Employee empowerment in manufacturing: a study of organisations in the UK

Based on a postal survey and interviews, this paper analyses employee empowerment in the UK manufacturing industry, including how it is pursued and perceived, and the key factors that determine success. Success seems to depend on far-reaching changes in procedures, hierarchies and reward structures. This need to mobilise individual agents and structure reconfirms the agency-structure duality.     

Suppliers' roles in category management: A study of supplier–retailer relationships in Finland and Sweden

The purpose of this paper is to analyze suppliers' roles in category management (CM) in the context of Finnish and Swedish supplier–retailer relationships. Using data from a survey of a sample of Finnish and Swedish suppliers, the study shows that the concept of CM is well known among both Finnish and Swedish suppliers, and that most of them have experience of CM as a key operational business process. The study also shows that, in general, larger suppliers in both Finland and Sweden have a relatively strong role in CM collaboration, whereas smaller suppliers (especially in Finland) are more likely to have a lesser role in CM collaboration. Suppliers with a strong role in CM collaboration are generally more capable of influencing individual CM tactics than suppliers with an equal role to competitors or those with no role (both in Finland and in Sweden). The study also finds that the effects of CM are perceived more positively among suppliers who have influence in decision-making regarding CM collaboration than among those who have no role in such decision-making. However, the opinions of suppliers who have no role in CM collaboration are neutral, rather than being especially negative. Qualitative studies, including face-to-face discussions with managers representing manufacturers who are more or less excluded from CM collaboration, might provide a more thorough understanding of CM from their perspective.     

Smart city networks' governance: The Spanish smart city network case study

The governance of smart city networks emerges as a new research area intersecting smart governance and public networks studies. This work aims to contribute to the literature on smart cities governance by studying councillor's governance in complex networks and on network performance. To carry out this analysis, the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI), one of the first of its kind and an international reference for city networks, is reviewed as a case study, with the main objective of establishing a theory on its global innovation capacity and operations, together with the local level spurring influenced on its members. A PEST (Political, Economic, Social and Technological) analysis was carried out in order to assess the impact of the smart city network both at local, national and international level. This research was completed with a consultation carried out among some of RECI's municipalities. The analysis of the results shows how RECI can be considered an example of a well organised network with quantifiable savings for its members, capable of configuring future policies in local administration, necessarily related to efficiency, digitalization and citizen-centricity and with key topics to build the future. The study also suggests recommendations oriented to potential improvements that smart city networks could undertake.     

Eco-labels and product longevity: The case of whitefish in UK grocery retailing

In recent years, eco-labeling has become an increasingly used tool to signal sustainable sourcing of (sea-) food. While the literature has focused on price premiums associated with the labels, it is noted in this paper that eco-labels can also contribute to profitability by reducing cost, e.g. through longer product lifespans. Hence, eco-labels can be beneficial in a supply chain even without a price premium. This study applies duration analysis to explore whether two eco-labels (the MSC label of the Marine Stewardship Council and a line-caught label) influence product longevity of whitefish products in eight different grocery retailers in the UK. The results show that MSC labeled products have a 64.7% lower risk of being withdrawn from the shelves compared to non-MSC products, while products with the line-caught label have a 32.8% lower risk of being withdrawn than products without this label. The results also indicate that the influence of the eco-labels on product longevity vary considerably between the retailers.     

Benefits of using hybrid business models within a supply chain

Today's competition between supply chains (SC) requires optimized strategies in order to satisfy customers’ demands. The business models used by the SC members play a big role in this delivery of value to the customer. From here the notion that a mismatch between the intended market and the business model used to address it translates into a poor SC performance. As real-life business environments have become really complex, SC members have been forced to use hybrid business models (that is, the integration of features of two different business models). A review of the literature in the area of supply chain management shows that past research have not paid much attention to this issue. The objective of this paper is to quantitatively evaluate the influence these hybrid business models have on the SC performance. For this purpose, a system dynamics (SD) simulation model is developed and tested under different operational conditions, so conclusions can be derived regarding the benefits of the use of hybrid business models.     

Management information system for a research institute in a developing country: a case study

Abstract: An information system which is designed for and is being implemented at Marmara Scientific and Industrial Research Institute, Turkey, is described. The basic objectives of the system are to provide for a continuous review of the activities carried out at the Institute based on quantitative as well as qualitative information and to facilitate the gathering of timely and accurate information required by the organizations with which the Institute is affiliated.     

融合现代化管理思想实施企业质量管理创新

通过分析当前企业质量管理运作与新经济时代发展的不相适应，提出了质量管理的创新思路。指出，要突破传统体制下质量管理面临的围城，必须融入现代化管理思想。     

Marketing research by a small industrial firm: A case study

There is a growing need today for industrial marketers to conduct marketing research and use the results in making profitable business decisions. This paper describes a marketing research study conducted by a small industrial firm and discusses the nature and extent of its impact on the firm's operations. Several implications and practical guidelines are derived for industrial marketers in general, based on the firm's marketing research experience.     

PC—9801微机学籍管理信息系统

本文论述了学籍管理系统在 PC—9801机上实现的系统设计过程,设计技巧与设计观点。并介绍了如何使用 dBASEⅢ系统软件和软盘解决院系学生成绩、学籍两级管理的问题。     

The Role and Determinants of Concession Sales in Movie Theaters: Evidence from the Spanish Exhibition Industry

The importance of concession sales in the movie exhibition industry is widely acknowledged among economists and other social scientists that have studied this industry in the past. Despite this recognition, the lack of appropriate data has constrained existing studies that document the role that concessions play in movie theaters. Using detailed weekly movie theater data on concession sales, box office revenues and transaction characteristics from a major exhibitor in Spain, we shed light on the relation between concession sales and the following factors (i) theater attendance, (ii) non-traditional channels of ticket distribution, (iii) audience composition, and (iv) theater and market specific factors.      

Controlling inventories in a supply chain: A case study

This article presents a case study on the joint replenishment problem. Particularly we analyze the effect of minimum order quantities and a complex transportation cost structure on inventories. Several types of inventory policies are tested in a simulation model with real data.     

Implementation of Key Account Management: Who, why, and how?: An exploratory study on the current implementation of Key Account Management programs

Key Account Management, as currently described in relationship marketing literature, is an important approach to creating value, by implementing specific processes targeting most important customers. This exploratory study contributes to the understanding of Key Account Management by focusing on factors influencing the decision for implementing Key Account Management and the implementation-process. The findings suggest that the intensity of competition as well as the intensity of coordination are factors driving companies towards the adoption of Key Account Management programs, and that companies still pay too little attention to the selection of key accounts. The study also reveals the phenomenon of ‘hidden key accounts’: More than 80% of the investigated companies without Key Account Management offer their key customers special treatment without aligning their own internal organizational structures.     

Strategic and HRM aspects of kaizen: a case study

This article presents a case study of a kaizen in a UK diesel engine manufacturer. Kaizen is explained as an emergent strategy; its effective-ness in reducing costs is explained by its effects on the effort bargain and by the organisation of the work standardisation task. Kaizen–related changes, perceptions of the employees, and its effects of the competitive position of the firm are reviewed.     

Communication and co-operation in product development: a case study of a European car producer

Continuous innovations in product and process technology, coupled with time-to-market pressure, have made rapid product development a key strategic objective of manufacturing firms. Consequently, many firms have started to define the ways in which products are designed, developed and produced, so as to reduce the time from conception to manufacture. The strategies employed to achieve this goal vary, and include the integration of functions through selective use of concurrent engineering, the formation of strategic project teams, and technological connections by CAD/CAM systems. The research reported in this paper, co-ordinated by the WZB Institute of Berlin, is aimed examining organizational, technological and human resources practices that enhance quality in R&D by improving communication and co-operation C&C) between the actors. Although the research was carried out in four countries(Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA) and in three sectors (car, personal computer and machine tools) this paper analyses the evidence provided by a set of face to face interviews of the managers, engineers and designers of a European car producer.     

The socioeconomic feasibility of greening rail stations: a case study in lisbon

Green roofs and living walls are considered effective solutions for improving the environmental integrity of urbanized areas and the overall performance of buildings. Proposals are emerging not just for buildings but also for existing transport infrastructures that have needs/problems that can be met or addressed by such solutions. However, the economic feasibility of such sustainable solutions has not yet been clarified. This study presents a methodological approach to performing cost–benefit analyses of greening urban transport infrastructures at the separate financial, economic, and socioenvironmental levels. Infrastructure, user, and environmental dimensions are also assessed. Whole life cycle costs and socioenvironmental benefits are considered together. The methodology is applied to one of the main stations in Lisbon, Portugal: Entrecampos Railway Station. Five different case study alternatives for the station’s retrofit with green infrastructures are compared to its current situation. The cost–benefit analysis demonstrated that all five greening alternatives are economically feasible. For a 50-year life cycle and a 3.36% discount rate, the net present value ranged between EUR 734,700 and EUR 7,733,279. A sensitivity analysis was also performed, revealing a high degree of influence of discount and inflation rates, recreation, aesthetics improvement, well-being, and the station noise reduction on the net present value, ranging from 1.5 to 9%.     

Value-chain innovation in aquaculture: insights from a New Zealand case study

We report a case study of value-chain innovation in a niche, export-oriented aquaculture industry, namely, Chinook/King salmon, that contrasts with the much more common Atlantic/Norwegian salmon. The firm in question is vertically integrated, thus offering a 'cradle-to-grave' vista of innovation that spans 'production' (i.e. farming), processing, marketing, and distribution. A major finding is the need for a delicate balance between the relative expenditures on production research and developmental research in integrated aquaculture firms, especially those that focus on niche species. Interaction effects between the two research strands complicate the trade-off: production research adds value at the fish farm by lowering the unit cost of production – and in turn facilitates new product development as it is easier to add value to a lower-cost product than a higher-cost product. From the case study findings, we synthesize a process model of value-chain innovation that is applicable for integrated aquaculture firms. We also induce several implications for the management of Research & Development and innovation in such firms.     

Management of technology in traditional industries: a pilot study in ten Belgian companies

Empirical Research about management of innovation has mainly been limited to the Anglo-Saxon world. In this paper the author reports on a pilot study, which is part of a larger project, in ten small and medium-sized Belgian companies, all of them active in rather mature industries. The study concerned aspects of idea generation, problem-solving, project selection, and some organizational aspects of the innovation process. An interesting hypothesis resulting from this study is that innovation is mainly an incremental process along a natural trajectory characteristic for the subindustry to which the company belongs, and that the selection process is for the majority of these companies only a minor problem.     

Intranet/Internet在项目管理中的应用及发展分析

Internet/Intranet技术的飞速发展为项目管理的集成化，信息化提供了可能。本通过对Internet/Intranet在项目管理中作用的研究，分析了Internet/Intranet技术在国内外项目管理中的应用状况及发展趋势。并指出目前在我国应用中存在的问题。     

探索项目教学法在管理学基础课程中的运用

管理学基础作为一门实践性较强的综合性课程,在教学过程中不能过于理论化,设计以实践为导向的教学方法是非常必要的。将项目教学法引入到管理学基础课程的教学中,是实践为导向教学理念的具体体现,对于培养学生的专业兴趣,全面提高学生的职业技能和综合素质非常有帮助。