Research methods for the empirical investigation of the process of formation of operations strategy

This paper reviews the methodological options for the empirical investigation of the process of formation of operations strategy. A case study approach is likely to be the most favoured research strategy for this type of work. Five possible methodologies that might be used within such case studies (ethnography, interviews, strategy charting, questionnaires and documentation) are critically reviewed and assessed. The advantages and disadvantages of each, together with circumstances in which they might best be used, are identified. The paper especially focuses on the practical implications for researchers using each of these methodologies

Assessing The Factors Enabling Systematic Change

The goal of this research article is to examine the relationships between the research variables change-management actions, change readiness, and systematic change. Change management is defined by three factors: leadership, project management, and learning. Change readiness is defined by two factors: knowledge and resources. Systematic change is defined by one factor of carefully sequenced actions that align customers, products/services, processes/tools, structure, and skill mix. This framework is operationalized and applied using a survey of participants in a high-tech organization’s transformation. The results show that as change-management actions increases or decreases, there is an increase or decrease in change readiness, which supports systematic change. Managers can use the findings to assess the effectiveness of their change actions, change readiness in their organizations, and outcomes of their systematic change efforts. Managers can also use the findings to define their specific change-management actions. This is a limited case study, and the findings are based on a single case study in a large government agency. This article contributes a framework for defining and measuring change readiness. The framework defines change-management actions leading to change readiness leading to systematic change

Social Behavior in Organizational Studies

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72051/1/j.1468-5914.1990.tb00192.x.pd

A Review of Strategic Process Research

This article reviews research on the process of strategic management reported over the last six years in seven leading journals. Nine "streams" of work are identified and critiqued. The field is described as giving continuing attention to the possibilities and problems of strategic planning and decision making, but also moving into new areas of research - especially the problem of how the attention of decision makers is directed toward specific agendas for action. We recommend more studies that simultaneously consider strategy formulation and implementation and more studies that attempt to integrate methods and concerns across the various areas of process research. Finally, we recommend that future research give simultaneous attention to the content as well as the process of strategy