Methodology for Determining an ICT Workforce Management Strategy Based on Complementarity of Investments and Sources of Relative Inefficiency

Multiple factors mediate the relationship between investments in ICT and their macroeconomic outcomes. The amount and quality of the available workforce has been identified as one of the complementary to investments in ICT factors. Unlike the developed countries, developing and Transition Economies (TE) do not represent a homogenous group that allows for adapting and implementing strategies of the more successful counterparts. As a result, these economies face the task of formulating unique investment and workforce management strategies. In this study, we investigate the relationship between a subset of investments in ICT, namely, investments in Telecoms, and a full-time Telecom staff, and propose a methodology allowing for formulating a complementary to investments in ICT workforce management strategy. Adapting a framework of neoclassical growth accounting as the theoretical foundation of our inquiry, we propose a two- phase approach utilizing multivariate regression and data envelopment analysis. We argue that our methodology allows for formulating complementary to investments in Telecoms, empirically-justifiable and theoretically sound HR strategies. The illustrative example of the proposed methodology in action substantiates the argument

Successfully Executing Ambitious Strategies in Government: An Empirical Analysis

How are senior government executives who attempt to execute an ambitious vision requiring significant strategic change in their organizations able to succeed? How do they go about formulating a strategy in the first place? What managerial and leadership techniques do they use to execute their strategy? In this paper, these questions are examined by comparing (so as to avoid the pitfalls of "best practices" research) management and leadership behaviors of a group of agency leaders from the Clinton and Bush administrations identified by independent experts as having been successful at executing an ambitious strategy with a control group consisting of those the experts identified as having tried but failed at significant strategic change, along with counterparts to the successes, who had the same position as they in a different administration. We find a number of differentiators (such as using strategic planning, monitoring performance metrics, reorganizing, and having a smaller number of goals), while other techniques either were not commonly used or failed to differentiate (such as establishing accountability systems or appeals to public service motivation). We find that agencies that the successes led had significantly lower percentages of political appointees than the average agency in the government. One important finding is that failures seem to have used techniques recommended specifically for managing transformation or change as frequently as successes did, so use of such techniques does not differentiate successes from failures. However, failures (and counterparts) used techniques associated with improving general organizational performance less than successes.

Project benefit management: a conceptual framework of target benefit formulation

Successful realization of project benefits is strongly associated with organizational performance. Formulating project target benefits is regarded as the first and critical step in the benefit management process. In this study, we drew upon relevant theories and conducted in-depth interviews with senior managers in Australia to develop a conceptual framework of project target benefit formulation and corresponding propositions. Our findings highlight the important role of project target benefits in funding decision-making and suggest seven criteria for their appraisal (strategic fit, target value, measurability, realism, target date, accountability and comprehensiveness) and four constructs which improve the formulated target benefits (a formal benefit formulation process, senior executive leadership, senior executive supports, and public service motivation). These findings extend the current literature on project benefit management by providing a holistic view on how project target benefits should be formulated and appraised

Technology Strategy for Re-engineering Design and Construction

Automation technology can provide construction firms with a number of competitive advantages. Technology strategy guides a firm's approach to all technology, including automation. Engineering management educators, researchers, and construction industry professionals need improved understanding of how technology affects results, and how to better target investments to improve competitive performance. A more formal approach to the concept of technology strategy can benefit the construction manager in his efforts to remain competitive in increasingly hostile markets. This paper recommends consideration of five specific dimensions of technology strategy within the overall parameters of market conditions, firm capabilities and goals, and stage of technology evolution. Examples of the application of this framework in the formulation of technology strategy are provided for CAD applications, co-ordinated positioning technology and advanced falsework and formwork mechanisation to support construction field operations. Results from this continuing line of research can assist managers in making complex and difficult decisions regarding reengineering construction processes in using new construction technology and benefit future researchers by providing new tools for analysis. Through managing technology to best suit the existing capabilities of their firm, and addressing the market forces, engineering managers can better face the increasingly competitive environment in which they operate

Critical success factors for effective internal construction stakeholder management in Nigeria

In developing countries such as Nigeria, Stakeholder Management (SM) practice is weak. The weakness of this practice often inhibits project goals in terms of time and cost overruns, disputes and lack of trust among the stakeholders. This article reports the results of a study on critical factors for successful SM in construction projects in Nigeria, in order to suggest ways to enhance project performance. The study employed a quantitative survey research design, using self-administered questionnaires distributed to construction practitioners (quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, builders and project managers) on construction sites in two selected geo-political zones of Nigeria. The collected data was analysed, using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that seven critical factors are important to successful SM in the research environment. These include engagement of competent project leaders and team members, effective communication, promoting good relationships, formulating a clear project mission statement, management support, and a good SM strategy which are instructive to improve SM. The study recommends the prioritisation of competency in the selection of project teams, effective relationship management and improved information dissemination during construction as the precursors of successful SM and project performance. Stakeholders must be adequately identified and analysed to ensure that they are competent for the contract and appropriate for the job. Construction practitioners, especially project leaders, could use identified critical success factors (CSFs) as a road map in the development of appropriate solutions for successfully managing stakeholders associated in the Nigerian construction industry.&nbsp

The importance of the strategic management process in the knowledge-based economy

In the modern economy, competitiveness means information and know-how rather than capital and physical assets. Therefore, the key process for any competitive organization is to strategically use their information resources and knowledge assets by remembering and applying experience. An organization’s ability to compete on the market is increasingly seen as depending on the skills and knowledge of its managers and employees, regarded as intelectual capital, and put to good use while formulating, implementing and adjusting strategies. In the current business environment, knowledge evolves rapidly and the useful life span of the organizational skills is decreasing, which means the survival and competitiveness of an organization is linked to its ability to learn and include its findings in their strategic management process.strategic management; knowledge; high-performing organization.

Critical success factors for effective internal construction stakeholder management in Nigeria

In developing countries such as Nigeria, Stakeholder Management (SM) practice is weak. The weakness of this practice often inhibits project goals in terms of time and cost overruns, disputes and lack of trust among the stakeholders. This article reports the results of a study on critical factors for successful SM in construction projects in Nigeria, in order to suggest ways to enhance project performance. The study employed a quantitative survey research design, using self-administered questionnaires distributed to construction practitioners (quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, builders and project managers) on construction sites in two selected geo-political zones of Nigeria. The collected data was analysed, using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that seven critical factors are important to successful SM in the research environment. These include engagement of competent project leaders and team members, effective communication, promoting good relationships, formulating a clear project mission statement, management support, and a good SM strategy which are instructive to improve SM. The study recommends the prioritisation of competency in the selection of project teams, effective relationship management and improved information dissemination during construction as the precursors of successful SM and project performance. Stakeholders must be adequately identified and analysed to ensure that they are competent for the contract and appropriate for the job. Construction practitioners, especially project leaders, could use identified critical success factors (CSFs) as a road map in the development of appropriate solutions for successfully managing stakeholders associated in the Nigerian construction industry

Linking HRM and innovation: formulating the research agenda

The aim of this paper is to explore the extent to which innovation and HRM are interdependent; how effective human resource management can enhance innovation capabilities within the organisation and how innovation culture may drive a need to reshape HRM systems. Its key aim is to investigate the depth and breadth of extant research which analyses the relationships between systems of human resource management and capacity for innovation. With few exceptions, HRM and innovation have emerged as quite separate fields of research and our aim is to draw these closer together. This paper builds a number of research questions from the growing literature and relatively few research findings in this area, to form the basis of future research

Differentiating KMS Strategy from Business Strategy, KM Strategy and IS/IT Strategy

The era of the new millennium has witnessed a wide range of the revolutionized technology that affects our lives and the way an organization is conducted. The contemporary business sectors start to recognize the potential use of knowledge management in the new organizational processes. As a result, increasing numbers of organizations pay attention to the creative value of leveraging knowledge as one of their potential assets. Therefore, organizations start to focus on knowledge as one of the important elements in competitive advantage that needs to be utilized efficiently and effectively. They have shown a great attention of knowledge management in their business strategy incorporated with technology. The role of technological tools and applications is essential in supporting and enhancing knowledge management strategy. There has been a transition from traditional information system to new a concept of knowledge management system employed by organization to sustain competitive advantage in dynamic and unstable environment. Further, to shift the paradigm of knowledge management systems concept from business sectors, this study focused on the KMS applications and tools particularly in Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) environment. The purpose of this study is to (a) identify the relationship of business strategy, knowledge management (KM) Strategy, knowledge management systems (KMS) strategy, information system (IS) strategy and information technology (IT) strategy, particularly in the context of IHE, (b) describe those strategies and their relationship based on the context of IHE. This will provide guidance and effective methods for formulating the KMS strategy with the aim to align it with business strategies and ensuring success of its implementation

Analysis of Competitive and Cooperative Technology Strategies of Electronics Firms in the Greater China Region

This paper integrates several theoretical perspectives to discuss the attributes of successful implementing strategic alliances and supply chain management strategies in high-technology industries. A multiple- case study of Taiwanese and Chinese electronics industries is presented to demonstrate how and why different firms apply different technology strategies in alliances and supply chain formations. Due to intense global competition, technological integration, and product life-cycle time compression, Taiwanese and Chinese high-technology firms are suggested to formulate and implement a coherent technology strategy to enhance their global competitiveness. By applying an integrated framework based on major theoretical perspectives studying the formulation and implementation of competitive and cooperative strategies, the results of this multiple-case study concludes that six closely related strategies, i.e., supply chain positioning, operation efficiency, strategic motives, resource complementarity, organizational learning and capabilities, and strategic flexibility, can be employed by business executives in formulating alliances and supply chain strategies. The research findings serve as an illustration of the multi-dimensionality and complexity of alliance strategies. The framework also provides a useful start to better understanding the dynamic nature of formulating competitive and cooperative technology strategies and to facilitate the effective evaluation of the conditions under these strategies might achieve optimal results