过程系统管理与技术的综合集成

在激烈的市场竞争中,过程企业不仅要重视技术、更要加强管理,实现全局优化运行。提高过程企业的市场竞争能力必须全面综合集成人、组织、战略管理、经营管理、过程管理及信息自动化技术等因素。本文以石化企业为背景,对过程企业面临的问题及发展趋势进行了分析,并且对过程企业管理模式、过程企业的体系结构以及过程集成与优化技术进行了探讨。     

A Framework for Examining the Interface between Operations and Information Systems: Implications for Research in the New Millennium*

Even though much research has been published in operations and information systems, both functional areas find their roots in other disciplines. While operations management evolved from operations research in the 1960s, the field of information systems is of more recent vintage and traces its original roots to computer science. Both disciplines now naturally have come closer together as information and process-technology-based changes force manufacturing firms to become more efficient and customer focused. Market and technology-driven e-commerce initiatives that are likely to dominate business strategies in the future cannot be successfully achieved without a successful integration of operations and information systems. In this paper, we present a unifying framework that can be used to better understand the management of the functional interface between operations and information systems. We also categorize and highlight the contributions of the articles that appear in this special research focus issue. Finally, research directions that emerge from our understanding of this interface are outlined in an effort to stimulate further thinking and research that can advance our knowledge of this interface area.     

A model of the adoption of radio frequency identification technology: The case of logistics service firms

Globalization and advances in information technology represent both realities and opportunities for enterprises in the 21st century. This paper aims to broaden understanding of service innovation as a critical organizational capability through which the adoption of information technology influences firm performance. This study examines how the adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology influences the operational performance of logistics service firms. We develop the RFID adoption model based on the interorganizational information systems (IOS) view of the firm that integrates the various strands of research into the framework. The study draws from the related information technology and interorganizational information systems literatures to explore organizational factors associated with the adoption of RFID. A model of the associations between information technology and interorganizational information systems use, social support, power structure, organizational readiness, procedural flexibility, and top management support is developed, and hypotheses are advanced about the relationships among these constructs. An empirical survey was conducted among 500 logistics service firms in Taiwan. A total of 131 valid observations were analyzed using the partial least squares technique. Results showed that RFID adoption has positive effects on business practices, which in turn improves operational performance. We address the value of certain interactive firm behaviors in RFID adoption and identify related constructs of RFID adoption in terms of their efficiency and value for logistics service firms. These results have implications for both education and practice.     

Use of Fractals to Estimate Environmental Dilution Factors in River Basins

Every source of liquid pollutants lies somewhere on a watershed. Leachwaters derived from water percolating through solid waste deposits and liquid effluents from industry are diluted on their way down the river until they interact with man or particular environmental systems. This environmental dilution of potentially toxic effluents has to be estimated in assessing health and environmental risks. The problem for the risk assessor is to find an appropriate mathematical model. In this paper, the recent mathematical theory of fractal objects is used to demonstrate that, within certain limits, rivers of all lengths and their river basins are self-similar. Simple general relations exist, therefore, between the length and drainage area of rivers both large and small. These relations and a few additional assumptions are then used to derive an improved set of models for estimating environmental dilution of some pollutants.     

A NOTE ON THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG FINENESS,GARBLING, AND SUFFICIENCY FOR THE COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS*

Choice among competing information systems is an important problem for both the providers and users of information. When the attributes of the decision makers and decision problems for which information is produced are unknown or heterogeneous, it is difficult to choose among alternative information sources. Three criteria for such comparisons of information systems are available in the theory of information economics. These criteria may be distinguished by the differing restrictions that they impose on the generality of the studies in which they are used. This note explicates the relationships among these criteria and discusses the various limitations that they impose on generality.     

Information systems outsourcing projects as a double moral hazard problem

In the past two decades many organizations have turned to other organizations to satisfy their information systems needs. Information systems outsourcing arrangements cover the spectrum from agreements involving the delivery of all information services to those providing specific services such as systems development, communications management, desktop computing provision and maintenance, and so on.In this paper we model information systems outsourcing arrangements as a non-cooperative game with two players: a company and an outsourcing vendor. The game between the two players has an inherent double moral hazard problem as the success of the information system outsourcing project depends on the actions of both players, which are costly for them and are not directly contractible. Both parties make their decisions taking into account the effects that these decisions have on the other player's actions. In our analysis, we compare the solution obtained without a moral hazard problem (the first-best solution) to the one obtained under a double moral hazard setting (the second-best solution). We demonstrate some results based on the assumption that increases in the productivity of the vendor lead to increases in the productivity of the company. Further we establish that outsourcing contracts should provide no separate payment for failure to the outsourcing vendor although effectively many of them do. We also provide a sharing rule for providing appropriate incentives for the vendor and examine the dynamics associated with this sharing rule. Finally, we further provide for the characterization of response functions and the ensuing Nash solution including the optimal outsourcing fee. This allows for the nuanced consideration of the degree of interaction between the effort of one party and the productivity of the effort of the other party. This particular interaction has not been explored formally in the extant research literature.     

Social Increasing Returns and the Effects of Immigration on the Host Country Economy

In this paper we analyse the impact of both the number of immigrants and their human capital on the welfare of the host economy. We will show that in the presence of ‘social increasing returns’ in human and physical capital accumulation, arising from a labour market characterized by a costly search and by randomness of the matching technology, immigrants’ skill level may influence the investments in human capital of natives as well as the investments in physical capital. We will find that the immigrants’ human capital interacts with social increasing returns making them stronger or weaker according to the level of immigrants’ human capital relative to that of natives. If immigrants have a higher level of human capital, increasing returns are accelerated, while if immigrants’ human capital is lower, increasing returns are weakened if not reversed. The consequence of this behaviour is that in the first case immigration has a positive impact on native welfare and there is a positive interrelation between the skills of natives, the skills of immigrants and the firms’ level of physical capital. In the second case immigration may have a negative impact on the welfare of natives, on the skills of native workers and on the physical capital of firms.     

A new approach to design and use of management information

Information, that is both accurate and timely, is probably the most important resource needed by managers to make sound decisions regarding the problems and issues facing their organizations. Unfortunately, sophisticated information systems often fail to meet this need. Managers complain that the data produced by information systems arrive too late, are too general and lack accuracy. Daft and MacIntosh studied the system problems of a number of organizations, discovering that understanding their work activities is critical to the design of successful information systems. The authors also considered the volume of information, preciseness of information and the way in which it is handled by users to develop a model describing information systems. The article illustrates how the model was applied successfully to four case situations.     

A generic accounting model to support operations management decisions

Information systems are generally unable to generate information about the financial consequences of operations management decisions. This is because the procedures for determining the relevant accounting information for decision support are not formalised in ways that can be implemented in information systems. This paper describes a formalised procedure, which is based on the following theoretical propositions: (i) cost behaviour is described on the basis of a company's contracts for purchasing and selling resources, and (ii) hierarchical relationships between decisions are recognised, because some decisions have to be made earlier than others. Earlier decisions determine the feasible alternatives for later decisions (e.g. through constraints in available production capacity or components), and the plans that supported the earlier decisions serve as instructions for later decisions. The procedure can be implemented in information systems to provide accounting information in case later decisions deviate from these instruc tions (within the limits of the real-world constraints) because new information becomes available.     

The ‘ART' of knowledge:: Systems to capitalize on market knowledge

The authors argue that current knowledge management practice, which focuses on managing explicit data and information technology, is not enough. Tacit knowledge, such as subjective insights or emotions must also be considered.Converting between these forms of knowledge is important, and the concept of ART (action–reflex–trigger) systems is introduced to enable this to take place. ART systems enable companies to implement a multi-dynamic approach to knowledge management.The complex concept of ‘ba' is introduced—a shared mental space for knowledge creation—which provides a foundation for knowledge creation. The authors explore the nature, context and enabling conditions for ART systems and show how ba can be employed in ART systems.A case study—of the Seven-Eleven Japan corporation is presented, whose outstanding success is based on the capitalization of market knowledge, striking a balance between supportive IT and human insight, to achieve a multi-dynamic approach to knowledge management. The company integrates several interlinked ba and ART systems.     

Information technology: the next wave. Clinician acceptance of information technology

Information systems have yet to make a significant inroad at the interface between clinicians and patients. The obstacles to implementing information systems at the clinical level are formidable. As these systems have begun to mature and marketplace pressures have created changing needs for clinicians and the integrated delivery systems they are working in, the need for these systems has increased. Understanding the pressures that managed care brings to bear on clinical processes will facilitate clinicians' acceptance of these technologies.     

Risk Assessment for Aflatoxin: I. Metabolism of Aflatoxin B1 by Different Species

A comparison of the generation and detoxification of reactive aflatoxin B1 metabolites in different species may elucidate why animal species vary widely in sensitivity to aflatoxin B1 carcinogenicity, in addition to offering some perspective on how sensitive man may be to the carcinogenic effects of this mycotoxin. Scientific literature comparing the ability of cellular fractions from different species to metabolize aflatoxin B1 is reviewed. However, in vitro studies exclude components for multiple metabolic pathways, eliminating the possibility of competition between metabolic activation and detoxification. Quantification of metabolic activation by different species from these studies is therefore limited. The species-specific carcinogenic potency of aflatoxin B1 may be reflected in levels of aflatoxin B1-DNA adducts generated in vivo. The current paucity of quantitative information on human DNA adduct levels does not permit comparisons between different species on this basis.     

USING MANAGEMENT GAMES AS AN AID IN TEACHING MIS DESIGN

As an approach to teaching management information systems, students are required to play a management game. The students become aware of information needs through participation in the decision process of the game. The student then develops an integrated system to assist in playing this management game. This new approach, the gaming method, is considered an effective way of teaching integrated systems because the intimate interrelationships between decision-making processes and information systems can be easily illustrated.     

Information Systems Adaptation and the Successful Implementation of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies*

Few plants have initial success with advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs), and adaptations are commonly required after installing new technologies. We especially know little about the outcomes of adaptations that manufacturers regularly employ in the context of AMTs. Sociotechnical theory and the technology literature suggest that AMTs commonly require four types of adaptations including those to process technologies, human resources, operational structures, and information systems. This study investigates which of these four adaptations and their interactions lead to improved operational performance. Data were collected on 104 plants that implemented a single type of manufacturing AMT. Findings indicate that information systems (IS) adaptation during the course of AMT implementation was the most important action. Surprisingly, human resource and process technology adaptations were linked to lower performance, and no interactions had any clear effects. The results also show that practitioners underestimated the relevance of IS adaptations during contemporary or “second-generation” AMT implementation projects and overemphasized the need for shop floor changes.     

Linking IT planning to business strategy

Information Strategy Planning is of growing importance. There are available a variety of formal methodologies for carrying out information systems planning, none of which are particularly well aligned to the current business planning views. The author was concerned that the value of the approaches used in business planning, most notably those of Michael Porter, were being ignored by the information systems planning methodologies. Both mechanisms yield insight and both are required to make strategic gains from IT. The paper explains the experience at Simon Engineering in combining Porter's value chain and five forces approach with the more usual Information Engineering methodology for information planning. A workshop approach was adopted and the conclusions drawn that the information strategy must be seen and developed as an integral part of, and at the same time as, the business strategy, and that both Information Engineering and Porter's approaches are necessary component parts of creating an integrated business and IT strategy. IT strategies cannot be developed independently of the business strategy, nor should they follow the business strategy. Successful IT strategies must be developed at the same time as the business strategy.     

风险环境下企业信息系统项目控制对绩效的影响机制研究:基于项目经理和用户代表的双重视角

虽然当前项目管理水平不断提高,但是企业信息系统项目实施的成功率仍然不容乐观。项目干系人缺乏准确的相互认知和角色定位,以及风险与控制的关系无法有效处理是导致项目绩效偏低的重要原因。为了从不同视角探索风险和控制对企业信息系统项目绩效的共同作用,通过对65位项目经理和63位用户代表所经历的128个项目的调查,利用结构方程模型进行实证分析,并采用层次回归分析技术进行检验。实证结果表明,正式控制和非正式控制对信息系统项目绩效都具有积极的影响,但是项目经理认为正式控制具有更加重要的作用,而用户代表认为非正式控制的作用更为显著。此外,项目经理和用户代表均认为组织风险和技术风险会减弱正式和非正式控制对绩效的有效作用。因此在控制方式的选择和组合上不仅要基于项目自身的特点,而且要基于干系人的角色。同时,信息系统项目绩效并非单纯由成功或失败因素所决定,而是取决于两类因素的均衡程度。研究结论为信息系统项目的风险控制提供了全新的理论依据和决策支持。     

Developing an information systems strategy

The pervasiveness of information technology and the development of information economies has been heralded as an ‘information’ revolution. Few organizations can avoid the implications of this revolution and, with the falling cost of hardware and the increased scope of applications, the number of firms needing a strategy for information systems has increased by an order of magnitude. An awareness of the benefits of planning, the dangers of technology which can trap the unwary, and the general characteristics of the DP development cycle, should all convince management of the need for a strategy for information systems. However, while information systems literature has many references to information systems strategy, definitions are elusive. This article describes a basic planning model for developing an information systems strategy. The model is specifically structured to ensure that the necessary strategic issues have been examined, before information systems management are asked to draw up detailed tactical and operational plans.     

Quantitative Cancer Risk Estimation for Formaldehyde

Of primary concern are irreversible effects, such as cancer induction, that formaldehyde exposure could have on human health. Dose-response data from human exposure situations would provide the most solid foundation for risk assessment, avoiding problematic extrapolations from the health effects seen in nonhuman species. However, epidemiologic studies of human formaldehyde exposure have provided little definitive information regarding dose-response. Reliance must consequently be placed on laboratory animal evidence. An impressive array of data points to significantly nonlinear relationships between rodent tumor incidence and administered dose, and between target tissue dose and administered dose (the latter for both rodents and Rhesus monkeys) following exposure to formaldehyde by inhalation. Disproportionately less formaldehyde binds covalently to the DNA of nasal respiratory epithelium at low than at high airborne concentrations. Use of this internal measure of delivered dose in analyses of rodent bioassay nasal tumor response yields multistage model estimates of low-dose risk, both point and upper bound, that are lower than equivalent estimates based upon airborne formaldehyde concentration. In addition, risk estimates obtained for Rhesus monkeys appear at least 10-fold lower than corresponding estimates for identically exposed Fischer-344 rats.     

Developments in Human Resource Management in MNCs from BRICS Nations: A Review and Future Research Agenda

In this introductory article, we analyze developments in the field of human resource management (HRM) in multinational corporations (MNCs) from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). We do this in terms of conceptual models, theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, research designs and MNC settings, with a view to setting the future research agenda on this emerging topic. In doing so, we identify research gaps as well as propose a number of research directions that can act as a useful guide for future research. The article therefore provides valuable information to both academics and practitioners and paves the way for future studies on the nature of HRM systems in MNCs from BRICS.     

META-DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING MODEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS*

This paper examines cognitive considerations in developing model management systems (MMSs). First, two approaches to MMS design are reviewed briefly: one based on database theory and one based on knowledge-representation techniques. Then three major cognitive issues—human limitations, information storage and retrieval, and problem-solving strategies—and their implications for MMS design are discussed. Evidence indicates that automatic modeling, which generates more complicated models by integrating existing models automatically, is a critical function of model management systems. In order to discuss issues pertinent to automatic modeling, a graph-based framework for integrating models is introduced. The framework captures some aspects of the processes by which human beings develop models as route selections on a network of all possible alternatives. Based on this framework, three issues are investigated: (1) What are proper criteria for evaluating a model formulated by an MMS? (2) If more than one criterion is chosen for evaluation, how can evaluations on each of the criteria be combined to get an overall evaluation of the model? (3) When should a model be evaluated? Finally, examples are presented to illustrate various modeling strategies.