Carlos F. Gomes, João V. Lisboa and Mahmoud M. Yasin
In today's highly competitive and customer oriented business environment, business firms in all sectors are looking for ways to improve customer satisfaction. In this context…
Abstract
In today's highly competitive and customer oriented business environment, business firms in all sectors are looking for ways to improve customer satisfaction. In this context, textile firms are no exception. This research simulates the actual operations of a textile firm in order to show the impact of sequencing operational rules on the ability of the firm to improve its responsiveness to customers.
Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
The purpose of this paper is to analyze and benchmark the strategic approaches utilized by Portuguese small and medium enterprises manufacturing organizations in response to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze and benchmark the strategic approaches utilized by Portuguese small and medium enterprises manufacturing organizations in response to the competitive pressures in the European and global markets.
Design/methodology/approach
For the purpose of this paper, factor analysis and cluster analysis are used to analyze and to compare responses obtained from a cross‐sectional sample of 68 Portuguese manufacturing organizations.
Findings
Based on the results of the analysis, it appears that the sampled organizations are following hybrid strategic orientations. These strategic orientations appear to be motivated by well‐defined mixed strategies. The strategic elements of e‐business are detected in these mixed strategies.
Research limitations/implications
The sample used in this paper is specific in nature (Portuguese manufacturing organizations). Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly.
Practical implications
This paper attempts to shed some light on the effectiveness of current strategic practices of Portuguese manufacturing organizations. The findings of this paper have practical benchmarking strategic implications.
Originality/value
This paper investigates the nature and scope of new strategic orientations utilized by manufacturing organizations. Evidence of the presence of innovative, mixed strategies is uncovered.
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Samir Barman and Joao V. Lisboa
Several prior studies have investigated the strategy of concurrently deploying different priority rules at different processing stages of a manufacturing system. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Several prior studies have investigated the strategy of concurrently deploying different priority rules at different processing stages of a manufacturing system. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the advantage of using such a strategy over that of using priority rules in their pure forms.
Design/methodology/approach
Three priority rules were combined in all possible ways in a simulated, three‐stage, flow‐dominated manufacturing system. The performances of these combinations, along with three other simple priority rules in their pure forms, were compared using both mean and variability in waiting, earliness, tardiness, and total costs under two shop load levels and several tardiness to earliness cost ratios.
Findings
The results indicate that the combinations between SIX and shortest processing time (SPT) rules perform well in reducing both mean and variability of waiting cost but do poorly on tardiness cost. On the other hand, the due date rule in its pure form or in conjunction with SIX or SPT is effective in reducing both mean and variability of both earliness and tardiness costs. While tardiness cost appears to dominate the total cost data, the shop load level registered little impact on the performance of the combination schemes.
Research limitations/implications
The results of the paper have useful practical implications for textile and ceramic industries. However, the conclusions are limited to the cost structure used, although a wide range of cost ratios is included.
Originality/value
The paper offers insights into whether throughput and due date‐related costs can be reduced by using a job sequencing strategy that simultaneously deploys different priority rules at different processing stages of a manufacturing environment.
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Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
The objective of this study is to investigate the differences between high and low‐performing manufacturing organizations in relation to critical organizational performance…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to investigate the differences between high and low‐performing manufacturing organizations in relation to critical organizational performance dimensions.
Design/methodology/approach
The types and frequency of performance measures used by the sampled manufacturing organizations are compared using factor and cluster analysis.
Findings
Based on the results of this study, it appears that high‐performing manufacturing organizations, relative to their low‐performing counterparts, tend to emphasise more the performance aspects related to employees, customers and market share. As such, these organizations appear to consider employees and costumers related performance aspects as critical elements of the overall organizational performance.
Research limitations/implications
The sample used in this study is specific in nature. It consisted of Portuguese manufacturing organizations. Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly.
Practical implications
This study clearly shows that organizational investments aimed at improving the aspects of organizational performance related to customers, employees and market share are justified.
Originality/value
This study has both practical and theoretical value, as it empirically explores the practical implications of some important issues related to organizational performance.
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Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
The purpose of this paper is to examine the Portuguese public sector organizations' familiarity with, and willingness to utilize, project management tools, as these organizations…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the Portuguese public sector organizations' familiarity with, and willingness to utilize, project management tools, as these organizations attempt to enhance their operational performance through carefully crafted organizational change.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 102 public officials, 30 project managers' characteristics, 23 project management variables, and information availability on these variables are studied and classified.
Findings
In general, the results clearly showed the familiarity of the participants with the important characteristics and variables of effective project management practices. Some exceptions were attributed to the specific nature of public sector operational systems.
Research limitations/implications
The sample used in this study is specific in nature. It consisted of Portuguese public sector officials at the middle‐level rank in the managerial hierarchy. Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly.
Practical implications
Based on the results of this study, some important organizational implications regarding training and systems development were advanced.
Originality/value
This study empirically examines the public sector officials' knowledge and attitude regarding project management practices. It offers significant implications to public sector organizations, as they pursue a more open system operational orientation to meet growing environmental pressures and citizens' demands.
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Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
Given the increasing emphasis on performance measurement and improvement, the purpose of this paper is to examine the current views of manufacturing executives on key aspects of…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the increasing emphasis on performance measurement and improvement, the purpose of this paper is to examine the current views of manufacturing executives on key aspects of performance measures. Specifically, this research focuses on current practices related to extent of use, predictive value and availability of information for 63 performance measures.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was survey based. The research instrument used to collect the data was constructed based on the literature. Several statistical analysis procedures including regression analysis, cluster analysis and gap analysis are utilized to accomplish the objective of this study.
Findings
The results are compared to findings obtained from a previous study, conducted five years ago, to assess any potential changes with regard to the issues studied. The comparison of the findings from both studies revealed some similarities and significant differences attributed to the changing environment.
Research limitations/implications
The focus of this study was Portuguese manufacturing organizations. It is quite possible that the findings may or may not hold in a global context. Since this study was survey based, it had all the limitations of survey‐based research.
Practical implications
Despite some limitations, this study provides practicing managers with useful information regarding performance measures and measurement practices. It has significant and direct implications to organizational performance information systems.
Originality/value
This paper represents an important step toward refining the theory and practice of performance measurement in manufacturing organizational operational context.
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Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
The objective of this study is to shed some light on performance measurement issues relevant to current practices.
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to shed some light on performance measurement issues relevant to current practices.
Design/methodology/approach
The performance measurement practices in terms of utilization, relevance, and availability of information are studied for a sample of 92 Portuguese manufacturing executives. Several statistical instruments were used namely multiple regression analysis, cluster analysis and gap analysis.
Findings
The results of this study underscore consistent patterns pointing to a lack of a broad perspective on manufacturing performance measurement. Conclusions and their implications to the theory and art of performance measurement are presented.
Research limitations/implications
The sample used in this study is specific in nature (Portuguese executives). Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly. Future research should test the applicability of the obtained results using other sample frames.
Practical implications
This study provides practicing managers with useful information regarding performance measures and measurement practices.
Originality/value
This study represents an important step toward refining the theory and practice of performance measurement in manufacturing organizations.
Details
Keywords
Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
The utilization of financial and non‐financial measures in the evaluation of manufacturing organizations' performance is studied for a sample of 79 Portuguese financial analysts…
Abstract
The utilization of financial and non‐financial measures in the evaluation of manufacturing organizations' performance is studied for a sample of 79 Portuguese financial analysts. Cluster analysis and multiple regression analysis are used to study the extent of use, importance and availability of information for 63 financial and non‐financial measures. The results derived from this study point to the increasing importance of non‐financial measures in the evaluation of manufacturing performance. Organizational and managerial implications of the findings are discussed, and a framework for future research is presented.
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Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
The objective of this study is to shed some light on the information flow between executives and financial analysts in the context of manufacturing performance measurement and…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to shed some light on the information flow between executives and financial analysts in the context of manufacturing performance measurement and evaluation.
Design/methodology/approach
The predictive value, information availability and frequency of performance measures used by the sampled manufacturing organizations and financial analysts are compared using multiple regression analysis.
Findings
The findings of this study clearly underscore the increasing significance of non‐financial and non‐traditional performance measures. The importance of customer‐based and quality‐related measures is noted.
Research limitations/implications
The sample used in this study is specific in nature. It consisted of Portuguese manufacturing organizations and Portuguese financial analysts. Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly.
Practical implications
The findings of this study have clear implications for organizational information systems. Re‐engineering of organizational information systems is called for toward closing the information gaps which exist in the context of organizational performance measurement.
Originality/value
This study has both practical and theoretical value, as it empirically explores the practical implications of some important issues related to organizational performance.
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Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
The purpose of this paper is to propose a systematic approach to measuring, tracking, monitoring and continuously improving service efficiency, availability and quality in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a systematic approach to measuring, tracking, monitoring and continuously improving service efficiency, availability and quality in hospitality operational settings.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed measure of service operational effectiveness (SOE) consists of three indicators. They include the availability indicator, the quality indicator, and the efficiency indicator.
Findings
The paper finds that the proposed operational performance approach based on the SOE is consistent with the themes of performance measures and measurement reported in the literature.
Research limitations/implications
In this paper, the proposed service operational effectiveness approach represents a serious attempt at quantifying the key facets of service effectiveness in hospitality operational settings. The validation of this performance assessment and measurement approach is worthy of future research.
Practical implications
The paper sees that the approach advocated by the SOE has operational and strategic relevance to decision‐makers of hospitality organizations. Field interviews with hospitality operating managers in different operating base cultures confirmed this.
Originality/value
This paper presents a practical, systematic approach to the problem of enhancing service operational effectiveness in hospitality organizations. Relevant implementation issues associated with the proposed approach are also addressed. Interviews with operational managers representing different types and sizes of hospitality organizations in different operational cultures were utilized to provide initial validation of the proposed approach and to shed some light on relevant practical implementation issues.