Keywords
Citation
(2006), "Awards for Excellence", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 17 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmtm.2006.06817gaa.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Awards for Excellence
Dr Theo Williamson Award: Named after Dr Theo Williamson, who died in May 1992. He was director of RD at Mollins plc and subsequently became Group Director at Rank Xerox. He was one of the great engineering innovators of his time and is probably best known for his work in developing system 24, acknowledged by the US Patent Office as the worlds first integrated flexible manufacturing system.
The following article was selected for this year's Outstanding Paper Award for
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
"Outsourcing strategies for radical innovations: does industry clockspeed make a difference?"
Robert K. PerronsShell International BV, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
Ken PlattsUniversity of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Purpose – To determine whether or not clockspeed is an important variable in outsourcing strategies throughout the development of radical innovations. Design/methodology/approach – An internet-based survey of manufacturing firms from all over the world. Findings – An industrys clockspeed does not play a significant role in the success or failure of a particular outsourcing strategy for a radical innovation. Research limitations/implications – Conclusions from earlier research in this area are not necessarily industry-specific.Practical implications – Lessons learned via previous investigations about the computer industry need not be confined to that sector. Vertical integration may be a more robust outsourcing strategy when developing a radical innovation in industries of all clockspeeds.Originality/value – Previous research efforts in this field focused on a single technology jump, but this approach may have overlooked a potentially important variable: industry clockspeed. Thus, this investigation explores whether clockspeed is an important factor.
Keywords Corporate strategy, Manufacturing industries, Outsourcing
www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/17410380510627852This article originally appeared in Volume 16 Number 8, 2005, pp. 842-63, of Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Editor: David Bennett