Performance monitoring in R&D projects

Project Management Systems can use a variety of tools to model and visualise project status. This paper discusses the application of an integrated approach for project modeling and proposes a new graphic tool called PACT for evaluation of project status. An integrated performance monitoring system comprising many tools, including PACT, was used successfully with multiple advanced technology projects within the Indian Guided Missiles Development Programme. The approach provided a better insight into the status and problems of projects, and enabled management to initiate the most appropriate actions towards better performance.     

On the interaction between forecasting and stock control: The case of non-stationary demand

The effect of using estimated (forecast) demand parameters on the performance of an inventory control system is an intriguing and important subject. Recent research has been undertaken on this phenomenon assuming stationary demand data. In this paper we extend the research to non-stationary demands, by means of simulation. The case of a periodic order-up-to-level inventory system is considered and the experimental structure allows us to evaluate in a progressive manner the accumulated effect of using the optimal forecasting method, optimal forecast parameters and correct variance expression procedures. The results allow insights to be gained into operational issues and demonstrate the scope for improving stock control systems.     

网络营销绩效评价体系研究

网络营销是企业营销活动的主要形式,因此,网络营销的绩效评价对企业的成功经营至关重要。通过研究国内外关于网络营销绩效体系的文献,分析比较现有的网络营销绩效评价体系,介绍目前国内外对该体系的研究现状,指出目前评价体系在评价方法和指标选取上的不足,最后对目前网络营销绩效评价的研究和发展方向做了总结和展望。     

Social assessment of technology: some clarifications and areas for future research

Most of the literature on Technology Assessment has concerned its methodological aspects. Our current research work is oriented towards organizational aspects of the process of T.A., and to the ways it can be implemented in different institutional environments. This paper enquires a little further into the meaning and implications of the idea of T.A., spelling out its main distinctive features; the process of Social Assessment of Technology is considered as part of the Planning process; then, a conceptual framework, namely the systems approach, is proposed for helping the understanding of the social process dealt with. A general, critical survey of current research trends and unresolved issues in the field is done, to conclude with some suggestions for new research work in this area.     

城市智慧供应链发展指数构建及其应用

在新一轮科技革命和产业变革浪潮的带动下,智慧供应链正在快速发展,与之相关的城市智慧供应链发展也成为当前供应链研究领域中的重要问题。然而,传统的供应链发展评价指标体系难以直接应用到智慧供应链评价中。为此,本文从企业视角和区域视角出发,从城市智慧供应链基础设施情况、人力资源投入情况、资金投入情况、企业创新情况、供应链效率和效益6个维度构建了中国城市智慧供应链的发展评价体系,设计了基于改进的TOPSIS方法的评价方法,并进行了中国城市智慧供应链发展指数评价,为城市管理部门量化智慧供应链发展水平提供了方法依据。     

基于模糊信息熵的港口物流系统评估分析

综合分析了港口物流系统的研究现状,从物流系统角度构建多层次港口物流系统评价指标体系,结合信息熵和模糊综合评价方法,建立了基于模糊信息熵的港口物流系统评估方法。此方法综合了主客观权重,克服了主观因素的影响。最后,选定沿海16个港口的物流系统进行了实证分析,结果表明此方法具有可操作性,为港口企业衡量其物流发展水平提供了参考依据。     

地方高等院校大型精密仪器设备使用效益评价的有效性

为了提高与评价大型精密仪器设备的利用率与投入效益,许多高等院校制定了大型精密仪器设备使用效益评价办法,取得了一定效果,但是大多数评价办法采用了同一个评价指标体系、同一种指标权重系数,导致评价结果不符合实际。根据服务对象的不同,将大型精密仪器设备分为主要用于教学、主要用于科学研究和对外服务、既用于教学也用于科学研究和对外服务3种类型,以此为基础,构建了评价指标体系,应用改进的层次分析法确定了指标权重系数,制定了五级评价标准。最后以河北科技大学管理大型仪器的方法为例,对本方法进行了验证,证明了方法的有效性。     

资源环境视角下的企业清洁生产体系研究

在简要回顾清洁生产提出背景和研究现状的基础上,提出基于企业生产构成要件的清洁生产体系,包括技术体系、组织和管理体系、产品体系、外部支持体系,以及针对清洁生产的运行质量和政府政策绩效的资源环境评价体系和政策绩效评估体系。以此促进相应的市场机制建设、政府政策措施以及科学考评机制等关系现有生产方式变革的重点难点问题的解决。     

Development of the conceptual model of energy and utility management in textile processing: A soft systems approach

This paper aims to use soft systems methodology (SSM) to identify management support system opportunities for managing energy and utility usage in textile manufacturing processes. It presents an approach based on SSM to analyze the complex situation of developing an effective energy and utility management support system (EUMSS). This involves the identification of the scope of the system and user requirements, conceptual modeling of complex problem situations, identification of actors and decision processes, and information-needs modeling. The current study pioneers the examination of the application of SSM to the development of a novel EUMSS and contributes to the body of information systems knowledge in the context of EUMSS design. There appears to be limited academic research in the field of energy and utility system development and, in particular, in the area of EUMSS design, and none in the area of the application of SSM to EUMSS design. In addition, the modeling process could be beneficial if EUMSS design ideas could be widely shared and discussed. The identified scope and system requirements can serve as a guideline for designing and developing an effective EUMSS for textile processing.     

A CDS approach to induce facilities-based competition over NGA networks

The current regulatory framework in the European NGA market provides the basic principles for the gradual migration from service-based competition over the legacy copper access networks to facilities-based competition over fiber-based Next Generation Access (NGA) networks. This paper initially reviews the related literature and shows that: (i) an unbundling policy that boosts entry by alternative operators promotes service-based competition but provides operators with disincentives to invest in network upgrade; (ii) there is no consensus about the optimal regulatory policy that promotes competition and encourages investments in NGA networks; and (iii) the reviewed research articles are not consistent with the current regulatory framework in the European NGA market in terms of both the evolution of the regulatory goals over time and the recommended regulatory settings. This paper aims to propose a novel approach in order to effectively meet the current regulatory goals using the recommended settings. It is shown that the proposed approach, which is based on the basic principles governing a Credit Default Swap (CDS), provides an effective migration path towards facilities-based competition over NGA networks.     

The logic of fodder legumes in Africa

This paper explores the long-standing interest in the introduction of fodder legumes as an essential component of mixed farming systems in Africa. The central argument is that because of certain biological characteristics and their association with historic changes in European agricultural, fodder legumes have become endowed with a mantle of absolute goodness. However, while the screening of fodder legumes has been an important theme in agricultural research for over 70 yr, the actual level of use by farmers and livestock keepers in Africa is still insignificant. This analysis leads to a call for a more realistic approach to legume research and promotion. Particular attention is placed on the idea that the bio-physical and socio-economic factors that have previously been seen as constraints to legume adoption should now be viewed as system properties and incorporated into the design specification of technology. Without such an approach the ‘logic of fodder legumes’ will continue to limit the contribution that agricultural research can make in Africa.     

The assessment of Government support for industrial research: lessons from a study of Norway

Abstract: This paper summarises the results of a recent study carried out by the Science Policy Research Unit for the Norwegian Royal Commission on Industrial Research (the 'Industriforskningsutvalget'). We assess in broad terms the effectiveness of existing Norwegian mechanisms for supporting Industrial research in institutes and firms, focussing in particular on the mechanical engineering and electronics sectors. A range of evaluation techniques are utilised in examining (a) research institute performance, (b) the research institute/industry interface, and (c) the general mode of operation of the funding system. It is suggested that the methodology adopted in the study may be of more general value in evaluating national systems for funding R & D.     

Costing RAM design and test analysis model for production facility

The objective of this paper is to provide a model for effective implementation of costing RAM (reliability, availability and maintainability) management in the design and procurement of production facility. This research proposed a two-stem model of costing RAM design and test for production facility. In Step 1, a static model is proposed to find an initial system configuration to meet the required performance based on system RAM and life cycle cost (LCC) and analyze the trade-off relationships between various RAM factors (reliability and maintainability) and LCC. In Step 2, we developed time and failure truncated models for system reliability test and analysis. For computational purposes, we developed computer programs and have shown the sample results. By the sample test run, the proposed model has shown possibilities to provide a good method to analyze system performance evaluation for both design and operational phase. This model can be applied to a wide variety of systems, not only for costing RAM of the production facilities but also for the other kind of equipment.     

Constructing identities in Indian networks: Discourses of marketing management in inter-organizational relationships

This paper explores business-to-business (B2B) marketing values and knowledge systems in India and their impact on identity construction in industrial networks. Our study moves methodological approaches into more interpretive territory by acknowledging the processes of social construction in networks as articulated by the IMP Group. We bring an interdisciplinary perspective to B2B marketing studies by recognizing cultural influences on managers' constructions of Indian modernity and explore what these linguistic moves may mean for the management of buyer–seller relationships. We highlight the dexterity with which individual actors discursively position themselves, their (and other) firms and countries by drawing upon a range of interpretive repertoires in their accounts of relationship management. Our chief contribution is to conceptually synthesize some of the discursive forces at work in identity processes within Indian business networks and to empirically illustrate the inherent tensions within managers' talk as they construct individual, organizational and national identities.     

第二产业企业经营业绩评价指标体系设计研究

企业经营业绩评价是企业经营管理中的一个重要问题,是企业经营战略实施状况的整体描述。工业时代的传统财务业绩评价指标体系一直存在着重短期业绩评价、轻长期业绩评价,重财务指标体系、轻非财务指标系统等问题,它在世界经济一体化的知识经济时代已变得力不从心,捉襟见肘。如何适应当今世界复杂多变的经济环境,建立非财务与财务评价并重的企业经营业绩评价指标体系,已成为重大课题。文章在研究比较国内外企业经营业绩评价体系的基础上,阐述了企业经营业绩评价指标体系设计的指导思想,并借鉴国外跨国公司的业绩评价,结合中国企业的实际情况,设计了一套比较完整的第二产业企业经营业绩评价指标体系,以期待对该领域的研究有所推进。     

基于内控假设的内控系统评价体系的构建

近年来,由于内部控制失败导致的金融机构风险案件频繁发生,这其中不乏一些国际公认具有先进的内控体系的金融机构。文章认为,之所以出现这种情况是因为现有的内控系统的评价体系存在盲点,它们大多忽略了内控系统的前提假设对内控建设的重要作用。在考虑内控假设的基础上重新构建了内控系统的评价体系,并运用该评价体系对法国兴业银行在巨亏案爆发之前的内控系统作了评价,来佐证该评价体系的实际应用性。最后对中国金融机构如何构建有效的内控系统提出了几点建议。     

基于FAHP的公租房融资模式选择研究

基于公租房融资现状,结合模糊综合层次分析法(FAHP)构建融资模式选择评价模型。融资主体主要分为政府主导融资、政企合作融资、企业主导融资三类,通过融资主体评价指标确定相应融资主体。在政企合作融资主体类型下构建以运营机制、融资效率、追索权为主要指标的评价体系,结合各指标的影响因子,由下而上将隶属度最高的确定为最佳融资模式。最后以河南省遂平县某拟建公租房为例进行评价,为公租房融资模式的选择提供一定的借鉴。     

Experimental Test of a Q-Sort Procedure for Prioritizing R&D Projects

Abstract— In this study, fifteen managers and scientists experimented with the use of a Q-sort procedure for evaluating and prioritizing thirteen research projects. Q-sorting is a psychometric method for classifying items according to the opinions of a group of persons, and for evoking group consensus on these classifications. The procedure focuses on the rather natural individual opinion/group decision making process that must take place in project selection/evaluation. In general, the participants thought that Q-sorting was too imprecise to yield final decisions. However, progress was made toward organizational consensus, and the participants felt the procedure was valuable for facilitating scientist/scientist and the scientist-manager communications within the project evaluation process. It was therefore concluded that Q-sorting may be a valuable aid to the heuristic idea-exchange process that should accompany any formal project selection exercise. The results here suggest that Q-sorting may be a good procedure to facilitate the use of a mathematical project selection model.     

智能电网试点项目评价指标体系研究

智能电网试点项目评价是坚强智能电网建设第1阶段（规划试点阶段）的重要环节和步骤。考虑项目技术性、经济性、社会性以及实用化等方面,参照世界银行及国家政府部门普遍采用的设计准则——sMART准则,构建智能电网试点项目评价指标体系框架。针对智能变电站、配电自动化和用电信息采集系统3类试点工程分别提出相应的评价指标体系     

Developing an expert system on project evaluation: Part 1: Structuring the expertise

This paper reports interim results obtained from research on the development of an expert system originally intended to be advisory to managers at all levels of R&D on the selection of projects. Whilst diversity had been expected, when the 'Experts' were consulted, there was a total absence of agreement as to how projects were selected.
This led to a shift in objectives. The first shift was from project selection to project evaluation which was identified as the real activity which managers undertook in conditions where the number of projects was likely to exceed the resources available. The second was to try to classify projects such that projects in one class might have similar criteria for evaluation
In pursuit of these new objectives, the rigorous thinking necessary to structure the guidance of the 'Experts' into an expert system gave new insights into the nature of projects themselves and their management in support of corporate strategy. This paper sets these out and will be followed by Pt. II which will report on structuring the actual Expert System, and Pt. Ill giving the details of the managerial approach and the decision support process of the actual expert system