Multi-Item Grouping Algorithm Yielding Near-Optimal Logistics Cost

This article describes an algorithm used to formulate an inbound consolidation strategy when multi-items are replenished in groups and when total logistics cost is to be minimized. The importance of this algorithm is threefold (1) no optimal procedure exists for grouping multi-items when minimizing total logistics cost, (2) a complete enumeration of all possible groups (from which the optimal grouping set can be identified) is impractical due to the combinatorial nature of the grouping problem, and (3) no other heuristics have been developed that adequately reflect shipping cost in the analysis like this one does. We report the experience of using this algorithm to group and reorder 75 selected ensembles containing a total of 517 inventory items of a retail merchandising firm.     

Bringing Japanese Continuous Improvement Approaches to U.S. Manufacturing: The Roles of Process Orientation and Communications*

Continuous improvement (CI) has played a key role in Japan's quality management. U.S. companies have begun to adopt CI in recent years. This paper studies the implementation of CI in seven U.S. manufacturing companies. We view values as the core concept of culture that impacts CI effectiveness. Using both qualitative and quantitative data with a sample of seven companies, we observe empirically a relationship between process-oriented values and CI effectiveness. We also find that communications involving workers is strongly associated with CI effectiveness. Finally, we find an association between process orientation and communication frequency, and argue that communications act as an intervening variable between process orientation and effectiveness.     

Decisions to Outsource Information Systems Functions: Testing a Strategy-Theoretic Discrepancy Model

In recent years, the decision to outsource information systems (IS) functions has become a viable strategic alternative in managing the increasingly complex IS functions. In this study, the IS outsourcing phenomenon is conceptualized as a strategic decision in the organization. Drawing on resource-based theories, resource dependence theories, and other theories of strategic management, a discrepancy model of this decision is developed. Relationships between a number of strategy-theoretic factors and the IS outsourcing decision are hypothesized. These factors include IS resource performance discrepancies manifested in the form of gaps in information quality, IS support quality, IS cost effectiveness and financial performance, as well as the strategic orientation of the firm. Results of the study indicate that, while cost consideration and the firm's financial performance are not associated with the IS outsourcing decision, difficulties in providing good information outputs and IS support services are associated with the decision. Overall, the findings suggest that the current trend toward outsourcing represents a continuing evolution of the IS function as it attempts to fulfill its traditional mission of providing high quality information resource to the firm. When the performance of the delivered resource begins to slip in the current environment of rising expectation and technological complexity, outsourcing may become a strategic response of necessity. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the results for practicing managers and suggestions for future research.     

Vendor Selection with Bundling*

Product bundling has become increasingly prevalent not only in consumer goods but also in the industrial sector. We study a purchasing problem in which a buyer must obtain necessary numbers of various stock items from a variety of vendors who charge different prices, have limited capacities and different levels of quality, and offer bundled products at discounted prices. We examine relationships among different bundling scenarios and show that the most general scenario is one in which free items are given to the buyer when sufficient quantities are purchased. We develop a mixed integer linear program that finds the purchasing strategy for the buyer that minimizes the total purchase cost. We present computational results which indicate that the problem is very tractable to solve optimally on a personal computer with standard optimization software. Finally, three extensions of the model are discussed.     

A Path Analytic Model of a Theory of Quality Management Underlying the Deming Management Method: Preliminary Empirical Findings*

Despite the impact that Deming and his 14 Points have had on the practice of quality management, empirical support for the effectiveness of the Deming Management Method has not advanced beyond the presentation of anecdotal, case-study evidence. In part, this is because theory to guide the conduct of empirical research has not been available. Only recently has such a theory of quality management to describe and explain the effectiveness of the Deming Management Method been articulated in the literature. This paper continues the journey of theory development; it reports the results of an exploratory empirical analysis of an articulated theory of quality management underlying the Deming Management Method. The constructs in the proposed theory are operationalized using measurement statements developed by the World-Class Manufacturing research project team at the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University. Path analysis is applied to the World-Class Manufacturing project data to explore the empirical strength of relationships advanced in the theory. The path analytic results provide support for several of the proposed relationships in the theory, and more importantly, suggest a number of new relationships which have not heretofore been proposed.     

Room for manoeuvre: User participation in water resources management in Burkina Faso

Participation in natural resources management is widely promoted in sub‐Saharan Africa, but faces mounting criticism from social science scholars who rarely engage with it in practice. We use the notion of room for manoeuvre to reflect on a multi‐level participatory approach designed to support the Burkinabè Integrated Water Resources Management policy and propose ways of engaging constructively with local users and policy‐makers. Within an “invited space” of participation, water users’ room for manoeuvre was enhanced through the acquisition of new knowledge on the legal Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) framework. This allowed them to interact with decision‐makers and to extend their networks. Power imbalances were discussed, but this did not lead to modifying existing power structures that hinge on broader societal dynamics.     

河北省高职酒店管理专业人才培养模式研究

高职酒店管理专业是社会专业酒店人才培养的重要阵地,每年为社会提供大量有知识有能力的高素质酒店人才,推动着酒店管理业的发展。但是,高职酒店管理专业的人才培养模式也存在着这样或者那样的问题,给高职人才的就业造成了一定的阻碍。这就需要我们对高职酒店管理专业人才培养的现状进行探究,从而提出新的人才培养模式,以促进高职酒店管理专业的快速发展。     

我国社区矫正工作社会化模式的建构——基于社区矫正工作目标的分析

社区矫正是社会化的刑罚执行方式,但从实践运作看,我国社区矫正的社会化程度依然不够,没有最大效度地达到社区矫正的目标.本文在对社区矫正工作目标进行分析的基础上,提出了我国社区矫正工作的社会化模式:基于责任共担的社区服刑环境建设、基于社会工作方法的个案矫正模式、基于社会人力资源的社会帮教工作.     

社会管理创新的几个问题

社会管理创新已经作为一项重大的时代主题提出来了,社会管理涉及的一系列基本问题需要进行理论上的廓清。不能将社会管理等同于行政管理,社会管理创新不是实施全面控制,社会管理与危机管理是有区别的,也不能将社会管理理解为社会服务,还应正确处理好社会管理的"管"和"建"的关系。     

利益集团与社会管理:挑战与出路

利益集团显性化是当前我国经济社会发展过程中的一个突出现象。与阶级阶层分化相比,集团利益分化有着不同的特点。它的产生客观上要求一种新的社会管理方法来协调和化解不同集团间的利益分歧、矛盾和冲突。当前,我国尚处于"有利益集团现象,但无利益集团政治"的阶段。既有的利益集团管理仍沿袭社团管理的理念和方法,本质上是政治控制型管理和精英吸纳型管理在利益集团问题上的应用,不能适应我国集团利益分化的现状和特点。为此,要改革现有的社团管理体制,并构建与社团管理体制相衔接的利益集团管理。