An engineering approach to business model experimentation – an online investment research startup case study

Every organization needs a viable business model. Strikingly, most of current literature is focused on business model design, whereas there is almost no attention for business model validation and implementation and related business model experimentation. The goal of the research as described in this paper is to develop a business model engineering tool for supporting business model management as a continuous design, validation and implementation cycle. The tool is applied to an online investment research startup in roll out and market phase. This paper describes the research as performed in a case study setting by focusing on the design, implementation and evaluation of the business model engineering tool. We also analyze the actual implementation and usage of the business model tool by the online investment research startup by focusing on the most critical actions related to actual business model implementation – i.e. actions with so-called ‘Lollapalooza tendencies’

The activity-based costing model trajectory: A path of lights and shadows

Purpose: To present a literature review showing the trajectory of the ABC model. Design/methodology: Literature review. Findings: This paper analyzes the history of the ABC model and its dissemination process, in the form of articles published in the specialized press. Research limitations/implications: The bibliometric study has been carried out based on specialized journals. Practical implications: Before a new strategic management tool is adopted, its strategic or operational contribution to the organization should be analyzed. The adoption of new tools based on current trends or as part of mimetic processes, could imply financial investments that do not produce the desired effects. Originality/value: This work is an analysis of the trajectory of the ABC model from its appearance to the present time.Peer Reviewe

A typology of fisheries management tools: using experience to catalyse greater success

Fisheries provide nutrition and livelihoods for coastal populations, but many fisheries are fully or over-exploited and we lack an approach for analysing which factors affect management tool performance. We conducted a literature review of 390 studies to assess how fisheries characteristics affected management tool performance across both small-scale and large-scale fisheries. We defined success as increased or maintained abundance or biomass, reductions in fishing mortality or improvements in population status. Because the literature only covered a narrow set of biological factors, we also conducted an expert elicitation to create a typology of broader fishery characteristics, enabling conditions and design considerations that affect performance. The literature suggested that the most commonly used management tool in a region was often the most successful, although the scale of success varied. Management tools were more often deemed successful when used in combination, particularly pairings of tools that controlled fishing mortality or effort with spatial management. Examples of successful combinations were the use of catch limits with quotas and limited entry, and marine protected areas with effort restrictions. The most common factors associated with inadequate biological performance were ‘structural’ issues, including poor design or implementation. The expert-derived typologies revealed strong local leadership, high community involvement and governance capacity as common factors of success across management tool categories (i.e. input, output and technical measures), but the degree of importance varied. Our results are designed to inform selection of appropriate management tools based on empirical data and experience to increase the likelihood of successful fisheries management.Department of HE and Training approved lis

Developing an IS-impact decision tool: A literature based design science roadmap

This paper derives from research-in-progress intending both Design Research (DR) and Design Science (DS) outputs; the former a management decision tool based in IS-Impact (Gable et al. 2008) kernel theory; the latter being methodological learnings deriving from synthesis of the literature and reflection on the DR ‘case study’ experience. The paper introduces a generic, detailed and pragmatic DS ‘Research Roadmap’ or methodology, deriving at this stage primarily from synthesis and harmonization of relevant concepts identified through systematic archival analysis of related literature. The scope of the Roadmap too has been influenced by the parallel study aim to undertake DR applying and further evolving the Roadmap. The Roadmap is presented in attention to the dearth of detailed guidance available to novice Researchers in Design Science Research (DSR), and though preliminary, is expected to evolve and gradually be substantiated through experience of its application. A key distinction of the Roadmap from other DSR methods is its breadth of coverage of published DSR concepts and activities; its detail and scope. It represents a useful synthesis and integration of otherwise highly disparate DSR-related concepts

Design dis-integration Silent, Partial, and Disparate Design

Michael Porter’s frameworks for analysing and planning competitive differentiation (Porter 1980, 1985) are established ‘textbook’ tools, widely taught to business students today. As the claim of design’s strategic importance is increasingly heard, we ask where does design fit in established strategy thinking? This paper documents a proposed conceptual model based on Porter’s value chain model for strategic planning. The concept outlined is the result of the first stage of a larger study of design’s potential role at strategic level and the difficulties faced by organisations in exploiting design strategically. This exploratory phase comprised a review of literature on design management and models of strategy, followed by nineteen interviews with senior design professionals. These then informed a novel revision of the value chain diagram reflecting the strategic role of design, and the identification of three key phenomena concerning design integration (silent design, partial design and disparate design). These phenomena are also represented in modified versions of the value chain. This overall project follows a research approach based on the design research method and on procedural action research, and aims to develop a tool or method to help organisations increase design integration. This project is ongoing, and the results will be published separately. Keywords: Strategic; value chain; silent; partial; disparate; integrated</p

Preparing business students for workplace reality: using global virtual teams in logistics and SCM education

Purpose: This paper presents and examines the use and effects of global virtual teams as a tool in the logistics and supply chain management classroom to prepare students in a simulation environment for the demands of their future careers in the profession. Design/methodology/approach: Literature of logistics and supply chain management education is combined with streams from management learning literature. The way the tool of global virtual teams was applied is explained, followed by an analysis of quantitative and qualitative participant response data. From the data analysis the effects of individual factors in the design and application of the global virtual team are isolated and recommendations are extracted for future use of the tool. Findings: The paper finds that the application of global virtual teams helped participating students to develop the management skills required for a career in logistics and supply chain management. Although students perceived the international nature and the lose frame provided by the tool as challenges, most learning effects were caused by these challenges. The paper also shows that the set up by the involved educators is crucial for the learning effect in particular towards similar weights of the assessments and the number of group members from each geographical area. Research limitations/implications: The paper does not examine all potentially amendable factors but focusses on those that were seen as relevant and practically achievable under the available resources to ensure the tool can be easily scaled up by adding further institutions and participants. Originality/value: The paper is the first application of global virtual teams in logistics and supply chain management education. It provides the theoretical foundations and rationale for its application and is relevant to educators by giving them access to this tool for improvement of their students’ career preparedness

A systematic approach for managing design changes on global collaborative projects: a case study anlysis of the Medupi structural steel.

A research project submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Building.A Systematic Approach for Managing Design Changes on Global Collaborative Projects: A Case Study Analysis of Medupi Structural Steel Z Myeko The complexity of construction work means that it is hardly possible to complete a project without changes to the plans or the construction process. The complex construction projects are characterized by its schedule slip. Every project is liable to variations ranging from changes of the mind on the part of the client, or their consultant, to unforeseen problems raised by the main contractor or sub-contractor. The effects of frequent changes in design include difficulties in settling variation claims, disruption in the flow of production, dispute resolution and regrettably litigation which have their negative effects on the project’s completion time and cost. To ameliorate these negative effects on the execution of global collaborative projects, there is the need to implement a functional and effective design change management system. The effects of design changes on structural steel connection design, detailing and fabrication is conducted. Concrete works and other works are outside of the scope of this study. The research study is an applied research since its objective is to select and recommend the most appropriate design management tool or method, to solve an existing problem of a global collaborative project. The research involved collection of data from project managers, engineers, detailers and draftsmen involved in the design of the structural steel component of the project, therefore qualitative research was undertaken. The quota sampling method was chosen. The qualitative method consisted of a literature review and questionnaire. Relevant literature was reviewed in order to explore existing design management tools/methods. A mathematical tool for analysis of the data collected through the questionnaire was required in order to increase the validity and integrity of the data. This tool allowed for an analysis into the level of agreement or concordance between the respondents due to the fact that they were all from the same organization. The coefficient of concordance provided a reliable tool for measuring agreement or concordance between ranks in a rank structure. This further scientifically ascertained the reliability of the respondents. From the empirical and theoretical findings of the study, it was found that there is a need for a design management tool/method which would lead to less claims and disputes. It was found that global collaboration had a big impact on the magnitude of design changes. Through the research, a design management tool which most likely to manage design changes on global collaborative projects is determined

Developing actionable knowledge on value crafting: a design science approach

Management scholars are increasingly interested in design science. The design science perspective may help bridge the practice–academia divide by developing actionable knowledge that is grounded in evidence. An eclectic approach to design science in this article serves to develop an intervention tool for crafting work using organizational values, called value crafting. First, several ways to implement the notion of design science are explored. A combination of these design science approaches is subsequently used in a value crafting project in a multinational corporation going through an international merger. In this project, a series of studies serves to iteratively develop an intervention tool for value crafting. Finally, the key contributions of our study to the design science literature are discussed

Algorithms as a Manager: A Critical Literature Review of Algorithm Management

We review the literature on algorithmic management to help future researchers acquire a comprehensive recap of past research with detailed discussions on the main findings and develop a taxonomy as a tool of summarization that assists researchers in reflecting critically on their systems and identifying potential gaps. We determine five critical areas of algorithmic management: the mechanisms of algorithmic management, effects of algorithmic management, second party\u27s response to algorithmic management, concerns around algorithmic management, design of algorithmic management, and policy implications. These topics are analyzed and discussed

Towards Design for a Nutrient Trading Programme to Improve Water Quality in Lake Rotorua

This paper explores how to enhance the role for academic research (natural sciences, economics and their integration; and stakeholder management) within the development and implementation of water quality policy in New Zealand. Our focus is on the use of market based instruments and particularly nutrient trading programmes, which are one important part of the potential tool kit to address these issues. We discuss why nutrient trading might be an appropriate instrument for the Lake Rotorua catchment. We survey the existing literature and then outline the outstanding scientific, economic and governance questions that need to be addressed to design an effective trading programme. Finally we discuss how to design a process to address these questions drawing on both technical and practical knowledge through a learning process.water quality; emissions trading; non-point source pollution; nutrients; Rotorua; communication; learning