Agility enhancement through agile manufacturing implementation: a case study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Kumar ◽  
Kanwarpreet Singh ◽  
Sanjiv Kumar Jain
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Agile Manufacturing ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustained Performance ◽  
Increase In Productivity ◽  
Present Case Study ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeDynamic business environment has a deep influence on production and management related exercises. In order to remain competitive, organization needs to coordinate with continuous and unpredictable changes taking place in the market. Globalization of markets is posing competitive pressure on firms, which leads them to adopt a new manufacturing paradigm termed agile manufacturing (AM). The purpose of the present case study is to explore the contribution of AM towards agility and productivity enhancements in an Indian manufacturing company.Design/methodology/approachThe study is carried out at forging industry which has been assessed on certain key business performance indicators. The assessment highlighted various issues which had scope for improvement to enhance the agility of the organization. Therefore, a phase-wise implementation of AM is carried to reap the significant benefits as a result of AM implementation in the case study company. The methodology has been applied to decrease the inline rejection, increase the productivity and responsiveness of the organization.FindingsThe results revealed an improvement in performance score from 77.5 to 100. Further, an increase in productivity and reduction in line rejection has been achieved through the systematic implementation of AM.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the contributions of strategic AM implementation to organizational performance and highlights the need for successful management of AM practices for establishing sustained performance of the organization.Originality/valueThe contribution of the present work is the phase-wise implementation of AM in the case studied company.

scholarly journals Succeeding in international competition by making use of home-country institutions

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eli Moen
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Home Country ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Successful Case ◽  
Low Cost Carrier ◽  
Present Case Study

Purpose – This paper aims to addresses the question how a low-cost carrier (LCC) embedded in a coordinated market economy is succeeding in a highly competitive industry with a strong cost focus. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reports the results of a case study of a LCC (Norwegian Air Shuttle). The case study draws on both organizational and institutional theory as to how the international business environment and the national institutional framework continuously impact on its strategies. Findings – It is found that home-country high wage levels and strong labour regulation have been overcome by developing firm-specific capabilities based on active employee involvement which aligns with the tradition of the national system of industrial relations. Research limitations/implications – The present case study provides an input for further research on how actors deal with conflicting pressures. It supports the varieties of capitalism (VOC) argument that national institutional arrangements influence firms and actors’ strategies and practices, but it also supports the call within institutional theories for a more malleable conceptualizing of the link between actors and institutions than is the case in the VOC models. Originality/value – The paper provides an account of a successful case in a highly competitive international business despite disadvantages linked with home-country institutions.

Keeping things simple: how strategic clarity boosts organizational performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-24
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective 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 An organization that boasts effective strategies is best positioned to optimize its performance. Putting such strategies in place is only the start though. Companies must also regularly evaluate their impact and ensure that they remain relatively uncomplicated. However, many operators fail in these respects while others become complacent. Author and inspirational speaker Steve Maraboli once argued that “a lack of clarity could put the brakes on any journey to success”. Such sentiments have become increasingly relevant in the current business environment where change seems the only certainty. As industries splinter and competition intensifies further, clearly defined strategies are undoubtedly more critical still. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the worlds 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.

The use of I3F in assessing facilities management industry maturity

Facilities ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 793-808
Author(s):  
Maulidi A. Banyani ◽  
Danny S. S. Then
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Education Professional ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to present and discuss the results of the assessment of maturity of facilities management (FM) industries (FMi) in five countries, namely, Denmark, Hong Kong, Norway, Tanzania and the UK. The analysis is based on the “Integrated Feeder Factors Framework (I3F)”. I3F analyses maturity by assessing the progression and integration of the key factors essential for the maturity of the FMi, which are organisations practice, supply market, education, professional bodies, research and business environment. Design/methodology/approach – FM experts in respective countries were interviewed. Data were also gathered from official documents and websites. The collected evidences were analysed using pattern matching. Findings – The FM industry in the five case study countries are found at various levels of maturity. The UK exhibited high levels of maturity compared to other countries. Norway, Hong Kong and Denmark were at the same level with some notable differences, while Tanzania was at the lowest level. Practical implications – The research successfully tested the I3F. This sets foundation for assessing maturity of the FM industry at a country level. The assessment of maturity at a country level is important to FM stakeholders in charting out plans for its development and longevity. Originality/value – This is the first research which has assessed the maturity of FMi in five countries using an I3F. The results show the strength and weaknesses of the FMi in the five countries and point out areas which require stakeholders’ efforts to be improved or maintained.

scholarly journals Managing business networks for value creation in facilities and their external environments

Facilities ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 99-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karlos Artto ◽  
Tuomas Ahola ◽  
Riikka Kyrö ◽  
Antti Peltokorpi
Keyword(s):  
Network Formation ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Business Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Actors ◽  
Tenant Mix ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of the logic of business network formation among the co-located and external actors of a facility. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a theory-building approach through developing propositions inductively from the empirical case study on four purposefully sampled modern service station facilities. The focus is on analyzing how a facility and its inherent co-located actors represent an entity that forms a business network with external actors in the facility’s environment. Findings The findings propose that when co-located with a large number of actors, the facility and its actors represent an entity that is connected to a wide business network of multiple external actors. On the other hand, when co-located with a small number of actors, the facility becomes a part of the overall supply in the surrounding business environment with a differentiated offering for competitive advantage. Practical implications The research suggests that an appropriate co-locating strategy, for example, when planning the tenant mix of the facility, can contribute to creating a vivid business network in the external environment, which raises the facility to a role of a central entity in such a network. Originality/value The findings explaining how co-location affects the businesses within the facility and within a wider networked environment are novel to the scholarly knowledge on co-location. The research bridges the theories of co-location and business networks that have been treated as separate discourses in previous research.

scholarly journals Modelling project complexity

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asbjørn Rolstadås ◽  
Per Morten Schiefloe
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Complexity ◽  
Review Model ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Published Research ◽  
Generic Complexity ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding of what project complexity is, what drivers and factors that influence complexity and how consequences for organizational performance can be assessed. Design/methodology/approach The research is explanatory and based on literature review, model development, interviews and case studies. The model is validated through a case study. Findings The findings are a model for identifying and analyzing complexity drivers and complexity factors. The model starts with generic complexity drivers such as ambiguity, uncertainty, unpredictability and pace. These drivers are in each project influenced by nature and by socio-political, economic and technological surroundings to result in complexity factors that are specific to the project analyzed. The model can be used to analyze project complexity and to define requirements for the organization of the project and guidelines for the execution. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to large projects with a technical delivery of some kind of facilities. Practical implications The model can be used to assess the required capability of the organization for successful project execution. Originality/value The contribution of the research is a new model for understanding project complexity. The distinction between project complexity drivers and factors is essential as well as the taxonomy for the factors building on and adding to already published research.

The mediating effect of teamwork on the relationship between strategic orientation and performance of Nigerian banks

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 744-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Innocent Otache
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Strategic Orientation ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this study is to empirically explore the mediating effect of teamwork on the relationship between strategic orientation and organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a descriptive research design. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data from 253 bank managers representing 20 commercial banks in Nigeria. The author used SmartPLS-SEM to analyze the data collected. Findings The results of the structural models showed a significantly positive relationship between strategic orientation and organizational performance on the one hand and between strategic orientation and teamwork on the other. It was also found that teamwork had a significantly positive link with organizational performance. Further analysis revealed that teamwork fully mediated the relationship between strategic orientation and organizational performance. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on the Nigerian banking sector. Thus, it limits the generalizability of its findings to other sectors not covered. Future researchers could extend the study to other sectors to corroborate the findings presented. Practical implications The findings of this study provide some practical implications for business organizations and managers. Business organizations must be strategically positioned so that they can compete in today’s highly dynamic and competitive business environment and achieve superior performance. Likewise, business managers should make sure that all employees and sections in their organizations work cooperatively as a team by creating a collaborative climate where team spirit and teamwork thrive. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to provide empirical evidence of the mediating effect of teamwork on the relationship between strategic orientation and organizational performance. In that regard, it makes a valuable contribution to the field of strategic management and enhances the applicability and the generalizability of contingency and resource-based view theories across different environmental settings.

Transformational branding for B2B business: protective packaging company

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 517-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kong Cheen Lau ◽  
Luke Lim
Keyword(s):  
Business Environment ◽  
Brand Strategy ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
Mind Set ◽  
Protective Packaging ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The concept of brand transformation concerns a brand strategy that advocates radical changes. It involves a collective set of actions and activities that are coherently steered to regenerate the engagement experience of the target market emanating from the brand strategy. Nevertheless, there are still lack of case studies demonstrating this in the B2B business sector. The purpose of this paper is to exhibit a brand transformation initiative taken by a B2B business, particularly the handling challenges leading to the initiative coupled with the framework and processes involved to make it a success. Design/methodology/approach A case study method was applied with documentation of inputs captured from different stakeholders. Consulting practitioners from a brand consultancy involved in the brand transformation initiative documented interviews and audit findings which offered first-hand report regarding their involvement and experience of bringing the B2B business through the brand transformation journey. Findings Brand transformation at Fagerdala warranted a radical re-orientation of the brand positioning that supports a clear business intent that was put forward. The initiative encompasses strong leadership, commitment and change management to drive transformational changes involving both internal and external stakeholders. An innovation oriented mind-set is critical to drive radical changes to support coherent efforts that could ultimately engender to distinct brand experience to targeted stakeholders. Practical implications This paper provides brand managers, particularly the brand owners practical and realisable example on how to plan and execute brand transformation in a B2B business environment. More specifically, it highlights the indicators for embarking on this initiative, the approach to drive brand transformation based on established brand strategy frameworks and finally how to execute the strategy in a practical manner. Originality/value This paper extends the concept of brand transformation that has recently been mentioned in literature from one of conceptual perspective to one of practice perspective. It emphasises and underscores some of the details of execution that is instrumental in the practice of brand transformation within a B2B industry sector.

Metachoice for benchmarking: a case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Laise ◽  
Laura Marraro ◽  
Gianpaolo Iazzolino
Keyword(s):  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Multicriteria Analysis ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Benchmark Analysis ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – In a previous paper the authors emphasized the advantages of multicriteria methodologies to evaluate business performance. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the metachoice problem that always arises in a benchmark multicriteria analysis that can be synthesized as follows: “how to choose an algorithm to choose?” Design/methodology/approach – In order to perform a benchmark analysis, a set of criteria must be chosen. In the Balanced Scorecard approach, for example, key performance indicators (KPIs) are grouped in four different perspectives: financial, customer, internal processes and learning and growth. In this paper, the authors focus on multicriteria benchmark analysis applied to KPIs of the financial perspective. The paper considers a set of criteria used in financial statement analysis based on balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. A case study is described. Findings – The main findings of the paper are when the evaluation of a firm is based on different genuine criteria, a metachoice problem arises: multicriteria ranking algorithms cannot be selected using a multicriteria algorithm; the choice of an algorithm ultimately depends on the subjective preference of the policy maker; and the authors metachoice solution to the benchmarking problem is in accordance with Simon’s satisfacing solution, describing a non-maximizing performance measurement methodology. Practical implications – The paper provides several practical implications in all cases in which a ranking has to be assigned to a group of firms based on financial performances. More in general the problem is very relevant when a ranking has to be carried out with respect to a set of projects, a set of strategies, a set of organizational units, etc. Originality/value – The adoption of a set of criteria is certainly an advantage to avoid uni-criterial myopic evaluation. However, this also creates some methodological problems. The paper demonstrates the “relativity” (subjectivity) of results of the evaluation process when there are many evaluation criteria, as in a benchmark context. This is a metachoice problem that cannot be solved by using another multicriteria algorithm.

Increasing agility to boost organizational performance

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Market Orientation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agile Project Management ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Design/methodology/approach This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Findings Organizations are likelier to survive and prosper in today’s unpredictable business environment by developing and strengthening a set of key dynamic capabilities. Particular emphasis on market orientation, business process agility and balanced agile project management (APM) can better position them to satisfy customer needs as they evolve. 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.

Corporate acceleration process: a systems psychodynamics perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1163-1180
Author(s):  
Piotr Wójcik ◽  
Krzysztof Obłój ◽  
Aleksandra Wąsowska ◽  
Szymon Wierciński
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Acceleration Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Third Phase ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Social Defenses ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the emotional dynamics of the corporate acceleration process, using the systems psychodynamics perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies inductive multiple case study of embedded 10 cases of corporate acceleration, covering both incumbent and startup perspectives, occurring in the context of a corporate accelerator.FindingsWe find that (1) the process of corporate acceleration involves three phases, each of them is dominated by a different emotional state (hope, anxiety and acceptance), triggering different behavioral responses; (2) as a means to deal with negative emotions, entrepreneurs and corporate acceleration program's team members develop different mechanisms of dealing with contradictories in subsequent acceleration phases (defense and copying mechanisms), which are reflected in their behaviors. Coping mechanisms with goal reformulation (i.e. refocus from the officially declared “open innovation” goals toward mainly symbolic ones) is an effective strategy to manage negative emotions in third phase of the acceleration.Research limitations/implicationsOur sample is limited to two relatively similar accelerators established by telecom companies, and therefore, our theoretical and practical conclusions cannot be generalized.Practical implicationsWe supplement the studies of corporate accelerators that imply how to design them better and improve decision-making rules with recommendation that in order to improve their effectiveness in terms of learning and innovations, their managers need not only to learn how to manage structural and procedural differences but also how to overcome social defenses triggered by corporate–startups cooperation.Originality/valueBy documenting a multidimensional impact of acceleration process, and especially shedding light on psychodynamic aspects behind such liaisons, this paper contributes to richer understanding of corporate–startup relationships, typically examined through a rationalistic lens of strategy literature. The study contributes to interorganizational research and open innovation literature, by showing that corporate acceleration process is marked by phases based on the type of emotions intertwined with the nature and dynamism of its life cycle. It indicates how these emotions are managed depending on their type.

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