Management of Energy Technology for Sustainability: How to Fund Energy Technology Research and Development

Operations management methods have been applied profitably to a wide range of technology portfolio management problems, but have been slow to be adopted by governments and policy makers. We develop a framework that allows us to apply such techniques to a large and important public policy problem: energy technology R&D portfolio management under climate change. We apply a multi‐model approach, implementing probabilistic data derived from expert elicitations into a novel stochastic programming version of a dynamic integrated assessment model. We note that while the unifying framework we present can be applied to a range of models and data sets, the specific results depend on the data and assumptions used and therefore may not be generalizable. Nevertheless, the results are suggestive, and we find that the optimal technology portfolio for the set of projects considered is fairly robust to different specifications of climate uncertainty, to different policy environments, and to assumptions about the opportunity cost of investing. We also conclude that policy makers would do better to over‐invest in R&D rather than under‐invest. Finally, we show that R&D can play different roles in different types of policy environments, sometimes leading primarily to cost reduction, other times leading to better environmental outcomes.     

Training: Key to technological transfer

The purpose of this article is to present the results of an analysis of various cases of technology transfer involving European companies in the Asian region in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector in order to pinpoint the major source of problems. Based on these results, the paper then focuses on one particular aspect of the process of technology transfer—the training—in order to draw some practical implications for companies involved in technology transfer.     

冲击型负荷下的生产存储模型研究

建立了考虑冲击需求、变化生产率的最优生产存储库存策略. 其特点是:把一个生产周 期分为多个生产阶段,各个生产阶段时间可以不同;在每个生产阶段中,允许生产率小于需求 率,允许提前生产;而且,最大生产率要小于最大需求率. 研究发现,为满足冲击需求,提前存储 较多而启动机器数量较少,或提前存储较少而启动机器数量较多,不一定能够取得最佳效益, 要根据存储费用和启动费用共同确定. 在有限生产率的条件下,得出一种寻求最优生产- 库存 策略,为此类库存系统的管理决策提供了理论依据.     

Technology sourcing,appropriability regimes,and new product development

This paper tests the influence of technology sourcing and appropriability regimes on new product development, using data from a survey of 254 Chinese firms. Our results demonstrate that both internal technology development and external technology sourcing can improve a firm's new product development. Furthermore, although both legal appropriability regimes and strategic appropriability regimes have positive relationships with new product development, their moderating effects are different. Specifically, it is suggested that firms incorporate legal appropriability regimes when using external technology development and strategic appropriability regimes when using internal technology sources, to improve new product development.     

产品系统生态因子选择动力研究

为了探寻企业实施生态化经营的内在驱动机制,选择竞争性市场结构作为研究背景,把产品系统分割为满足常规功能的普通因子部分和满足生态要求的生态因子部分,而产品顾客则被划分普通型消费者和具有生态意识的责任型消费这两部分.在此基础上引入政策补贴变量,分别从短期和长期两个视角来分析企业产品系统生态化的行为特征.研究发现:在利润目标的驱使下,基于对责任型消费群体规模、自身技术经济实力、政策支持力度等因素的综合考虑,企业对产品系统生态因子比例的选择具有较强的策略性。     

Consumer response to car fronts: eliciting biological preparedness with product design

Building on assumptions derived from evolutionary theory, we investigated viewers’ reactions to the design of car fronts (i.e., an automobile’s face), which were designed to be threatening using basic principles of anthropomorphism. Previous research suggests two opposite human reactions when presented with threatening stimuli: Initially, threatening objects attract human attention (e.g., when exploring a scene for the first time), but afterwards, people tend to avoid such threatening stimuli (as they are likely to induce discomfort in the viewer). This proposition is tested within a product design context using eye tracking methodology. Results showed that automotive stimuli not only activate affective dimensions of customers, but also lead to specific automatic reactions that can be explained by evolutionary theory. Practical implications for product design and marketing are discussed.     

A hybrid approach to constrained evolutionary computing: Case of product synthesis

Evolutionary computing (EC) is comprised of techniques involving evolutionary programming, evolution strategies, genetic algorithms (GA), and genetic programming. It has been widely used to solve optimization problems for large scale and complex systems. However, when insufficient knowledge is incorporated, EC is less efficient in terms of searching for an optimal solution. In addition, the GA employed in previous literature is modeled to solve one problem exactly. The GA needs to be redesigned, at a cost, for it to be applied to another problem. Due to these two reasons, this paper develops a generic GA incorporating knowledge extracted from the rough set theory. The advantages of the proposed solution approach include: (i) solving problems that can be decomposed into functional requirements, and (ii) improving the performance of the GA by reducing the domain range of initial population and constraining crossover using the rough set theory. The solution approach is exemplified by solving the problem of product synthesis, where there is a conflict between performance and cost. Manufacturing or assembling a product of high performance and quality at a low cost is critical for a company to maximize its advantages. Based on our experimental results, this approach has shown great promise and has reduced costs when the GA is in processing.     

Risk return approach to product portfolio strategy

This article describes how a risk-return portfolio analysis, as originally developed in economics and finance, can be applied to product-line decisions. This approach uses direct estimates of return, and explicitly considers risk, or variation in return; most of the product portfolio models in use today forecast return by correlation, and lack explicit treatment of risk. The approach provides guidance for new product development activities as well as for allocating resources among a corporation's existing product lines. The article explains how organizations can apply this approach to their own product portfolio decisions, and includes a detailed example of how one company used this model.     

Modelling collaborative product development using axiomatic design principles: application to software industry

Even though collaborative product development (CPD) is considered as a strategic business plan to maintain competitive advantage, the literature lacks a systematic and detailed model of CPD from a strategic point of view. This article aims to develop a CPD model based on an axiomatic design technique by offering a system perspective in the context of software development (SD). Software industry is characterised by a dynamic and innovative nature and it gives a suitable application area in order to detail the proposed model in industry. Three main dimensions of CPD derived from the literature are defined in strategic level: partnership process, collaboration process and PD/SD. These three dimensions are detailed into hierarchy through business feedback and by experts from software industry. The model is evaluated and verified through two interviews. A case study is then conducted to observe the performance of the model. The conceptual model offers a guideline for CPD practitioners to increase effectiveness in collaborative efforts in the development process. The proposed model incorporates the main success factors of CPD in general, collaborative SD in specific, and it can be used as a performance evaluator in collaborative projects.     

Technology transfer — and the U.S. space program

Using ten years of data in the structured technology transfer program of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration as a base, a rough model of the nature and significance of research and development and its movement as technology is presented. Painted in economic hues is the economic return of technology of 7·23 to 1 over an 18 year period, in technical terms—the nature of integrated circuit technology transfer and the public significance of technology transfer to the problems of rechargeable Cardiac Pacemakers. The distinction between natural technology diffusion and intended technology transfer is made to outline the movement of technology through the U.S. economy.     

A robust approach to the share-of-choice product design problem

A critical issue when solving the share-of-choice product design problem is the reliability of the optimal solution in the presence of partworth uncertainty. Existing approaches use point estimates of an individual's partworth utilities as input to the product optimization stage, ignoring within-person variability in estimates. Post-optimality sensitivity analysis is occasionally performed to assess the degree to which a solution is negatively impacted by partworth uncertainty. We propose a robust optimization model that explicitly captures variation in partworth estimates during the optimization process. Using a large, commercial dataset, we benchmark our model's performance against its deterministic counterpart. We also present inferential theory to guide the selection of model parameters controlled by the analyst. Results reveal that the new approach produces robust solutions in the face of measurement error. Out-of-sample coverage for individuals drawn from the target population is significantly higher than corresponding solutions from published methods.     

Maintaining product quality consistency when offshoring to emerging markets: The role of subsidiary control

Offshoring can increase firms' exposure to product quality risks, such that manufacturing firms need effective tactics to maintain product quality consistency across offshoring subsidiaries. With an agency theory approach, the present study seeks novel insights into three widely used subsidiary control mechanisms for achieving product quality consistency across offshoring subsidiaries in emerging markets and developed home countries. Through surveys of 150 subsidiaries of multinational corporations in heavy industries operating in China, the paper tests a proposed model using hierarchical linear regression, accounting for endogeneity concerns using the Gaussian copula method. The analysis yielded several findings: An inverted U-shaped relationship exists between decision autonomy and product quality consistency; expatriate staffing positively predicts product quality consistency and attenuates the negative effects of excessive autonomy on product quality consistency; and compared with greenfield entry, mergers and acquisitions negatively predict product quality consistency.     

Linking product modularity to supply chain integration and flexibility

Abstract

This study builds a moderated mediation model to empirically investigate the impacts of product modularity and supply chain integration (i.e. supplier, customer, and internal integration) on the flexibility and moderating effects of the product life cycle (i.e. growth and maturity stages) on the relationships using data collected from 204 Chinese manufacturers. The findings reveal that both supplier integration and internal integration mediate the relationship between product modularity and flexibility. Moreover, the indirect effect of product modularity on flexibility through supplier integration is stronger during the growth stage than during the maturity stage. There is no difference in the indirect effect of product modularity on flexibility through internal integration, which is significant in both the growth and maturity stages. In addition, the impact of product modularity on customer integration is significantly stronger, whereas that of customer integration on flexibility is significantly weaker during the growth stage than during the maturity stage.     

New product development in turbulent environments: Impact of improvisation and unlearning on new product performance

Team learning is vital for organizations in order to compete in fast-paced environments. However, the ways learning can be effective in such environments warrents research, especially for teams developing new products under rapidly changing technological and market conditions. Interestingly, recent new product development (NPD) literature demonstrates the essential role of improvisation (i.e., planning and executing any action simultaneously) and unlearning (i.e., changes in team beliefs and project routines) for effective learning and performing under turbulent conditions. However, the combined effect of team improvisation and unlearning on new product success (NPS) has largely been ignored. This paper investigates the nomological relations among team improvisation and unlearning, new product success, and environmental turbulence, and contributes to the literature on NPD team learning, and on team flexibility under turbulent conditions. By examining 197 new product-development projects, we found that (1) environmental turbulence positively affects team unlearning, (2) team unlearning concurrently stimulates team improvisation, (3) team improvisation positively impacts new product success by utilizing/implementing new knowledge acquired by unlearning and improvisation. We further discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of our conclusions.     

消费者短视和以旧换新情形下设计架构与定价策略研究

耐用品的耐用性会抑制了新一代耐用品的销售,企业通常会采用以旧换新政策来激励新一代耐用品的销售。企业有两种产品设计架构策略:一体化架构策略与模块化架构策略,同时企业也有两种定价策略:静态定价策略和动态定价策略。在这种情况下,企业该如何确定产品设计架构和定价策略?在假定两期内消费者是短视情形下,论文建立了消费者与企业博弈模型分析和比较了三种情况。研究发现,无论是静态定价还是动态定价,无论是模块化架构还是一体化架构,购买了第一代产品的消费者都会整体更换成第二代产品;随着第二代核心系统的质量提升,以旧换新促使企业产品架构选择从一体化架构转变为选择模块化架构;当采用动态定价、第二代核心系统质量提升适中和折扣因子高时,企业会选择模块化架构;当企业采用模块化架构时,以旧换新政策会降低模块化产品第二代核心子系统和基础子系统之间的兼容性;如果两代产品之间的质量差距比较大,企业将会选择动态定价策略,反之会选择静态定价策略。     

Corporate product planning: A vector analysis approach

This article presents one approach for reviewing corporate product decisions using vector analysis. Vector analysis is a relatively little used technique in business; however, it is helpful in dealing with marketing problems involving more than two major variables. This technique is especially useful to marketing executives since it can provide information for allocating resources to each brand in the product line.The companies in which this technique may be applied share certain characteristics: all have multi-products which are substitutable and distributed nationally; all depend on marketing as an important part of their operations and all use marketing research on a regular basis.     

Reference compensation: a transfer of reference price theory to human resource management

The topics of compensation in human resource management and pricing in marketing theory both involve a monetary component that is important for companies to manage. While the role that price perceptions play for consumers is the subject of the well-established reference price theory, human resource management theory lacks any related concept for the compensation perceptions held by employees. This paper transfers reference price theory to HR management in the form of reference compensation, conceptualized as an individual’s compensation norm, including normative and predictive compensation expectations. Possible measures to influence employees’ reference compensation are suggested and avenues for further establishing the concepts in research and practice are developed. As a first empirical attempt to support the relevance of the concept, we present results of an exploratory study among 88 part-time students. We show that employees apply references when judging compensation, and that the applied references vary with different employment situations.     

Strategic approach to the development of a superior product.

This article describes an innovative approach to the design and delivery of health care services; a brief summary of the underlying rationale of the approach; a comparison of the traditional health care delivery system with the new, extended product line (EPL) approach; and an evaluation of the extended product line process. Information regarding the extended product line will be presented as a case study, describing one hospital's experience with the development of a cardiac extended product line.     

多品种集约生产计划问题的模糊方法

提出具有模糊需求量和模糊能力约束以及资本水平约束的多品种类集约生产计划问题 的模糊优化模型及模糊解方法. 通过对模糊需求量和模糊等式的描述,提出了模糊需求环境下 生产- 库存平衡方程的两种等价的描述方法, 并给出了模糊等式的实用解释. 建立了具有模 糊需求量和模糊能力约束集约生产计划问题的优化模型FMAPP ,并给出了求解模型的参数规 划方法.