an index for electronic commerce consumers that has its base in the dual roles has not been developed and tested. In this research, an instrument for measuring electronic commerce consumer satisfaction was proposed and validated using a sample of over 400 customers. The relationship between the index and consumers’ purchasing intention was also examined.

A review of data mining techniques

Abstract: Terabytes of data are generated everyday in many organizations. To extract hidden predictive information from large volumes of data, data mining (DM) techniques are needed. Organizations are starting to realize the importance of data mining in their strategic planning and successful application of DM techniques can be an enormous payoff for the organizations. This paper discusses the requirements and challenges of DM, and describes major DM techniques such as statistics, artificial intelligence, decision tree approach, genetic algorithm, and visualization.

Enterprise architectural framework for supply-chain integration

Abstract: The concept of supply chain is about managing coordinated information and material flows, plant operations, and logistics. It provides flexibility and agility in responding to consumer demand shifts without cost overlays in resource utilization. The fundamental premise of this philosophy is; synchronization among multiple autonomous business entities represented in it. That is, improved coordination within and between various supply‐chain members. Increased coordination can lead to reduction in lead times and costs, alignment of interdependent decision‐making processes, and improvement in the overall performance of each member as well as the supply chain. Describes architecture to create the appropriate structure, install proper controls, and implement principles of optimization to synchronize the supply chain. A supply‐chain model based on a collaborative system approach is illustrated utilizing the example of the textile industry.

Greening of human resources: environmental awareness and training interests within the workforce

Abstract: The education and training of the workforce has long been recognised as an essential ingredient in promoting and implementing environmental management practices in business organisations. So far, however, even in leading companies, little information has been available on how environmental management practice and related educational and training requirements are translated into the provision of training courses by educational institutions. To address this important question an EU‐sponsored research project was initiated. The project has focused on senior environmental managers; middle (predominantly technical) managers; and skilled and semi‐skilled workers and lower categories of managers. It has been based partly on interviews in a small number of European companies as well as educational and training institutions, and partly on more large‐scale questionnaire surveys. This paper briefly describes the background of the overall project, and in more detail a questionnaire‐based survey on environmental attitudes and training interests among Danish workers.

Managing dirty data in organizations using ERP: lessons from a case study

Abstract: The integrity of the data used to operate and make decisions about a business affects the relative efficiency of operations and quality of decisions made. Protecting that integrity can be difficult and becomes more difficult as the size and complexity of the business and its systems increase. Recovering data integrity may be impossible once it is compromised. Stewards of transactional and planning systems must therefore employ a combination of procedures including systematic safeguards and user‐training programs to counteract and prevent dirty data in those systems. Users of transactional and planning systems must understand the origins and effects of dirty data and the importance of and means of guarding against it. This requires a shared understanding within the context of the business of the meaning, uses, and value of data across functional entities. In this paper, we discuss issues related to the origin of dirty data, associated problems and costs of using dirty data in an organization, the process of dealing with dirty data in a migration to a new system: enterprise resource planning (ERP), and the benefits of an ERP in managing dirty data. These issues are explored in the paper using a case study.

Environmental practices and assessment: a process perspective

Abstract: This paper discusses some exploratory evidence from operations management literature and several analytic models currently evaluated in environmentally conscious business practices. We propose that the process of environmentally conscious business practice should be studied as a multi‐dimensional issue, recognizing an analytical dimension of strategy and decision procedure, but also a behavioral dimension addressing corporate culture, perceptions and motivation, and an organizational dimension concerned with regulatory environment and supply chain management. The focus of attention in dynamic view of assessment of environmentally conscious business practices moves from structures to processes. These exploratory discussions suggested a number of areas for further investigation, linked by a focus on the process of environmentally conscious business practices and its use of management, rather than on purely technical issues of management and data analysis.

Relationship among organizational support, JIT implementation, and performance

Abstract: As a result of progressive implementations of just‐in‐time (JIT) management practices, researchers have attempted to identify those elements critical to the success of implementation. While the literature shows general agreement on organizational support as a key element, a paucity of empirical studies exist to test this proposition. This study tests the relationship among organizational support, JIT implementation, and performance in US production systems with the use of LISREL confirmatory factor analysis. Data collected via a survey are used to test the proposition that organizational support positively influences JIT implementation, and that organizational support and JIT implementation collectively contribute to improved performance. JIT implementation, organizational support, and performance are, respectively, independent, moderator, and dependent variables. The findings suggest that organizational support influences the implementation process and is therefore deemed an appropriate starting point in the causal relationship model. Identifies a successive causal relationship from organizational support to improved performance through JIT implementation.

Hierarchical forecasting: issues and use guidelines

Abstract: In order to provide the appropriate demand forecast information given various managerial levels and functional disciplines within organizations, reliance on family‐based forecasting is increasing. The family‐based approach, sometimes referred to as hierarchical forecasting (HF), is based on a strategy of aggregating items into families. HF systems are capable of providing forecasts for items and their respective families. The objectives of HF systems, include improved forecast performance and a reduction in the overall forecasting burden. To date, several studies have offered practical guidelines for the structural design of HF systems. The primary purpose of this paper is to summarize these guidelines. First, an explanation of the HF process is provided. In this explanation, important system parameters and strategic choices, which allow for the custom configuration of HF systems are identified. Second, the relevant family‐based forecast research is reviewed. The important issues addressed and the conclusions presented in this research are identified. Third, practical guidelines regarding the use of a HF approach that have been reported in the research literature are clearly delineated. With much still unknown regarding the performance impact of various system parameter and strategic process choices, the paper concludes with suggestions for future research.

The coming age of online procurement

Abstract: Concerns about cost management have led purchasing officers of many companies to look for new solutions – an Internet‐based electronic procurement system. The promise of Web procurement has made it one of the hottest topics of business‐to‐business e‐commerce. The promise is simple: to streamline administrative routines, and help companies consolidate their purchasing practices, enabling them to receive better discounts and better service from suppliers. Web‐based procurement systems are still in their infancy, and a lot of extra costs are around the corner. This paper presents tips for IT managers for successful implementation of this technology.

A socio‐technical framework for quality assessment of computer information systems

Abstract: The emergence of total quality management and the ISO 9000 suite of standards has allowed a re‐think of how (and why) the post‐implementation evaluation of computer systems is to be carried out Traditional performance measurement, modeling and analysis techniques – while not discredited – have been tempered with a more holistic ideology This article recommends a socio‐technical approach to determining the quality of a computer information system In this context, two postulates have been proposed and tested by field survey of expert systems in the insurance industry in North America Postulate one focuses on a multidimensional concept of IS quality comprising the characteristics of task, technology, people and organization Postulate two deals with differences in assessments of these characteristics according to stakeholder groups: managers, developers, and users Summarizes the key findings of these postulates in the context of the TQM and ISO 9000 philosophies

Strategic performance evaluation: descriptive and prescriptive analysis

Abstract: Addresses the question of how to assure effective performance evaluation of a public service strategic unit. Both descriptive and prescriptive approaches are discussed. Based on this analysis a practical model for performance evaluation is developed. The model proposed comprises key drivers of performance, including internal and external factors, as well as both quantitative and qualitative factors, simultaneously. The model has been designed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and tested using the Expert Choice Software. The testing results show that the evaluation outcomes differ as a function of the criteria used, the weight assigned, and the meaning given to each criterion. Using the same criteria with a different weighting scheme results in different outcomes for the same performance. This counter‐intuitive finding has important implications for management practice.

Sustainable development: integrating environmental issues into strategic planning

Abstract: As we begin the twenty‐first century it appears that for a growing number of industries environmental issues are emerging with increasing frequency as strategic problems. If human economic activity is to be sustainable, then strategic behavior of companies must take account of the structural elements. Researchers in the western societies are trying to understand how the companies integrate the sustainability issues into their strategies. No such study has been reported on companies operating in the ASEAN countries. This paper reports the findings of a case study research on this issue which was conducted on seven global companies operating in Singapore. Two frameworks were applied to analyze the nature and extent of integration of environmental management practices into the organizational strategic planning process. The study reveals that the majority of the sample companies have well‐developed environmental management systems in place which satisfies the requirements of the strategic planning criterion of the (Singapore) business excellence framework. These companies are also found to be actively engaged in at least four of the five best practices of environmental leadership framework suggested by Dechant and Altman.

Supply chain management and the international dissemination of e‐commerce

Abstract: Supply‐chain management, at least in the largest multi‐national corporations, is a global endeavor. It is undergoing a transformation caused by the worldwide spread of digital communications, and e‐commerce in particular. Hence, it is necessary to understand the development of e‐commerce and its future trends. This development is based on what is at times rather rapid advances generated or supported by the external environment with factors like institutions and electronic infrastructures. E‐commerce is rapidly spreading internationally, but by no means uniformly, across boundaries, or for that matter within countries. The great relevance of examining the international spread of e‐commerce is that most corporations actually source globally. The stages of e‐commerce evolution, from rather primitive incipiency to highly advanced B2B forms, are conditioned by factors which range from the availability of complementary assets to institutional considerations.

Enhancing the effectiveness of benchmarking in manufacturing organizations

Abstract: Benchmarking is an important tool to emulate existing best practices in the industry at large and for achieving continuous improvements in business operations. Numerous examples of successful benchmarking are available in the professional literature and corporations have successfully used it to attain world class manufacturing/service stature. This paper, in particular, studies the differences and the similarities in the various prevalent benchmarking approaches followed by some successful corporations. An important objective of this study is to identify factors which enhance the effectiveness of benchmarking.

Electronic commerce in Greater China

Abstract: The Greater China region (China, Taiwan and Hong Kong) has more than 1.2 billion people, about one fifth of the world’s total population. This incredibly large market continues to modernize rapidly, and over the last five years, the region has maintained a very high economic growth rate in comparison to the rest of the world. The combination of market size and economic growth makes Greater China the most promising place in the world for Internet products and services. China, Taiwan and Hong Kong recognize the opportunities and via public and private initiatives are investing in the development of information technology (IT) and the Internet infrastructure. This paper outlines the key electronic commerce (EC) trends and events in the region. Further, the research analyzes the current impediments to Internet commerce in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and provides strategy and directions for the region’s EC development.

Software quality management and ISO 9000 implementation

Abstract: The software industry has matured into a global business with software products and applications growing in number, complexity, and market importance. Global sourcing and software production and operations sharing are becoming the industry standard. At the same time, the marketplace has become less tolerant of poor‐quality products and hidden maintenance costs. Reviews various existing standards and frameworks and discusses the massive consolidation and coordination efforts currently ongoing for the purpose of developing international quality standards. Also proposes an eight‐step framework that puts all 29 clauses required by ISO 9001 for certification implementation in the software industry into clusters for more efficient management. Warns, however, that becoming ISO 9000 registered is only the first step to achieving consistent software quality.

Languages for electronic business communication: state of the art

Abstract: Electronic commerce (e‐commerce) is the new buzzword for doing business on the Internet. A main problem for business‐to‐business e‐commerce lies in the need for the information systems of the involved organizations to exchange meaningful information. For letting the information systems of business partners accomplish electronic business communication, semantic interoperability is necessary to ensure that exchange of information makes sense – that the provider and receiver of information have a common understanding of the “meaning” of the requested services and data. Traditional EDI is not sufficient to solve electronic business communication problems in an open and dynamic environment. Summarizes the development from traditional EDI towards new advanced electronic business communication approaches offering agent‐based e‐commerce marketplaces in which the meaning of business messages is managed by means of shared repositories for formally specifying the semantics of business messages. Within this framework, XML is the practical foundation for structuring the information to be interchanged.

A QFD based methodology for evaluating a company’s PDM requirements for collaborative product development

Abstract: CAD, CAM, CAE and CIM systems with their ability to quickly generate and change product data have strained the conventional systems used to manage data. As a result, the time spent by an engineer in looking for the right information far exceeds the time spent on the actual design work. A product data management system is a tool that helps engineers and others manage both data and the product development process, and hence support a concurrent engineering framework in a company. Although PDM systems provide numerous benefits to a company, there are problems associated with firstly identifying an appropriate system for a company and then in its implementation. For a successful implementation of a PDM system it is important for a company to first evaluate its requirements. This paper proposes a QFD (quality function deployment) based methodology for evaluating a company’s current status vis‐a‐vis PDM implementation.

Critical knowledge/skill sets required by industries: an empirical analysis

Abstract: Classifies the critical knowledge/skill set according to content or domain of knowledge by means of a survey. This is conducted in accordance with what IS practitioners and educators can easily relate. The survey uses this approach and includes four broad categories of critical Information Systems (IS) knowledge/skills: IS technology knowledge/skills, organizational and societal knowledge/skills, interpersonal knowledge/skills, and personal trait knowledge/skills.

Just‐in‐time manufacturing in Ghana

Abstract: Just‐in‐time (JIT) production has received a great deal of attention worldwide in the last couple of decades. Most research has examined the effects of the JIT philosophy and practice in developed countries (such as the USA, Canada, and Australia). Barring a couple of studies, not much attention has been paid to the study of the implementation of JIT in less developed countries. Based on a survey of 48 manufacturing firms in Ghana, this paper examines the implementation of JIT production systems in a developing country. The results suggest that Ghanaian manufacturing firms which have invested in JIT production systems are different from firms that have not invested in JIT production in terms of their efforts in employees’ training, setup time reduction, cellular manufacturing, continuous quality improvement, and supplier partnership. At the same time, JIT firms are not significantly different from non‐JIT firms with regard to the use of measurement systems.

Planning enterprise resources by use of a reengineering approach to build a global logistics management system

Abstract: Theoretically and ideally, enterprise resource planning (ERP) seeks to streamline and integrate operation processes and information flow within a company. Practically, ERP system implementation involves a much broader scope and in‐depth consideration within an organization as a whole. Concurrently, in response to this need for resource optimization, the impact of globalization has caused the emergence of a new business operation format, global logistics management (GLM). This pertains to the overall management system of a corporation’s undertaking of worldwide market distribution, product design, customer satisfaction, production, procurement, logistics, suppliers and inventory. Suggests building an ERP as the backbone for implementation of a GLM system, while minimizing the impact of changes by use of information system reengineering technology (ISRT). Proposes a novel development framework that applies ISRT and ERP to developing a GLM system to economize on the system implementation cost and minimize the impact of changes within the corporation as a whole.

Designing information systems for electronic commerce

Abstract: Electronic commerce applies new business models. To use information technology to support a new business model, the supplier enterprise needs to develop an information system model for electronic commerce. Proposes a framework for developing an information system model to fit the business model of electronic commerce. This framework is structured around three domains: EC business model, information system model, and object‐oriented methodology.

Key Data Management Issues in a Global Executive Information System

Abstract: Information technology plays a significant role in a global organization. Senior executives of these organizations need constant and timely access to global information for making decisions. This information originates in different places worldwide for a global organization and needs to be organized before it can be used for decision‐making. The organization and management of global corporate data presents unique challenges. This paper discusses the data organization and management related issues for developing a global executive information systems (EIS) for senior executives of global companies. The objective of a global EIS is to provide executives with a consistent, integrated and summarized view of operational data from subsidiaries worldwide. The global EIS also provides access to external data that is captured from different sources. The system facilitates integrating the internal and external data for effective decision‐making.

Organizational learning in a high‐tech environment: from theory to practice

Abstract: Organization learning has assumed a major role in modern management as a tool for coping with change and uncertainty. Organizations must adapt to shifting demands in an environment where chaos is common. The organizations which can make such changes and thrive are those which embrace the philosophy of organizational learning. This paper is an attempt to assess the application of organization learning concepts using a real organization.

Strategic partnering when the supply base is limited: a case study

Abstract: This study considers a supply‐demand situation where a product has only a handful of supply firms and a large number of purchasing firms and compares the attitudes toward partnering of firms which are already in partnering relationships with those that are not. Noting that only 27 per cent of the buyers are currently in any alliance relationships, and most are not planning to be in one, the study reveals that buyers expressed a lukewarm, and sometimes negative, attitude toward the formation of alliances. There are no attitudinal differences between firms in alliance relationships, compared with those without, in five of seven questions on alliance and in the relative importance given 14 of 15 purchasing criteria. With most suppliers willing to provide the buyers with the same benefits, irrespective of whether they are in alliance relationships, it appears that the limitations imposed by the small supply base tend to exert competitive pressures on the suppliers, discouraging buyers from forming partnership relationships.

Telework and gender: implications for the management of information technology professionals

Abstract: Attracting and retaining highly skilled information technology (IT) professionals has been a difficult task for IT managers since the early 1980s. With over 400,000 unfilled IT positions in the USA today, many IT professionals are moving from job to job looking for higher salaries and more satisfying working arrangements. Since men and women often perceive their professional and domestic roles and responsibilities differently, more flexible working arrangements, which permit them to accomplish these roles and responsibilities in a more satisfactory manner, can be an important motivation for accepting and remaining in a given IT position. The purpose of this study was to investigate the similarities and differences between men and women in the IT industry in terms of their motivations to telecommute, and to discuss the implications for managing IT professionals.

TQM in Taiwan’s computer and its peripheral industry

Abstract: Total quality management (TQM) has been widely brought into action to improve the business’s essence in industries. In Taiwan, the computer and its peripheral industry is becoming a real global business. Most of the companies are buying and selling goods and services all through the world’s business community. The current progress toward TQM is one of the most noteworthy changes in Taiwan’s computer and its peripheral industry. Uses questionnaires to survey the implementation issues of TQM in the computer and its peripheral industry in Taiwan. A total of 40 companies responded to the questionnaires in the survey. Observing the survey results, the quality performances of most Taiwan’s computer and its peripheral companies are still vulnerable. Meanwhile, the training programs of related quality management techniques need further conduct to improve the quality management system.