Rainer Breite and Kaj U. Koskinen
This paper seeks to present a comprehensive overview of the supply chain as an autopoietic system. The new autopoietic approach suggests a transition from traditional cognitivist…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to present a comprehensive overview of the supply chain as an autopoietic system. The new autopoietic approach suggests a transition from traditional cognitivist epistemology to the theory of learning as a creational matter, and this type of thinking can potentially shed light on the role of knowledge creation as a part of supply chain management.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is structured as follows: the first section describes the theoretical background of the concept of knowledge management in the supply chain. After that, the paper examines the general systems theory and the role of an autopoietic system within it. Then the paper addresses autopoietic epistemology. In particular, the notions of knowledge, learning, and knowledge flows are described so that the focus is on the context of the supply chain and supply chain management at operational level.
Findings
The supplier's, customer's, and firm's own organization and parts of the organization have autonomy system memories, which ultimately formulate how the intended development ideas are in fact realized and how they are adopted by the organization. Supply chain managers should take into account the fact that the routines and norms of the node are part of the system that are not controlled from outside. Instead, the system can modify its objectives internally as part of its autonomous operation, which should be taken into consideration in the knowledge sharing process.
Originality/value
The description of a supply chain as an autopoietic knowledge system is a new way to examine knowledge sharing in a supply chain.
Details
Keywords
Hartmut Wachter, Brita Modrow‐Thiel and Giselind Rossmann
Changing market demands in the metal‐working industry have led tothe implementation and development of flexible computer controlledcommunication and production technologies. The…
Abstract
Changing market demands in the metal‐working industry have led to the implementation and development of flexible computer controlled communication and production technologies. The presented method of job analysis, ATAA, is based on the theory of action regulation. ATAA aims to provide a planning instrument for future job structures and job requirements, and their consequences for qualification and human resource management, dependent on the choices in organization and job design. The instrument should provide decision makers in industry, both managers and works councils, with the knowledge and a procedure to perform the analysis without the help of an expert. The method is developed to analyse and design tasks in production and associated areas in mechanical engineering. It has been tested and the method was used by practitioners, for when it proved to be reliable, valid and useful for practitioners.
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Harmut Wächter, Brita Modrow‐Thiel and Giselind Rossmann
Asserts that job satisfaction and motivation of workers are rarelyconsidered when the introduction of new technology is planned andimplemented. Sets this belief in the context of…
Abstract
Asserts that job satisfaction and motivation of workers are rarely considered when the introduction of new technology is planned and implemented. Sets this belief in the context of German industrial practice and law and describes an approach called ATAA, developed for use in the German metal‐working industry in any situation where a redesign of the organization, the job content or the technology is needed. Explains the philosophy (intended to place human needs centre stage), the method of analysis employed and the co‐operative approach of management and works council. Includes a case‐history of work redesign in a lathe shop.