This study provides an empirical assessment of the United Kingdom (UK) manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector, exploring the impact of environmental turbulence specific to ...the post–Great Recession (2008) era on changes to the way manufacturing strategy is formulated and implemented. The study identifies changes to the frequency, fluidity, formality and focus of manufacturing strategy review and how the various business functions play a changing role in contributing to this strategic process. A mixed-methods research approach is applied, incorporating a survey of 104 UK-based manufacturing SMEs supported by 17 in-depth interviews with senior managers. The research uses a parallel mixed analysis of the two data sources, thereby offering an alternative to the mono-quantitative approaches to manufacturing research that have dominated. The findings show that during, and emerging from, the post–Great Recession environment, the majority of manufacturing SMEs employ a fluid, highly frequent approach to manufacturing strategy review with increasing contributions from their marketing, sales and finance business functions driven predominantly by function-specific response to changes in the external environment, although internal drivers sill influence high-level strategy, finance and human resources. The implications of the study to theory, practice and general management suggest that the MSME sector is dominated by organizations experiencing continual impact from the external environment.
Recently, dynamic business-IT alignment (BITA) has attracted increasing attentions. However, the description and the governance of dynamic BITA are insufficient in the literature. To address this ...gap, a conceptual BITA evolvement model is proposed combining enterprise architecture with the BITA maturity framework, and a sustainable BITA factor on dynamic resource allocation is introduced in this evolvement model. To discuss the sustainable factor in a comprehensive way, we explored a series of possible changes and corresponding resource influences within the alignment of business functions and applications. A dynamic resource allocation algorithm is proposed, and an illustrative case study is presented to verify the algorithm's efficiency.
The way that multinational businesses in integrated global industries coordinate and control R&D, manufacturing, and marketing functions across borders has significant implications for performance. ...We propose that, in such global industries, certain integrating modes will be more effective than others in integrating a function globally. We show that each function has a different combination of effective integrating modes. For global R&D integration, people-based and information-based modes are more effective than formalization-based and centralization-based modes. For manufacturing, people, information, and formalization are more effective than centralization. With of respect to marketing, information and centralization are more effective than people and formalization. We also demonstrate that the co-alignment between actual and ideal profiles (configurations or patterns) of integrating modes results in superior performance. Our results reveal that people-based and information-based modes are generally more effective than formalization-based and centralization-based modes in coordinating and controlling business functions worldwide.
Conway's law asserts that communication structures of organisations constrain the design of the products they develop. This law is more explicitly observable in geographically distributed contexts ...because distributed teams are required to share information across different time zones and barriers. The diverse business processes and functions adopted by individual teams in geographically distributed settings create challenges for effective communication. Since the publication of Conway's law, a significant body of research has emerged in its relation to the communication structures. When it comes to software projects, the explicit observation about Conway's law has produced mixed results. The research reported in this study explores the communication structures and corresponding challenges faced by teams within a large geographically distributed software development organisation. The data was collected from relevant documents, a questionnaire and interviews with relevant stakeholders. The findings suggest that Conway's law is observable within the communication structures of globally distributed software development teams. The authors have identified the barriers and challenges of effective communications in this setting and have investigated the benefits of utilising an integrated system to overcome these challenges.
The aim of this paper is to highlight the fact that there is a significant relationship between design quality and process quality, and then the quality of the finished products (internal quality) ...and the later use of the products by the consumers (external quality). The paper outlines the model of the synergy between design management and process management. Since design quality is the first link in this chain of creating quality, it is necessary to adequately carry out the design process, or provide high-quality design. High-quality design includes connectivity and collaboration between functions that can contribute to the design process, such as: research and development, production, marketing and supply. In order to achieve this, it is important to continuously work on education and training of employees. In addition, it is necessary to apply the tools characteristic for providing quality design, but also the common tools important for quality management. Accordingly, the subject of the paper is examining the impact of employee training, the implementation of quality management tools and application tools for quality design as a factor in establishing links between business functions that should be included in the design process. Based on the application of tools such as regression analysis, cluster analysis and correlation analysis, the results of empirical research suggest that these factors affect the establishment of links between the observed business functions, and facilitate providing the quality of the design process.
Management in the Year 2050 Zovko, Vatroslav
Interdisciplinary description of complex systems,
01/2018, Volume:
16, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Future studies are seen as a prerequisite for the development of a sustainable and prosperous society. Many countries, institutions and corporations invest substantially in the research of the ...future. One of the possible and expected future scenarios is the rise of artificial intelligence. It is expected that between the years 2030 and 2045 artificial intelligence will significantly surpass human intelligence. The Robocup Federation, an international organization that promotes research and development in robotics, believes that around the year 2050 autonomous robots will win a soccer game against the current soccer World Cup winners. In that manner, autonomous robots will have the opportunity to take over most, if not all, repetitive jobs and routine human activities. In addition to that, humans will be aided by artificial intelligence, creating consumers with instant, perfect information about all the products and services offered on the market. On the other hand, the labour market will be threatened by the emergence of (close to) humanoid autonomous robots that will potentially make human labour force obsolete. What are the repercussions of the artificial intelligence development for the corporate business in the year 2050? This article tries to answer that question in the light of current technological trends and the future prospects based on scenario study developed by Deutsche Post. As a consequence, the term corporation is redefined in the technological, social and economic context of the year 2050.
Virtualization is a technique that may be encountered in all parts of an ICT infrastructure. The benefits of virtualization for an infrastructure are recognized by a growing number of companies. In ...this way, virtualization creates prerequisites for the further improvement of the entire information system. Another reason is the growing awareness of environmental issues at the global level, which has become a large external sponsor of this technology. While virtualization technology has been known about for several decades, its hay day is yet to come. In the following years many jobs will be create because of it, from the user desktop and notebook computers, to the server in all businesses. This article examines the impact of virtualization in business enterprises, with emphasis on infrastructure costs and improved business functions. It points to the large savings that can occur even in medium-sized enterprises. Claims are verifiable quantitative indicators, particularly in the procurement of equipment. It also demonstrates the benefits of virtualization while performing everyday tasks that take place within the IT department. We discuss the correlation of increased flexibility and convenience, and agile response to market demands, while reducing capital and operating costs, and increasing the competitiveness of companies in the market.
This article outlines the perceptions of businesses regarding the impact of green practice implementation on the business functions. To achieve the aim of this study, an in-depth literature study and ...empirical research were undertaken. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 298 owners, managers and employees in businesses within the Nelson Mandela Metropole. To investigate the relationship between the independent (classification data) and dependent variables (perceptions of impact on business functions), 13 null hypotheses were tested. The results revealed significant relationships between these variables. It was found that the functions least impacted by green business practices are general management / human resources, purchasing / supply chain management and finance / information technology. Further analysis of the business functions reveals that the manufacturing / operations, marketing / sales and distribution / logistics functions are the most impacted by green business practices. Practical guidelines are provided to assist in greening the business functions.
Hiring the right executive
Strategic Direction,
02/2016, Volume:
32, Issue:
2
Journal Article, Book Review
Peer reviewed
Purpose
– This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
– ...This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
– Developments affecting the business world have prompted many organizations to increase the number of executives in their ranks. The growing significance of social media platforms and big data are examples which have given rise to new corporate positions. Titles afforded to these executives often reflect the level of importance ascribed to the functions they represent. But such appointments are typically not an option for smaller operators. Resources are limited in most cases. Having multiple corporate officers is therefore out of the question. It is simply not affordable. Tough decisions must therefore be made by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Practical implications
– The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations.
Originality/value
– The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
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