Evaluating the success in international sourcing of information technology projects: The need for a relational client‐vendor approach

This article investigates the differences across and the need to consider both the client and vendor perspective in evaluating international sourcing (offshoring) success and highlights the need for incorporating relational factors into the success assessment rather than focusing solely on financial or operational outcomes (e.g., projects delivered on time, within budgeted costs). We take an expanded view of project success (using relational/process dimensions) and provide insight into how client and vendor firms evaluate success differently across relational dimensions and how relational factors play a key role in achieving success. Based on the findings, propositions are presented to guide future offshoring success research.     

From inflation targeting to the euro-peg: A model of monetary convergence for transition economies

This study proposes a sequence of monetary convergence to the eurozone, based on autonomous monetary policy rather than on an early application of the euro-peg. The gradual adjustment process begins with a relatively strict variant of inflation targeting, followed by flexible inflation targeting, and ends with exchange rate targeting. A model outlining the optimal mode of policy adjustment is presented. The analysis warns against a premature peg to the euro, which may instigate real currency appreciation, large capital inflows and their costly sterilization. The euro-peg can be introduced only when the candidates’ monetary authorities reach a certain degree of “foundational credibility”. The model of monetary convergence is followed by the empirical assessment of inflation targeting in the Czech Republic and Poland.     

探索价值管理在工程采购中的应用

本文架构了一个能够满足业主价值需求的工程项目采购模式,并且介绍了价值管理在新采购模式中各个环节的应用。     

基于AHP的公路环评应用研究

通过对我国公路建设环境评价发展现状的探讨,针对其在进行公路环评时难以做到科学、全面、定量、公正地进行评价的问题,引入层次分析法。对各影响因素进行分类研究,并将其量化,在确定其评价过程中的一致性的基础上,综合评价各个方案,从而选出最优方案。研究结果表明:利用层次分析法进行项目环评简便可行,不仅可以使多方案比选得到实施,同时也可以使资源得到优化配置,具有推广应用价值。     

How Far Can BIM Reduce Information Asymmetry in the Australian Construction Context?

Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems are increasingly used in construction projects. Theoretically, these systems provide greater transparency and access to construction project information and, in doing so, should reduce the information asymmetry that commonly arises in construction contracting relationships. This typically occurs when suppliers of products and services opportunistically take advantage of the client due to the imbalance in information. The article therefore explores whether or not the high level of information content offered by BIM and the potential for sharing that information among contracting parties means that the information asymmetry can be alleviated using BIM. In order to investigate this, evidence was collected through three purposively sampled case studies of large principal organizations undertaking projects in Australia—each representing a different type of customer in the supply chain on construction projects. Our findings suggest a gap between the theoretical potential and practical application of BIM to reduce information asymmetry. The study found that, although BIM has the capability to reduce information asymmetry, it has not reached a mature enough stage in the Australian construction industry to clearly confirm that it actually reduces the problem. There is even a degree of evidence that, under certain circumstances, a reverse asymmetry may exist in which a client has the technical knowledge to more successfully analyze the BIM model (relative to the organizations they contract with) and then use the resulting information to their own opportunistic advantage.     

基于BSC的器材供应链合作绩效评价指标体系研究

器材供应链合作是一个比较新的理论,对其绩效进行评价显得攸关重要。文章基于平衡计分卡方法,从器材供应链合作的部队用户满意度、供应链业务流程、供应链中器材供应商和军方满意度、供应链经济效益、供应链创新与发展能力五个方面建立绩效评价指标体系。     

Knowledge‐intensive firms: the influence of the client on HR systems

HR systems play a critical role in growing knowledge‐intensive firms (KIFs) by facilitating the conversion of human capital into intellectual capital, which has market value. However, the choice of HR system is constrained by the relatively small number of clients they have in business‐to‐business relationships. This article seeks to understand how and why these client relationships affect the choice of HR practices in these firms. We address this issue by drawing on extensive empirical research currently under way in KIFs. Our research shows that HR practices can be influenced strongly by the client, both directly and indirectly. However, some KIFs will use their HR practices as a means of managing the relationships they have with their clients by shaping their boundaries with their clients and building organisational, professional and client identities. The varying client influence can be understood by examining the nature of the power relationship between the client and supplier, which is influenced by the uniqueness of the services provided. This has implications for our understanding of the factors affecting the exercise of a constrained choice of HR systems.     

Corporate environmental commitment: Developing the operational concept

This article attempts to develop an operational measure of the notion of Corporate Environmental Commitment (CEC), through an examination of CEO's perceptions of their firms' behaviour regarding a number of environmental items. This is done by identifying a number of salient items in the literature and integrating them into a survey instrument. The mail survey was administered to the key informants of the 1000 largest organisations in Australia of which 306 responded. Iterative Factor-Analysis of the data revealed that the questionnaire items (55 items in total) could be statistically collapsed into four factors representing the overall degree of ‘Corporate Environmental Commitment’. The four factors were (1) the degree to which environmental audits are emphasised as an environmental evaluation tool (Audit); (2) the existence and role of a clear and well disseminated environmental policy (Policy); (3) consideration of environmental impacts in assessing future corporate activities including investments & projects (Future Activities) and (4) incorporation of environmental issues in corporate appraisal systems (Appraisal Systems). Internal consistency within each of the four factors revealed significant reliability of all factors. It is suggested that the use of the four-factor method uncovered in this study bears significant practical relevance, allowing firms to assess their environmental commitment (EC) at the corporate level.     

Cost cutting for hospitals: a heuristic approach

This article has suggested a model that can provide some consistency and order as hospital managers attempt to find reliable yet palatable means of cutting their institutions' costs. Like any model, it is only as sensitive as the manner in which it is applied; it is a guide rather than a substitute for clear thinking by management. Used in context, however, the model encourages clear thinking when hospital managers might otherwise be tempted to dispose of facts that do not conform to their own theories or, alternatively, find isolated budget solutions that are simple and neat but suboptimal. In the final analysis, thinking clearly is the ultimate model when the order comes to cut costs.     

The ACR Model: A Multivariate Dynamic Mixture Autoregression*

This paper proposes and analyses the autoregressive conditional root (ACR) time‐series model. This multivariate dynamic mixture autoregression allows for non‐stationary epochs. It proves to be an appealing alternative to existing nonlinear models, e.g. the threshold autoregressive or Markov switching class of models, which are commonly used to describe nonlinear dynamics as implied by arbitrage in presence of transaction costs. Simple conditions on the parameters of the ACR process and its innovations are shown to imply geometric ergodicity, stationarity and existence of moments. Furthermore, consistency and asymptotic normality of the maximum likelihood estimators are established. An application to real exchange rate data illustrates the analysis.     

距离综合评价法在工程招投标中的应用

本文以招投标项目的多方案选优为研究目的,建立了距离综合评价决策模型,很好地解决了“综合评估法“主观性、随意性大的问题,并通过实例验证了方法的可行性,具有一定的应用价值.     

基于模糊综合评价的零售企业供应链风险评价

供应链风险评价是对所识别的风险因素采取适当的措施,包括衡量潜在的损失频率和损失程度。文中从采购、库存、配送、销售和售后5个风险视角构建了零售供应链风险评估指标体系,运用模糊综合评价模型对企业供应链风险进行定量评价,在评价过程中采用德尔菲法来确定各指标的权重,并根据评价结果提出改进建议。     

基于Mediator/Wrapper的VMI系统的研究

供应商管理库存（VMI）是一种新的供应链库存管理方法,通过应用VMI,可以提高企业的运作水平,降低供应商和生产商、零售商的成本.然而,在电子商务环境下,供应商与生产商或零售商是多对多的关系,VMI系统的数据间的通信变得十分庞大复杂,信息的管理也变得很困难.为此,本文提出使用Java和XML开发基于Mediator/Wrapper的VMI系统,通过Mediator构建一个以客户应用层、中介器层和数据源层三层VMI系统,使用XML作为中介器层的数据的标准以及客户应用层和中介器层的接口,并提供统一的描述数据的结构的框架,以便在Web上部署,同时Wrapper可以解决多个供应商和零售商之间的信息异构问题.     

A goal orientation model of feedback-seeking behavior

Why do individuals differ in their feedback-seeking behavior, and how do these differences impact their task performance? The current article addresses these questions by developing a theoretical model using the individual difference of goal orientation (an orientation toward developing or demonstrating one's ability) as a central influence in the feedback-seeking process. Goal orientation is proposed to influence how individuals cognitively process the cost and value of feedback-seeking opportunities. These cognitions are then proposed to influence the choices made for six dimensions of feedback-seeking behavior—the frequency, type, source, method, timing, and sign preference. The argument is then made that assessment of multiple dimensions of feedback seeking, compared to the customary frequency assessment, should enhance our ability to explain the relationship of feedback-seeking behavior with outcomes such as task performance. Finally, the theoretical model is discussed as a platform for future research and as a source of guidance for the management of feedback-seeking behavior.     

三层C/S模型在药品管理中的应用

三层client/server结构是数据库应用开发的新趋势,文章对三层client/server的体系结构、主要特点进行了分析,提出了三层结构设计的框架,并结合实例——药品管理子系统,探讨了基于组件的逻辑上三层结构的数据库应用的实现过程,说明了三层结构具有较好的灵活性、易维护和可重用性。     

Risk aversion and asymmetry in procurement auctions: Identification,estimation and application to construction procurements

This article studies a model of asymmetric risk averse bidding within the independent private value paradigm. The inherent asymmetry in cost and risk aversion imposes an original restriction on the observed bid data, an exact equality which leads to the model semiparametric identification and estimation. The unobserved arguments of this equality need to be simulated in order to estimate the bidders’ Constant Relative Risk Aversion or Constant Absolute Risk Aversion parameters and their heterogeneous cost distributions. In the Los Angeles City Hall construction contracts offered between 1994 and 2003, the model and methodology help reveal that financial asymmetries affect the firms’ cost distribution, while experience influences their degree of risk aversion.     

Sense and sensibility: The role of business incubator client advisors in assisting high-technology entrepreneurs to make sense of investment readiness status

For high-technology entrepreneurs, attaining an appropriate level of investment to support new ventures is challenging as substantial investment is usually required prior to revenue generation. Consequently, entrepreneurs must present their firms as investment ready in the context of an uncertain market response and an absence of any trading history. Gaining tenancy within a business incubator can be advantageous to this process given that placement enhances entrepreneurial contact with potential investors whilst professional client advisors (CAs) use their expertise to assist in the development of a credible business plan. However, for the investment proposal to be successful, it must make sense to fund managers despite their lack of technological expertise and product knowledge. Thus, this article explores how incubator CAs and entrepreneurs act in concert to mould innovative ideas into plausible business plans that make sense to venture fund investors. To illustrate this process, we draw upon empirical evidence which suggests that CAs act as sense makers between venture fund managers (VFMs) and high-technology entrepreneurs, yet their role and influence appears undervalued. These findings have implications for entrepreneurial access to much needed funding and also for the identification of investment opportunities for VFMs.     

Market-oriented product innovation at Høyang Polaris and Jøtul

This report is concerned with an action research project on market oriented product innovation at Høyang Polaris and Jøtul, where a system for assessment of user needs has been planned and implemented. Based on experience from the project, a model has been developed for the introduction of a need assessment system comprising problem analysis, planning, information, training, demonstration, application, and development.The introduction of need assessment methods may be handled as an operational problem or treated as a strategic issue. When handled as an operational problem, systematic need assessment can be introduced as a project or treated as a process integrated with the daily activities of the product innovation staff.The practical operation of a need assessment system in product innovation projects involves definition of a target group, selection of one or several need assessment methods, implementation of the study, and formulation of the need specification.The responsibility for need assessment studies may be assigned to a special staff unit or to the employees participating in the product innovation process.     

The gradual transition to a team-based environment: the success story of a medium-sized manufacturing facility

This article will review the case in which a medium-sized manufacturing facility in upstate New York underwent the transition to a team-based environment. As with any change, this transition involved a decision process, a design process, and an implementation process. The transition took place gradually over a period of several years, allowing each stage to be studied in some detail. The degree to which these approaches are applicable to an organization will depend in part on how similar that organization is to the study facility; therefore, this article will begin with a background discussion of the nature of that facility.     

基于组合赋权关联TOPSIS模型的雷达装备保障性评估

为了克服TOPSIS模型在多指标决策过程中的不足,提出了一种装备保障性评估的改进TOPSIS模型。以原始数据样本与理想方案之间的灰色关联系数矩阵为新的决策矩阵,利用理想解法对方案进行排序。运用本文建立的评价模型,得到的装备保障性评估结果更能反映装备易保障和受保障程度,具有很好的应用前景。