Routines as a conceptual tool for studying resources management in SMEs: evidence from Brazilian bakeries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Júlio César da Costa Júnior ◽  
Leandro da Silva Nascimento ◽  
Taciana de Barros Jerônimo ◽  
Jackeline Amantino de Andrade ◽  
Marcos André Mendes Primo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Conceptual Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Multiple Case

Purpose This study aims to investigate routines as a conceptual tool to analyze resources management in small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) productive processes. Design/methodology/approach The authors developed a qualitative multiple case study with Brazilian companies in the bakery industry. Data were collected through interviews, on-site observation and documentary analysis. Plus, the authors used business process modeling (BPM) techniques to map the observed routines. Findings The restrictions of SMEs accentuate the improvisation of routines. However, contrary to expected, many of these deviations expand the possibilities of organizational action as they become successful in terms of operational efficiency, which allows these companies to extract performance from ordinary resources and imitable management practices. Practical implications The BPM shows its value to track the allocation of resources in SMEs by recording the evolution of its routines and helping to preserve an operational memory. This finding could be useful to help public agencies to develop accessible management tools to assist small business owners. Originality/value Most of the conceptual tools developed to analyze the resources management are based on the study of large organizations, which may limit the analysis and lead to restricted or mistaken results if used in another context without proper adaptation. The authors apply an objective and representational epistemological lens to organizational routines to adapt it to the pragmatic context of operations management. Also, the authors suggest that better than a resource-based view, the practice-based view is a theoretical approach more compatible with the resource constraints context of SMEs.

Convergence of management practices in India’s IT sector with ana priorivalidation

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-421
Author(s):  
Jayashree Mahesh ◽  
Anil K. Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Group A

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to document similarities and differences between management practices of different types of organizations in India’s IT sector through an empirical survey. The authors expected these differences to be significant enough for us to be able to groupa priorithis set of companies meaningfully through cluster analysis on the basis of the similarity of their management practices alone.Design/methodology/approachUsing a mixed-methods approach, 73 senior-level executives of companies working in India’s IT sector were approached with a pretested questionnaire to find out differences on eighteen management practices in the areas of operations management, monitoring management, targets management and talent management. The different types of organizations surveyed were small and amp; medium global multinationals, large global multinationals, small and medium Indian multinationals, large Indian multinationals and small and medium local Indian companies. The differences and similarities found through statistical testing were further validateda priorithrough cluster analysis and qualitative interviews with senior-level executives.FindingsThe management practices of multinationals in India are moving toward Western management practices, indicating that management practices converge as the organizations grow in size. Though the practices of large Indian multinationals were not significantly different from those of global multinationals, the surprising finding was that large Indian multinationals scored better than global multinationals on a few practices. The practices of small and medium Indian companies differed significantly from those of other types of organizations and hence they formed a cluster.Practical implicationsThe finding that large Indian IT multinationals have an edge over global multinationals in certain people management practices is a confirmation of the role of human resource practices in their current success and their continuing competitive advantage.Originality/valueThis is perhaps the first study of its kind to document state of specific management practices across different types of organizations in India’s IT sector and then use measures on these practices to group a priori these organizations for validation.

Factors influencing Midwestern grain farmers’ use of risk management tools

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-203
Author(s):  
Brian K. Coffey ◽  
Ted C. Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multinomial Logit Regression ◽  
Decision Choices ◽  
Grain Farmers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the relationships between grain farm and farmer profiles and their respective choices to use forward pricing techniques and revenue protection crop insurance to manage risk.Design/methodology/approachAn e-mail survey of Midwestern grain farmers elicited farmer demographic information, farm profile, risk attitudes and farmer use of forward pricing and revenue protection insurance. Responses regarding use of risk management tools were compiled as choices to use possible bundles of tools to account for simultaneous nature of the decision. Choices to use bundles of tools were used as the independent variable categories in a multinomial logit regression. Regressors were relevant data collected from the survey.FindingsFarm size, using a market advisory service, and being a technology adopter are the most important factors in predicting risk management tool use by grain farmers. Farmers tend to use forward pricing and revenue protection insurance in combination. Large farms are more likely to use forward pricing tools.Practical implicationsResults provide researchers, extension professionals and risk management specialists with a current understanding of how farm and farmer characteristics relate to use of risk management tools. The authors also elaborate on findings to provide guidance for future risk management research.Originality/valueThe survey covered 9 Midwestern states and 648 grain farmers. The survey results update understanding of grain farmers’ risk management practices. The empirical approach treats risk management decisions to use available tools as simultaneous, which recent literature suggests is more appropriate than earlier approaches.

Lean production system: compatible with Malaysian culture?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siew Imm Ng ◽  
Ck Cha ◽  
Murali Sambasivan ◽  
Azmawani Abd Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Change Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Production System ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Lean Production ◽  
Secondary Source ◽  
Content Type

Theoretical basis An instructor could link the case to lean production principles and Kurt Lewin’s change management model, key reading materials on these theories are, namely,  Lewin, K (1947) Frontiers in group dynamics: concept, method and reality in social science; equilibrium and social change. Human Relations 1(1): 5–41  Stewart, J. (2012). The Toyota Kaizen continuum: a practical guide to implementing lean. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Wickramasinghe, V. and Wickramasinghe, G. L. D. (2020). Effects of human resource management practices, lean production practices and lean duration on performance. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(11), 1467–1512. Research methodology This case was developed from both primary and secondary sources. The primary source included three face to face meetings with Mr CK in University Putra Malaysia (two meetings) and WSAE factory (Rawang, Malaysia – one meeting), respectively. Interviewed three workers at Rawang factory. The secondary source was taken from the company website and company reports. Case overview/synopsis Dr Wan, the Chief Executive Officer of WSA Engineering Sdn Bhd (WSAE) accepted the invitation from Small Medium Industries Development Corporation to participate in a Malaysian-Japanese Industry Cooperation program that focused on Lean Production System (LPS). Dr Wan was worried about Malaysia’s culture incompatible with Japanese-originated LPS. The case shares how the organization and behavioral change took place, for LPS buy-in. Successes and challenges WSAE faced in the 10-year journey of implementing LPS were elaborated. Complexity academic level This case was written for use in an operations management course, on the topic of lean production. It can also be used as a training material targeting the operation managers of a manufacturing company aiming to implement lean production or any change management process.

Knowledge management measures: an empirical investigation of Indian cement industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 734-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Dave ◽  
Kanhaiya Singh ◽  
Arya Kumar ◽  
Sachin Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Cement Industry ◽  
Sales Managers ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
E Mail

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop knowledge management constructs comprising of KM processes and KM practices through marketing and sales to derive competitive advantage (CA) in the cement industry. Design/methodology/approach A thorough and detailed analysis of the literature was carried out to develop the measures for KM practices, KM processes and their impact on CA. A total of 65 variables affecting competitiveness in the form of questionnaire were developed. The questionnaire was administered through e-mail to 962 territory sales managers (TSM) and equivalent employed in the marketing and sales function of the cement organizations in India. A total of 121 valid and complete responses were received, representing a response rate of 12.6 percent. The factor analysis was carried out on the data collected to establish reliability and validity of the measures. Findings A total of seven constructs pertaining to knowledge management practices and processes and competitiveness that comprises of 65 variables have been developed. The statistical results establish that the constructs and the variables considered in the study are reliable and valid. Research limitations/implications The sample of respondents for developing constructs consisted of TSM and equivalent employed in the marketing and sales function of cement companies in India. Research scope can be enhanced in the future study by including middle and senior level managers in cement companies to better diagnose and understand perception of KM initiatives across different levels in the cement industry. The work can also be extended to incorporate inbound logistics and procurement that directly contributes to the overall value chain to have a holistic perspective. Practical implications The measures developed in this study would be effective management tools for the implementation of knowledge management initiatives in the marketing and sales function to ascertain their level of implementation and impact on the competitiveness. Originality/value This study is probably the first of its kind in India to provide KM measures combined for practices and processes to understand the relationship with competitiveness in cement companies pertaining to marketing and sales function. It provides valuable insights as a strategic tool for investing in KM initiatives.

scholarly journals Benchmarking management practices in Australian public healthcare

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renu Agarwal ◽  
Roy Green ◽  
Neeru Agarwal ◽  
Krithika Randhawa
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
The State ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the quality of management practices of public hospitals in the Australian healthcare system, specifically those in the state-managed health systems of Queensland and New South Wales (NSW). Further, the authors assess the management practices of Queensland and NSW public hospitals jointly and globally benchmark against those in the health systems of seven other countries, namely, USA, UK, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, the authors adapt the unique and globally deployed Bloom et al. (2009) survey instrument that uses a “double blind, double scored” methodology and an interview-based scoring grid to measure and internationally benchmark the management practices in Queensland and NSW public hospitals based on 21 management dimensions across four broad areas of management – operations, performance monitoring, targets and people management. Findings – The findings reveal the areas of strength and potential areas of improvement in the Queensland and NSW Health hospital management practices when compared with public hospitals in seven countries, namely, USA, UK, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. Together, Queensland and NSW Health hospitals perform best in operations management followed by performance monitoring. While target management presents scope for improvement, people management is the sphere where these Australian hospitals lag the most. Practical implications – This paper is of interest to both hospital administrators and health care policy-makers aiming to lift management quality at the hospital level as well as at the institutional level, as a vehicle to consistently deliver sustainable high-quality health services. Originality/value – This study provides the first internationally comparable robust measure of management capability in Australian public hospitals, where hospitals are run independently by the state-run healthcare systems. Additionally, this research study contributes to the empirical evidence base on the quality of management practices in the Australian public healthcare systems of Queensland and NSW.

Portuguese primary healthcare – sustainability through quality management

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sónia Duarte Silva ◽  
Ana Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Trust

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to apply quality management tools and practices in the design of an integrated accreditation model for Local Health Trusts, in order to contribute to the sustainability of the Portuguese Primary HealthCare Service. Following the guidelines of the Portuguese Health Quality Strategy, the proposed model is an adaptation of the model from Agencia para la Calidad Sanitaria de Andaluzia. Design/methodology/approach The development of the integrated accreditation model was based on a literature review, complemented with observation and analysis of the usual working methods in a Local Health Trust (Western Oporto Health Trust). Findings Local Health Trusts include not only clinical management units but also non-clinical administrative units. Therefore, the National Model for Accreditation of HealthCare Institutions is not easily or directly applicable to them. To overcome this problem, the model proposed in this study incorporates ISO 9001 principles, widely accepted regarding organizational management. The success of the application of this model is highly dependent on the ability of public Primary HealthCare organizations to deal with potential problems such as resistance to change, lack of leadership and inadequate people management and involvement. Originality/value The integrated accreditation model proposed in this research is expected to promote the cohesion of Local Health Trust units, encouraging integrated quality management practices and continuous improvement strategies, leading Local Health Trusts, Primary Care and HealthCare in a global perspective toward sustainability.

Process management framework for chemical waste treatment laboratories

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-462
Author(s):  
Alexandre Bevilacqua Leoneti ◽  
Danilo Vitorino dos Santos ◽  
Renato Santos da Silva ◽  
Alessandra Henriques Ferreira ◽  
Adriano César Pimenta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Chemical Waste ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Chemical Wastes ◽  
Comprehensive Classification

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a process management framework for Chemical Waste Treatment Laboratories (CWTL) that can be used as a management tool to identify and manage critical process. Design/methodology/approach Proposition of a generic classification for categories of chemical waste; use of the ABC analysis as a tool for analysis of priority in relation to the inputs of an CWTL; use of the process matrix (variety vs volume) to identify the key resources required to perform the activities of a CWTL; and use of mapping process techniques to map the processes defined and calculate times. Findings The proposed framework was applied to a CWTL at University of São Paulo, Brazil, and showed that the high variability of demand is a significant factor in the management of this laboratory, requiring processes that are flexible to meet this demand. The results showed that the applicability of the production and operations management theories within the scope of process management of CWTLs, proved to be useful tools for improving the treatment efficiency of chemical waste in these facilities. Originality/value The novelty of this work is in the fact of using production and operations management tools in the management of CWTLs to propose diagnoses to improve the management of their processes. The proposition of a comprehensive classification for chemical wastes generated in CWTLs is also highlighted.

scholarly journals An empirical study of long-term personal project information management

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klen Copic Pucihar ◽  
Matjaž Kljun ◽  
John Mariani ◽  
Alan John Dix
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Information Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Information Space ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Project

Purpose – Personal projects are any kind of projects whose management is left to an individual untrained in project management and is greatly influenced by this individual’s personal touch. This includes the majority of knowledge workers who daily manage information relating to several personal projects. The authors have conducted an in-depth qualitative investigation on information management of such projects and the tacit knowledge behind its processes that cannot be found in the organisational structures of current personal information management (PIM) tools (file managers, e-mail clients, web browsers). The purpose of this paper is to reveal and understand project information management practices in details and provide guidelines for personal project management tools. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews similar to that in several other PIM exploratory studies were carried out focusing on project fragmentation, information overlap and project context recreation. In addition, the authors enhanced interviews with sketching approach not yet used to study PIM. Sketches were used for articulating things that were not easily expressed through words, they represented a time stamp of a project context in the projects’ lifetime, uncovered additional tacit knowledge behind project information management not mentioned during the interviews, and were also used to find what they have in common which might be used in prototype designing. Findings – The paper presents first personal project definition based on the conceptualisations derived from the study. The study revealed that the extensive information fragmentation in the file hierarchy (due to different organisational needs and ease of information access) poses a significant challenge to context recreation besides cross-tool fragmentation so far described in the literature. The study also reveals the division of project information into core and support and emphasises the importance of support information in relation to project goals. Other findings uncover the division of input/output information, project overlaps through information reuse, storytelling and visualising information relations, which could help with user modelling and enhancing project context recreation. Research limitations/implications – On of the limitations is the group of participants that cannot represent the ideally generalised knowledge worker as there are many different kinds of knowledge workers and they all have different information needs besides different management practices. However, participants of variety of different backgrounds were observed and the authors converged observations into points of project information management similarities across the spectrum of different professions. Nevertheless, its observations and conceptualisations should be repeatable. For one, some of the issues that emerged during this work have been to different extents discussed in other studies. Practical implications – The empirical findings are used to create guidelines for designing personal project information management tools: support the selective focus on information with the division into core and supportive information; visualise changes in project information space to support narratives for context recreation; overcome fragmentation in the file system with selective unification; visualising project’s information relationship to better understand the complexity of project information space; and support navigating in project information space on two axes: time and between projects (overlaps through information). Originality/value – The study presents a longitudinal insight into personal project information management. As such it provides a first formal definition of personal project from the information point of view. The method used in the study presented uses a new approach – sketching in which participants externalised and visualised personal information and projects they discussed. The insights derived from the study form design implications for personal project management tools for knowledge workers.

scholarly journals Introducing a strategic perspective in lean thinking applications through system dynamics modelling: the dynamic Value Stream Map

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Noto ◽  
Federico Cosenz
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
System Structure ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Lean Thinking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Value Stream ◽  
Strategic Perspective ◽  
Value Stream Map

PurposeLean Thinking is an operation management discipline which aims to identify, map and analyse the activities forming a process to detect “value waste” and outline the most effective flow of activities to execute in sequence. Process mapping is often developed in lean projects through the use of the Value Stream Map (VSM). Like many other management tools, the VSM adopts a static and non-systemic perspective in the representation of an organizational process. This may result in the implementation of Lean projects inconsistent with the overall organizational long-term strategy, thus leading to dysfunctional performance. In order to overcome this limit, the paper suggests combining VSM with System Dynamics (SD) modelling.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a review of the literature on VSM. This review is matched with an analysis of SD modelling principles aimed at explaining the practical and theoretical contribution of this approach to operation and strategic management practices. An illustrative case study is then provided to explore the practical implications of the proposed approach.FindingsOur results show that SD modelling provides robust methodological support to VSM and Lean Thinking due to its inner characteristics, namely: simulation, systemic view, explicit link between system structure and behaviour and effective visual representation.Originality/valueThis research proposes a novel approach to design VSMs aimed at fostering a strategic perspective in Lean Thinking applications. Such an approach connects two fields of research and practice – i.e. VSM and SD modelling – which have traditionally been kept separated or, at least, partially combined for specific organizational sub-systems, thereby neglecting a broader strategic view of the entire process system.

Multiple case study analysis and development of an interpretive structural model for greening of supply chains in Indian ceramic enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1279-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kailash Choudhary ◽  
Kuldip Singh Sangwan
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Green Supply Chain Management ◽  
Green Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Interpretive Structural Model

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to aim at prioritizing and identifying the interrelations among the green supply chain management pressures, practices and performance measures. The study also compares the reasons of green supply chain management implementation, levels of implementation and improvement in performance for medium and large Indian ceramic enterprises because of green supply chain management implementation. Design/methodology/approach The most frequent constructs and measures of green supply chain management pressure, practice and performance are identified from the literature. The identified measures are corrected/added/removed, as per the suggestions of industry professionals, to develop a survey instrument. An interpretive structural model is developed to prioritize the constructs. Matriced “impacts croises-multiplication applique” and “classment” (MICMAC) analysis is done to identify the driving and dependence powers of the constructs. The identified results are validated through the descriptive analysis of responses obtained from multiple case studies. Findings It is observed that the informative pressures followed by coercive and mimetic pressures are the main drivers for the implementation of green supply chain management practices. Internal environmental management in enterprises is found to be the driving power behind the implementation of other green supply chain management practices. The implementation of these practices drives the environmental and operational performance. It is observed, through the multiple case study analysis that the impact of the pressures to adopt green supply chain management practices is high on Indian ceramic enterprises but the implementation of practices is in the early stage. The improvement in performance is also not found to be significant at this stage. This study also found that large ceramic enterprises are doing better than the medium enterprises in terms of green supply chain management implementation, largely because of higher pressures and availability of resources. Originality/value This study prioritizes the constructs of green supply chain management pressure, practice and performance for Indian ceramic enterprises and compares the large and medium enterprises on the basis of these constructs.

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