Action Research is Similar to Design Science

In management information systems (MIS) action research is long considered as promising but low-level research approach. It has an utmost relevance because action researchers are working with practitioners to solve the important practical problem. Design science outlined some years ago is just winning a wider audience. Action research was traditionally classified into qualitative research methods. But it seems to be the “wrong” home of action research. We shall show that after comparison of the seven aspects: concrete results of the study, knowledge produced, activities, the intent and the nature of a study, the division of labor in a study and generation, use and test of knowledge, the concordance between the characteristics of action research on the one hand and of design science on the other hand is very good. Hence, action research and design science should next be considered as similar research approaches, and this is a turning point in the history of both action research and design science.     

美英德日银行公司治理比较

本文通过对美英德日银行公司治理的比较，发现治理的目标的一致性，即通过发挥管理和监督功能，来实现公司价值的最大化或股东价值的最大化。但由于法律制度、资本市场、政治体制的差异，各国银行公司治理结构模式又不尽相同。本文试图在进行比较研究的基础上，为我国银行改善公司治理提供启示和借鉴。     

中国航空货运顾客价值动因的实证研究

通过考察中国航空货运,建立航空顾客价值的决定因素与动态性理论模型,运用结构方程方法对其检验,结果表明:时间因素和便捷性因素是影响货运顾客价值的核心要素,价格因素已退之其次,而且来自竞争者、服务商、顾客、宏观环境的变化都对顾客价值动态性有显著影响。     

Nonresponse Bias and Stimulus Effects in the Dutch National Election Study

Bias is a much-debated issue in survey research. Answer effects (respondents claim to have behaved differently than they did in reality), nonresponse bias (nonrespondents differ on important variables from the respondents) and stimulus effects (by participating in a previous wave of a study, respondents change their behavior or attitude) can seriously distort the results of survey research. By using data from the 1998 Dutch National Election Study the authors show that the results of election research can indeed be affected by bias. Not only are significant effects found in the distribution of political attitude and voting behavior variables as a result of both nonresponse bias and stimulus effects, it is also shown that relations between variables change as a result of bias.     

Using replication research for just-in-time purchasing construct development

Using replication research, the validity of the just-in-time purchasing (JITP) construct is established. Although empirical researchers have examined JITP over the last two decades, a consistent set of valid, reliable factors has not been used. The lack of valid construct is a barrier to hypotheses testing and meta-analyses on JITP. This study confirmed the validity of six JITP factors: top management commitment, employee relations, training, supplier quality management, transportation, and quantities delivered using two different data sets and testing the first- and second-order structure of the JITP construct. Content validity, reliability, unidimensionality, convergent validity, discriminant validity, criterion-related validity, and an invariant factorial structure of the JITP construct were empirically established.     

中国服务贸易竞争力的国际比较研究

服务贸易是当前国际贸易中发展最为迅速的领域,已成为我国经济新的增长点.通过服务贸易的国际横向比较,服务贸易TC指数大部分长期为负值,且各行业之间TC指数差异大,我国服务贸易竞争力水平远远落后于发达国家.从制约因素分析来看,提升我国服务贸易的国际竞争力,必须重视服务贸易营销,寻求国内市场支持,建立服务贸易扶持政策.     

中小企业成长性评价模式的比较研究

中小企业成长性的评价模式从评价指标体系的角度可以分为单一指标体系和复合指标体系,从评价方法的角度可以分为客观评价法和主客观相结合的评价方法。本文在对现有的评价模式进行比较研究的基础上指出在现代计算机技术的辅助下,可以运用主成分分析法对中小企业的成长性进行综合评价,进而得出评价结果。     

旅游资源开发的区域比较研究--以湖南城步苗族自治县为例

区域比较是地理学一切研究方法的基础，是进行区域分析的方法之一，文章把对湖南城步苗族自治县旅游资源开发的区域比较研究定位在与其地理位置上毗邻的六个县市，从旅游资源特色、旅游资源开发条件、现状、程度及旅游发展前景等进行了研究比较。在此基础上提出了城步旅游资源开发的战略，即规划带动，实施可持续发展战略；形象驱动，实施旅游品牌战略；区域联动，实施旅游网络战略。     

市政工程项目管理中界面管理理论的应用研究

市政工程项目是城市基础设施建设中的关键内容,随着当下城市发展速度在不断加快,市政建设中对施工效率与质量的要求也越来越高,所以加强各施工环节、施工部门等有效信息与资料对接更显重要。界面管理理论应用到市政工程项目管理工作中,能够有效提高施工内与施工外各环节、各部门、各组织之间的矛盾解除以及沟通加深,有助于施工高效进行。     

Linking performance drivers in production planning and inventory control to process choice

This study investigates how process choice relates to production planning and inventory control decisions. We empirically examine the validity of deductively derived patterns about these types of decisions. More importantly, we look for normative insights by exploring how production planning and inventory control decisions affect operations performance. Our findings show that production line and continuous flow plants use more of a level production strategy, and carry less raw material and work-in-process inventory. The performance drivers for these plants, through which the operations function excels, are effective utilization of equipment, reduced finished goods inventory, and reduced setup down time. To gain forward demand visibility and batching economies, job and batch shops rely much more on backlogs in their planning process. These plants use more of a production chase strategy and position inventory lower in the bills of materials. Four performance drivers for top-performing job and batch shops are to find ways that better anticipate customers' orders, have a more responsive chase strategy, carry less raw material or purchased inventory, and shorten production planning horizon, partly through less reliance on backlogs. It is intriguing that top-performing plants not only do the expected things, given their choice of process, but also excel in selected dimensions—some of which fit the profile normally associated with a different process choice. To monitor and continuously improve operations, evaluation ‘scorecards’ should pay particular attention to performance drivers, which change depending on the plant's process choice.