Maedeh Bank, Mohammad Mahdavi Mazdeh, Mahdi Heydari and Ebrahim Teimoury
The aim of this paper is to present a method for finding the optimum balance between sequence-dependent setup costs, holding costs, delivery costs and delay penalties in an…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to present a method for finding the optimum balance between sequence-dependent setup costs, holding costs, delivery costs and delay penalties in an integrated production–distribution system with lot sizing decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
Two mixed integer linear programming models and an optimality property are proposed for the problem. Since the problem is NP-hard, a genetic algorithm reinforced with a heuristic is developed for solving the model in large-scale settings. The algorithm parameters are tuned using the Taguchi method.
Findings
The results obtained on randomly generated instances reveal a performance advantage for the proposed algorithm; it is shown that lot sizing can reduce the average cost of the supply chain up to 11.8%. Furthermore, the effects of different parameters and factors of the proposed model on supply chain costs are examined through a sensitivity analysis.
Originality/value
Although integrated production and distribution scheduling in make-to-order industries has received a great deal of attention from researchers, most researchers in this area have treated each order as a job processed in an uninterrupted time interval, and no temporary holding costs are assumed. Even among the few studies where temporary holding costs are taken into consideration, none has examined the effect of splitting an order at the production stage (lot sizing) and the possibility of reducing costs through splitting. The present study is the first to take holding costs into consideration while incorporating lot sizing decisions in the operational production and distribution problem.
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Amin Vahidi, Alireza Aliahmadi and Ebrahim Teimoury
This paper reviews the underpinning principles and scientific trends of cybernetics and the viable system model (VSM). Therefore, this paper aims to guide authors and managers…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper reviews the underpinning principles and scientific trends of cybernetics and the viable system model (VSM). Therefore, this paper aims to guide authors and managers active in management cybernetics and to inform them about the past, current and future trends in this discipline.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts both qualitative and quantitative methods. First, a descriptive and qualitative approach is used to review and analyze management cybernetics historical trends. Then, a frequency analysis (quantitative) is conducted on the 1,000 first publications in the field.
Findings
The cybernetics was emerged in the Josiah Macy conference in 1946. Then, Wiener introduced the field of cybernetics and Ashby, Von Foerster and McCulloch developed this concept as a discipline. The Management cybernetics field that was introduced by Beer is a combination of system, control and management sciences. Beer presented VSM as an operational model in this area. Analyzing the 1,000 top-ranked publications shows that the introduction of this field reached maturity and further development became relatively mature. Moreover, based on the analyzed trends, VSM model application can now be strongly attractive. In this paper, the main journals, authors and research trends are analyzed. The main application area of this model is in the IT field and large-scale organizations.
Practical implications
The present paper’s implication for practitioners and researchers is guiding authors and managers to most appropriate studies in the field, so that they can produce and use the most efficient studies in this field.
Social implications
The fields of IT, Policy-Making, Production, Social Issues, Service industry, Software developers, etc., are some of this paper’s implications for industry and society.
Originality/value
In this paper, the steps of VSM development are investigated. Then, recent trends (classifications, authors, journals and topics analysis) are surveyed by analyzing the top 1,000 publications in this field. This paper would help researchers find more appropriate research fields. In addition, it helps practitioners find the optimum solutions based on management cybernetics for their problems among vast numbers of publications.
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Afshar Bazyar, Ebrahim Teimoury, Mehdi Fesharaki, Alireza Moini and Shahriar Mohammadi
Inter‐organizational arrangements are increasingly playing an important role in new product development (NPD). This article aims to investigate the links among power, risk, and…
Abstract
Purpose
Inter‐organizational arrangements are increasingly playing an important role in new product development (NPD). This article aims to investigate the links among power, risk, and governance in these kinds of relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors investigated the links based on the data collected from 112 respondents representing 112 different NPD relationships.
Findings
The results of structural equation modeling revealed that, in the situation where coercive power is imbalanced between partner firms, the weaker partner perceives relational risk while imbalances in non‐coercive power do not influence relational risk perception significantly. The results also showed that relational risk perception is strongly associated with governance modes in such a way that negatively influences trust and the norm of information sharing, and positively affects vertical control, respectively. Further investigations revealed that the influence of power bases on governance modes was mediated through the relational risk perception.
Originality/value
This article contributes to a better appreciation of the factors that account for important determinants of opportunistic behavior of partner firms (i.e. power asymmetries) and governance modes that are available for companies in order to impede relational risks.
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Ebrahim Teimoury, Mehdi Fesharaki and Afshar Bazyar
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of mediated power asymmetry on relational risk perception and modes of governance mechanism (intention‐based trust and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of mediated power asymmetry on relational risk perception and modes of governance mechanism (intention‐based trust and unilateral control).
Design/methodology/approach
Survey research was conducted to collect data from 112 new product development (NPD) relationships and structural equation modeling was conducted to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results suggest that benefiting from mediated power asymmetries by a firm is positively related to the relational risk perceived by its partner firm. This perception influences intention‐based trust to partner firm negatively and exercising of unilateral control positively. It was also found that the relationship between mediated power asymmetry and governance modes is mediated by relational risk perception.
Originality/value
This paper enhances the understanding of NPD relationships by examining the key mechanisms through which governance decision modes are influenced. In particular, the paper shows how mediated power asymmetries through affecting relational risk perception influence two governance modes including intention‐based trust and unilateral control.
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Ebrahim Teimoury, Mehdi Fesharaki and Afshar Bazyar
This paper aims to examine the impact of trust, norm of information sharing, and vertical control on relational ties in new product development (NPD) relationships.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impact of trust, norm of information sharing, and vertical control on relational ties in new product development (NPD) relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey research was conducted to collect data from 112 NPD relationships and structural equation modeling was conducted to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results suggest that trust and norms of information sharing are positively related to relational ties, while vertical control and relational ties are negatively related. Three independent variables (i.e. trust, norm of information sharing, and vertical control) could significantly predict relational ties. It was also found that there are threshold effects for independent variables as they influence relational ties.
Originality/value
The study enhances the understanding of NPD relationships by examining the key modes of governance through which relational ties are influenced.
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Zahra Shams Ghahfarokhi, Mojtaba Bagherzadeh, Ebrahim Ghiamati Yazdi and Abbas Teimouri
The purpose of this paper is study of the type of functional group and its situation on phenyl molecule, in increasing the corrosion protection of modified graphene layers by it…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is study of the type of functional group and its situation on phenyl molecule, in increasing the corrosion protection of modified graphene layers by it. Corrosion protection efficiency of graphene was raised via modifying the surface of graphene-coated carbon steel (CS/G) by using aromatic molecules. Phenyl groups with three different substitutions including COOH, NO2 and CH3 grafted to graphene via diazonium salt formation route, by using carboxy phenyl, nitro phenyl and methyl phenyl diazonium salts in ortho, meta and para spatial situations.
Design/methodology/approach
Molecular bindings were characterized by using X-ray diffractometer, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/ energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) methods. Anti-corrosion performance of modified CS/G electrodes was evaluated by weight loss and electrochemical techniques, potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution.
Findings
The obtained results confirmed covalently bonding of phenyl groups to the graphene surface. Also, the observed results showed that substitution spatial situations on phenyl groups can affect charge transfer resistance (Rct), corrosion potential (Ecorr), corrosion current density (jcorr) and the slope of the anodic and cathodic reaction (ßa,c), demonstrating that the proposed modification method can hinder the corrosion reactions. The proposed modification led to restoring the graphene surface defects and consequently increasing its corrosion protection efficiency.
Originality/value
The obtained results from electrochemical methods proved that protection efficiency was observed in order COOH < NO2 < CH3 and MPD in the para spatial situation and showed the maximum protection efficiency of 98.6 per cent in comparison to other substitutions. Finally, the ability of proposed graphene surface modification route was further proofed by using surface methods, i.e. SEM and EDXA, and contact angles measurements.
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Ali Safari, Reza Salehzadeh and Elham Ghaziasgar
Organizational democracy is the new model of organizational design for a Democratic Age, and out of this new model grows a freedom-centered and healthy climate. Democratic…
Abstract
Purpose
Organizational democracy is the new model of organizational design for a Democratic Age, and out of this new model grows a freedom-centered and healthy climate. Democratic management is a key to greater organization success and a necessity to gain higher levels of performance and innovation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the antecedents and consequences of organizational democracy in an Iranian context.
Design/methodology/approach
Statistical population includes the employees of the Gas Company of Isfahan Province. For data analysis, 263 accurate completed questionnaires are used. Structural equation modeling is applied to investigate the relationship between the research variables.
Findings
The findings showed that some types of organizational culture (i.e. self-criticism, team, and participatory culture) (β=0.33); and some dimensions of organizational structure (i.e. decentralization, flat hierarchy, and less formalization) (β=0.55) as antecedent variables have a significant direct effect on organizational democracy. Also, organizational democracy has a significant direct effect on human resources outcomes consist of organizational commitment, self-efficacy, and improving work relationships (β=0.64); and organizational outcomes consist of organizational learning and organizational agility (β=0.96).
Originality/value
Despite years of encouragement from consultants and theorists, managers have generally shown little interest toward democratic process as a system of decision making and management in organizations. This study proposes a comprehensive model for identifying the antecedents and consequences of organizational democracy. Most studies in this field are theoretical rather than empirical. But, in this research, the proposed relationships are examined empirically.
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Ebrahim Vatan, Gholam Ali Raissi Ardali and Arash Shahin
This study aims to investigate the effects of organizational culture factors on the selection of software process development models and develops a conceptual model for selecting…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effects of organizational culture factors on the selection of software process development models and develops a conceptual model for selecting and adopting process development models with an organizational culture approach, using 12 criteria and their sub-criteria defined in Fey and Denison’s model (12 criteria).
Design/methodology/approach
The research hypotheses were investigated using statistical analysis, and then the criteria and sub-criteria were selected based on Fey and Denison’s model and the experts’ viewpoints. Afterward, the organizational culture of the selected company was measured using the data from 2016 and 2017, based on Fey and Denison’s questionnaire. Due to the correlation between the criteria, using the decision-making trial and evaluation technique, the correlation between sub-criteria were determined, and by analytical network process method and using Super-Decision software, the process development model was preferred to the 12 common models in information systems development.
Findings
Results indicated a significant and positive effect of organizational culture factors (except the core values factor) on the selection of development models. Also, by changing the value of organizational culture, the selected process development model changed either. Sensitivity analysis performed on the sub-criteria implied that by changing and improving some sub-criteria, the organization will be ready and willing to use the agile or risk-based models such as spiral and win-win models. Concerning units where the mentioned indicators were at moderate and low limits, models such as waterfall, V-shaped and incremental worked more appropriately.
Originality/value
While many studies were performed in comparing development models and investigating their strengths and weaknesses, and the impact of organizational culture on the success of information technology projects, literature indicated that the impact of organizational sub-culture prevailing in the selection of development process models has not been investigated. In this study, new factors and indicators were addressed affecting the selection of development models with a focus on organizational culture. Correlation among the factors and indicators was also investigated and, finally, a conceptual model was proposed for proper adoption of the models and methodologies of system development.
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Franciele Bonatto, Luis Mauricio Martins de Resende and Joseane Pontes
The goal of this research is to establish which contextual factors influence the selection of relational governance instruments in supply chains (SCs) and how these factors impact…
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this research is to establish which contextual factors influence the selection of relational governance instruments in supply chains (SCs) and how these factors impact the expected performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) identified 103 conceptual, empirical and analytical studies between 2007 and 2017.
Findings
A conceptual framework is developed from the categorization of contextual factors, relational governance instruments and expected SC performance. The conceptual framework provides three propositions: (1) The choice for relational governance instrument is influenced differently by the contextual factors; (2) the impact that the contextual factors have on the governance instruments and SC performance is mediated by trust; (3) The SC performance is affected differently by the instruments of flexibility, solidarity and information sharing.
Practical implications
The findings of this research can help business managers better govern and know the contextual factors and use different relational governance instruments and trust dimensions to drive the expected results of the SC.
Originality/value
The synthesis reveals contingencies of relational governance instruments in SCs for performance expected in different contexts and proposes a standpoint for further research in the area.