Memorable projects and aesthetic experiences in an industrial R&D lab

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-301
Author(s):  
Ioana Ocnarescu ◽  
Carole Bouchard
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aesthetic Experiences ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Innovation Culture ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to show the mechanism of aesthetic experiences of work in a research and innovation context – an R&D laboratory of a multinational communications and information technology company. Analysing memorable projects of this laboratory through the lenses of aesthetics is a useful way to understand organizational and innovation culture and the quality of life of researchers and innovators. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory study focusing on memorable projects of 31 researchers who worked on 70 projects during four years was conducted. The data analysis is based on the grounded theory. Findings The study reveals six key dimensions that describe the dimensions of R&D researchers’ aesthetic experiences: perceptive, emotional, intellectual, communicative, collective and organizational. These dimensions are closely related and support an innovation culture in an R&D environment. Research limitations/implications The aesthetic dimensions have to be correlated to innovation performance indicators to better understand which aspects are the most relevant for innovation. Practical implications The paper proposes first examples of implications for the industry to foster an innovation culture through aesthetic experiences. Originality/value No study has been done on aesthetic experiences in an R&D environment.

Factors for improving performance in ISO 9001 certified small- and medium-sized service enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Chiarini ◽  
Paola Castellani ◽  
Chiara Rossato
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Iso 9001 ◽  
Delphi Panel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cost Of Quality ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that are important for improving the performance of ISO 9001 certified small- and medium-sized service enterprises (SMSEs). Design/methodology/approach Preliminary research questions were set on the basis of a literature review and then submitted to a Delphi panel of experts. The results from the Delphi panel were transformed into hypotheses in the form of a survey. A sample comprising 115 Italian SMSEs answered the survey, which also included specific fields for qualitative notes. The hypothesis tests used 95% confidence intervals, and notes and suggestions from the respondents were also collected. Findings The findings relate to the role and responsibilities of the quality manager, as well the entrepreneur and partners, the quality of the enterprise culture, training, awareness concerning process key performance indicators, visual management and modern digitised documentation and communication. Furthermore, criticisms emerged regarding the ISO 9001 standard in terms of cost of quality measurement, day-to-day improvement and problem-solving. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to SMSEs. The limitations of this research open avenues for further research. In particular, many suggestions from the respondents seem generalisable to other industries and also to large manufacturing firms. Practical implications The findings of this research could be used as a guideline for implementing ISO 9001 in the SMSE sector. Moreover, some of the criticisms could be taken into account for the next revision of the ISO 9001 standard. Originality/value This is one of the first papers to discuss important factors for improving the performance of ISO 9001 in the SMSE sector.

scholarly journals Accounting for the messiness of the research process: the fieldpath approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perttu Salovaara
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Human Ethics ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
The Common ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose It has recently become more acknowledged that there is a quality of “messiness” to the qualitative research process. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the fieldpath approach—a hermeneutically inspired framework—to account for the non-linearity, uncertainty and ambiguity of the research process. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper reviews how the scope of hermeneutics has been partly misunderstood. The paper discusses how the scope of hermeneutics has lately been expanded by works such as Günter Figal’s (2010) Objectivity: The Hermeneutical and Philosophy. Findings The fieldpath approach proposes that a heightened relation to materiality enables the messiness of the process to be preserved, while at the same time offering a way to find one’s footing in the midst of ontologically incomplete phenomena that are still—in a processual fashion—forming and becoming. Research limitations/implications This is a conceptual paper. In addition to the research mentioned here, more studies would be needed to legitimise, test and refine the approach. Practical implications Objectivity provides an additional criterion for researchers to lean on when facing the non-linearity and unexpected turns inherent in the qualitative research process. Social implications The stress on materiality involves an ethical dimension. Post-human ethics are concerned with the future environmental consequences and sustainability of the material world. The way that matter matters in our methodologies is of primary importance. Originality/value First, the paper emphasises that hermeneutics, contrary to the common perception, does offer criteria for evaluating between interpretations. Second, it introduces the notion of hermeneutic objectivity, which stresses the importance of materiality for interpretations. Third, it introduces the fieldpath approach, which, based on the previous criterion of hermeneutic objectivity, allows for the messiness of the research process, while also preserving a tight grip on the hermeneutic imperative of “understanding in a new way”.

The transracial aesthetic labour of an international teaching assistant

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay A. Ramjattan
Keyword(s):  
Racial Identity ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Teaching Assistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Teaching Assistant ◽  
International Teaching ◽  
Good For ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper introduces the concept of transracial aesthetic labour to understand why and how an international teaching assistant (ITA) vocally changes meanings of his racial identity.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a narrative analysis to detail instances of transracial aesthetic labour.FindingsFor the ITA, this labour involved orally distancing from or aligning with particular Indian stereotypes for specific contexts.Research limitations/implicationsTransracial aesthetic labour may occur in other industries that deem race an integral part of sounding right or looking good for the job.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the need for ITAs and universities to rethink the meaning of transracial to combat racist perceptions of ITAs' speech.Originality/valueThe paper advances the aesthetic labour literature by exploring how race is vocally performed for this labour and introducing ITAs as aesthetic labourers.

Exploring linkages of performance with metacognition

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Lyons ◽  
Randall Paul Bandura
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measures ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Secondary Purpose ◽  
Core Self ◽  
And Training ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeIn this exploratory, correlational study the authors set out to demonstrate the relationships as well as inter-correlations among direct and indirect performance measures, along with measures of knowledge of cognition, and evaluation of cognition. The information helps inform manager learning and development. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, primary purpose, to identify linkages of performance with individual’s efforts to improve their learning processes via metacognition; and second, secondary purpose, primarily for the benefit of practitioners, is the provision of detailed information regarding performance measures and practical measures of metacognition.Design/methodology/approachThe study made use of correlation analysis among performance measures and measures of metacognitive effort. The design is not intended to support cause and effect relationships, nor demonstrate the technical, predictive value of measures.FindingsA majority of associations among indirect performance measures with one another and with nearly all of the measures of knowledge of cognition, and evaluation of cognition were positive and significant (mostly at the 0.01 level). Findings offer broad support for the linkage of self-efficacy (SE), and core self-evaluation (CSE) with performance.Practical implicationsRelationships identified in this study may help practitioners alter and improve their practices/methods of identifying individuals who possess attributes that are highly related to performance and learning. The new knowledge may influence decisions about recruitment, selection and training.Originality/valueLittle research has focused on relationships among indirect performance indicators such as SE, CSE and established measures of metacognition. The present study helps to identify important relationships.

Development of a model for maintenance performance measurement

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-86
Author(s):  
Sungtae Ku ◽  
Changeun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Quantitative Measurement ◽  
Maintenance Management ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Energy Company ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Maintenance Performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a model that can measure the equipment maintenance performance of the energy company K-company. Design/methodology/approach The case study method was adopted for the investigation of maintenance performance indicators (MPIs). The development of a model for measuring maintenance performance suggested new ways to apply the methodologies of existing papers to evaluate the level of maintenance. Findings Maintenance indicators, which are managed differently for each plant, were assessed for their performance relevance, applicability and data reliability and then standardized into five key MPIs. The MPI model, which enables comprehensive and quantitative measurement of maintenance performance using the five selected MPIs, was presented, and the criteria for assessing the maintenance level were presented in five stages. Practical implications The authors selected MPIs that match the characteristics of the company and proposed a model that can comprehensively and quantitatively evaluate maintenance performance. The model also standardizes maintenance indicators that are individually managed and provides a basis for comparing and indexing the level of maintenance indicators at each plant. Originality/value The criterion for selecting the key MPIs considering the characteristics of the company and a model that can comprehensively and quantitatively evaluate maintenance performance were presented. In addition, a standard for evaluating the level of maintenance at the global level of maintenance management was suggested.

Copa America: a resource-based theory of football talent

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 176-191
Author(s):  
Peter Omondi-Ochieng
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Football Team ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Resource Based Theory

Purpose Guided by the resource-based theory, the purpose of this study was to predict the role of football talent in the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rankings of the men’s national football teams in the Copa America zone. Design/methodology/approach The study used archival data of Copa American national football teams. The dependent variable was FIFA rankings, and the independent variables were football talent (measured by the stocks of amateur footballers, professional footballers and football officials). Statistical analysis was performed using Kendall tau statistic and binary logistic regression. Findings The binary logistic regression results indicated that FIFA rankings were statistically and significantly associated with the stock of football officials and professional footballers – but not amateur footballers. The predictive model explained 80 per cent of the variance. Research limitations/implications The study focused exclusively on the stock of football talent in each nation, and not alternative determinants of national football team competitiveness as economic power and quality of professional football leagues, among others. Practical implications The stocks of professional footballers and football officials are valuable sources of competitive advantage (CA) in national football team rankings. Originality/value The study highlighted the uniqueness and distinctiveness of a nation possessing large stocks of professional footballers which can boost the CA and rankings of Copa American national football teams.

TIP TIG: new technology for welding

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 462-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Mig Welding ◽  
Typical Application ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Welding Technology ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe paper aims to report on a new welding technology, TIP TIG.Design/methodology/approachThe principle of operation and benefits of the technology are described together with a typical application.FindingsThe study finds that the technology provides the quality of TIG welding at the speeds of MIG welding, providing significant cost savings to the user.Practical implicationsTIP TIG provides a good opportunity for all users of robotic MIG welding to improve the quality of their product and reduce their costs.Originality/valueThe paper introduces a new and useful technology to the robot industry.

Organizational learning through informal ties

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-42
Keyword(s):  
Informal Learning ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Social Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
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 Informal learning ties posses scope to play a substantial role in the development of professionals. Creating such ties with different key internal and external stakeholders provides a valuable source of learning opportunities. Different social mechanisms can influence network creation and enhance the quality of learning that emerges as a result. 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.

A qualitative investigation of benchmarking barriers in Nigeria

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 1677-1696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yewande Adetoro Adewunmi ◽  
Hikmot Koleoso ◽  
Modupe Omirin
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Port Harcourt ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine benchmarking barriers among Nigerian facilities management (FM) practitioners. Design/methodology/approach Data collection were through semi-structured interviews with 34 FM heads from three selected cities in Nigeria. Out of this number, 16 were from Lagos, ten from Abuja while eight managers were from Port Harcourt, respectively. These managers were selected using purposive sampling based on their experience in the field of FM across the various sectors of the economy. The interviews were analysed with Nvivo 10 software qualitative computer software. Findings Those that do informal benchmarking face challenges with data, employees lack of confidence in new initiatives and poor support of senior management, the companies that use best practice benchmarking face constraints of access to information and employees unwillingness to change and comply to company set standards, unwillingness of benchmarking partners to understand the usefulness of the project, and problems that emanate from the quality of data obtained. Practical implications The results therefore suggest that to improve the practice of best practice benchmarking there is need to improve both quantity and quality of data for the exercise and enhance standard practice. Originality/value The study established a new category of benchmarking barriers called the market category of benchmarking barriers and further distinguished benchmarking barriers based on two forms of benchmarking which is informal and formal benchmarking. Also there are limited studies on benchmarking barriers in developing countries.

Financial support systems: the student experience in England and France

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 121-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Curtis ◽  
Rita Klapper
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Status ◽  
Financial Difficulties ◽  
University Life ◽  
The Uk ◽  
English Students ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeTo investigate how the financial status of students in England and France affects their experience of university life.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was carried out among undergraduates in two countries. There were 168 responses from students studying at a French university and 325 responses from students studying at an English university.FindingsThe financial burden in France rests with parents, while in England students are largely responsible for their own funding. Indicators suggest that English students may be suffering from financial difficulties. Students continue the tradition of enjoying themselves and socialising, whatever their nationality and financial status.Research limitations/implicationsThe comparison made was not between institutions of equal status. The Institut de Formation Internationale in Rouen is part of a Grande Ecole group which is private, and may attract students from higher income families. The students at Manchester Metropolitan University Cheshire study in a rural locale (the towns of Crewe and Alsager in south Cheshire), which is unusual for a UK university and it may well be that a lower proportion of these undergraduates come from higher income families than the French students.Practical implicationsWhile it would seem to be more equitable and economically efficient for individuals to pay directly for services they receive, rather than those services being funded by higher tax, this study highlights certain problems. The quality of the educational experience for English students may be reduced by their continuing to live at home with parents and carrying out low level work while studying.Originality/valueNo other research appears to have been carried out in the UK or in France on this topic.

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