Linking IT Applications with Manufacturing Strategy: An Intelligent Decision Support System Approach

Research has indicated the importance of matching Information Technology (IT) applications or manufacturing systems with the competitive strategy of a company. Selection of the right type of IT application is, however, a challenging task. When a company with a given dominant process structure emphasizes two or more competitive priorities, such as quality, product flexibility, etc., an unaided manager faces a complex decision problem in choosing from alternative IT applications available in the areas of product design through distribution. In this paper, we develop an Intelligent Decision Support System (IDSS) to assist managers with assessment of the relative importance of competitive priorities in their organization, evaluation of the fit between the competitive priorities and their dominant process structure, and identification of the IT applications that are consistent with both the competitive priorities and the process structure. The IDSS is comprised of an interactive user interface, a knowledge database, a decision model, and a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) that was developed using the 1st Class KBS shell. Validation of the system illustrates that its performance is as good as the human expert, and it has the potential to facilitate effective and swift decision making in the selection of appropriate IT applications that best match an organization's manufacturing strategy. The choice and use of the right type of IT application should provide a company with a competitive edge.     

Decision support systems for production scheduling tasks- Part I of a case study: Analysis and task redesign

The first three steps of a new design method for decision support systems in production scheduling tasks are applied to a large bulk terminal. The operational characteristics of the company largely correspond with those of typical semiprocess industries. The design model used consists of five steps: production analysis, task analysis, task redesign, decision support design and decision support implementation. The results of the application of the design model up to the task redesign step are described.     

Structuring Work Distribution for Global Product Development Organizations

This study describes (through an application) a novel approach toward organizing work distribution across globally distributed design and development centers of a product development (PD) organization. While there exist several studies (and modeling applications) for work distribution and allocation for manufacturing and supply chain networks, those related to product development organizations are limited to qualitative suggestions such as offshoring of modular tasks. However, most PD efforts are characterized by significant complexity in information sharing and information dependency among PD tasks (represented by coupling in the system architecture of the firm), thus preventing the identification of modular tasks. Also, redesigning the architecture to introduce modularity has associated risks of costs and product integrity. We demonstrate a methodology to organize work distribution globally in an industrial setting, utilizing the design structure matrix to quantify the system architecture of the firm. Our optimization results show significant cost savings through a restructured PD organization. On analysis of the results, we make two significant observations: (a) while offshoring based on modularity is generally appropriate, it is not the whole answer, as there exists a trade‐off between the efficiency of performing specific PD tasks at the offshore location and the modularity of the task; and (b) firms should successively increase work allocation to the offshore location, benefiting from capability improvements through learning effects.     

Swimming Pool Hygiene: Self-Monitoring,Task Clarification,and Performance Feedback Increase Lifeguard Cleaning Behaviors

The effects of task clarification, self-monitoring, and performance feedback on cleaning behaviors of 9 lifeguards in 3 performance areas (vacuuming, lobby tidying, and pool deck maintenance) were investigated using an ABA reversal design at a county swim complex. A specific task in each performance area was used as a behavioral control. Following a task clarification meeting, the percentage of closing tasks completed each night was self-monitored through ratings by lifeguards and managers. Researchers conducted independent ratings of these completed tasks after the staff had left the building. Feedback data were posted daily using line graphs that displayed the percentage of tasks completed correctly from both self-report and researchers' data. Overall performance increased from an average of 45.1% correct behaviors during baseline to an average of 76.9% during intervention then reversed to baseline during follow-up to an average performance of 45.05%.     

Fair task allocation in transportation

Task allocation problems have traditionally focused on cost optimization. However, more and more attention is being given to cases in which cost should not always be the sole or major consideration. In this paper we study a fair task allocation problem in transportation where an optimal allocation not only has low cost but more importantly, it distributes tasks as even as possible among heterogeneous participants who have different capacities and costs to execute tasks. To tackle this fair minimum cost allocation problem we analyze and solve it in two parts using two novel polynomial-time algorithms. We show that despite the new fairness criterion, the proposed algorithms can solve the fair minimum cost allocation problem optimally in polynomial-time. In addition, we conduct an extensive set of experiments to investigate the trade-off between cost minimization and fairness. Our experimental results demonstrate the benefit of factoring fairness into task allocation. Among the majority of test instances, fairness comes with a very small price in terms of cost.     

The Design of a Knowledge-Based Decision Support System to Support the Information Analyst in Determining Requirements

Decision support system (DSS) researchers and designers continue to look for unstructured organizational tasks where there is a critical need for intelligent computer-based support. One such decision task is information requirements determination. Requirements determination is recognized as the most crucial phase of the systems development life cycle. Unfortunately, most methodologies and CASE tools focus only on how to specify the requirements once they are determined. There is very little computer support for the process of determining requirements. This paper discusses the conceptual design and development of a knowledge-based DSS to support information analysts in the critical decision task of determining requirements for the design of effective information systems. The expert modeling support system has the expertise to assist the analyst in studying the organization as a whole and in modeling the system under study in the context of the overall organization's goals and needs. The focus of the paper is on the problems associated with building the knowledge base component of the intelligent decision support system. A prototype implementation of the system is described.     

协同工作下角色-任务匹配与互动多智能体模拟研究

利用多智能体模拟方法对角色-任务匹配和互动关系进行研究,构建基于Agent的角色-任务匹配的多目标评价模型,并设计最小匹配度和最大匹配度两种匹配度算法,基于Repast,在Eclipse上用Java实现角色-任务互动模拟系统.模拟实验结果表明,与最大匹配度算法相比,最小匹配度算法能减少任务接口通讯费,有效提高员工能力利用率,最大化完成任务.该算法能较好地用于协同工作环境下角色任务分配,增加学习率,有助于员工能力增长;在一定的协同学习率下,任务量越饱和,员工各项能力提高程度越大;任务的能力需求期望变化小于方差变化时体现的动态性与能力增长负相关,而任务的能力需求期望变化大于方差变化时体现的动态性与能力增长正相关.     

具有周期特征的末阶段飞行员资源紧张度评估方法研究

近年来,随着我国航空业的快速发展,飞行员不足成了很多航空公司发展的制约因素。由于飞行员的飞行时间有周、月、年度飞行小时的约束,航空公司在执行每月第四周的航班计划时,往往由于飞行员前三周飞行时间不平衡,造成利用剩余的飞行员资源完成第四周计划航班任务的紧张状况。本文针对此问题,提出一种评估每月第四周飞行员资源紧张程度的方法。该模型首先按照带队机长可用的飞行小时,将带队机长分为若干类,以各类带队机长的投入数量为投入变量,利用历史数据分析航班任务和飞行员投入之间的关系。利用各类飞行员投入结构比例的约束,计算第四周可用带队机长飞行小时可完成的最大航班任务量,通过与计划航班任务量的比较,评估完成该航班计划的紧张程度,并根据结果在需要预警时,给出不同级别的预警。从而可以使得安全生产关口前移,提高航空公司的安全生产水平,同时为飞行员的培训提供依据。     

MATHEMATICAL FORMULATION OF THE TASK SEGREGATION PROBLEM IN INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN*

Segregation of tasks is an important factor in the determination of internal control system reliability. In assigning tasks within an organization, the impact on internal control system reliability must be considered. This paper uses reliability modeling as the basis of a method for formulating the design problem. Formulation of the problem in this manner facilitates development of a knowledge base for auditors' judgments and the use of such knowledge in the design problem. It is demonstrated that under certain conditions the problem can be solved easily. This is useful not only in task assignment but also in manpower decisions. New concepts such as reliability degradation and a task combination matrix are introduced in developing the formulation.     

Selecting IT applications in manufacturing: a KBS approach

The use of the right type of Information Technology (IT) applications or manufacturing systems is expected to usher in a competitive advantage. Selection of the right type of IT application is, however, a challenging task. When a company, with a given dominant process structure, emphasizes two or more competitive priorities, such as quality, product flexibility, etc., an unaided manager faces a complex decision problem in choosing from alternative IT applications available in the areas of product design through distribution. In this paper, we present a Knowledge Based System (KBS) that would assist managers with the identification of IT applications that are consistent with both the competitive priorities and the process structure. Validation of the system illustrates that its performance is consistent with the human experts, and it has the potential to facilitate effective and swift decision-making in the selection of appropriate IT applications that best match an organization's manufacturing strategy.     

Leader support and responses to work in US nurses: A test of alternative theoretical perspectives

A number of theoretical perspectives as well as common wisdom suggest that leader support is important for alleviating or preventing dysfunctional effects of stress at work. Other perspectives suggest that task characteristics also serve a supportive function. In this study, data from 97 nurses in a paediatric hospital were used to compare the utility of the path-goal theory of leadership, social support theory and substitutes for leadership theory for explaining the impact of leader support on satisfaction and anxiety responses of workers. In addition, the relative impact of leader support and enriched tasks on worker affect was explored. Results suggest that social support theory was able to predict most findings regarding leader support, and that leader support is more important than task to predictions of satisfaction of workers and autonomy is more important to relieving anxiety of workers. The study extends findings about the general value of leader support for managing, but the need to clarify the mechanisms through which the effects occur is emphasized.     

Public-Private Partnerships,Dividing Operational Stage,and Optimal Governance Structures

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) include various governance structures which distribute tasks and ownership of facility differently. Many earlier theoretical studies using the incomplete contracts theory assume two tasks, building and operation, for the projects of public services. This may be too simple, however, to consider complicated projects such as prisons. Critics argue that those studies could not fully explain the reality. In addition, Those models are not suitable for comparing different PPP approaches such as Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and private management. The present paper divides the task of operation into two (maintenance and security). This enables us to compare four relevant governance structures in a single framework, and to suggest the conditions for successful PPP prison projects. The main findings are that the tasks of maintenance and security should be conducted by different parties (private consortium and civil servant) under certain conditions, while unbundling construction and operation stages is desirable in other cases.     

STAFFING SERVICE ACTIVITIES WITH WAITING LINE MODELS

The problem of scheduling service activities and variable tasks has traditionally been solved subjectively. The lack of objective approaches has been due to the absence of formal standards and delay costs and by the high cost of examination and measurement. Some recent developments in work measurement concepts may permit the development of more objective standards, which when used in conjunction with scientific methodology such as waiting line theory, make possible objective scheduling of the variable service type activity. The work of a salesperson in a retail store provides an example of both the variable service type activity and the waiting line problem. The manager attempts to balance the cost of service facilities (sales personnel) against the cost of a waiting line (customer ill will). The necessary data inputs for the waiting line model were obtained from field studies by means of work sampling. Computer simulation was then utilized to study various sized sales forces in an attempt to determine the most economical staff allocation.     

Organisation structure,management style and company performance

This paper examines the relationship between organisation structure and management style and their influence on organisational effectiveness measured in both ‘human’ and financial terms. Account has also been taken of related contextual factors such as differences in task, size and environment of a company. Using information collected from a sample of fifty small and medium size printing and building firms the authors have elaborated a conceptual model involving the independent attributes; integration, control, task orientation and people orientation. The validity of this model has been operationally tested and examined against the background of evidence reported by other research workers on the contextual determinants of organisational structure and management style. Substantially different patterns of association between ‘organisation’ and ‘style’ and company performance are found for the two industries and an important outcome of the research has been to produce further evidence in favour of the contingency theory of organisation. The paper concludes with some implications for management practice and organisational design.     

Improving supplier performance using a comprehensive scheme

Improving and coordinating buyer and supplier efforts to increase productivity and competitive advantage in a supply chain is an important issue. Numerous studies have proposed models, principles and criteria for supplier evaluation and selection. Hence, evaluating and improving supplier performance are important when building long-term supply chain competitiveness. This study presents a novel and comprehensive framework that illustrates the linkages between evaluating supplier performance and planning improvements. The proposed framework comprises four parts: building an evaluation model, evaluating supplier performance based on the buyer perspective, evaluating supplier performance based on the supplier perspective and scheduling improvement tasks. This study applies a hybrid genetic algorithm to help suppliers schedule improvement tasks based on the evaluation findings. Finally, evaluation data of a light-emitting diode (LED) manufacturer in Taiwan is used to interpret the procedure and verify model effectiveness.     

A Value Model for Evaluating Homeland Security Decisions

One of the most challenging tasks of homeland security policymakers is to allocate their limited resources to reduce terrorism risks cost effectively. To accomplish this task, it is useful to develop a comprehensive set of homeland security objectives, metrics to measure each objective, a utility function, and value tradeoffs relevant for making homeland security investments. Together, these elements form a homeland security value model. This article develops a homeland security value model based on literature reviews, a survey, and experience with building value models. The purposes of the article are to motivate the use of a value model for homeland security decision making and to illustrate its use to assess terrorism risks, assess the benefits of countermeasures, and develop a severity index for terrorism attacks.     

Evaluating the life cycle of a building: A multivariant and multiple criteria approach

This paper considers the application of methodology for the multivariant design and multiple criteria analysis of the life cycle of a building. The theoretical basis of the methodology is developed. A proposed methodology allows everyone (i.e. client, investor, contractor, etc.), who has to make the decisions, to design alternatives of the building life cycle and to evaluate its qualitative and quantitative aspects. This approach, in which various criteria can be employed, is intended to support the decision making on a building's life cycle selection and increase the efficiency of the resolution process. The procedure of the evaluating of a building's life cycle is discussed using an example.     

Task-Structure Relationship of Information Systems Development Subunit: A Congruence Perspective*

Several studies have examined the influence of organizational context (e.g., organization size, environment, strategy) on information systems (IS) performance/success. But very few studies have examined IS structure, and those studies have focused on a particular element of IS structure (e.g., decentralization). Thus, the multidimensional structural configuration of IS as an organizational subunit has escaped research attention. Further, the nature of the task to be performed by the IS subunit as a contextual factor has been virtually ignored in the IS research literature. In this paper, we first develop a congruence model for the task-structure relationship in an information systems development (ISD) subunit setting. Then we test this model as a multivariate relationship followed by subordinate bivariate analyses. Analysis of data from 41 hospitals’ ISD subunits reveals that a congruence relationship between task context and the structure of an ISD subunit is present. Our findings also show that an exclusive association exists between uncertainty in the task environment and the decision-making structure. Likewise, the association between equivocality of task content and the control structure of the ISD subunit is also exclusive. Implications of these findings for decision makers and researchers are discussed.     

Modelling to Learn — A Case Study in International Minerals Investment

This paper presents the system dynamics modelling methodology as a means of capturing the nature of complex systems. A case study is used to expose the fine points of the methodology. The theoretical underpinning for this case study is based on a highly detailed simulation model designed to examine the factors impacting the flow of international minerals investment funds. Emphasis here is on the usefulness of the modelling methodology as an aid to decision-making, the reader is referred elsewhere for a discussion of model development.