Foundations of logistics and supply chain research: a bibliometric analysis of four international journals

The purpose of this paper is to explore the current intellectual foundation of four leading academic journals within the field of logistics and supply chain management. We were interested to identify the most frequently quoted publications as well as their impact on logistics research. We examined 17,000 references of 412 papers and further analysed the 39 top-references with the means of multidimensional scaling (MDS), cluster- and factor analysis. We were able to identify a mix of textbooks and articles from academic journals and revealed a journal-specific citation pattern, not only in the choice of textbooks but also in the choice of referenced methodology papers. We were also able to identify citation streams and citation areas, where it was surprising to find so many general socio-scientific papers and general papers explaining the character of the field.     

Multi-level analysis in information systems research: the case of enterprise resource planning system usage in China

Information technology (IT) usage within organisations is a multi-level phenomenon that is influenced by individual-level and organisational-level variables. Yet, current theories, such as the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, describe IT usage as solely an individual-level phenomenon. This article postulates a model of organisational IT usage that integrates salient organisational-level variables such as user training, top management support and technical support within an individual-level model to postulate a multi-level model of IT usage. The multi-level model was then empirically validated using multi-level data collected from 128 end users and 26 managers in 26 firms in China regarding their use of enterprise resource planning systems and analysed using the multi-level structural equation modelling (MSEM) technique. We demonstrate the utility of MSEM analysis of multi-level data relative to the more common structural equation modelling analysis of single-level data and show how single-level data can be aggregated to approximate multi-level analysis when multi-level data collection is not possible. We hope that this article will motivate future scholars to employ multi-level data and multi-level analysis for understanding organisational phenomena that are truly multi-level in nature.     

A processual analysis of the purchasing and supply organization in transition: the impact of offshoring

Many companies have resorted to offshoring in order to reduce costs and grow their global market presence. Yet it remains unclear what impact the offshoring strategy has on the purchasing and supply organization (PSO) of these companies. In this paper the nature and type of changes offshoring organizations make within the PSO are examined, i.e. how new purchasing and supply management (PSM) structures and practices emerge, are maintained or are discarded as production operations are relocated. The processual perspective is used to analyze empirical data from a rich, in-depth case study within a global engineering company. Results suggest that in line with the law of requisite variety the PSO changes thoroughly when the company relocates its production activities through the captive offshoring mode, but does so in a more disjointed and non-linear manner than the current stage models would suggest. The offshoring process provides momentum for PSO change and influences where and how the change happens. We present five propositions for further research and conclude that offshoring provides managers with opportunities to: (i) change and influence the strategic direction of PSM in their organizations, and (ii) build viable strategies of retaining and managing knowledge and PSM competencies in global operations.     

Strategic change of public research units in their scientific activity

The current debate on public sector research in modern economies has generated an increasing interest regarding the scientific activity of research units for external users. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between production of basic research and applied activity of public research units, focusing Italian case-study. The results show an increasing crowding-out effect between applied activity vs. basic research. This effect is due to cuts in research unit budgets and increased push by governments that have obliged the researchers to collaborate with firms and external institutions for getting funds more and more necessary to the economic survival of public research institutes. In addition, to cope with consequential environmental threats, Italian research organizations have been facing a strategic change. In fact, public research institutes now operate as research units market-oriented and researchers focus on applied activity and consultancy, rather than basic research. This strategic change of public research institutions is also present in several countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, and so on. Because of this worldwide tendency, there is the threat, in public research organizations, of less discovery-based research around longer term needs centred on public welfare that also affect, negatively, long-run economic growth.     

技术创新项目风险分析与综合评价

文章分析了企业技术创新项目的风险因素,在此基础上设置了风险评价指标体系,建立了模糊评判模型,对企业技术创新风险进行了科学评价,并能定量地衡量企业关于某个项目的技术创新风险大小,为企业技术创新决策和采取风险控制措施提供了依据。     

Renaissance of case research as a scientific method

Since the seminal article by Eisenhardt (1989), scholarly interest in case research has mushroomed in operations management and organization sciences. Volumes of methodological texts are matched with a massive amount of empirical research that seeks to apply and further develop case research as a scientific method. What is missing from this literature is a treatment of the methodological diversity of case research. In this paper, we seek to unveil this heterogeneity by describing three distinct methodological accounts of case study: theory generation, theory testing, and theory elaboration. Each approach has its own idiosyncrasies, in particular when it comes to the interplay between theory and empirics. A typical case research incorporates both existing theories and empirical data to varying degrees. In light of this heterogeneity, we re-interpret key aspects of extant contributions and discuss guidelines for future case research. We propose that ultimately, case research rigor is determined by attention to idiosyncrasy and transparency of reasoning. We conclude by arguing that we have witnessed in the past 25 years in organization research what amounts to the Renaissance of case research.     

Variance estimation in the change analysis of a linear regression model

We study a “direct test” of Chu and White (1992) proposed for detecting changes in the trend of a linear regression model. The power of this test strongly depends on a suitable estimation of the variance of the error variables involved. We discuss various types of variance estimators and derive their asymptotic properties under the null-hypothesis of “no change” as well as under the alternative of “a change in linear trend”. A small simulation study illustrates the estimators' finite sample behaviour.     

Promoting research access and informant rapport in corporate settings: Notes from research on a crisis company

Obtaining evidence on managerial action is inevitably difficult. Although it has been suggested that critical events such as corporate crises provide opportunities for research, there has been a lack of discussion on what aspects of management such conditions help to illuminate and how they could be exploited in obtaining both formal access and rapport with individual informants. Based on fieldwork experience this paper suggests that corporations in crisis should be taken seriously in research on managerial action because they may both facilitate access and liberate and motivate individual managers to reflect on both their own acts and intentions and on those of other individuals.     

浅议科研项目经济效益的静态分析

为了使计算简便、快捷,并减少调查研究的工作量,文章采用静态分析法对科研项目的经济效益进行了分析,并提出了进一步完善分析的方法。     

Government instruments to support the commercialization of university research: Lessons from Canada

Increased efforts are made in most industrialized countries to promote the commercialization of university research, for instance, through spin-off firm formation. Many studies have investigated the initiatives set up in the university sector that aim to support and facilitate the commercialization of research, such as technology transfer offices (TTO). However, few studies have looked at the increasing number of instruments introduced from the government. This paper reviews the Canadian support structure at federal level that aims to support the commercialization of publicly funded research. Two types of programs can be identified. Firstly, programs made to induce structural reforms within the university sector in order to improve the institutional capabilities to facilitate commercialization projects. Secondly, programs providing support to specific commercialization projects. This paper explores how these types of programs are operated at government level. An example of implementation at university level is also given. The lessons to be learned from the Canadian case are related to how the government initiatives encourage a bottom-up approach. This is accomplished by providing resources for direct use in commercialization projects or to develop professional expertise in technology transfer in the university sector, by experimenting with new initiatives, and finally by facilitating cooperation between commercializing organizations.     

产学研相结合--新时期我国企业科技创新持续发展途径

本文列举了我国企业与高校、科研院所的科技力量分布不平衡的情况;介绍了科学研究的两种模式,产学研相结合开展技术创新,就是对这两种模式的具体运用,并深入分析了企业-高校-科研院所产学研相结合持续发展的作用机制、产学研相结合的三种形式;提出了社会各界对产学研相结合的持续发展应给予的政策支持。     

Two schools of risk analysis: A review of past research on project risk

Risk research can be generally categorized into two schools: risk as an objective fact and risk as a subjective construction. Both schools have different risk definitions, epistemological dimensions, and analytical methods, and tend to recommend different policies for managing risks. This study aims to locate the position of past studies on project risk found between the two schools of risk analysis and to help understand their basic assumptions and viewpoints by reviewing articles published during the last 10 years in two project management journals: the International Journal of Project Management and Project Management Journal. There are 171 articles collected from both journals. They are categorized into four groups: project management system, subjective perception, irrational behavior in risk management, and subjective construction. This study describes and discusses the basic assumptions, viewpoints, and tendencies usually held by each group, and it indicates the position of each group found between the two schools. It also develops some discussion on the starting point of both schools of risk analysis and their significance in directing practices of project risk management.     

运筹学在校区建设中的应用——以某高校新校区建设为例

运筹学自产生以来,得到了迅速的发展和广泛的应用。文章在介绍运筹学产生、发展、应用及其应用特点、步骤的基础上,结合某高校新校区建设成功运用运筹学解决防洪问题,配电标准问题的实例,提出校区建设中许多问题可应用运筹学得到有效解决。如,校区功能布局;供电、供水、供汽线路铺设;电视、电话、电脑网络铺设;楼层、楼高确定;人力资源安排;建设资金调配;树木花草选择、布局等。     

A systematic way of identifying and forecasting technological reverse salients using QFD,bibliometrics, and trend impact analysis: A carbon nanotube biosensor case

Experts have more difficulty identifying reverse salients in R&D because of increasing technological complexity and a shortened technology lifecycle. As an alternative, we suggest a new and systematic method of identifying and forecasting reverse salients using QFD (quality function deployment), bibliometric analysis, and TIA (trend impact analysis). QFD allows users to systematically identify and prioritize reverse salients. An integration of QFD, bibliometric analysis, and TIA makes it possible to specify key performance indicators of reverse salient in order to identify the performance gap between current and market-required performance and to make a probabilistic forecast about when reverse salients will be corrected. Our method will help managers identify a top priority reverse salient, forecast its future, and thus make better R&D decisions with regard to market requirements. A carbon nanotube biosensor technology is used as an example.     

Using partial least squares in operations management research: A practical guideline and summary of past research

The partial least squares (PLS) approach to structural equation modeling (SEM) has been widely adopted in business research fields such as information systems, consumer behavior, and marketing. The use of PLS in the field of operations management is also growing. However, questions still exist among some operations management researchers regarding whether and how PLS should be used. To address these questions, our study provides a practical guideline for using PLS and uses examples from the operations management literature to demonstrate how the specific points in this guideline can be applied. In addition, our study reviews and summarizes the use of PLS in the recent operations management literature according to our guideline. The main contribution of this study is to present a practical guideline for evaluating and using PLS that is tailored to the operations management field.     

Strategic global human resource management research in the twenty-first century: an endorsement of the mixed-method research methodology

Global competition is rapidly becoming the norm in which nearly all business organizations must compete in one fashion or another. The complexity and value of strategic global human resource management (SGHRM) will continue to compound in significance as globalization becomes the predominate form of business. Both practitioners and researchers maintain the grapple with understanding the global phenomena and the resulting impact on the entire human resource management system.

Previously, researchers' maintained research programmes utilizing Western-style theories and methods, which were predominantly quantitative, to explore phenomena that may now be inappropriate. These methods and theories frequently do not capture the ‘fabric’ of global phenomena that include complex interactions of culture, institutions, societal norms and government regulations, among a few concerns.

The mixed methods approach is proposed to add the ‘fabric’ required, illustrating the depth and flexibility needed to explore the SGHRM issues. Mixed methods are a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches that maintain methodological rigour as well as measures for reliability and validity. This paper explores the current methods, the reasons for their lack of success in portraying the depth of the phenomena and why the mixed methods approach appears to be a superior method for research for the SGHRM field.     

Network management as a contingent activity. A configurational analysis of managerial behaviors in different network settings

ABSTRACT

Network managers engage in several day-to-day activities, including bridging, networking, and stabilizing relationships. Still, when should they opt for one activity or another? Our study shows that this choice needs to be taken in combination with certain network characteristics, such as network development stage, connectivity, and trust. It sheds light on four different combinations of activities and network characteristics that are simultaneously able to lead to perceived high network performance. It also suggests three approaches to network management in networks that differ in their development stage, connectivity and trust: stabilize, stabilize and connect, stabilize and develop.     

Measuring productivity of research in economics: A cross-country study using DEA

We measure productivity in leading edge economic research by using data envelopment analysis (DEA) for a sample of 21 countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Publications in ten top journals of economics from 1980 to 1998 are taken as the research output. Inputs are measured by R&D expenditure, the number of universities with economics departments and (as an uncontrollable variable) population. Under constant returns-to-scale, the US emerges as the only efficient country. Under variable returns-to-scale, the efficiency frontier is defined by the US, Ireland and New Zealand. With the exception of the US, all countries in our sample display increasing returns-to-scale, and thus have the potential to raise their efficiency by scaling up their research activities.     

服务外包企业技术吸收能力的影响因素分析:以镇江市为例

服务外包企业的技术吸收能力决定了发包方技术外溢效应,对企业创新与区域经济的发展有着至关重要的作用。基于已有研究成果并结合服务外包的特点,从人力资本、市场环境、产业集聚程度和政府支持力度四个方面构建了评价服务外包企业技术吸收能力的指标体系。通过问卷调查并运用因子分析发现:制约镇江市服务外包企业技术吸收能力提升的最关键因子是人力资本。最后针对镇江服务外包企业技术吸收能力的制约因素,提出相应的对策与建议。     

Using competency development tools as a strategy for change in the human resources function: A case study

This case study explores issues in building and implementing competency-based development tools for an HR organization in the midst of fundamental change. The case includes a realistic appraisal of the critical design decisions, marketing strategies, and implementation success factors required for using competencies to articulate and foster understanding of a change effort. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.