Case history studies in ICI Agricultural Division Research and Development Department 1968–1975

During the period 1968–1972 several projects which were initiated in Agricultural Division Research & Development Department were studied in some depth, the main objective being to try to establish the reasons for the successes and the failures. A set of six precepts (AGCAST criteria) likely to lead to success was derived from these studies. These precepts were then combined with six precepts resulting from the SAPPHO study of industrial innovation. From 1973 onwards the twelve precepts were applied; firstly to studies of finished projects, with a saving in the effort required, secondly to two ‘live’ projects which were examined so as to make suggestions for improving the management of these projects. Unfortunately, both projects were abandoned before the suggestions could be applied. Use has also been made of case studies and the AGCAST/ SAPPHO list in the design of an internal course for project managers. This is arguably the most valuable application of these studies.     

Risk management, project success, and technological uncertainty

In times of increased competition and globalization, project success becomes even more critical to business performance, and yet many projects still suffer delays, overruns, and even failure. Ironically, however, risk management tools and techniques, which have been developed to improve project success, are used too little, and many still wonder how helpful they are. In this paper we present the results of an empirical study devoted to this question. Based on data collected on over 100 projects performed in Israel in a variety of industries, we examine the extent of usage of some risk management practices, such as risk identification, probabilistic risk analysis, planning for uncertainty and trade-off analysis, the difference in application across different types of projects, and their impact on various project success dimensions. Our findings suggest that risk management practices are still not widely used. Only a limited number of projects in our study have used any kind of risk management practices and many have only used some, but not all the available tools. When used, risk management practices seem to be working, and appear to be related to project success. We also found that risk management practices were more applicable to higher risk projects. The impact of risk management is mainly on better meeting time and budget goals and less on product performance and specification. In this case, we also found some differences according levels of technological uncertainty. Our conclusion is that risk management is still at its infancy and that at this time, more awareness to the application, training, tool development, and research on risk management is needed.     

How to perform collaborative servitization innovation projects: the role of servitization maturity

Although current literature indicates that openness and collaboration are crucial for success in an innovative servitization solution within interorganisational servitization projects, research is limited compared to that on product and technology innovation projects. Moreover, this emerging servitization literature is limited to the traditional lead-firm perspective within larger consortiums. To help redress the balance, our research studied six collaborative servitization projects in mobile information and communication technologies (mICT) to explore why some open innovation efforts succeed in simultaneous service and product innovation with a market application of innovative solution, while others do not. The study provides empirical evidence that only a small number of projects resulted in an effective servitization innovation solution. This conclusion emphasises the complexity of creating service innovation in the mICT sector. By comparing better performing servitization projects with those that were less successful suggests that higher performance, in terms of novel service development, requires more than mere strong intention, adequate leadership and change management competencies. Rather, it also requires real servitization maturity in terms of a shared servitization framework and market-oriented innovation.     

Evaluation of Nonconventional Projects: GIRR and GERR vs. MIRR

This article considers evaluation of nonconventional projects and projects with cash outflows occurring not only at the beginning of project. It has been proved that, being a monotonically increasing function of a discount or finance rate, the modified internal rate of return (MIRR) fails to characterize the rate of return of such projects. We showed how to eliminate the MIRR's dependence on a finance rate and proved that in this case the MIRR becomes the “equivalent rate of return” proposed by Solomon. The generalized internal rate of return (GIRR) and generalized external rate of return (GERR) indices based on the generalized net present value (GNPV) approach are considered as alternatives to the MIRR. Several nonconventional projects have been evaluated using the MIRR, GIRR, and GERR rules. In order to verify the estimates, we drew up a simple project balance sheet, which demonstrated correctness of the results based on the GIRR and GERR rules and errors inherent in the MIRR application.     

价值工程在油田开发工程造价管理中的应用

结合实际就采油厂在油田开发工程造价管理中价值工程的原理进行了阐述,并结合实际案例就价值工程在油田开发工程造价管理设计阶段、施工阶段、招投标阶段的应用进行了分析。通过开展价值工程活动,对提高采油厂油田开发工程的总体效益,降低开发工程寿命周期成本起到积极作用。     

评标专家/评标委员会的权力义务关系分析

在招投标过程中,投标人资格预审．招标件的起草,评标办法的确定,评标委员会的组建及其权力行使(评标)是影响招投标质量的几个关键环节。招投标当事人对于它们在投标人资格预审、招标件的起草等环节所享有的权利以及所担负的义务很少存在疑问。但是对于评标专家／评标委员会同招标人之间产生的权利和义务关系,以及评标专家／评标委员会同监督管理部门之间的关系,在概念上多存在模糊之处。从某种意义上说,评标专家／评标委员会同招标人之间关系是一种雇用合同关系,评标专家,评标委员会同监督管理部门之间的存在极小的相互关系,监理部门无权直接对评标专家给予任何评价。监督管理部门同招标人之间是一种委托代理关系。通过分析试图使招投标当事人正确地认识评标专家,评标委员会在招投标过程中所扮演的角色,也使评委们对于自己的权利．义务以及所肩负的职责有一个清晰的、全面的认识,达到招投标公平．公开,公正,择优的目的。     

Forecasting core competencies in an R&D environment

This study, carried out in 1998, aimed to develop a method of forecasting core competencies in an agricultural research organization, using the Delphi Technique. First, based on a survey of internal documents and interviews, nine organizational core competencies and their specific components (human competencies) were defined, and expert judges identified. These judges responded to a questionnaire, in which the importance of the future human competencies was assessed and the organization's existing human capacity was evaluated. Means were calculated for both judgements and changes were made in various definitions, based on the experts' comments. Another questionnaire was designed and sent out to an expanded panel of judges to confirm or to revise the priority mean scores obtained or to add scores in the case of competencies that entered later. Factor analysis and reliability scores have demonstrated internal and inter‐competency consistencies. Technological Innovation Management and Geo‐processing appeared as the top priorities and Plant Pathology as the least priority. Priorities for each human competency were also calculated and they have been helpful for decision‐making concerning the selection and graduate training of researchers on the organization studied.     

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.     

R&D as an option on market introduction

Discounted cash flow methods for making R&D investment decisions cannot properly capture the option value in R&D. Since market and technology uncertainties change expectations about the viability of many new products, the value of projects is frequently adjusted during the R&D stages. Capturing the adjustment in expectations has an option value that may significantly differ from the Net Present Value of R&D projects. However, there are no historic time series for estimating the uncertainty of the value of R&D projects. As a result, the standard Black and Scholes model for financial option valuation needs to be adjusted. The aim of this paper is to report the application of a particular option pricing model for setting the budget of R&D projects. The option value of the model captures jumps or business shifts in market or technology conditions. The approach originates from applying current insight into the valuation of R&D projects to the field of multimedia research at Philips Corporate Research. This way, the gap between real option theory and R&D practice is further diminished.     

Parallel machine replacement under horizon uncertainty

Construction projects usually get delayed for several time periods. When the planning horizon of a project is extended, projections for purchase and salvage of machinery within the planning horizon become inaccurate and less beneficial and often lead to unexpected costs. In this article, we formulate a parallel machine replacement (PMR) problem as a two-stage stochastic program with an uncertain planning horizon. We consider renting as an alternative to purchasing and maintaining the machinery. We show the application of the model through a case study in construction projects. Through numerical analysis, we derive managerial implications and show the value of the stochastic model.     

基于DEA 的建设工程项目技术创新效率动态评价方法

现有文献主要从区域、产业和企业等层面探讨技术创新效率评价方法。本文针对建设工程项目独特性和创新性特点,分别从工程过程管理和组织行为视角分析技术创新影响因素,确定效率评价的构成要素,运用系统动力学构建技术创新能力动态模型。同时,将动态模型与DEA 算法结合,完整给出建设工程项目的技术创新效率评价方法。同时,以8 个项目进行案例分析,得到各项目技术创新效率值及排序;并选取3 个关键要素进行敏感性分析,结果表明提高专利工法申请量是提升效率的最有效途径。研究成果将为管理者提升项目管理绩效提供方法依据。     

基于概算清理的大型企业集团工程造价管理思考

根据神华集团公司2013年建设项目初步设计概算全面清理的情况,对超概算项目进行了认真统计并作了详细分析,并基于此对大型集团公司工程造价管理工作提出:加强对概算调整的管理力度、全面推广使用工程造价信息系统、严格控制工程设计变更和概算外新增工程等建议。     

新型建材碳纤维及其在加固混凝土结构中的应用

针对碳纤维是一种用于加固混凝土的新型建材,应用价值较高,介绍了碳纤维的性能特点、加固混凝土结构的施工工艺及施工中的注意事项,以使更多的工程人员更好地了解它、应用它。     

数字化交付在煤化工项目中的实施及优化探讨

为探索更优的数字化交付技术架构及实施路线,提高数字化交付在煤化工项目中的应用水准,以某公司数字化交付项目为研究对象,详细梳理了三维建模、管道仪表流程图绘制、结构化文档及非结构化数据收集等方面在航天炉气化岛数字化交付项目中的实施情况,对实施方案及重点内容进行讨论,对比分析了各平台之间的优劣。结合数字化交付领域的现状,对当前煤化工产业数字化交付项目中存在的问题进行了探讨,从政策、业主、工程公司及软件平台商等方面给出了解决方法和优化建议。结果表明:1）采用PDMS,SP P&ID及其他专业技术软件支持下的AVEVA NET数字化交付平台体系架构合理,并且能够顺利完成交付实施;2）合理的实施步骤、更高的重视程度、明确的政策规范以及有效的信息传递方式可以明显改善数字化交付项目的优化效果,目前应着重提升工程公司的三维建模能力及软件商的技术水平。探讨结果不仅可以为其他企业的数字化交付工作提供借鉴,还可为实现智能工厂提供了建设思路和数据支持。     

利用DOM及DEM数据进行输电工程勘测设计研究

依据山东省地理信息中心已有1／10000比例尺的DOM（数字正射影像图,Digital Orthophoto Map）和DEM（数字高程模型,Digital Elevation Model）数据,通过核线共线方程恢复生成大场景三维立体模型,然后进行架空输电线路路径优选、测量平断面图,再进行外业采集交叉跨越和重要断面数据,并用外业实际测量数据对原数据进行拟合修正,最后生成三维漫游。研究将标准测量4D数据应用到架空输电工程勘测设计全过程,通过工程实际应用,提出了应用方法及注意事项等。     

Integrating Knowledge and Knowledge Processes: A Critical Incident Study of Product Development Projects

Various scholars have argued that knowledge processes in organizations are integrally linked in practice. The extant literature though treats them separately and thereby disregards the interactions and tensions between them. A result of this way of studying knowledge processes is that little is known about their relative importance and how they work together. This paper addresses this gap in the literature through a critical incident study of knowledge processes in product development projects of high‐tech small firms. The paper starts off with a conceptual framework comprised of four knowledge processes—knowledge creation, knowledge application, knowledge integration, and knowledge retention—and their interactions. From the framework, three hypotheses are derived concerning the importance of these types of knowledge processes and their interactions, which in turn guide the empirical research. The hypotheses were tested in a retrospective study of 58 critical incidents in product development projects of 16 high‐tech small firms in the Netherlands. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews using the critical incident interviewing technique. Interviewees were asked to “relive” and describe particular successful and unsuccessful examples of product development projects in the past. The analysis of the interview data focused upon whether there are differences between successful and unsuccessful projects in the types of knowledge processes and interactions that are performed. After coding all data into the various types of knowledge processes and interactions of the framework, t‐tests were used to test for significance of differences. The findings indicate that the difference between success and failure in these projects lies primarily in the extent to which knowledge integration and integration between knowledge processes have taken place. These findings demonstrate that, of the four knowledge processes, knowledge integration had the most significant impact on product development project success. The study demonstrates furthermore that higher degrees of interactions between knowledge processes were also associated with project success. Despite the limitations of this study, these results provide empirical support for the claim that integration is a key factor in organizations in general and in innovation projects in particular. For academics, this suggests further research on knowledge integration, and integration between knowledge processes, is warranted. For practitioners, it means that integration is a key process to be considered when choosing and executing new product development projects.     

环氧玻璃钢外防护层技术在长江定向钻穿越中的应用

在大型江河的定向钻穿越工程中,如何加强对穿越管道防腐层的有效保护是穿越管道施工和后期安全运行的重要环节。以环氧玻璃钢外防护层技术在长江定向钻穿越中的成功应用为例,介绍了该技术的性能特性及施工工艺、检验方法,为后续大型江河定向钻穿越工程的设计和施工提供参考。     

How well did the new Sumitomo Electric project ranking method predict performance?

The development and implementation of a new R&D project scoring method (NS-method) within Sumitomo Electric Industries was introduced in a previous report. This paper evaluates the NS-method's effectiveness by comparing the information generated by application to 146 projects in 1997 with the project achievements in 2000. The test results revealed that the NS-method's evaluation scores were correlated to the performance indicators such as the gross profit and R&D productivity. It also showed that, when projects are classified into three groups (i.e., Top, Middle, Bottom) according to the forecast data generated by the NS-method, the projects in the Top category had higher actual productivity ratios and success rates than those in the Bottom category.     

A systematic comparative analysis and synthesis of two business-level strategic typologies

Two important business-level strategic typologies were systematically evaluated, analyzed and compared in this study: Porter'S Overall Cost Leadership, Differentiation, Focus, and ‘Stuck in the Middle’ generic competitive strategies, and Miles and Snow'S Defender, Prospector, Analyzer, and Reactor types of organizational adaptation. On the basis of strategic theory, and following a pilot study, 31 strategic variables were evaluated by judges on a seven-point maximum-minimum scale, for each strategy, within its typology. Analysis of variances and concordance among judges regarding the ranking of the strategies on each variable were examined, and a strategic profile was built for each strategy. Proximities between strategies of the two typologies were analyzed using monotonic multidimensional scaling. The analysis indicated similarities and differences between the two typologies. A synthesis of the two typologies is suggested along two dimensions: internal consistency of the strategy, and level of proactiveness.