Time-to-need: a portfolio tool to balance the time-to-market

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 812-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Ferrarese ◽  
Marly Monteiro de Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Single Case ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Expert Committee ◽  
Time To Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Patented Product ◽  
Practical Tool ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Set Up

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a management tool to maximise the effective time-to-market of a portfolio given the competitive monitoring activities. Design/methodology/approach – From the constant monitoring of competition and market needs, it is proposed to define a time-to-need, time when the market may consume the product under development and competitor will not provide a solution before. This time-to-need is proposed to be defined by an expert committee in a periodical meeting of the portfolio. Once it is identified the time-to-need and the time-to-market (project management), it is possible to manage resources in order to maximise the portfolio outputs. Findings – The application of the mentioned approach in an automotive industry showed improvements on number of launched new products per year (double) and on number of patented product launched (four times more). Research limitations/implications – This approach applies on projects of medium to long term (more than two years) because the resource management can consume set up time. The presented results in this work were based in a single case, which can limit the expected results of the application of this methodology. Practical implications – This approach enables a constant alignment among experts and a better deployment of resources. Originality/value – This work provides a practical tool to promote better resource allocation in a portfolio. It can also be an enabler of innovation projects once it finds resources potential to fund the more front end work.

BSC and long-term deployment: an actors' perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-396
Author(s):  
Pierre-Laurent Bescos ◽  
Aude Deville ◽  
Philippe Foulquier
Keyword(s):  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Insurance Company ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Human Actors

PurposeThis paper examines the roles of the balanced scorecard (BSC) in a long-term perspective and with a large deployment along numerous hierarchical levels. For this purpose, we use a longitudinal analysis of an implementation in a mutual insurance company.Design/methodology/approachWe combine actor–network theory (ANT) with interventionist research (IVR) to analyze the interrelation between human and non-human actors. Our study is based on various materials like interviews, meeting reports, graphs and so on.FindingsThe BSC is considered as a non-human actor which influences the human actors and provides specific benefits from a long-term use, due to various roles played by this tool (a mediator role, completed by a role of translator and revealer).Research limitations/implicationsResearch based on larger cross-sectional studies are necessary to more deeply validate our results based on a single case study.Practical implicationsThis paper gives some insights on processes and on actors an organization can mobilize to maintain the benefits provided by a large BSC use in the long run.Originality/valueIn line with the ANT concepts, our main contribution is to explain the outcomes of an innovation in management accounting by the consequences of adaptation mechanisms grounded on actors, translations, alliances and trials of strength.

Appraising clever people: lessons from introducing performance reviews for academics in a UK University

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedda Bird
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Review ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Performance Reviews ◽  
Practical Challenge ◽  
Set Up

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to build understanding of how to engage a highly educated workforce with the benefits of performance management through sharing the lessons learned from introducing performance reviews (appraisals) into an academic environment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a case study of a four-year programme in a UK higher education establishment. The author was closely involved in the last two years of the programme, and completed a detailed evaluation of the programme for the client. Findings – Performance management creates significant value within a highly educated workforce through bringing together individual capability and expertise to focus on delivering the strategy. Obstacles to success such as routine complaints of “time-wasting” and “pointlessness” can be overcome by wide and deep engagement with employees throughout the design and development of the approach. Research limitations/implications – This is a single case study; however, the author has worked on many similar programmes with highly educated work forces with very similar results. Practical implications – The vast majority of staff positively want a high-quality performance review; the practical challenge is to channel this desire into shared ownership and responsibility for the success of performance review in practice. Originality/value – Literature abounds with analysis of what is wrong with performance review, this paper is a rarer piece in that it develops our understanding of how to set up performance management and review for success.

Who's influencing whom? Developing sustainable business partnerships

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Adderley ◽  
Duane Mellor
Keyword(s):  
Single Case ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Business Partnerships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Organisation ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

Purpose – Recently David Jones in Who Cares Wins proposed sustainability as being essential for businesses success over the coming decades. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of the development of a partnership between an environmental non-government organisation (NGO) (world wildlife fund-UK) and a major retailer (Marks and Spencer). The partnership developed three “types”, sponsorship, technical and communication partnerships. Design/methodology/approach – A grounded theory approach was taken; information was gathered using semi-structured interviews. Data from these interviews were then triangulated with corporate materials to allow generalisations to develop. Findings – Through the three “types” of partnership themes of conflict and project drift were identified, although the overarching “Plan A” commitment is seen as a potential exemplar in sustainability. Difficulties were identified with respect to the dissemination of the outputs from the partnership, some of which were too complex, where others appeared to change to be more appealing to the consumer. Social implications – Although a single case study, it highlights the challenges and benefits to both partners. As such, it provides insight into the practical issues of delivering sustainability commitments and projects in partnership. Such approaches are critical not only for the viability of business, but also for the long-term health of our planet. Originality/value – This represents a case study of the development of a sustainable partnership between a large corporate and an NGO, which could represent a template for sustainable business. This paper in responds to the growing demand for such case-study examples.

Corporate culture and long-term survival of Spanish innovative firms

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Ramón Tejeiro Koller ◽  
Patricio Morcillo Ortega ◽  
José Miguel Rodríguez Antón ◽  
Luís Rubio Andrada
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
The Other ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Culture ◽  
Innovative Firms ◽  
Innovative Capabilities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze how firms can enhance their innovative capabilities and become more resilient. The current business environment requires a specific type of management for companies to remain competitive and innovation plays a key role in this respect. However, this means that a particular kind of corporate culture must promote innovation in the firm. This innovation culture is likely to be present in innovative companies that have survived in the long term (at least 50 years) and be the source of an adaptive advantage. Design/methodology/approach Using innovative Spanish firms, which were established at least 50 years ago, an exploratory factorial analysis was conducted to verify the existence of an innovation culture. Thereafter, a cluster analysis was undertaken to study differences in performance to be able to detect and identify their adaptive advantage. Findings The findings offer a detailed profile of old and innovative firms created in Spain. Results show that most of the studied firms (88 per cent) have an innovation culture. Furthermore, two separate groups were identified, in which one showed higher profitability and a lower adjustment to an innovation culture, while the other showed the reverse results. This suggests that innovation culture helps companies be more resilient but does not necessarily lead to higher returns. Practical implications Corporate culture is identified as a useful management tool in the search for more resilient enterprises. Specific cultural traits are recommended and a benchmarking tool is applied and made available upon request. Originality/value Although there are a number of studies which consider the concept of adaptive advantage and resilience on the one side, and on corporate innovation culture on the other, this paper seems to be the first to empirically explore the relationship of both these concepts.

Remarkable lives: Jen Waring in conversation with Jerome Carson

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-159
Author(s):  
Jen Waring ◽  
Jerome Carson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Many ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Jen Waring. Design/methodology/approach – Jen provides a short biographical description of her life. She is then interviewed by Jerome. Findings – Jen talks about her long battle with mental health problems and what has sustained her over this time. She talks about the crucial importance of support from both loved ones and professionals, as well as medication. Research limitations/implications – Single case studies are of course just one person’s story. Given Jen is an academic biologist, she not only has a unique way of looking at mental illness, she can see the potential of developing approaches in the biological understanding for people experiencing mental distress. Practical implications – Jen’s account shows the need for long-term support for more severe mental health problems. There are no quick fixes! It also highlights the need for interventions at biological, psychological and social levels. Social implications – People need “somewhere to live, someone to love and something meaningful to do” (Rachel Perkins). Many sufferers do not have all three. Services may only be able to provide two of these. Originality/value – Accounts of mental illness recovery by academics can often provide the authors with amazing insights into the world of the mentally distressed. They can also serve as an inspiration to the many students who experience mental distress.

Suppliers’ power relationships with industrial key customers

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 562-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvie Lacoste ◽  
Keith Blois
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Customer Relationship ◽  
Power Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Companies ◽  
Key Account ◽  
Corrugated Cardboard ◽  
Set Up

Purpose – This paper aims to incorporate material derived from four case study analyses of industrial business-to-business relationships. Although there is a substantial amount of literature on the concept of power, there is little academic research studying the “perception” of power – especially that of key customers’ suppliers – relative to that of the buying company. This paper develops a framework, which provides a different set of perceptions regarding the nature of supplier-key customer relationship. Design/methodology/approach – The case studies involve four firms that have been long-term suppliers to a number of global industrial companies and who have set up key account programs to work with them. Three suppliers are in the corrugated cardboard industry (two large and one medium-sized company) and one supplier (a medium-sized company) is in the coding equipment industry. Findings – The study develops a power framework, which can be used in the analysis of buyer/supplier power and points out the risk that can arise when one or more of the parties involved operates on the basis of perceptions that are incorrect. Originality/value – The results suggest that the actors’ power perceptions are important constructs, which have so far been neglected in the academic literature, and stress the role of “subjectivity” in the actors’ analysis of power.

A relational view of start-up firms inside an incubator: the case of the ARCA consortium

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Di Fatta ◽  
Francesco Caputo ◽  
Gandolfo Dominici
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Collaborative Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up

Purpose Analyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem related to the ARCA consortium, the purpose of this paper is to study the relationships among the start-up firms inside an incubator. Design/methodology/approach Thanks to the adoption of the relationships concentric model and the density concentric model, the paper highlights the role of relational conditions for innovative projects in partnership among the incubated firms. Reflections herein are tested via a qualitative research approach based on a single case study: the ARCA consortium. Findings This research found that about 32 percent of relationships inside the incubator support the emergence of short-term relationships among the incubated firms. Furthermore, about 18 percent of the relationships support the emergence of strong collaborative strategies for the implementation of long-term relationships resulting in innovative pathways: innovative projects in partnership. Originality/value The most interconnected firms inside the incubator are those that play a central role also in the innovation pathway developing the higher number of innovative project in partnership. This finding emphasizes a correlation between collaborative relationships and innovation inside an incubator ecosystem.

Open innovation in the public sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1337-1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Venturini ◽  
Chiara Verbano
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Public Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Parent Organization ◽  
New Business ◽  
Business Entities ◽  
Set Up

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to verify and improve the framework assessing the evolution and importance of the technological, human, social and financial resources of an Indian research-based spin-off (RBSO) throughout its four stages of development by Vohora et al. (2004). Design/methodology/approach The open innovation (OI) phenomenon is spreading among public organizations. One of the OI practices used by the public research centers to market their technologies is to set up new business entities called RBSOs. Many studies have focused on spin-offs but there are still some gaps. To overcome the existing limitations, the authors built a framework which they tested on three previous case studies. Findings The results obtained show how a parent organization and its incubator can play fundamental roles in creating and developing a successful RBSO. This is done by supplying managerial staff and providing access to skills, funds and other material and immaterial resources. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study are related to the sectoral and geopolitical factors of the single case analyzed. For this reason, the observations that emerge should be supported by other empirical analyses. Originality/value The findings of this study can offer a better understanding of the spin-off life to managers, researchers, public organizations and government agencies. They can learn how to improve policies and practices of technology transfer and strengthen the national industrial system.

scholarly journals Managing uncertainty: harnessing the power of scenario planning

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Oliver ◽  
Emma Parrett
Keyword(s):  
Practical Experience ◽  
Scenario Planning ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Multiple Strategies ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Strategic Options ◽  
Future Outcomes

Purpose This paper aims to provide an overview of the role that scenario planning can play in managing the uncertainty caused by changing and unpredictable competitive dynamics. Design/methodology/approach This viewpoint reflects both the practical experience of strategic planners, combined with an academic insight into the advantages of using scenario planning as a management tool. Findings Firms can develop corporate level strategy and gain long-term certainty in their strategic approach by using scenario planning to strategize in a way that allows them to prepare for multiple futures, with multiple strategies. Practical implications Firms can manage environmental uncertainty and turbulence by being “mentally prepared” to address the future by evaluating the critical uncertainties driving turbulence and the strategic options relevant to a number of possible future outcomes. Originality/value A unique combination of practical experience fused with academic knowledge on harnessing the power of scenario planning to manage uncertainty and develop organizational strategy.

scholarly journals Collaborative innovation: catalyst for a destination’s event success

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 2499-2516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Schofield ◽  
Phil Crowther ◽  
Leo Jago ◽  
John Heeley ◽  
Scott Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Innovation ◽  
Targeted Marketing

PurposeThis paper aims to contribute to theory concerning collaborative innovation through stakeholder engagement with reference to Glasgow City Marketing Bureau’s (GCMB’s) management strategies, which represent UK best practice in events procurement, leveraging and destination branding.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopts a case study design to facilitate an in-depth evaluation of the destination marketing organisation’s (DMO’s) critical success factors. Multiple perspectives on GCMB’s collaborative innovation are achieved through semi-structured interviews with senior managers from the bureau, key stakeholders and other DMOs.FindingsGCMB’s success results from long-term, extensive, collaborative engagement, a unique institutional structure and sustained political and financial support through to transformational leadership, strategic event selection and targeted marketing through “earned” distribution channels.Research limitations/implicationsThe study takes a single case study approach and focusses on GCMB’s event-led branding strategy. Given the importance but relative neglect of long-term inter-personal relationships in collaborative innovation, future research should focus on the development of social capital and adopt a longitudinal perspective.Practical implicationsThe paper provides insights into the collaborative innovation process with a range of stakeholders, which underpins GCMB’s events strategy and its leveraging of the city brand. In particular, the study highlights the need for entrepreneurial leadership and the development of long-term relationships for effective engagement with stakeholders.Originality/valuePrevious research has focussed on outcomes and neglected pre-requisites and the process of collaborative innovation between destination stakeholders. This study examines this issue from the perspective of a successful DMO and presents a conceptual framework and new engagement dimensions that address this gap in knowledge.

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