Both practitioners and research scientists have noted a number of problems regarding measurement activities during the past decade. The problems reported suggest that measurement…
Abstract
Both practitioners and research scientists have noted a number of problems regarding measurement activities during the past decade. The problems reported suggest that measurement activities are fragmented both within and across organizations. Expands on a systems perspective on supply chain measurements and describes how problems can be communicated, understood and managed by developing methods and tools for describing interrelationships within supply chains. Empirical evidence from a case study of a Swedish home furnishing business supply chain provides data suggesting that firms within a supply chain cannot simply be categorized as either having adopted systems thinking or not. Rather, both structured models indicating a high degree of systems thinking, and problems showing fragmentation, are present. A performance model, which is used to reflect the systemic structure of an underlying supply chain and a potential integrator, is introduced and suggested as the focus of future research initiatives within supply chain measurements.
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Patrik Jonsson, Martin Rudberg and Stefan Holmberg
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the prerequisites and effects of centralised supply chain planning at IKEA, and to explore how the planning process, planning system, and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the prerequisites and effects of centralised supply chain planning at IKEA, and to explore how the planning process, planning system, and planning organization make up a centralised planning approach.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a longitudinal case study of IKEA's implementation of global supply chain planning. The literature review generated a framework which identifies prerequisites for, approaches to, and the effects of and obstacles to centralised supply chain planning. This framework was used to analyse IKEA's supply chain planning before and after the implementation. Finally, the authors reflected upon the learning from IKEA and refined the framework.
Findings
A number of prerequisites for centralised supply chain planning were identified: functional products, vertical integration, a dominating organization possessing the power and competence to enforce the implementation, and the use of one planning domain possessing all critical planning information. The direct effects of centralised supply chain planning were related to supply chain integration, standardisation, specialisation, and learning effects. Implementing centralised supply chain planning in an appropriate planning context led to several operational performance improvements. Obstacles were mainly related to human and organizational, as well as to software and data issues.
Research limitations/implications
This is a first approach towards development of a framework of how to design, use and benefit from centralised supply chain planning. The developed conceptual model, which is refined through the case study, offers some generalizability in researching centralised supply chain planning.
Practical implications
The findings show that centralised supply chain planning is a necessity for a large and growing, global supply chain striving for low‐cost production and efficiency.
Originality/value
IKEA is a unique case with its supply chain characteristics and recently implemented planning concept.
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– This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
Say what you like about IKEA, it attracts far more than its fair share of publicity – some of it self-generated, some of it triggered by customers, some of it part of comedians' stand-up routines, and most of it welcomed by a company which has, despite being the world's largest furniture retailer, even bigger ambitions
Practical implications
The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.
Originality/value
The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to digest format.
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Isto Huvila, Kim Holmberg, Stefan Ek and Gunilla Widén‐Wulff
Second Life is a user‐created online virtual world, which is a place where people with shared interests can meet and be together and share information. The purpose of this study…
Abstract
Purpose
Second Life is a user‐created online virtual world, which is a place where people with shared interests can meet and be together and share information. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Second Life communities foster and nurture social capital, whether social capital within Second Life is related to social capital outside the virtual world, whether some characteristics affect the likelihood of users having social capital, and whether some existing measure of social capital can be modified and used to study social capital in Second Life.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was based on a statistical analysis of data gathered in a web survey of a convenience sample (n= 67) of Second Life residents. The social capital measure used was based on Bullen and Onyx.
Findings
Second Life is an environment that fosters the emergence of social capital. Residents who consider themselves producers have higher levels of social capital than those who consider themselves non‐producers. Having social capital within Second Life is unrelated to having social capital outside the virtual world. The consistency of the instrument proved to be excellent for measuring social capital within Second Life and good outside the virtual world.
Research limitations/implications
The small sample size and the composition of the research population limit the ability to generalise the findings.
Practical implications
Second Life is a potent environment for community building and collective action. However, communities and collective action within Second Life cannot be based on social activity outside the virtual world.
Originality/value
The present study is the first systematic investigation of social capital in Second Life.
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José Miguel Salgueiro, Gabrijel Peršin, Jasna Hrovatin, Ðani Juricic and Jože Vižintin
The purpose of this paper is to present a data fusion methodology for online oil condition and wear particles monitoring for assessment of a mechanical spur gear transmission…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a data fusion methodology for online oil condition and wear particles monitoring for assessment of a mechanical spur gear transmission system.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, a background understanding of the tribological phenomena behind oil degradation and wear on the contact surface of mechanical elements is presented. Experimental results were obtained from oil continuously sampled from an operating a single-stage gearbox. Sampling was done by a multi-sensor automated prototype and online analysis performed by algorithms implemented in a C-code programmed graphical user interface.
Findings
Two sets of experiments were performed to observe different fault events frequently occurred in an industrial environment. Fault detection was achieved in appropriate time under constant operating conditions. Under variable operating conditions, same results were obtained by adjusting analysis parameters to critical operation conditions.
Originality/value
The value of this research work is the integration of the hardware and software necessary for online monitoring of oil condition and mechanical wear. The setup integrates online sampling with data acquisition, wireless communication, change detection and fault recognition computation. The approach has application in non-destructive online condition-based maintenance.
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According to numerous cross‐cultural and comparative management studies, management perceptions and approaches differ across cultures, in particular, the management of human…
Abstract
According to numerous cross‐cultural and comparative management studies, management perceptions and approaches differ across cultures, in particular, the management of human resources (HR). This article presents a number of implications for the appraisal process and its different functions and characteristics when applied within a cross‐cultural context. Culture is identified as an important factor influencing the understanding and interpretation of the appraisal process, its development, implementation, and other appraisal related elements and functions. Challenges for practitioners include the adaptation of HR procedures and practices to local cultures; managers to be aware of and sensitive to employees holding different cultural value and belief systems which might lead them to approach HR tools such as the appraisal process differently. Managers also need to focus on the objectives of the appraisal process and be open to pursuing different routes to get there, depending upon cultural circumstances.
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This paper aims to assess the current practice in research on supply chain management applying a case study method. Two particular research fields, namely sustainable supply chain…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to assess the current practice in research on supply chain management applying a case study method. Two particular research fields, namely sustainable supply chain management (SustSCM) and performance supply chain management (PerformSCM), are used as examples.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a content analysis, where quality criteria for documenting case study research are analyzed. A total of 68 papers from the two research fields (51 SustSCM and 17 PerformSCM) forms the sample. The criteria of analysis chosen are taken from the case study research process.
Findings
There are two major findings: first, supply chain researchers have to make a greater effort to collect data from supply chains (i.e. at least two, or better, three or more stages of the supply chains). Second, the research process needs to be more comprehensively documented in related peer‐reviewed journal publications. This way, the value of case study based research might be appreciated more, as well enabling stronger conclusions to be drawn on the individual piece of research.
Research limitations/implications
The research presented focuses on two particular fields inside SCM. However, the observations made that methodological rigor is often lacking in the papers holds for both fields.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the further development of appropriate empirical research strategies for supply chain management.
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Stefan Larsson, Måns Svensson, Marcin de Kaminski, Kari Rönkkö and Johanna Alkan Olsson
The purpose of this study is to understand more of online anonymity in the global file sharing community in the context of social norms and copyright law. The study describes the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to understand more of online anonymity in the global file sharing community in the context of social norms and copyright law. The study describes the respondents in terms of use of VPN or similar service related to age, gender, geographical location, as well as analysing the correlation with file sharing frequencies.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is to a large extent descriptively collecting data through a web‐based survey. This was carried out in collaboration with the BitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay (TPB), allowing the authors to link the survey from the main logo of their site. In 72 hours the authors received over 75,000 responses, which gives the opportunity to compare use of anonymity services with factors of age, geographical region, file sharing frequency, etc.
Findings
Overall, 17.8 per cent of the respondents use a VPN or similar service (free or paid). A core of high frequency uploaders is more inclined to use VPN or similar services than the average file sharer. Online anonymity practices in the file sharing community are depending on how legal and social norms correlate (more enforcement means more anonymity).
Research limitations/implications
The web‐based survey was in English and mainly attracted visitors on The Pirate Bays' web page. This means that it is likely that those who do not have the language skills necessary were excluded from the survey.
Practical implications
This study adds to the knowledge of anonymity practices online in terms of traceability and identification. This means that it shows some of the conditions for legal enforcement in a digital environment.
Social implications
This study adds to the knowledge of how the Internet is changing in terms of a polarization between stronger means of legally enforced identification and a growing awareness of how to be more untraceable.
Originality/value
The scale of the survey, with over 75,000 respondents from most parts of the world, has likely not been seen before on this topic. The descriptive study of anonymity practices in the global file sharing community is therefore likely unique.
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Nathalie Fabbe-Costes, Christine Roussat, Margaret Taylor and Andrew Taylor
The purpose of this paper is to explore the empirical reality of environmental scanning (ES) practices in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) contexts. In particular it…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the empirical reality of environmental scanning (ES) practices in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) contexts. In particular it tests a conceptual framework proposed in 2011 by Fabbe-Costes et al.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data for this research were obtained from 45 semi-structured interviews with key informants, combined with a discussion of the main results with a focus group of supply chain experts. These data are compared with the literature and brought to bear on the framework.
Findings
The research finds both breadth and depth in the scope of sustainability scanning practices of the respondent group and provides evidence of multi-level scanning, with all respondents describing scanning activity at the societal level. It further demonstrates the adoption of multiple and diverse scanning targets at all levels in the conceptual framework. The articulation and ranking of scanning targets for SSCM at all levels informs the development of priorities for practice. The paper also makes some observations about the boundaries of the scanning process.
Practical implications
The results provide managers with concrete guidance about what to scan in sustainable supply chain contexts. The validated framework can serve as a practical tool to assist managers with the organization and prioritization of their ES activities.
Originality/value
The paper is among the first to address the role of ES in sustainable supply chain contexts. It highlights the need for a multi-level framework for such scanning activities and opens up a debate about their implementation.