Experimentalist systems in manufacturing multinationals

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary B. Herrigel
Keyword(s):  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Action Theory ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative Case Studies ◽  
Institutional Rules ◽  
Effective Operation ◽  
Governance Processes ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to apply experimentalist framework to understand self-optimizing efforts within German manufacturing multinationals. Benefits and characteristic obstacles to diffusion are discussed. Mechanisms for combatting obstacles are outlined. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative case studies, interview-based research, processual and reflexive action theory are applied to the governance of manufacturing-based multinational enterprises. Findings Uncertainty is an ineradicable element in multinational companies (MNC) FDI operations. Self-optimizing systems, many with an experimentalist character, are a pervasive form of response to this uncertainty. Obstacles to the diffusion and effective operation of self-optimization are chronic and, indeed, endogenously generated. But as a result, so are superordinate efforts to undercut the continuous emergence of obstacles. MNC development is, thus, characterized by continuous self-recomposition. Research limitations/implications Implication is that managers and management theorists should focus as much on the management of dynamic process and learning that results in the recomposition of institutional rules as they do on the constraining and enabling effects of those rules. Practical implications Superordinate mechanisms for the disruption of incipient insulation and exclusion are crucial for the implementation of successful experimentalist (learning) systems. Social implications Transparency, stakeholder involvement in MNC governance processes has positive implications for learning, innovation and competitiveness. Originality/value This paper presents the application of experimentalist learning theory to MNC global governance.

Minding the pennies – at home and abroad

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-36
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Local Culture ◽  
Foreign Subsidiaries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Head Office ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

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 Discussions around multinational enterprises (MNEs) and how they run their foreign subsidiaries often relate to either the direction of traffic when it comes to autonomy and power or culture. For the latter, the textbooks are stuffed with case studies and examples of how things went mainly wrong when an MNE ventured into a certain market when it came to managing the local culture, with debates around globalization, localization, or (the horribly named) glocalization strategies and which one is best in any given circumstance. This is of course relevant and important, but often the meat of the story lies in the former category and the ensuing power struggles between head office and foreign hub. 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.

Developing a general scientific methodology on tenets from Mario Bunges philosophy

Kybernetes ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 622-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Joh. Adriaenssen ◽  
Jon-Arild Johannessen
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Action Theory ◽  
Scientific Methodology ◽  
Systemic Thinking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
General Methodology ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a general scientific methodology on tenets from Mario Bunge’s philosophy. Design/methodology/approach – Systemic thinking and conceptual generalisation. Findings – A general scientific methodology based on tenets from Mario Bunge’s philosophy of social science. Research limitations/implications – Using quantitative methods to conduct a research to test Asplunds motivation theory and North’s action theory. Practical implications – How to conduct a research based on a systemic perspective. Social implications – An advantage of linking a systemic perspective to organisational psychology studies is that it may result in new ways of looking at old problems and bring new perspectives to the methods used. One explanation may be the fact that while researchers within various organisational psychology subject fields are largely specialists, the systemic perspective is oriented towards general scientific methodology. Originality/value – The authors have not seen anybody who have tried to apply systemic thinking as a general methodology for research.

Aligning the co-creation project portfolio with company strategy

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert DeFillippi ◽  
Thorsten Roser
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Project Design ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Project Portfolio ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Company Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Exhaustive List

Purpose – An important task for all strategy leaders contemplating the use of co-creation is to determine how well the numerous co-creation project-design choices available to them align with their strategic priorities. Design/methodology/approach – In order to implement co-creation, firms need to assess how their projects or initiatives support their strategic commitments and priorities. To this end, the authors offer managers a practical, easy-to-use assessment framework. Findings – Executives should consider their approach to co-creation in terms of crafting and managing a portfolio of initiatives to be categorized and managed differently according to their strategic significance – high, medium or low. Practical implications – A six-question assessment framework was inductively derived from an extensive literature review (113 articles) focusing on practices associated with co-creation and stakeholder involvement. Though they do not represent an exhaustive list of categories for assessment, they do, however, identify strategically important choices involved in designing co-creation ventures. Originality/value – The six-question assessment framework is applied to the case of the Xerox-P&G co-innovation partnership, which illustrates how such significant co-creation initiatives might be profiled, and their main design choices analyzed.

How emerging markets firms will become global leaders

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Grosse
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Single Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose – Over time the countries characterized as “emerging” change, and some of the companies from these countries become world leaders even as many of those from traditional economic powers fade. There is nothing guaranteed about success of companies from emerging markets (EMs), other than the fact that some of the firms that do survive will be among the success stories of the future. The purpose of this paper is to explore two questions: what enables companies from EMs to compete with existing firms? Is there a conceptual structure that is best for analyzing these firms and their strategies? Design/methodology/approach – This paper discusses the strengths of EM multinational enterprises (MNEs) from the perspective of Dunning’s eclectic view, and gives four detailed examples of companies from this perspective. Findings – It is suggested that while the eclectic view offers excellent insight into EM MNEs, an analysis of their strategies and policy implications requires further perspective such as through the global value-added chain. Research limitations/implications – No single model will capture all of the important features of EM MNEs, but Dunning’s view and the global value-added chain are good tools. Practical implications – Hopefully, both research analysts and company managers will be able to utilize the view presented here to better manage/understand EM MNEs. Originality/value – This view demonstrates a mechanism for exploring key elements of EM MNEs and by moving to the global value-added chain additional, original perspective is gained.

Anti-globalization implications for NME performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Legitimacy ◽  
Nonmarket Strategies ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

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 Increase in populism is fueling anti-globalization sentiments and negatively impacting on the investment, expansion and location plans of many multinational enterprises. By focusing on social legitimacy, resilience and institutional arbitrage, such organizations can develop appropriate nonmarket strategies to help alleviate risk and better adapt to the changing business environment. 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.

scholarly journals Assessment resistance: using Kubler-Ross to understand and respond

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A. Tarnoff ◽  
Eric D. Bostwick ◽  
Kathleen J. Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Comprehensive Model ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Operation ◽  
Faculty Concerns ◽  
System Maturity ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Current Stage

Purpose Faculty participation in the assurance of learning (AoL) is requisite both for the effective operation of the system and for accreditation compliance, but faculty often resist engaging in AoL tasks. The purpose of this paper is to provide specific recommendations to address faculty concerns and to guide AoL systems toward maturity. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a comprehensive model of faculty resistance perspectives aligned to AoL maturity, provides specific responses to faculty resistance and introduces success markers of progress toward maturity. Findings Specifically, a three-stage model of AoL system maturity is presented and aligned with five faculty perspectives. For each faculty perspective, responses targeting causal factors are proposed and signs of progress toward the next level of faculty engagement are highlighted. Practical implications Faculty and AoL leaders will be able to identify their current stage of AoL system maturity and implement practical solutions to move to the next stage of system maturity. Social implications Understanding the motivations for faculty resistance will facilitate more meaningful and effective internal interactions as a school seeks to improve its AoL system. In turn, a more effective AoL system will promote better learning experiences for students; and better learning allows students to become productive in their chosen careers more quickly, thus improving society as a whole. Originality/value To the knowledge, no prior paper has organized faculty resistance along a maturity continuum, provided targeted responses based on the level of maturity or included signs that indicate growth toward the next level of maturity.

Dynamic global careers: a new conceptualization of expatriate career paths

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne McNulty ◽  
Charles M. Vance
Keyword(s):  
Career Paths ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Career Orientation ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Labor ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
The Continuum

Purpose Most studies of expatriates have explored global careers as unfolding within assigned or self-initiated expatriation contexts in a predominantly linear fashion. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize that expatriates’ career progression is facilitated by frequent moves between domains, with an increasing overlap among assigned-expatriate (AE) and self-initiated expatriate (SIE) contexts. Design/methodology/approach Underpinned by findings from extant literature, the authors review and integrate studies of expatriation and careers to conceptualize an AE-SIE career continuum. Findings The authors debunk the idea that AEs and SIEs are a type of expatriate per se, but instead is indicative only of their career orientation in terms of where they choose to sit on the AE-SIE career continuum at any point in time. Specifically, individuals pursuing global careers in international labor markets include up to eight types of expatriate who retain varying degrees of AE vs SIE characteristics dependent on the point they choose along the continuum. Practical implications The tension that dynamic global careers cause for multinational enterprises (MNEs) is not necessarily “bad”, and that by accepting and accommodating changes in career orientation MNEs will be able to make clearer and more consistent global staffing decisions. Originality/value The authors provide a new, improved conceptualization of linear and non-linear global careers and of the challenges global career actors face throughout their career development both at home and abroad. They further show that while career orientation explains why expatriates engage in various types of international work experiences, their typology adds explication of the various types of expatriate who pursue global careers.

Assessing the desirability and feasibility of scenarios on eco-efficient transport: a heuristic for efficient stakeholder involvement during foresight processes

foresight ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Schippl
Keyword(s):  
Transport System ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stakeholder Workshop ◽  
Efficient Transport ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate and discuss how stakeholder assessment of scenarios can be used to trigger a structured and, therefore, more efficient debate amongst stakeholders about future options for achieving a more eco-efficient transport system in Europe. Particularly, it wants to explore the extent to which a distinction between the desirability and the feasibility of a potential future development can render such debates more rational and transparent. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a project on eco-efficient transport for the Science and Technology Option Assessment panel of the European Parliament (STOA). Key elements of the methods used in the STOA project were easily understandable scenarios and a survey of the main assumptions underlying the scenarios. Both the scenarios and the survey were used in a stakeholder workshop to assess the desirability and the feasibility of approaches towards establishing a more eco-efficient transport system. Findings – The methodological approach proved helpful for collecting a large amount of valuable information in a relative short time. In particular, the distinction between desirability and feasibility was useful in mapping out the patterns of opinion amongst stakeholders and for understanding where there is common ground, where there are differences and what the reasons behind these differences are. It helped in identifying promising pathways towards more eco-efficient transport futures and in getting a better understanding of barriers and of the ways to overcome them. Practical implications – The approach served as the basis for having a well-structured, rational and, thus, efficient debate. In practice, this factor is relevant because stakeholder involvement is crucial when it comes to transitions of socio-technical systems, such as the transport system. Keeping stakeholders motivated to take part in such participatory processes is only possible, however, if they perceive that these processes are well-structured and, therefore, efficient. Originality/value – In contrast to many other scenario-based approaches, the scenarios in this project were understood as an input to the discussion and not as the result of a process. Furthermore, not only the results but also the underlying assumptions of the scenarios were explicitly made a topic for assessment. The differentiation between desirability and feasibility was used as a guiding dimension for the assessment.

Consumer value creation through WhatsApp use

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-471
Author(s):  
Jorge Cruz-Cárdenas ◽  
Jorge Guadalupe-Lanas ◽  
Ekaterina Zabelina ◽  
Andrés Palacio-Fierro ◽  
Margarita Velín-Fárez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Role Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Value ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand in-depth how consumers create value in their lives using WhatsApp, the leading mobile instant messaging (MIM) application. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts the perspective of customer-dominant logic (CDL) and uses a qualitative multimethod design involving 3 focus groups and 25 subsequent in-depth interviews. The research setting was Ecuador, a Latin American country. Findings Analysis and interpretation of the participants’ stories made it possible to identify and understand the creation of four types of value: maintaining and strengthening relationships; improving role performance; emotional support; and entertainment and fun. In addition, the present study proposes a conceptual model of consumer value creation as it applies to MIM. Practical implications Understanding the way consumers create value in their lives using MIM is important not only for organizations that offer MIM applications, but also for those companies that develop other applications for mobile phones or for those who wish to use MIM as an electronic word-of-mouth vehicle. Originality/value The current study is one of the first to address the topic of consumer behavior in the use of technologies from the perspective of CDL; this perspective enables an integrated qualitative vision of value creation in which the consumer is the protagonist.

scholarly journals Advantages and potential challenges of data management in e-maintenance

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arian Razmi-Farooji ◽  
Hanna Kropsu-Vehkaperä ◽  
Janne Härkönen ◽  
Harri Haapasalo
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Maintenance Systems ◽  
Industry Leader ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to understand data management challenges in e-maintenance systems from a holistically viewpoint through summarizing the earlier scattered research in the field, and second, to present a conceptual approach for addressing these challenges in practice. Design/methodology/approach The study is realized as a combination of a literature review and by the means of analyzing the practices on an industry leader in manufacturing and maintenance services. Findings This research provides a general understanding over data management challenges in e-maintenance and summarizes their associated proposed solutions. In addition, this paper lists and exemplifies different types and sources of data which can be collected in e-maintenance, across different organizational levels. Analyzing the data management practices of an e-maintenance industry leader provides a conceptual approach to address identified challenges in practice. Research limitations/implications Since this paper is based on studying the practices of a single company, it might be limited to generalize the results. Future research topics can focus on each of mentioned data management challenges and also validate the applicability of presented model in other companies and industries. Practical implications Understanding the e-maintenance-related challenges helps maintenance managers and other involved stakeholders in e-maintenance systems to better solve the challenges. Originality/value The so-far literature on e-maintenance has been studied with narrow focus to data and data management in e-maintenance appears as one of the less studied topics in the literature. This research paper contributes to e-maintenance by highlighting the deficiencies of the discussion surrounding the perspectives of data management in e-maintenance by studying all common data management challenges and listing different types of data which need to be acquired in e-maintenance systems.

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