Adoption of web-based order-processing systems: experiences from tier-1 suppliers in the automotive supply chain

This research studies automobile industry suppliers in Thailand, who have implemented VMI using web-based order-processing technology. It examines their motivations and barriers for implementing the technology, and identifies the enabling factors with greatest impact on the outcomes of such implementation. Data was obtained from 70 tier-1 suppliers of the two biggest automobile assemblers in Thailand. Exploratory factor analysis was used to construct motivation, enabling factors, difficulties/barriers and outcomes of web-based order-processing technology implementation. Multiple linear regression was then used to examine the relationships between enabling factors and operational outcomes. The results show that improving customer responsiveness and the need to retain competitive advantage rather than cost-based orientation were the primary drivers of implementation of web-based order processing. This case provides insights to enable successful implementation by organisations that are planning to deploy the technology, particularly in the early stages of technological diffusion in emerging economies

Unlocking the potential: a study on the role of operational excellence in Oman’s energy sector

Purpose: Operational Excellence (OpEx) is a proven philosophy focusing on continuous improvement in processes and systems for superior performance and efficiency. It plays a crucial role in the energy sector, acting as a catalyst for safety, customer satisfaction, sustainability, and competitiveness. This research assesses OpEx methodologies in Oman's energy sector, examining methods, approaches, motivations, and sustainability. Methodology: This study applies qualitative analysis methodology, involving interviews with 18 industry experts, from the energy sector in a sizable energy country. Findings: The analysis revealed a growing demand, particularly in the oil and gas industry, driven by emerging business needs. Qualitative data analysis has identified 10 themes such as implemented methodologies, motivation drivers, deployment approaches, sustainability factors, benefits, and challenges. Additionally, new themes emerged, including influencers to start OpEx, resource requirements, enablers for successful OpEx, and system. Implications These findings contribute to understanding OpEx dynamics in the Omani energy sector, offering valuable insights for effective utilization and organizational goal achievement. Furthermore, the study offers valuable insights on how to effectively employ OpEx initiatives in the energy sector to achieve their goals and create value. It is addressing the lack of knowledge, offers a framework for successful OpEx implementation, bridging the theory-practice gap and providing insights for optimal utilization. Originality: This is the first empirical study on assessing OpEx methodologies in the energy sector, and therefore it serves as a foundation for many future studies. The study provides a theoretical foundation for the OpEx methodologies in terms of organizational readiness for successful OpEx implementation. Limitations: This research was limited to Oman and the findings drawn from Omani energy companies may have limited applicability to energy companies in other regions. Therefore, if these findings were to be used, the validation of the findings in relation to other countries should be conducted, to ensure the validity of the context and outcome

A New Framework for Strategic Information Systems in Airline Industry

Stiff competition in the Airline sector mandates airlines to innovate ways to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals; however, without a strong IT the mission to attain this would be arduous. Large airlines do their best to maximise the use of enterprise systems to stream their business processes. Nonetheless, some airlines are not up to date with technology and are left with few choices when attempting to secure their existence in today’s harsh market. One option is to implement bleeding edge systems concurrently (which is our focus in this paper) due to the fact that very scant research exists regarding this phenomenon, let alone the airline sector itself. The aim of this study is explore and investigate the phenomenon of deploying multi enterprise systems concurrently due to its uniqueness and owing to the fact that this approach is not the common practice most airline undertake. We argue here that having multi Airline Solution Providers (ASP) working together concurrently to constitute a homogeneous solution generates many aspects that necessitate a deep understanding in such matters as competitor ASPs and technology leakage. In addition, the study explored various themes that unleash the phenomenon of the concurrent Multi- collaborative Enterprise Systems (MES). The role of cohesion factors that groups the rivals to work under the umbrella of an organisation was also embarked upon in this study. Various aspects contributing to the success of the MES phenomenon have been exposed with regarding ASP’s interplay, organisation, and other contextual surrounding MES. Finally, this study drew a strategic frame work for airlines that unleash the MES phenomenon. A large airline and its collaborative airline solutions provider were taken as the scope of study; the airline had over twenty six thousand employees. Five reputable world class ASPs in the airline industry in various fields were also included. The twenty five participants in this study were professionals in IT and the airline business besides being involved heavily in the phenomenon of deploying concurrent multi enterprise systems. Grounded Theory techniques were used to analyse the large volume of data gathered underpinning this by using state of art software package such as nVivo. This research has explored the phenomenon under study using grounded theory methodology to build a theoretical model that best presents the MES initiative. In addition, it has offered a well-founded framework that explains the MES phenomenon in details, which is relevant to both practitioners and researchers.This research has clearly explored and demonstrated the inhibitors and enablers in the undertaking of MES. In particular, it has focused on enablers of the organisation that received the MES. Furthermore, it has explored the interrelationship between ASPs and exposed some of the aspects that need more focus between rivals working on the same project.Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabi

UK Research Information Shared Service (UKRISS) Final Report, July 2014

The reporting of research information is a complex and expensive activity for research organisations (ROs). There is little alignment between funders of the reporting requests made to institutions and requests made to individual researchers about their research outputs and outcomes. This inevitably results in duplication and increased costs across the sector, whilst limiting the potential sharing and reuse of the information. The UK Research Information Shared Service (UKRISS) project conducted a feasibility and scoping study for the reporting of research information at a national level based on CERIF (Common European Research Information Format), with the objective of increasing efficiency, productivity and quality across the sector. The aim was to define and prototype solutions which are compelling, easy to use, have a low entry barrier, and support innovative information sharing and benchmarking. CERIF has emerged as the preferred format for expressing research information across Europe. To date, CERIF has been piloted for specific applications, but not as a format for reporting requirements across all UK ROs. The final report presents the work carried out by the UKRISS project, including requirements gathering, modelling and prototyping, as well as recommendation for sustainability. UKRISS was divided into two phases. Phase 1, mapping the reporting landscape, ran from March 2012 to December 2012. Phase 2, exploring delivery of potential solutions, began in February 2013 and ended in December 2013

Exploring improvements of a continuous improvement capability assessment model at a petro-chemical company

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 2016The purpose of the research was to identify improvements which can be made to the Continuous Improvement (CI) capability assessment model applied at a petro-chemical company in order to improve capability assessment results. The study was conducted in Mpumalanga at a subsidiary of an international integrated energy and chemical company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. To achieve the purpose of the research, the study was conducted in 5 stages namely: (1) developing a theoretical framework for Continuous Improvement (CI) capability assessment from the literature. This was achieved by reviewing the concept of CI and CI capability assessment, and it resulted in the identification of thirteen CI enablers and twenty-six enabler assessment areas which contribute to building an inclusive CI process. (2) Assessing the importance of CI enabler assessment areas identified through the theoretical framework, by means of statistical analysis of the data from a survey at the petro-chemical company. A survey was carried out to assist the researcher in identifying the key assessment areas from the twenty-six that were identified. Results indicated that all the twenty-six assessment areas are critical, (3) using the theoretical framework and results of the survey to identify gaps, which exist within the current Continuous Improvement assessment model, (4) determining what improvements need to be made to the current CI model based on the results of the gap analysis and (5) making recommendations on how to improve the CI model to the petro-chemical company. The results of the gap analysis indicated that, (1) six enablers were adequately assessed; (2) two enablers had missing assessment areas as part of the assessment and (3) five enablers were not assessed by the petro-chemical company model. Thus in order to improve the company’s assessment results it was recommended that the identified missing CI enablers and CI key assessment areas should be incorporated into the company model.MT 201

Success Factors for the Adoption of Green Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare facility: An ISM-MICMAC Study

Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) is a sustainable development approach that leads to improved patient care with improved safety and quality of service to patients. The aim of this study is the identification, study, modeling, and analysis of GLSS success factors for the Indian healthcare facility. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and Impact Matrix Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) analyses have been used to understand the hierarchical structure among the GLSS success factors. This enabled the development of dependency relationships between success factors, in particular, which factors support the development of other factors. Specifically, this study found that the success factors ‘commitment of management’ and ‘financial availability’ are the most critical to GLSS implementation success, as they support the development of all other success factors. Meanwhile ‘embedding sustainable measures at each stage of the service’; ‘the capability and effectiveness of real-time data collection; and ‘feedback and corrective actions’ most directly support the GLSS implementation in the healthcare facility, and serve as the final indicators of implementation progress. This research work is the first of its kind that deals with the identification and analysis of the prominent factors that foster the inclusive implementation of GLSS within the healthcare facility. The major implication of the present research work lies in suggesting a direction for practitioners to execute the GLSS approach through a systematic understanding of classification and structural relationships among different enablers. The study also facilitates healthcare managers to explore different Green Lean wastes in hospitals and challenges to sustainability pursuits in healthcare that assist in an organization’s efforts towards sustainable development

Leveraging Open-standard Interorganizational Information Systems for Process Adaptability and Alignment: An Empirical Analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the value creation mechanisms of open-standard inter-organizational information system (OSIOS), which is a key technology to achieve Industry 4.0. Specifically, this study investigates how the internal assimilation and external diffusion of OSIOS help manufactures facilitate process adaptability and alignment in supply chain network.Design/methodology/approachA survey instrument was designed and administrated to collect data for this research. Using three-stage least squares estimation, the authors empirically tested a number of hypothesized relationships based on a sample of 308 manufacturing firms in China.FindingsThe results of the study show that OSIOS can perform as value creation mechanisms to enable process adaptability and alignment. In addition, the impact of OSIOS internal assimilation is inversely U-shaped where the positive effect on process adaptability will become negative after an extremum point is reached.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by providing insights on how OSIOS can improve supply chain integration and thus promote the achievement of industry 4.0. By revealing a U-shaped relationship between OSIOS assimilation and process adaptability, this study fills previous research gap by advancing the understanding on the value creation mechanisms of information systems deployment