Factors Affecting Readiness for Business Process Reengineering-Developing and Proposing a Conceptual Model

In this paper researcher made an effort to suggest an approach to minimize risk of implementing Business Process Reengineering (BPR) initiatives by identifying certain factors crucial towards creating readiness for BPR. Lack of readiness is main factor behind high rate of BPR failures. Extensive literature review and interviews from the panel of experts provided sufficient background information. Leadership style, Information technology (IT), Top management commitment and collaborative working figured out as critical factors towards creating readiness. Regular leadership actions consistent with organizational environment, collaborative working, Information Technology and Top management commitment could promote coherence in organizational members' readiness perceptions. Assessing BPR readiness can address strong points, weak points and risks, and hence the ranking/level of readiness in the organization. Keywords: Business process reengineering, Business process readiness, Critical success factors, Organizational change

Critical Management Issues for Implementing RFID in Supply Chain Management

The benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in the supply chain are fairly compelling. It has the potential to revolutionise the efficiency, accuracy and security of the supply chain with significant impact on overall profitability. A number of companies are actively involved in testing and adopting this technology. It is estimated that the market for RFID products and services will increase significantly in the next few years. Despite this trend, there are major impediments to RFID adoption in supply chain. While RFID systems have been around for several decades, the technology for supply chain management is still emerging. We describe many of the challenges, setbacks and barriers facing RFID implementations in supply chains, discuss the critical issues for management and offer some suggestions. In the process, we take an in-depth look at cost, technology, standards, privacy and security and business process reengineering related issues surrounding RFID technology in supply chains

STORE-LEVEL INNOVATION IN THE RETAIL FOOD INDUSTRY: THE ECR INITIATIVE AND BEYOND

Agribusiness,

Kesediaan pelajar politeknik kejuruteraan elektrik dalam menceburi bidang keusahawanan

Bidang keusahawanan kini semakin berkembang maju selaras dengan seruan kerajaan yang banyak memberi dorongan kepada rakyat Malaysia agar menjadikan usahawan sebagai kerjaya utama. Kajian yang dijalankan adalah untuk mengenal pasti kesediaan pelajar bidang kejuruteraan elektrik di Politeknik bahagian zon selatan yang terdiri daripada Politeknik Melaka (PM), Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan (PIS), Politeknik Merlimau (PMM) dan Politeknik Port Dickson (PPD) dalam menceburi bidang keusahawanan. Seramai 291 orang pelajar terlibat dalam kajian ini. Kajian yang dijalankan adalah berasaskan Model Integratif Keusahawanan Input dan Keluaran, Model Asas Proses Keusahawanan, Teori Tingkah Laku Terancang, Model Pembangunan Usahawan dan juga Model Proses Pembentukan Usahawan Data kajian diperolehi daripada borang soal selidik yang mengandungi 73. Nilai kebolehpercayaan, Alpha Cronbach bagi instrument kajian adalah 0.957. Dapatan yang diperolehi dianalisis dengan menggunakan perisian komputer Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) Versi 16.0 untuk mendapat nilai frekuensi, peratus dan juga pekali korelasi. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan min bagi setiap elemen kesediaan yang dikaji ialah pengetahuan (3.60), kemahiran (min: 3.45), dorongan (min: 3.74), minat (min: 3.72), pengalaman (3.20) dan kepimpinan (min: 3.80). Manakala min bagi kekangan sikap ialah 2.56. Dapatan kajian juga mendapati bahawa hipotesis yang menyatakan bahawa terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara minat keusahawan dan kepimpinan keusahawanan ditolak (r: 0.46). Berdasarkan kajian ini, dirumuskan bahawa elemen kesediaan keusahawanan bagi diri pelajar politeknik berada pada tahap sederhana

Understanding Process Performance Measurement Systems

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current state of Process Performance Measurement Systems (PPMS) by means of a systematic review of literature. The PPMS literature is reviewed using a systematic approach. Based on an extensive literature review only twelve articles that contain the term PPMS in the title were found. The literature analysis showed that PPMS is a relatively new topic in the area of performance measurement. In order to understand PPMS, it was crucial to explain the concepts of business process management, business performance measurement and Performance Measurement System (PMS) which are well known and used in the literature and practice. PPMS is a special type of PMS that should be used in process-oriented organizations. Limitations of this research lie in the fact that all the conclusions were derived only from the literature, not empirical research. The results presented in the paper continue towards providing an updated overview of the current state of performance measurement, especially PPMS in order to identify the existing research gaps on which ongoing and future research efforts regarding this topic can be focused.business process management; process orientation; performance indicators; business performance measurement; Performance Measurement System; Process Performance Measurement System

RETHINKING THE BUSINESS PROCESS THROUGH REENGINEERING

Rethinking business through reengineering is based on the assumption that to meet contemporary demands of quality, service, flexibility, and low cost, processes must be kept simple. Examples of simplifying processes are combining several jobs into one, letting workers make decisions, performing the steps in a process in a natural order, and performing work where it makes the most sense. The net result is that work may be shifted across functional boundaries several times to expedite its accomplishment. Traditional inspection and control procedures are often eliminated or deferred until the process is complete, providing further cost savings. The authors, focusing their research on enterprises from Oltenia Region, demonstrate how reengineering can be carried out in a variety of corporate settings. But although workers are the ones who need to be empowered to carry out reengineering, the authors are adamant that the process must start at the top. This is because it involves making major changes that are likely to cut across traditional organizational boundaries. Those empowered to make the changes at lower levels must know they have the support of top management, or change won�t occur.reengineering, rethinking business processes, regional economy, leadership, organization