Mohamed M. Naim and Jonathan Gosling
The systems approach is an exemplar of design science research (DSR), whereby specific designs yield generic knowledge. DSR is increasingly being adopted in logistics and…
Abstract
Purpose
The systems approach is an exemplar of design science research (DSR), whereby specific designs yield generic knowledge. DSR is increasingly being adopted in logistics and operations management research, but many point to neglect of the human aspects of solutions developed. The authors argue that it is possible to look back at the history of the systems movement to seek precedent for ‘dealing’ with the social components, providing a methodologically pluralistic ‘research design’ framework. Thereby, systems approaches are foundational to providing a design-based ‘science’ to progressing the logistics and supply chain management field, dealing with contemporary topics such as resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors undertake a discursive assessment of relevant streams of engineering, social science and systems research, with a conceptual development of how the latter influences supply chain design approaches.
Findings
Building on a phenomenological framework, the authors create a generic design science research design (DSRD) that enables researchers to choose and integrate the right tools and methods to address simple, complicated and complex problems, dealing with technological, process and social problems.
Research limitations/implications
The DSRD provides a framework by which to exploit a range of methodological stances to problem solving, including quantitative modelling perspectives and ‘soft’ systems social science approaches. Four substantive gaps are identified for future research – establishing the root cause domain of the problem, how to deal with the hierarchy of systems within systems, establishing appropriate criteria for the solution design and how best to deal with chaotic and disordered systems.
Originality/value
The authors argue that the systems approaches offer methodological pluralism by which a generic DSRD may be applied to enhance supply chain design. The authors show the relevance of the DSRD to supply chain design problems including in reducing supply chain dynamics and enhance resilience. In doing so, the study points towards an integrated perspective and future research agenda for designing resilient supply chains.
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Vinaya Shukla and Mohamed Naim
The ability to detect disturbances quickly as they arise in a supply chain helps to manage them efficiently and effectively. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the…
Abstract
Purpose
The ability to detect disturbances quickly as they arise in a supply chain helps to manage them efficiently and effectively. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of automatically and therefore quickly detecting a specific disturbance, which is constrained capacity at a supply chain echelon.
Design/methodology/approach
Different supply chain echelons of a simulated four echelon supply chain were individually capacity constrained to assess their impacts on the profiles of system variables, and to develop a signature that related the profiles to the echelon location of the capacity constraint. A review of disturbance detection techniques across various domains formed the basis for considering the signature-based technique.
Findings
The signature for detecting a capacity constrained echelon was found to be based on cluster profiles of shipping and net inventory variables for that echelon as well as other echelons in a supply chain, where the variables are represented as spectra.
Originality/value
Detection of disturbances in a supply chain including that of constrained capacity at an echelon has seen limited research where this study makes a contribution.
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Jonathan Gosling, Bill Hewlett and Mohamed M. Naim
The customer order decoupling point (CODP) concept addresses the issue of customer engagement in the manufacturing process. This has traditionally been applied to material flows…
Abstract
Purpose
The customer order decoupling point (CODP) concept addresses the issue of customer engagement in the manufacturing process. This has traditionally been applied to material flows, but has more recently been applied to engineering activities. This later subject becomes of particular importance to companies operating in “engineer-to-order” (ETO) supply chains, where each order is potentially unique. Existing conceptualisations of ETO are too generic for practical purposes, so there is a need to better understand order penetration in the context of engineering activities, especially design. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to address the question “how do customer penetration concepts apply to engineering design activities?”
Design/methodology/approach
A collaborative form of inquiry is adopted, whereby academics and practitioners co-operated to develop a conceptual framework. Within this overarching research design, a focus group of senior practitioners and multiple case studies principally from complex civil and structural engineering as well as scientific equipment projects are used to explore the framework.
Findings
The framework results in a classification of nine potential engineering subclasses, and insight is given into order penetration points, major uncertainties and enablers via the case studies. Focus group findings indicate that different managerial approaches are needed across subclasses.
Practical implications
The findings give insight for companies that engage directly with customers on a one-to-one basis, outlining the extent of customer penetration in engineering activities, associated operational strategies and choices regarding the co-creation of products with customers. Care should be taken in generalising beyond the sectors addressed in the study.
Originality/value
The paper refines the definition of the ETO concept, and gives a more complete understanding of customer penetration concepts. It provides a comprehensive reconceptualization of the ETO category, supported by exploratory empirical research.
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Asmadi Mohamed Naim, Mohd Noor Habibi Hj Long, Mahyuddin Abu Bakar and Muhammad Nasri Md Hussain
The purpose of this paper is to examine the Shariah view on the legitimacy of requiring the entrepreneur to prove that he/she has complied with all business requirements in case…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the Shariah view on the legitimacy of requiring the entrepreneur to prove that he/she has complied with all business requirements in case the actual profit was below the expected profit in trust-based contracts such as mudarabah and musharakah.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is part of the research which applies qualitative research approaches, including among others, content analysis, interviews, observations and descriptive analysis using fiqh muqaran (comparative analysis of jurists’ arguments) in few phases.
Findings
The study found that shifting the burden of proof to the fiduciary is the weightier view and necessary to ensure that both sides are protected. The considerations of protecting people’s wealth (ḥifẓ amwāl al-nās) and mitigating widespread greed (ṭamaʿ) are among the reasons for allowing elements such as ʿurf, tuhmah and dalālat al-ḥāl to be treated as bayyinah in trust-based contracts when the fiduciary is obliged to defend himself from litigation.
Research limitations/implications
The study is meant to strengthen the practices of Islamic banks world wide.
Practical implications
Few protections can be applied for capital provider.
Social implications
This study is meant to give solution in dealing with moral hazard of both parties, and to provide solution to the regulator for policy drafting and to increase confidence to the industry.
Originality/value
The finding is important in assisting the regulators in drafting the policy to protect both parties without neglecting the essence of trust-based contracts.
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Daniel R. Eyers, Andrew T. Potter, Jonathan Gosling and Mohamed M. Naim
Flexibility is a fundamental performance objective for manufacturing operations, allowing them to respond to changing requirements in uncertain and competitive global markets…
Abstract
Purpose
Flexibility is a fundamental performance objective for manufacturing operations, allowing them to respond to changing requirements in uncertain and competitive global markets. Additive manufacturing machines are often described as “flexible,” but there is no detailed understanding of such flexibility in an operations management context. The purpose of this paper is to examine flexibility from a manufacturing systems perspective, demonstrating the different competencies that can be achieved and the factors that can inhibit these in commercial practice.
Design/methodology/approach
This study extends existing flexibility theory in the context of an industrial additive manufacturing system through an investigation of 12 case studies, covering a range of sectors, product volumes, and technologies. Drawing upon multiple sources, this research takes a manufacturing systems perspective that recognizes the multitude of different resources that, together with individual industrial additive manufacturing machines, contribute to the satisfaction of demand.
Findings
The results show that the manufacturing system can achieve seven distinct internal flexibility competencies. This ability was shown to enable six out of seven external flexibility capabilities identified in the literature. Through a categorical assessment the extent to which each competency can be achieved is identified, supported by a detailed explanation of the enablers and inhibitors of flexibility for industrial additive manufacturing systems.
Originality/value
Additive manufacturing is widely expected to make an important contribution to future manufacturing, yet relevant management research is scant and the flexibility term is often ambiguously used. This research contributes the first detailed examination of flexibility for industrial additive manufacturing systems.
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Ameenullah Aman, Asmadi Mohamed Naim, Mohamad Yazid Isa and Syed Emad Azhar Ali
Both developed and developing countries, Muslim and non-Muslim, have been showing keen interest in sukuk financing. This interest was because of the lesson learned by both Asian…
Abstract
Purpose
Both developed and developing countries, Muslim and non-Muslim, have been showing keen interest in sukuk financing. This interest was because of the lesson learned by both Asian and non-Asian economies that having a developed capital market is very essential to enable an economy resilient to the financial crisis. Therefore, this study aims to produce theoretical relationships and identify empirical support for the determinants of sukuk market development.
Design/methodology/approach
By using panel data analysis, the study covers the period from 1993 until 2017, and includes 13 sukuk issuing economies as per the availability of data.
Findings
The findings of the study revealed that the stage of economic development, banking system, money supply and current account balance are positively associated with sukuk market. Interestingly, economic size and exports appear to be negatively associated with sukuk.
Practical implications
To flourish the domestic sukuk market, authorities need to strengthen the existing financial system and economic development.
Originality/value
The study contributes in a limited body of knowledge on determinants of sukuk market development by exploring novel determining factors of foreign capital inflows as well as macroeconomic and financial factors.
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Muhammad Zarunnaim Bin Haji Wahab, Asmadi Mohamed Naim and Mohamad Hanif Abu Hassan
The practices of sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) among Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) nowadays still rely on the existing environmental, social and governance…
Abstract
Purpose
The practices of sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) among Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) nowadays still rely on the existing environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. However, based on observation, some of the existing criteria listed by the reports of certain authorities and organizations do not seem to be aligned with Shariah principles. Therefore, this study aims to investigate those criteria to help develop Islamic-SRI (i-SRI) criteria based on the ESG concept.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted the qualitative method via content analysis of documents and interviews with experts.
Findings
Based on the analysis, a set of i-SRI criteria is developed based on the ESG concept, of which 33 elements are environmental, 50 elements are social and 26 elements are governance issues. Overall, this study finds that there is no obvious contradiction with the Islamic philosophy in the existing ESG criteria, with the exception of four criteria, i.e. promoting human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of censorship and freedom of association under social criteria. These four existing criteria are not aligned with Islamic teaching and not appropriate with Islamic ESG criteria.
Practical implications
The creation of Islamic ESG criteria can assist relevant authorities to improve the current ESG criteria and to embed an Islamic perspective within it.
Originality/value
This study developed a set of i-SRI criteria, which may be suitable as a source of reference to relevant parties.
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Muhammad Zarunnaim Haji Wahab and Asmadi Mohamed Naim
The purpose of this study is to explore the necessity for developing Islamic sustainable and responsible investment (i-SRI) criteria based on environmental, social and governance…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the necessity for developing Islamic sustainable and responsible investment (i-SRI) criteria based on environmental, social and governance issues.
Design/methodology/approach
To address the above objective, this study adopted a qualitative method via content document analysis and interviews with experts.
Findings
Based on the analysis, this study discovered five primary aspects that lead to the necessity for developing i-SRI criteria. First, Malaysia has yet to develop i-SRI criteria. Second, the absence of i-SRI criteria will eventually lead to Shariah issues. Third, any Islamic financial instrument is bound to encounter numerous issues and challenges, thereby making it difficult to be marketed globally if it does not have a proper and standardized framework. Fourth, the establishment of i-SRI criteria can serve as a key reference point for the players in the industry, including investors, policymakers and other parties. Finally, the development of i-SRI criteria can play a vital role in enhancing the current Islamic capital market products offering in Malaysia.
Practical implications
There are several implications identified in this study. First, continuous research on the i-SRI criteria can offer numerous benefits to the regulatory bodies and policymakers who can use the findings in their decision-making process. Second, in terms of investors, the results can help them to make better investment choices by referring to the i-SRI criteria. Third, this study will be valuable to the academicians in terms of opportunity to explore a new research area, i.e. the i-SRI criteria, besides adding to the extant literature on this topic which is still scant currently.
Originality/value
This study discovered five primary aspects that lead to the necessity for developing i-SRI criteria.
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Wahidah Shari, Asmadi Mohamed Naim, Mohamad Yazid Isa, Mohd Fikri Sofi, Nurul Aini Muhamed, Selamah Maamor and Shahrul Nizam Ahmad
This paper aims to investigate consumers’ preferences regarding the distribution channels for subscription, contribution payment and compensation claims of microtakaful scheme in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate consumers’ preferences regarding the distribution channels for subscription, contribution payment and compensation claims of microtakaful scheme in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
Consumers’ preferences were explored through questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGD) conducted among the bottom 40% income classification households (B40) in five zones: northern, central, eastern, southern and Sabah and Sarawak.
Findings
Empirical findings from cross-tabulation analysis revealed that takaful company is the preferred distribution channel for purchasing protection plans and making compensation claims. However, the online platform is the favoured channel to make contribution payments. Further investigation through FGD suggested that the selection of a channel for subscription, contribution payment and compensation claim is influenced by consumer trust, cost-effectiveness and simplicity of procedure.
Research limitations/implications
Limitation is pertaining to only cross-tabulation analysis used in explaining the choice of distribution channel for microtakaful among B40 group. Thus, advanced analysis is required to strengthen the findings.
Practical implications
Findings of this study would help marketers and practitioners to formulate strategies to promote their microtakaful protection to enhance subscription among the low-income population.
Originality/value
Empirical findings offer academic contributions to the existing body of knowledge on microtakaful area as the primary data collected will eventually allow future researchers to explicate the contribution of the current study to understand the important of distribution channel for microtakaful from the perspective of subscribers and potential subscribers.