Evaluating the innovation capability of cluster-based firms: a graph-theoretic approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Fabiana Gohr ◽  
Maryana Scoralick de Almeida Tavares ◽  
Sandra Naomi Morioka
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Cluster ◽  
Industrial Clusters ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach

Purpose This paper aims to propose an assessment framework to evaluate companies' innovation capability in the context of industrial clusters. Design/methodology/approach The assessment framework was built based on the Graph-Theoretic Approach (GTA) to measure the influence of the factors and sub-factors of innovation capabilities. To quantify the level of interdependence between factors and sub-factors of innovation capability Delphi method was adopted. The authors developed five case studies in firms from an Information and Communications Technology and Creative Economy cluster in Northeastern Brazil to test the framework's applicability. Findings The results showed that identifying and evaluating the factors of innovation capability allows a larger understanding of what affects these capabilities to a greater or lesser extent and contributes to strategic decision-making. Research limitations/implications The framework evaluates the innovation capability of each firm, not providing an index for the whole industrial cluster. Besides, the framework does not consider the innovations developed by the companies through the innovation's capabilities. As the Delphi technique was adopted to analyze the levels of influence or interdependence between factors and sub-factors of innovation capability, different experts may lead to different results. Practical implications Among the managerial implications, the authors can highlight the innovation capability index as a practical performance measure to stimulate improvement initiatives regarding innovations in industrial clusters. Besides, as the proposed framework is generic, research organizations, public institutions and regional governments can adopt it to analyze innovation capabilities in cluster-based companies. Originality/value Previous industrial cluster studies have concentrated on knowledge transfer as the main attribute influencing innovation capabilities. The literature also presents assessment frameworks focusing on qualitative analyses or innovation capabilities outcomes (patents and products). Differently, the authors proposed a quantitative assessment framework considering specific factors (and sub-factors) of innovation capabilities in industrial clusters.

An integrated interpretive structural modeling and a graph-theoretic approach for measuring the supply chain complexity in the Indian automotive industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavilal E.G. ◽  
Shanmugam Prasanna Venkatesan ◽  
Joshi Sanket
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Automotive Industry ◽  
Structural Modeling ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Passenger Vehicle ◽  
Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Numerical Index

Purpose Easily employable quantitative supply chain complexity (SCC) measures considering the significant dimensions of complexity as well as the drivers that represent those dimensions are limited in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and a graph-theoretic approach to quantify SCC by a single numerical index considering the interdependence and the inheritance of the SCC drivers. Design/methodology/approach In total, 18 SCC drivers identified from the literature are clustered according to the significant dimensions of complexity. The interdependencies established through ISM and inheritance values of SCC drivers are mapped into a Variable Permanent Matrix (VPM). The permanent function of this VPM is then computed and the resulting single numerical index is the measure of SCC. Findings A scale is proposed by computing the minimum and maximum threshold values of SCC with the help of expert opinions of the Indian automotive industry. The complexity of commercial and passenger vehicle sectors within the automotive industry is measured and compared using the proposed scale. From the results, it is identified that the number of suppliers, increase in spare-parts due to shortened product life-cycle and demand uncertainties increase the SCC of the passenger vehicle sector, while number of parts, products and processes, variety of products and process and unreliability of suppliers increase the complexity of the commercial vehicle sector. The result indicates that various SCC drivers have a different impact on determining the SCC level of these two sectors. Originality/value The authors propose an integrated method that can be readily applied to measure and quantify SCC considering the significant dimensions of complexity as well as the interdependence and the inheritance of the SCC drivers that contribute to those dimensions. This index further helps to compare the complexity of the supply chain which varies between industries.

Evaluation of supply chain resilience index: a graph theory based approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nishtha Agarwal ◽  
Nitin Seth ◽  
Ashish Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Adjacency Matrix ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Resilience Index ◽  
Index Value

PurposeThe present study aims at developing a model to quantify supply chain resilience as a single numerical value. The numerical value is called resilience index that measures the resilience capability of the case company's supply chain. The model calculates the index value based on the interactions between the enablers of supply chain resilience and its dimensions.Design/methodology/approachGraph theoretic approach (GTA) is used to evaluate the resilience index for the case company's supply chain. In GTA, the dimensions of resilience enablers and their interdependencies are modelled through a digraph. The digraph depicting the influence of each dimension is converted into an adjacency matrix. The permanent function value of the adjacency matrix is called the resilience index (RI).FindingsThe proposed approach has been illustrated in context of an Indian automobile organization, and value of the RI is evaluated. The best case and the worst-case values are also obtained with the help of GTA. It is noted from the model that strategic level dimension of enablers is most important in contributing towards supply chain resilience. They are followed by tactical and operational level enablers. The GTA framework proposed will help supply chain practitioners to evaluate and benchmark the supply chain resilience of their respective organizations with the best in the industry.Originality/valueA firm can compare the RI of its own supply chain with other's supply chain or with the best in the industry for benchmarking purpose. Benchmarking of resilience will help organizations in developing strategies to compete in dynamic market scenario.

A PSO based investigation of research fields of researchers

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1767-1782
Author(s):  
Goldina Ghosh ◽  
C.B. Akki ◽  
Nivedita Kasturi
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Network Graph ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Hidden Knowledge ◽  
Extended Work

Purpose The purpose of this study is data generated from any social networking sites may provide some hidden knowledge on a particular domain. Based on this concept the previous paper had proved that social connectivity enhancement takes place through triadic closure and embeddedness in terms of social network graph-theoretic approach. Further, the work was justified by genetic algorithm (GA) where observation showed how interdisciplinary work can occur because of crossover, and therefore, different groups of researchers could be identified. Further enhancement of the work has been focused on in this paper. Design/methodology/approach In continuation with the previous work, this paper detects other possible fields related to “high graded researchers” who can share the information with the other group of researchers (“imminent high graded” and “new researchers”) using particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique. Findings While exploitation was done using GA in the previous work, exploration is done in the current work based on PSO using the same grade score value to the objective function. Both the velocity and direction of high graded researchers in this extended work could be derived, which was not possible using GA. Originality/value This could help the next two levels of researchers (“imminent high graded researchers” and “new researchers”) in expanding their research fields in line with the fields of high graded researchers.

Evaluating the implementation performance of a supplier development program

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srikanta Routroy ◽  
Sudeep Kumar Pradhan ◽  
C.V. Sunil Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Supplier Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to quantify, evaluate and compare the implementation performance of a supplier development (SD) program using graph theoretic approach (GTA). Design/methodology/approach Broadly 13 critical success factors (CSFs) were identified and they were classified into four significant categories (SCs). Featuring these SCs and CSFs under each SC, GTA was proposed for evaluating the implementation performance of SD programs. The analysis was further extended to evaluate the performance of a SD program along the timeline to capture the other influences (if any), eventually compare the results with different performance situations and accordingly set the future targets. Findings In order to demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach it was applied to an Indian manufacturing company. The results obtained shown that there has been a significant growth achieved in the implementation performance of a SD program over a period of three years (i.e. 12 quarters) along the chosen SCs and CSFs under each SC. It was also found that still there was a performance gap and scope for improvement in the SD program of the case company. Practical implications The proposed approach is aimed at providing a procedure for evaluating the implementation performance of a SD program. This study is an attempt to assist a manufacturer to assess its SD program and accordingly define its course of actions. Originality/value Although many issues related to SD have been widely recognized and studied, there are no specific studies available in the literature to assess the implementation performance of SD programs along the timeline. The proposed model has the ability to capture the performance and interdependencies of SCs, CSFs under each SC and also to quantify the implementation performance of a SD program along the timeline.

scholarly journals Assessing Collaborative Capabilities for Sustainability in Interorganizational Networks

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9763
Author(s):  
Juliana Maria Gonçalves de Almeida ◽  
Cláudia Fabiana Gohr ◽  
Luciano Costa Santos
Keyword(s):  
Interorganizational Networks ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Collaborative Strategies ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Collaborative Capabilities

Sustainability in interorganizational networks depends on developing collaborative capabilities for this purpose. However, to improve their collaborative capabilities for sustainability (CCS), companies in interorganizational networks need methods to assess them. The existing CCS assessment approaches in the literature do not indicate what capabilities should be improved in an individual company to support collaborative strategies. Addressing this gap, the main contribution of this paper is providing a framework to assess CCS in interorganizational networks, providing support for improving firm-level capabilities. To attain this aim, the framework was based on the graph-theoretic approach (GTA), a multi-attribute technique that captures the interrelationships between elements of a system, providing multi-level and overall assessment. We tested the framework in three hotels from a tourism cluster in Brazil, where sustainability has been an unsettling issue. By applying the assessment framework, it was possible to generate a CCS index for each company and, thereby, to compare the results. Findings from the field confirmed the benefits of using the framework and its utility in assessing CCS and setting priorities for improvement.

Identification of key enablers for total productive maintenance (TPM) implementation in Indian SMEs

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 2611-2634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek Jain ◽  
Harwinder Singh ◽  
Rajbir S. Bhatti
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Total Productive Maintenance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the key enabler for total productive maintenance (TPM) implementation in Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by using graph theoretic approach (GTA). There are certain enablers for TPM implementation which helps the organization to implement it successfully. It is very essential to identify the nature and impact of these key enablers. Design/methodology/approach A large number of the enablers (27) have identified for TPM implementation in Indian SMEs from the available literature, questionnaire survey and expert opinion. These TPM enablers have categorized into six major categories. Findings In this research work, the intensity of identifying enablers has been calculated to show their impact or influence in TPM implementation. The value of intensity of TPM enablers shows the role or impact of individual enabler in the implementation of TPM in Indian SMEs. Practical implications This study provides an easy-to-use methodology for the practical decision makers in the manufacturing industry to improve their performance by implementing TPM in Indian SMEs. A detailed methodology has prepared to identify the enablers for TPM implementation in Indian SMEs by using GTA. This study also explains that how to check the feasibility of an organization to implement TPM in Indian SMEs successfully. Originality/value TPM is an improvement concept which holds the potential to improve manufacturing organizations, but its implementation is not easy in Indian SMEs. The reason behind the unsuccessful implementation of TPM in most of the organizations is the ignorance of impact of innumerable enablers and barriers.

Role of human factors in TQM: a graph theoretic approach

2006 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Grover ◽  
V.P. Agrawal ◽  
I.A. Khan
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Human Aspects ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Subsystem Level

PurposeTo represent the effect of ‘human factors in total quality management (TQM) environment’ in terms of a single numerical index by considering their inheritances and interactions.Design/methodology/approachVarious human factors affecting the TQM culture in an organization are identified and discussed for the sub factors affecting them. These factors are interacting with each other and their overall effect helps an organization in attaining TQM enabled needs. The paper attempts to represent the overall effect of human factors quantitatively by developing a mathematical model using graph theoretic approach. In this approach, interaction among identified human factors is represented through digraph, matrix model and a multinomial.FindingsThe extent of human aspects present in an organization, conducive to TQM culture is represented in terms of the “human index”. It provides an insight into the human factors at system and subsystem level. The developed procedure may be useful for self‐analysis and comparison among organizations.Research limitations/implicationsSince, human behaviour is difficult to predict, so are the human factors. The paper considers general factors, which may vary depending on type of organization, size of organization and geographical location. There is a scope of research in factor specific organizations.Practical implicationsIt provides a useful methodology for organizations to assess human aspects and improve upon therein. Procedure for stepwise application of methodology is given with example that may help an industry to implement it.Originality/valueThe paper attempts to quantify the intangibles through systematic approach and is of value to industries to improve upon their work environment.

Application of graph-theoretic approach for the evaluation of lean-six-sigma (LSS) critical-success-factors (CSFs) facilitating quality-audits in Indian small & medium enterprises (SMEs)

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manisha Lande ◽  
Dinesh Seth ◽  
Rakesh L. Shrivastava
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose One of the major challenges for developing countries is the lack of mechanisms for the evaluation of critical success factors (CSFs) of quality initiatives, which hampers the journey toward sustainability. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has been one of the most widely used initiatives supporting quality improvement with wastes reduction and facilitating sustainability. To expedite LSS and its spread, it is important to evaluate key CSFs. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to provide an approach for the evaluation of LSS-CSFs for Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a graph theoretic approach and demonstrates the evaluation of LSS-CSFs by proposing an index. The development of index is illustrated using a set of seven prioritized CSFs based on the literature review paper (Lande et al., 2016). Findings This study guides about the translation of CSFs in the form of an index (number) and will benefit both researchers and practitioners, who wish to study the role of key CSFs for implementation and audit requirements for sustainability. Research limitations/implications Authors remain confined only to Indian SMEs. Originality/value LSS possesses the potential to enhance the performance of manufacturing SMEs, but its evaluation is not easy. This attempt for offering a useful evaluation scheme involving CSFs, in the areas of LSS in developing country contexts, is the first. The approach also facilitates both quality audits and benchmarking between different sets of CSFs. The approach is generalizable and can be extended in other areas.

Measuring the environmental sustainability of supply chain for Indian steel industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 517-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shishir Goyal ◽  
Srikanta Routroy ◽  
Harshal Shah
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Steel Industry ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Graph Theoretic ◽  
Graph Theoretic Approach ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Sustainability Program

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to quantify, evaluate and compare the environmental sustainability performance of supply chain for Indian steel industry using graph theoretic approach (GTA). Design/methodology/approach Broadly 12 environmental sustainability enablers (ESEs) were identified and they were classified into four significant categories (SCs). Featuring these SCs and ESEs under each SC, a methodology was proposed using GTA for evaluating the environmental sustainability performance of Indian steel companies. The analysis was further extended to compare the results with performance in different situations and accordingly set the future targets. Findings In order to demonstrate the utility of the proposed methodology, it was applied to an Indian steel company. The results obtained indicated that there have been significant growths achieved in the environmental sustainability performance over a period of five years. It was also found that a performance gap exists and it will reach the target value after two years. Practical implications The proposed approach is aimed at providing a procedure for evaluating the environmental sustainability performance. This study is an attempt to assist a steel industry to assess its sustainability program and accordingly define its course of actions. Originality/value Although many issues related to environmental sustainability have been widely recognized and studied, there are no specific studies available in the literature to assess the environmental sustainability performance along the timeline. The proposed model has the ability to capture the performance and interdependencies of SCs, ESEs under each SC and also to quantify the environmental sustainability performance along the timeline.

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