scholarly journals Case—Swirltubs After-Market Product Inventory and Service

Author(s):  
Michael F. Gorman
Author(s):  
Michael F. Gorman

In the Swirltubs case, students apply expected value decision making to a knapsack problem for appliance repairmen. The case is based on a published research paper on work that was actually implemented for a major appliance manufacturer. The case features three parts: (1) problem understanding and definition; (2) optimization results for a small, test problem; and (3) creation and testing of a heuristic for a large-scale implementation that exceeds the limits of Microsoft Excel®. Optionally, an instructor can add risk-analysis simulation and reoptimization under uncertainty in subsequent parts of the project, making it a total of five parts. The case is highly interactive, owing to the relatively unstructured nature of the problem. I have implemented the case over a two- and three-week period format, with upper-level master’s in business administration or master’s in analytics students who have been exposed previously to optimization methods. It has been administered to dozens of students with generally positive feedback.


Author(s):  
Paul Stoneman ◽  
Eleonora Bartoloni ◽  
Maurizio Baussola

This chapter explores the patterns of adoption and use of original and new-to-market product innovations. Three levels of diffusion are identified: (i) the spreading of first use across countries (the extensive margin); (ii) the spreading of first use across users within countries (the intensive margin); and (iii) increasing intensity of use by adopters (firms or households). The principal finding is that diffusion often takes a considerable period of time, both across and within countries. Movement on the intensive margin continues for many years after diffusion on the extensive margin is completed. Intra-firm or household diffusion is also time-intensive, differs by industry sector, country, and technology, and continues even after inter-firm or household diffusion is complete. In addition, the diffusion of the production of product innovations may eventually mean that countries that were early producers are eventually replaced by countries that were late producers.


2021 ◽  
pp. 097172182110056
Author(s):  
Keungoui Kim ◽  
Junseok Hwang ◽  
Sungdo Jung ◽  
Eungdo Kim

Due to high uncertainty of product development and business environment, firm-level diversification has been regarded as one of the most effective methods in pharmaceutical firms. In previous study, firm-level diversification was discussed by different value chains of market, product, and technology. However, in most cases, the diversification itself was adopted in a simple manner although its property contains different aspects and the results varies depending on the diversity property of selected index. In addition, the existing approach for measuring firm’s product/market diversification using sales information distinguished by standard industry classification cannot provide direct implication as different strategies are made for market and product diversification. Therefore, this study examines the effects of firm-level diversification on business and innovation performances in pharmaceutical firms by considering (1) three diversification types: market, product, and technology, (2) clear separation between market and product diversification, and (3) two diversification perspectives: balance-centred and hetero-centred. For empirical analysis, an integrated firm-level data set combining from Medtrack, Orange Book, Compustat and Total Patent database is used. From the result, in case of market diversification, less market heterogeneity causes significant influence on business performance. For product and technology, a concentrated and greater heterogeneity of product diversification are turned out to promote business performance, while the more intensive and heterogeneous technology diversification has been shown to improve innovation performance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 360-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjitha Ajay ◽  
R Madhumathi

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the impact of earnings management on capital structure across firm diversification strategies. Design/methodology/approach – The study focuses on firms operating in the manufacturing sector (diversified and focused). Panel data methodology compares diversification strategies and identifies the impact of diversification strategy with earnings management practices on capital structure decision. Findings – International and product diversified firms have lower levels of leverage than focused firms in their capital structure. Asset-based earnings management is positive for diversified (market/product) firms. Earnings management using discretionary expenditure (project based) is found to be higher for market diversified but product-focused firms. Earning smoothing method is found to be significant for focused firms and shows a negative relationship with capital structure. Originality/value – This study offers an insight into the relationship between corporate diversification, earnings management and capital structure decisions of manufacturing firms. The results provide an important contribution to accounting and strategy literature. A distinction is made between market- and product-diversified firms and influence of earnings management practices (asset-based, project-based and earnings smoothing (ESM)) on capital structure decisions. Diversified firms (market/product) tend to have lower levels of leverage than focused firms and earnings management practices within firm groups significantly influence the capital structure decisions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 882 ◽  
pp. 64-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Mayr ◽  
Michael Weigelt ◽  
Michael Masuch ◽  
Martin Adrion ◽  
Aljoscha Bauer ◽  
...  

There are numerous levers and constraints affecting the sustainability of electric motors. While previous work mostly focuses on individual energy and resource efficiency potentials within single phases of the motor’s lifecycle, this paper summarizes sustainability aspects from three different perspectives, namely from the market, product and process view. The first part of this paper analyzes the electric motor market to emphasize the significance of this industry and to outline the importance of state-regulated efficiency classes. The second part provides an overview of the range of electric motor types and their sustainability characteristics. The third part contains an analysis of manufacturing processes in terms of energy and resource efficiency by pointing out appropriate key figures and optimization approaches. In doing so, the connection of the three perspectives market, product and processes offers a holistic view on sustainability aspects of electric motors.


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