Managing knowledge for capability engineering

The enterprises that deliver capability are trying to evolve into through-life businesses by shifting away from the traditional pattern of designing and manufacturing successive generations of products, towards a new paradigm centred on support, sustainability and the incremental enhancements of existing capabilities from technology insertions and changes to process. The provision of seamless through-life customer solutions depends heavily on management of information and knowledge between, and within the different parts of the supply chain enterprise. This research characterised and described Capability Engineering (CE) as applied in the defence enterprise and identified to BAE Systems important considerations for managing knowledge within that context. The terms Capability Engineering and Through Life Capability Management (TLCM), used synonymously in this thesis, denote a complex evolving domain that requires new approaches to better understand the different viewpoints, models and practices. The findings and novelty of this research is demonstrated through the following achievements: Defined the problem space that Requirements Engineers can use in through-life management projects. Made a contribution to the development of models for Systems Architects to enable them to incorporate ‘soft’ systems within their consideration. Independently developed a TLCM activity model against which BAE Systems validated the BAE Systems TLCM activity model, which is now used by UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). Developed, and published within INCOSE1, the INCOSE Capability Engineering ontology. Through the novel analysis of a directly applicable case study, highlighted to Functional Delivery Managers the significance of avoiding the decoupling of information and knowledge in the context of TLCM. Through experimentation and knowledge gained within this research, identified inadequacies in the TechniCall (rapid access to experts) service which led to the generation of requirements for an improved service which is now being implemented by BAE Systems. The results showed that managing knowledge is distinct when compared to information management. Over-reliance on information management in the absence of tacit knowledge can lead to a loss in the value of the information, which can result in unintended consequences. Capability is realised through a combination of component systems and Capability Engineering is equivalent to a holistic perspective of Systems Engineering. A sector-independent Capability Engineering ontology is developed to enable semantic interoperability between different domains i.e. defence, rail and information technology. This helped to better understand the dependencies of contributing component systems within defence, and supported collaboration across different domains. Although the evaluation of the ontology through expert review has been accomplished; the ontology, KM analysis framework and soft systems transitioning approach developed still need to undergo independent verification and validation. This requires application to other case studies to check and exploit their suitability. This Engineering Doctorate research has been disseminated through a number of peer reviewed publications

Project Risk Assessment and Corporate Behavior: Creating Knowledge for Sustainable Business

In a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous), organizations, in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage, must learn to mitigate risk and prioritize performance and innovation. In the last decade, as a way to respond to market demands, projects emerge as a way for organizations to implement their strategic objectives in order to respond to a need, opportunity, or threat in an efficient way. This e-book includes a collection of 11 papers that discuss theoretical approaches and case studies, focused on a combined effect between Project Risk Assessment and corporate behaviour in order to support the sustainability and business resilience in a competitive environment. The e-book will be of particular interest to entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers

Organizational and national issues of an ERP implementation in a Portuguese company

This technical research report describes a case of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation in a Portuguese SME. We focused on the identification of organizational factors that affect the ERP implementation project. We also analyzed the ERP implementation project from a national cultural perspective using Geert Hofstede's dimensions. These dimensions were used to explain some of the attitudes and behaviours during the ERP implementation project. The findings suggest that some of the problems in ERP implementation projects are not of technological nature but may be attributed to organizational factors while some issues related to national culture.Postprint (published version

Sustainability in Construction: Using Lean Management Principles to Reduce Waste

The construction industry is facing many challenges. There are growing consumer demands for sustainable building. The construction industry generates a significant portion of the waste going into landfills. The construction industry has failed to keep pace with productivity in the manufacturing industry. Through adoption of Lean management principles, the construction industry can become more sustainable while increasing productivity. The literature was evaluated for three concepts: Lean management principles interaction with sustainability, the current state of sustainability in the construction industry, and the current state of Lean management principles in the construction industry. Lean management philosophies interactions with sustainability has been heavily studied in the manufacturing industry, but rarely so in the construction industry. The construction industry has been slow to adopt Lean philosophies, as construction presents unique challenges not present in manufacturing. There are emerging technologies in construction that enhance sustainability and Lean philosophies. Through analysis of the few case studies performed on Lean construction, an early model of Lean impacts has been proposed

Informacijos saugos valdymo karkasas smulkiam ir vidutiniam verslui

Information security is one of the concerns any organization or person faces. The list of new threats appears, and information security management mechanisms have to be established and continuously updated to be able to fight against possible security issues. To be up to date with existing information technology threats and prevention, protection, maintenance possibilities, more significant organizations establish positions or even departments, to be responsible for the information security management. However, small and medium enterprise (SME) does not have enough capacities. Therefore, the information security management situation in SMEs is fragmented and needs improvement. In this thesis, the problem of information security management in the small and medium enterprise is analyzed. It aims to simplify the information security management process in the small and medium enterprise by proposing concentrated information and tools in information security management framework. Existence of an information security framework could motivate SME to use it in practice and lead to an increase of SME security level. The dissertation consists of an introduction, four main chapters and general conclusions. The first chapter introduces the problem of information security management and its’ automation. Moreover, state-of-the-art frameworks for information security management in SME are analyzed and compared. The second chapter proposes a novel information security management framework and guidelines on its adoption. The framework is designed based on existing methodologies and frameworks. A need for a model for security evaluation based on the organization’s management structure noticed in chapter two; therefore, new probability theory-based model for organizations information flow security level estimation presented in chapter three. The fourth chapter presents the validation of proposed security evaluation models by showing results of a case study and experts ranking of the same situations. The multi-criteria analysis was executed to evaluate the ISMF suitability to be applied in a small and medium enterprise. In this chapter, we also analyze the opinion of information technology employees in an SME on newly proposed information security management framework as well as a new model for information security level estimation. The thesis is summarized by the general conclusions which confirm the need of newly proposed framework and associated tools as well as its suitability to be used in SME to increase the understanding of current information security threat situation.Dissertatio

Data driven decision support systems as a critical success factor for IT-Governance: an application in the financial sector

IT-Governance has a major impact not only on IT management but also and foremost in the Enterprises performance and control. Business uses IT agility, flexibility and innovation to pursue its objectives and to sustain its strategy. However being it more critical to the business, compliance forces IT on the opposite way of predictability, stability and regulations. Adding the current economical environment and the fact that most of the times IT departments are considered cost centres, IT-Governance decisions become more important and critical. Current IT-Governance research and practise is mainly based on management techniques and principles, leaving a gap for the contribution of information systems to IT-Governance enhancement. This research intends to provide an answer to IT-Governance requirements using Data Driven Decision Support Systems based on dimensional models. This seems a key factor to improve the IT-Governance decision making process. To address this research opportunity we have considered IT-Governance research (Peter Weill), best practises (ITIL), Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and frameworks (COBIT). Key IT-Governance processes (Change Management, Incident Management, Project Development and Service Desk Management) were studied and key process stakeholders were interviewed. Based on the facts gathered, dimensional models (data marts) were modelled and developed to answer to key improvement requirements on each IT-Governance process. A Unified Dimensional Model (IT-Governance Data warehouse) was materialized. To assess the Unified Dimensional Model, the model was applied in a bank in real working conditions. The resulting model implementation was them assessed against Peter Weill‘s Governance IT Principles.Assessment results revealed that the model satisfies all the IT-Governance Principles. The research project enables to conclude that the success of IT-Governance implementation may be fostered by Data Driven Decision Support Systems implemented using Unified Dimensional Model concepts and based on best practises, frameworks and body of knowledge that enable process oriented, data driven decision support

Identification of Critical Factors and Their Interrelationships to Design Agile Supply Chain : Special Focus to Oil and Gas Industries

Purpose – This research attempted to identify the most critical factors and their inter-relationships to ensure designing agile supply chain, especially in oil and gas industry. This factors identification process is performed through developing a conceptual framework and the use of Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) tool. Design/methodology/approach – This study is conducted through an extensive literature review and questionnaires survey to identify and refine the critical factors that ensure the agile supply chain in oil and gas industry. In addition, several brainstorming sessions with the experts in the field of oil and gas industries were organized with the objective to interpret the contextual inter-relationships between the identified factors. The outcomes from the literature reviews, interview questions and experts’ opinions were used to develop a diagraph and MICMAC analysis to know the drivers of agility in supply chain. Findings –From this study, 34 enablers and 12 factors were identified, which are responsible to ensure agile supply chain in oil and gas industry. Out of these identified factors, top management commitment, strategic alignment, competency of management and integration of information and systems technology are found to be the critical drivers of supply chain agility. On the other hand, government regulations, transportation and logistics flexibility and production planning and control falls under the category of dependent factors. Originality/value – The identified factors and their interrelationships can be a valuable aid to ensure and measure the agility in supply chain, especially in oil and gas industry. These identified factors and their defined consequences will help managers and concerned authorities in oil and gas industry to take better decision to improve the agility level of their supply chain.©2020 Springer Nature. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40171-020-00247-5fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Constraints to Effective Implementation of E-Procurement in the Public Sector: A Survey of Selected Government Ministries in Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the challenges facing the implementation of e-procurement in public organizations in Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to examine the drivers of e-procurement in the Government of Kenya ministries; to evaluate the benefits accruing from the adoption of e-procurement in the Government ministries in Kenya; and to assess the constraints to effective implementation of e-procurement in the Government ministries in Kenya. Methods: A Cross sectional survey was undertaken due to the fact that we intended to describe the area of research and explain the collected data in order to investigate the differences and similarities with our frame of reference within a given period of time. The focus of the study was all Government ministries totaling to 31 as at December 2011. The study respondents were heads of Procurement Units from the selected ministries, who are also the secretaries of the Ministerial Tender Committees in the respective ministries. A representative sample of 16 ministries, representing about 51.6% of the whole population were selected at random, which is within the limits of the generally accepted statistical condition. A two- stage stratified random sampling technique was employed to select the ministries for the study. Primary data was collected from the various ministries with the aid of a semi-structured undisguised questionnaire with both open ended and closed questions.  Data Analysis: For purposes of the current study, the data was analyzed by employing descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequencies and tables. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used as an aid in the analysis. The researcher prefers SPSS because of its ability to cover a wide range of the most common statistical and graphical data analysis. Computation of frequencies in tables, charts and bar graphs were used in data presentation. In addition, the researcher used standard deviations and mean scores to present information pertaining to the study objectives. The information was presented and discussed as per the objectives and research questions of the study.Findings and Discussions: The findings of the study do indicate that the following are the drivers of e-procurement in the Government of Kenya ministries:- (i) Technological drivers: - Secure transactions; Integration of web site to all business processes; and Adequate resources and appropriate supporting ICT infrastructure; and (ii) Managerial success factors: - Effective project implementation leadership supported by  appropriate human resource capacity; forming alliances – with suppliers, technology providers, customers; Appropriate organizational structure; and Stakeholders support. The key constraints were: - budgetary support; the legal framework governing ICT in Kenya; and Government Policy on ICT. The other challenges are: - Human Resource capacity; required support; and Backing of the top executives of the ministries. Keywords: e-Procurement; Public Sector; Resource Challenges; Technological challenges; Financial Resources; Human Resource capacity; Stakeholders support; Technology adoption; and Supporting Infrastructure; e-Procurement system; e-Procurement process; e-Procurement applicatio

Barriers, trategies, and best practices for BIM Adoption in Quebec prefabrication small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Prefabricated construction has long faced problems due to the industry’s fragmentation. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has thus appeared as an efficient solution to provide a favorable environment for efficient completion of projects. Despite its benefits, implementing BIM successfully in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which represent the vast majority of manufacturers in Quebec, requires deep risk analysis and rigorous strategies. Hence, this work aims to study BIM implementation barriers, strategies, and best practices in wood prefabrication for SMEs through a literature review, semi-structured interviews, and an online survey. After qualitative content analysis, 30 critical barriers, 7 strategic milestones, and 31 best practices to maximize BIM benefits were revealed. One of the critical barriers concerns the effort required to develop BIM software libraries and programs to translate information from the BIM model to production equipment. Among the best strategies, it is essential to start by analyzing the current business model of the SMEs and to appoint a small BIM committee whose main responsibilities are management, coordination, and modeling. The prevalent best practices were to support the implementation team and encourage communication and collaboration. Previous studies show that BIM is not fully exploited in prefabrication for various reasons. This study highlights the critical barriers, strategies, and best practices for BIM adoption and proposes a framework for BIM implementation in prefabrication SMEs in Quebec, Canada. It also provides a summary of current knowledge and guidelines to promote BIM adoption in this sector