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This research aims at investigating the common practical problem of how procurement can be transformed from tactical and administrative to becoming an organizational strategic partner and indeed a competitive weapon, using modern technologies in particular. We investigated how procurement can be reinvented, from being digitized to digitalized to digitally integrated, ultimately contributing in business terms beyond supply chain effectiveness but also to profit generation.

A case study approach was designed to investigate three firms, each at very different stages of digital maturity in procurement. Interviews with managers, investigation of processes and documentary materials and in-depth follow-up discussions were conducted.

The iterative digitalization transformation discovered encompasses complexities rooted in organizational structure, supply chain design and the management of the technology for employees' uptake. There are both operations and strategy implications as a result. This initial research phase led to mapping a model of digital maturity as well as identifying its underlying constructs.

This research discovered that the implementation of digital technologies can lead the procurement function of the supply chain to completely grow out of its administrative and clerical shell into a strategic, consultative, value-adding and potentially revenue-generating function, thereby contributing to the well-being of not only the supply chain but also the entire organization.

The purpose of this study was to examine the concept of value in healthcare through a practical appraisal of the applicability of a conceptual framework, which is aimed at supporting the measurement and realisation of financial benefits from process improvement (PI) activities in a hospital setting.

A single case study of a hospital system in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, was used to assess the applicability of the framework. The study sought to verify the framework's intention, that PI methods could be used to address known wastes that contribute to the cost of providing healthcare. The case study examines the current approach taken by the hospital to measure and realise financial benefits from PI activities and compares these to the components of the Strategy to Balance Cost and Quality in Health Care framework to assess its applicability in practice.

The case study revealed that the steps described in the framework were fundamentally in place albeit with some variation. Importantly, the case study identified an additional step that could be added into the framework to support hospitals to better define their portfolio of initiatives to deliver value. The case study also clarified three types of contributory elements that should be in place for the application of the framework to be successful.

The Framework to Achieve Value in Healthcare is offered to hospitals as a model by which they can look to reduce expenditure through the removal of non-value adding activities. The modification to the conceptual framework has arisen from a single case study and would benefit from further testing by other hospitals in other policy settings (i.e. other countries).

This is the first paper to examine and enhance an existing framework to assist hospitals balance cost and quality through PI.

The purpose of this paper is to link crowdsourcing, operations management (OM) and project management (PM). The study demonstrates how crowdsourcing as an open innovation mechanism is operationalised within a complex PM context. Specifically, the study seeks to understand how crowdsourcing as a novel form of OM improves key outcomes.

The authors conducted exploratory research involving five pure-play crowdsourcing firms based in the USA and Australia.

The findings indicate that the firms practise a form of crowdsourcing that allows flexible, efficient and low risk operations and links to contemporary notions of PM such as projectification and project society. The crowd can be used in a new manner to boost success factors tied to PM through open innovation and operational novelty. In terms of OM, crowdsourcing offers flexibility, speed, dynamism and scalability to project processes.

This research is based on five case studies. Further fine-grained, longitudinal research is required to fully understand this phenomenon in a wider range of contexts.

The paper contributes to practices tied to open innovation and provides guidance on how organisations might use large crowds to enhance PM success.

The study represents early scholarship on crowdsourcing and project operations. It makes three contributions. First, the authors introduce a new theoretical framework linking PM and novel aspects of crowdsourcing to extend understandings of projectification, as well as open innovation frameworks. Second, the authors showcase the flexibility and fluidity of the crowdsourcing project process. Third, the authors examine crowdsourcing operations in terms of size, efficiency and scalability which results in timely and efficient output due to innovative technology, along with the element of trust among stakeholders.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of company size on the strength of the relationship between TQM and organisational performance. Based on a cross‐sectional study of manufacturing firms in Australia and New Zealand, the paper tests two hypotheses involving TQM and organisational performance. The central finding of the study is that TQM has a significant and positive relationship with most of the dimensions of organisational performance. The relationship weakened for defect rates and warranty costs when it was co‐varied for company size. We conclude that company size impedes the implementation of TQM. Larger companies tend to gain greater benefits from TQM than smaller firms. These findings are consistent with some of the literature. Overall, the findings show that a typical manufacturing organisation is more likely to achieve high organisational performance with TQM than without TQM. The findings have implications for managers wishing to formulate a business strategy based on TQM.

This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/EUM0000000001313. When citing the article, please cite: Amrik S. Sohal, Liz Ramsay, Danny Samson, (1993), “JIT Manufacturing: Industry Analysis and a Methodology for Implementation”, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 13 Iss: 7, pp. 22 - 56.

In this paper, we argue the success and sustainability of a business excellence (BE) initiative is influenced by (1) the contextual alignment of the initiative with the organization’s competitive business strategy and (2) the level of congruence between the initiative and the organization’s operating environment and culture. To illustrate these dependencies, we present case studies of three Australasian organizations that initiated BE initiatives and failed to sustain their commitment to the process. The case studies highlight the need for further research into the nature and variety of organizational characteristics that either support or undermine BE as an improvement strategy. We conclude that organizations seeking to implement BE should undertake contextual analysis of their business strategy, operating environment and culture prior to implementing a BE initiative. We also suggest BE measurements provide little benefit to executives as they fail to identify the priorities associated with the improvement opportunities presented.

The process of transition to Total Quality Management (TQM) at a major facility of a large Australian manufacturing company is described. The key steps taken by the company as part of a process improvement model are also described. The difficulties experienced in implementing TQM and the critical success factors for TQM are presented.

The manufacturing techniques used by Japanese companies to provide a competitive advantage have been shown by Japan′s outstanding economic performance to be effective over a long period of time. This effectiveness can be measured in terms of the performance of manufacturing systems or by the way in which manufacturing effectiveness has been translated into success in the marketplace. In an effort to integrate current knowledge, a contextual model of Japanese manufacturing techniques has been constructed. These techniques are transferable from Japan. The key ingredient for success is to gain an understanding of the broad context of manufacturing culture, infrastructure and environment before expecting a transplanted or adapted Japanese system of manufacturing techniques to be effective.

^{States that, although there has been considerable progress with the implementation of total quality management in Australia and New Zealand over the past 15 years since it was pioneered in the manufacturing sector, there is still not a widespread acceptance and implementation of it. As a result, while the best companies in these countries are achieving high levels of competitiveness, the bulk of companies are still reporting mediocre performance in critically important areas such as customer satisfaction. Details how some of Australia and New Zealand’s leading companies have implemented quality improvement initiatives. Reports on a large survey of companies showing that on average, self‐reported measures of employee morale, customer satisfaction and the extent of dissemination of customer requirements throughout a workforce are particular areas for improvement.}

Sets out to determine whether or not JIT methods are applicable to Australian manufacturers and if so, how they can be implemented successfully. Presents a brief review of the literature and highlights various definitions of JIT. Summarizes the aims and conclusions of 1980s research in Australian manufacturing. Examines the JIT experiences of 30 manufacturers, documenting programme details and the factors which contributed to their success. Offers recommendations for step‐by‐step JIT implementation in an Australian context.