Andrew Campbell, Phil Renshaw and Staffan Engstrom
The purpose of this paper is to understand the process of strategy execution when strategy is changing.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the process of strategy execution when strategy is changing.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents studies of two companies – Unilever and Carillion – which appear to have found a solution to the generic problem – to understand the process of strategy execution when strategy is changing. The broader research involved examining the strategic planning processes of more than 20 large companies.
Findings
The paper gives two example solutions to a common strategy problem. The gap that often emerges between the desired strategy and the enacted strategy. The general message is that planners need to design a process that enables top managers to give strategic guidance about “grey areas” at a level of detail that matches the complexity of the products and markets in which the company competes. For many companies, this is a much lower level of detail than they are used to handling in their strategic planning processes.
Research limitations/implications
A drawback is the limited number of case studies. However, the main conclusions are tautological.
Practical implications
Top managers need to be much more involved in executing new strategies. By predicting where lower level managers are likely to lose focus, top managers can intervene to ensure that the strategy is followed through.
Social implications
There are implications for decentralisation and empowerment. Leaders need to recognise that they should intervene in some decisions some of the time in order to correct natural biases that may derail their strategic ambitions.
Originality/value
This lies in a focus on strategy execution and the role of top executives in execution.
Details
Keywords
Daniel Marjavaara and Staffan Lundström
This paper aims to develop an efficient and accurate numerical method that can be used in the design process of the waterways in a hydropower plant.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop an efficient and accurate numerical method that can be used in the design process of the waterways in a hydropower plant.
Design/methodology/approach
A range of recently published (2002‐2006) works, which aim to form the basis of a shape optimization tool for flow design and to increase the knowledge within the field of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and surrogate‐based optimization techniques.
Findings
Provides information about how crude the optimization method can be regarding, for example, the design variables, the numerical noise and the multi objectives, etc.
Research limitations/implications
It does not give a detailed interpretation of the flow behaviour due to the lack of validation data.
Practical implications
A very useful flow design methodology that can be used in both academy and industry.
Originality/value
Shape optimization of hydraulic turbine draft tubes with aid of CFD and numerical optimization techniques has not been performed until recently due to the high CPU requirements on CFD simulations. The paper investigates the possibilities of using the global optimization algorithm response surface methodology in the design process of a full scale hydraulic turbine draft tube.
Details
Keywords
Jerker Lessing and Staffan Brege
The purpose of this study is to describe and analyse the business model of product-oriented house-building companies and, hence, bridging the gap of knowledge on this topic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to describe and analyse the business model of product-oriented house-building companies and, hence, bridging the gap of knowledge on this topic. Product-orientation implies an alternative approach to house-building, requiring new knowledge about business models and its characteristics. The balance and fit between the main business model dimensions is specifically focused on to emphasise the importance of a holistic approach.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on a case study with two leading Swedish, product-oriented house-building companies. Semi-structured interviews with company executives, document studies, site and factory visits, along with seminars at the companies are the main data sources. Theories on business models and product orientation form the theoretical foundation for the study.
Findings
The case studies describe two successful companies that used end-customer knowledge to identify a target segment, develop an offering and sequentially increase control over the production and supply chain, with limited investments. This indicates that a market-based outside-in perspective is a successful approach to establish viable house-building concepts with a balance between the business model’s dimensions.
Practical implications
The knowledge brought forward in this study is beneficial for practitioners that can learn about product-oriented house-building and how this must be reflected in the company’s business model to be successfully applied.
Social implications
The study brings forward knowledge about house-building business models that can contribute to increased house-building targeted on certain customer segments. This can be beneficial in terms of decreased costs and increased volumes of new-built, high-quality homes for a variety of customers on the market.
Originality/value
Business models for product-oriented house-building companies are a scarcely covered topic in previous research, and hence, this study provides knowledge of interest for both researchers and practitioners. The case studies reveal unique information of how two companies developed their successful concepts.