Building dynamic capabilities through operations strategy: an empirical example

This paper suggests that the implementation of an effective operations strategy process is one of the necessary antecedents to the development of dynamic capabilities within an organisation and that once established, dynamic capabilities and operations strategy process settle into a symbiotic relationship. Key terms and a model of operations strategy process are proposed from literature as a framework for analysing data from a longitudinal case study with a UK based manufacturer of construction materials

Towards a taxonomy of process quality characteristics for assessment

Previous assessment of process quality have focused on process capability (i.e. the ability of a process to meet its stated goals). This paper proposes a taxonomy of alternative process quality characteristics based on intrinsic and extrinsic quality attributes. The ultimate goal of this taxonomy is to provide a framework to conduct process assessments using different process quality aspects. Such a framework would considerably broaden process quality perspectives beyond the primary measure of process capability. It would also allow practitioners to identify and evaluate relevant quality characteristics for processes based on specific contexts and implications. For the process assessment model developers, it offers a list of process quality characteristics that could be used to develop relevant process measurement frameworks

Genetic connectivity and hybridization with its siter species challenge the current management paradigm of white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius)

Understanding the inter and intraspecific dynamics of fish populations is essential to promote effective management and conservation actions and to predict adaptation to changing conditions. This is possible through the analysis of thousands of genetic markers, which has proven useful to resolve connectivity among populations. Here, we have tackled this issue in the white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), which inhabits the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea and coexists with its morphologically almost identical sister species, the black anglerfish (L. budegassa). Our genetic analyses based on 16,000 SNP markers and 700 samples reveal that i) the white anglerfish from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are genetically isolated, but that no differentiation can be observed within the later, and that ii) black and white anglerfish naturally hybridize, resulting in a population of about 20% of, most likely sterile, hybrids in some areas. These findings challenge the current paradigm of white anglerfish management, which considers three independent management units within the North East Atlantic and assumes that all mature fish have reproductive potential. Additionally, the northwards distribution of both species, likely due to temperature raises, calls for further monitoring of the abundance and distribution of hybrids to anticipate the effects of climate change in the interactions between both species and their potential resilience

Intrinsic Structural Disorder Confers Cellular Viability on Oncogenic Fusion Proteins

Chromosomal translocations, which often generate chimeric proteins by fusing segments of two distinct genes, represent the single major genetic aberration leading to cancer. We suggest that the unifying theme of these events is a high level of intrinsic structural disorder, enabling fusion proteins to evade cellular surveillance mechanisms that eliminate misfolded proteins. Predictions in 406 translocation-related human proteins show that they are significantly enriched in disorder (43.3% vs. 20.7% in all human proteins), they have fewer Pfam domains, and their translocation breakpoints tend to avoid domain splitting. The vicinity of the breakpoint is significantly more disordered than the rest of these already highly disordered fusion proteins. In the unlikely event of domain splitting in fusion it usually spares much of the domain or splits at locations where the newly exposed hydrophobic surface area approximates that of an intact domain. The mechanisms of action of fusion proteins suggest that in most cases their structural disorder is also essential to the acquired oncogenic function, enabling the long-range structural communication of remote binding and/or catalytic elements. In this respect, there are three major mechanisms that contribute to generating an oncogenic signal: (i) a phosphorylation site and a tyrosine-kinase domain are fused, and structural disorder of the intervening region enables intramolecular phosphorylation (e.g., BCR-ABL); (ii) a dimerisation domain fuses with a tyrosine kinase domain and disorder enables the two subunits within the homodimer to engage in permanent intermolecular phosphorylations (e.g., TFG-ALK); (iii) the fusion of a DNA-binding element to a transactivator domain results in an aberrant transcription factor that causes severe misregulation of transcription (e.g. EWS-ATF). Our findings also suggest novel strategies of intervention against the ensuing neoplastic transformations

Managing performance in the product lifecycle: a case study from tender to support

This paper discusses managing performance in the product lifecycle. It was presented at the international conference on product lifecycle management in 2005

Application of Six Sigma DMAIC methodology in a transactional environment

Purpose – Communication and Information Management (CIM) is crucial for any organisation and effectiveness of CIM can result in significant improvement to the bottom line and customer satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and streamline the communication and information system within an “infrastructure support service” company using Six Sigma methodology. Design/methodology/approach – The research involved a triangulation approach of case study and use of survey instrument to find a solution to the problem. Findings – The paper highlights a significant concern with regard to CIM within all the business units of the group. The effectiveness of the present CIM system for the whole group is below industry average with regard to accuracy and timeliness of CIM, resulting in an inefficient management reporting system. Operating in a highly competitive and time-bound environment, correct and real time reporting is paramount. The main reasons for the ineffectiveness of CIM across the group can be attributed to two main factors; data management and communication systems being used. The paper also illustrates an appreciation of the use of Six Sigma within a transactional environment. Originality/value – This study is a novel application of Six Sigma methodology within the communication and information management system