Quality circles—Are they working in British factories?

A survey of Quality Circle programmes in British manufacturing companies reveals that Circles introduced and used properly with full management and trade union support can and do work and have many benefits. The findings suggest that current management attitudes and actions are more detrimental to the establishment and success of a circle programme than that of the trade unions. Based on the findings, indications are made of the factors which will assist companies who are considering the introduction of a Quality Circle programme and also help those companies currently using Circles to make and keep them effective.     

Behavioural aspects of marketing information systems

A survey of 84 users of marketing information systems in 33 companies was conducted to determine the relationship between usage of their systems and (i) attitude factors, (ii) perceived organizational factors, (iii) personality dimensions. Principal components analysis was used to derive underlying attitude and organizational factors as measured by responses to a series of statements derived from exploratory research. Personality was measured by means of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Usage of the system was measured by seven usage variables constructed to capture the various dimensions of usage identified at the exploratory stage of the research. A series of multiple regressions were used to relate the criterion variables (usage dimensions) to each of the predictor variables (attitude factors, perceived organizational factors, and personality). A number of attitude factors, and perceived organizational factors was found to be significantly related to usage. In the main, personality was not related to usage. The results support earlier research in the USA which indicate association between attitudes and usage, and point to the importance of researching organizational aspects which may affect usage. A number of specific features of marketing information systems design is supported by the results of this study. The paper, therefore, provides an analysis of a wider number of factors which may be related to use than earlier studies, provides statistical support for a number of design issues, relates American findings to British experience and is based upon a larger and more comprehensive sample than previous research.     

Management science in the United States and Europe: A decade of change in the literature

This paper focuses upon the investigation of change in the management science literature from 1965 to 1974. Both subject areas and reported areas of implementation are investigated. The study classifies the content of each article published during the past decade in the following set of European and American journals: United States—Management Science; British—Operational Research Quarterly; and German—Zeitscrift für Operations Research. A comparison of the results along both inter and intra country dimensions is presented.     

Institutional Predictors of and Complements to Industry Self‐regulation with Regard to Labor Practices

In recent years, there has been increasing managerial and academic attention given to a variety of mechanisms for companies to respond to stakeholder concerns about global business ethics. One area that merits further analysis is the role of industry‐level cooperation regarding issues in global business ethics such as labor practices. There are two main issues that we will address in this article: institutional pressures that predict when an industry will create a code of conduct and institutional complements for an industry‐level code of conduct to be “successful” with regard to responding to stakeholder concerns about international business operations. We offer a number of propositions—bringing together work from both the corporate social responsibility and (neo)institutional theory literatures—with regard to both predictors and complements of industry self‐regulation in reference to labor practices.     

Pathways to productivity improvement

A study of productivity in the Machine Tool industry has just been published by the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF). As a member of the Productivity Steering Group, information was available to one of the authors, in an unusually detailed and validated form for the twenty or so individual companies, (though they remain anonymous). It was thought worthwhile to apply methods developed in the Economics and Statistics Department of British Aerospace to this data in order to give pointers to the factors explaining productivity differences. The particular methods referred to were those of the Diagnostic Chart, though considerably simplified to match the data available, and multiple regression analysis. Particular care is necessary in applying the latter technique in productivity analysis if spurious results are to be excluded. The conclusions were as follows: the most favoured path to improved productivity is via increased turnover; changes in productivity are reflected mainly in changes in the ‘profit’ element of value added rather than in the labour cost element; the major factor distinguishing low from high productivity companies is an excess of the manual work force in relation to turnover; increased fixed assets favours increased labour productivity; increased commitment to R & D favours increased labour productivity; these conclusions are, of course, deduced from a study of the machine tool industry in particular, but may well be of applicability to other industries.     

Technological forecasting in six major U.K. companies

This study, although based upon a small sample, generally supports the recent evidence in the U.K. and the United States concerning the state of current practice in technological forecasting. The weight of this evidence points to the conclusion that the formal techniques of TF are not widely practiced, although the need for TF is generally accepted, and that those companies which are using these techniques do so with some reservation. Some companies in the U.K., however, do have considerable experience in technological forecasting, diffusion of the knowledge of which would be of benefit to the bulk of British industry.     

Implications of CAD/CAM for management

For many firms, investment in computer-aided design is an important first step towards integrated systems of design and manufacture (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacture—CAD/CAM). A recent study of CAD in the British engineering industry has indicated that few firms have yet fully recognised its strategic significance. Successful selection and implementation of CAD/CAM requires changes in investment appraisal procedures and demands higher levels of technical skills at senior levels than are normally found in British engineering firms.     

Valuing corporate environmental performance: Innovest's evaluation of the electric utilities industry

Investment analysts are often skeptical of any link between a company's environmental performance and business performance. However, a study of twenty-six electric utilities by Innovest shows a striking difference in share value between the best and worst environmental performers. Deregulations of the U.S. electric power industry has little noticed implications for environmental performance and risk. Add to that increasing regulatory pressure and public awareness, and environmental strategy emerges as a pivotal factor underlying success—or failure—in the industry. In the article, the authors show how forward-thinking companies are turning environmental threats into business opportunities, with shareholders pocketing the returns.     

Management in the 1980s—Key issues and priorities

The author sets out the tasks confronting managers in British industry and commerce throughout the 1980s. His analysis is based upon lengthy practical experience as a top executive in engineering management and manufacture. He presents his views against the background of a fast-changing world— politically, economically, socially—and also provides a commentary on Britain's major overseas competitor nations and markets. In his analysis of U.K. management problems, he makes clear that much depends upon changed policies and attitudes to ensure the successful restoration and revived growth of British manufacturing industry.     

Linking fuel cell technology with environmental strategy: The plug power story

The technology of fuel cells—electricity-producing devices that promote energy efficiency and lowered emissions—has been studied and researched for more than a century. Only recently, however, has enough progress been made in fuel cell research to allow for the mass production of home fuel cell units. With recent technological advances, a number of companies have entered the fuel cell industry, both as start-ups and as established corporations interested in diversifying their product line.Among the fuel cell start-ups is New York State-based Plug Power, LLC. Founded to develop a residential fuel cell for mass production, Plug Power has become a major player in the burgeoning fuel cell industry. The company recently formed a joint venture with GE Power Systems, linking the producer to the distributor in order to ensure consumers access to this innovative technology. The success of the company in working with non-profits, government and the private sector shows that great strides can be made through public/private partnerships.     

Education: MRP/GT: A FRAMEWORK FOR PRODUCTION PLANNING AND CONTROL OF CELLULAR MANUFACTURING

American industry typically uses material requirements planning (MRP) for manufacturing control. This paper presents production planning and control procedures based on group technology (GT), which is used in British manufacturing. A translation between these ideas and the American approach is made, and it is suggested that a combination of MRP and GT is viable. The problems that arise, especially in the areas of lot-sizing and sequencing/scheduling, and their possible solutions are discussed. Since increased adoption of GT is expected within the next decade, an intensified research effort is warranted in these and other areas so that existing MRP systems can be modified or extended to handle cellular manufacturing control problems. Subject Areas: Material Requirements Planning and Production/Operations Management.     

Gaining from the global ambitions of emerging economy enterprises: An analysis of the decision to sell a German firm to a Chinese acquirer

This paper examines the issue of cross-border acquisitions by companies from emerging economies in industrialised countries: an important phenomenon that has recently found increasing emphasis in international business research. In analysing Chinese acquisitions of German firms in the machinery and equipment industry, the paper addresses the question of why firms from industrialised countries are sold to companies from emerging economies. Several real and imagined reasons may induce the German side not to sell; nevertheless, this type of acquisition occurs with increasing frequency. Using case study evidence and interview data, the study finds explanations for the decision to sell to a Chinese company. The results show that German firms can gain substantially from the global ambitions of the Chinese firms for advancement of their own business objectives. This is due to complementarities in the motivations for engaging in the deals, as well as the underlying strategic needs of both firms. In addition, the specific nature of the cooperation between both firms instils in the German managers a sense of control and security—either real or merely perceived—creating conditions that are favourable to the selling decision. Most importantly, in the context of emerging economy enterprises acquiring advanced economy firms, motivations on both sides of the acquisitions appear to go beyond the commonly known goals such as capital transfer and additional market access, as the acquisitions provide the companies involved with conditions favourable to expansion into previously inaccessible market segments. The findings of this study provide useful guidance for the development of future strategic relationships between firms from industrialised and emerging economies.     

Competitive strategies in the Dutch insurance industry

Strategies formulated by companies are always an anticipation of or a reaction to environmental changes. This article describes the changes that have occurred in the environment of Dutch insurance companies. The well-known Porter model is used to describe the developments in the industry over a time-span of more than 10 years. These developments have resulted in a less attractive business environment. The larger Dutch insurance companies have reacted to this new environment in four major ways—internationalization; concentration; moving closer to the customer; acquiring bank-like activities.     

Planning for technological innovation: Part II—investment in technological change in three major industries

In an article in the December 1977 issue the author described an analytical method to determine the reaction of British industry to the oil crisis. The purpose of this paper is to carry forward the discussion by examining and comparing circumstances in three British industries between 1963 and 1975.The paper aims first, to show how and why the cost structures of these three industries differ; second, to examine changes forced upon companies by inflation of earnings, statutory control of prices and the oil crisis; and finally to assess how far these congruent economic forces have impinged on tangible and intangible investment.The data used for this study were drawn from British and Canadian official statistics but, as described in Part 1, a new analytical technique was devised to give due weight to the full range of investment expenditure.     

Intellectual Property Abuses: How Should Multinationals Respond?

This article illustrates the causes of piracy and pinpoints piracy associated with registrations and with production and distribution. Based on interviews with British and American multinational managers working in China, the authors elaborate 10 corporate actions to counter the spread of the ‘inevitable curse’. In order to implement these 10 strategies, the authors recommend that firms treat piracy as a challenge, be corporately proactive, be aware of the repertoire of possible strategies, investigate co-operative action with other companies, agencies and government and be continuously alert to the dynamic nature of piracy. The problems reflected here are common to multinationals operating businesses around the world, and the destructive nature of piracy is likely to encourage more academic study to yield further insights for practice.     

Evaluating the dynamic performances of business groups from the carry-over perspective: A case study of Taiwan׳s semiconductor industry

This study evaluates the dynamic operating performances of Taiwan׳s semiconductor industry from 2006 to 2012 by using the dynamic DEA, a technique based on the perspective of inter-period carry-over in accounting. The industry׳s various characteristics are investigated to determine their relationships to the semiconductor industry׳s efficiency. The following empirical results are found: companies within a business group are more efficient on average than ones under a non-business group; while integrated circuit (IC) design companies are more efficient than others, companies with high level scopes generally operate better than those with low level scopes. The potential applications and strengths of using DEA to assess the semiconductor industry are also highlighted.     

Towards an integrative framework of innovation network for new product development project

The increasing complexity of product and radical changing environment lead companies towards innovation network (IN) collaboration. Although recent researches highlight the importance and benefits of innovation network (IN) to new product development (NPD), this subject is still developing and it has the potential to expand into new dimensions. However, there is a significant lack in the literature regarding holistic, systematic and integrated framework when it comes to manipulating the challenge of true NPD projects. The current researches mainly focus on the strategy level which provides less application guidance for NPD. Thus, in this work, the authors propose an integrative framework of innovation network for NPD based on the literature review. In addition, a case study of new refrigerator development reveals the feasibility and potentials of the overall framework to its broad usage in industry.     

绩效期望落差对制造企业进入房地产行业的影响研究

以2008~2017年中国制造业上市公司为样本,实证考察了绩效期望落差对企业进入房地产行业的影响。研究发现:绩效期望落差越大,企业面临的效率威胁越严重,越可能为改善业绩而进入房地产行业;绩效期望落差对进入房地产行业的影响强度,与房地产行业利润率和企业持有土地没有显著差异;民营和现金流权比例高的控股股东,对绩效期望落差带来的效率威胁更敏感,更可能通过进入房地产行业,以缓解绩效期望落差带来的效率威胁,导致绩效期望落差对进入房地产行业的影响更强;企业冗余资源越多,进入房地产行业越可行,绩效期望落差对进入房地产行业的影响越强。进一步的分析发现,绩效期望落差对企业进入房地产行业的程度也有正向影响。     

Important Strategic and Tactical Manufacturing Issues in the 1990s*

This paper reports the identification and ranking of major manufacturing issues that American manufacturing managers and academics must focus on and resolve in the 1990s to be competitive on a global basis. Vice-presidents of manufacturing from over 75 companies across the United States were asked in a Delphi study to rank the key strategic and tactical issues facing American manufacturing in the next three to five years. Based on three rounds of a Delphi study, quality management, manufacturing strategy, and process technology emerged as the top ranked strategic issues. The top ranked tactical issues were quality control, manufacturing planning and control systems, and work force supervision. These issues were valid across diverse industry groups, since the industrial and educational background of the respondents was shown to have no impact on the final consensus rankings and opinions reported in this paper. Factor analysis of the responses by the panel revealed that certain issues tend to be consistently viewed together, and were interpreted accordingly to provide insights into the ranking of issues. Apart from building a consensus among experts on key manufacturing issues of present and future importance, this study can also be helpful for setting future academic research and pedagogical priorities for the field of production and operations management.     

German,French and British manufacturing strategies compared: A growth towards each other

Manufacturing has gained over the last years in attention as a tool to create competitive advantage. For fou years now a survey has been carried out by a research team at Insead to build a database on the manufacturing strategies as they are defined and implemented by large European companies. In this paper some of the 1987 data are presented, and a comparison of manufacturing strategies of large companies in the three most important European countries is made. Though the most important conclusion is that there are only slight differences between the three countries, one can see some difference in emphasis. The French companies seem to invest heavily to catch up with respect to quality, the German manufacturers invest heavily in technology, and the British seem to pay more attention to the improvement of the labour/management relations. The data on the manufacturing strategies of these groups of companies is also analysed in function of an increased need for flexibility, as it was perceived in previous surveys.