Experiences from Implementation of Lean Production: Standardization versus Self-management: A Swedish Case Study

In this article, we discuss important aspects of the perceived problematic relationship between self-management and standardization. The article presents data from three case studies conducted within manufacturing companies in Sweden, where the popularity of lean production has led to a renaissance for short-cycle and standardized assembly work in settings that traditionally have made use of sociotechnical production design. The data suggest that the implementation has not contributed to an increased commitment, smooth operations, and capacity for change and innovation. Despite these not so positive results, it is argued that it is possible to combine self-management principles with lean production and standardization if 1) the implementation of lean is done with a contextual sensitivity, 2) a balance is reached between the use of standards on the one hand and work enrichment on the other, and 3) a feeling of ownership as regards both implementation and production process is upheld among the product on personnel

Normal and intruder configurations in Si- 34 populated in the beta(-) decay of Mg-34 and Al-34

The structure of Si-34 was studied through gamma spectroscopy separately in the beta(-) decays of Mg-34 and Al-34 at the ISOLDE facility of CERN. Different configurations in Si-34 were populated independently from the two recently identified beta-decaying states in Al-34 having spin-parity assignments J(pi) = 4(-) dominated by the normal configuration pi(d(5/2))(-1) circle times nu(f(7/2)) and J(pi) = 1(+) by the intruder configuration pi(d(5/2))(-1) circle times nu(d(3/2))(-1) (f(7/2))(2). The paper reports on spectroscopic properties of Si-34 such as an extended level scheme, spin and parity assignments based on log(ft) values and gamma-ray branching ratios, absolute beta feeding intensities, and neutron emission probabilities. A total of 11 newly identified levels and 26 transitions were added to the previously known level scheme of Si-34. Large scale shell-model calculations using the SDPF-U-MIX interaction, able to treat higher order intruder configurations, are compared with the new results and conclusions are drawn concerning the predictive power of SDPF-U-MIX, the N = 20 shell gap, the level of mixing between normal and intruder configurations for the 0(1)(+), 0(2)(+), and 2(1)(+) states, and the absence of triaxial deformation in Si-3(4).Peer reviewe

Coulomb and nuclear excitations of narrow resonances in Ne-17

New experimental data for dissociation of relativistic 17Ne projectiles incident on targets of lead, carbon, and polyethylene targets at GSI are presented. Special attention is paid to the excitation and decay of narrow resonant states in 17Ne. Distributions of internal energy in the O15+p+p three-body system have been determined together with angular and partial-energy correlations between the decay products in different energy regions. The analysis was done using existing experimental data on 17Ne and its mirror nucleus 17N. The isobaric multiplet mass equation is used for assignment of observed resonances and their spins and parities. A combination of data from the heavy and light targets yielded cross sections and transition probabilities for the Coulomb excitations of the narrow resonant states. The resulting transition probabilities provide information relevant for a better understanding of the 17Ne structure

Coulomb dissociation of O-16 into He-4 and C-12

We measured the Coulomb dissociation of O-16 into He-4 and C-12 within the FAIR Phase-0 program at GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung Darmstadt, Germany. From this we will extract the photon dissociation cross section O-16(alpha,gamma)C-12, which is the time reversed reaction to C-12(alpha,gamma)O-16. With this indirect method, we aim to improve on the accuracy of the experimental data at lower energies than measured so far. The expected low cross section for the Coulomb dissociation reaction and close magnetic rigidity of beam and fragments demand a high precision measurement. Hence, new detector systems were built and radical changes to the (RB)-B-3 setup were necessary to cope with the high-intensity O-16 beam. All tracking detectors were designed to let the unreacted O-16 ions pass, while detecting the C-12 and He-4

Coulomb dissociation of 16O into 4He and 12C

We measured the Coulomb dissociation of 16O into 4He and 12C at the R3B setup in a first campaign within FAIR Phase 0 at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt. The goal was to improve the accuracy of the experimental data for the 12C(a,?)16O fusion reaction and to reach lower center-ofmass energies than measured so far. The experiment required beam intensities of 109 16O ions per second at an energy of 500 MeV/nucleon. The rare case of Coulomb breakup into 12C and 4He posed another challenge: The magnetic rigidities of the particles are so close because of the same mass-To-charge-number ratio A/Z = 2 for 16O, 12C and 4He. Hence, radical changes of the R3B setup were necessary. All detectors had slits to allow the passage of the unreacted 16O ions, while 4He and 12C would hit the detectors' active areas depending on the scattering angle and their relative energies. We developed and built detectors based on organic scintillators to track and identify the reaction products with sufficient precision

The nature of control. A study of CEO behavior

How do CEOs exercise control over their organizations? This question is to be answered through a study, which consists of direct observation of eight Swedish CEOs in their everyday work. Of special interest is to investigate whether the primarily role of a CEO is to be a decision-maker or to be a leader. Interpreting the role as a decision-maker or a leader respectively has consequences on how a CEO is expected to behave. The study shows that the leadership perspective is of much greater relevance for interpreting the behavior of the CEOs. The article also discusses potential drawbacks of obtaining effective control by the use of decision-making. The previously dominating view of the CEO as a decision-maker can finally bring about an explanation why earlier research in managerial work has stressed the lack of control

Examining the stability of managerial behavior: A replication of Henry Mintzbergs classic study 30 years later

A replicating study about Swedish CEOs reveals a different pattern of behavior compared to the original study of Henry Mintzberg. The CEOs in the new study for instance spent much more time on meetings with subordinates, concerning information exchange and ceremony and less time on tasks of administrative character such as desk work and decision-making. The diverging results compared to the Mintzberg study are explained by changing conceptions about the role of the top executive. Paraphrasing Selznick's terminology, the participants in the new study acted more like institutional leaders than administrative managers. In the end of the article, theoretical implications of the diverging results are discussed

Expectations and accountability in managerial work

Based on a direct observation study of eight CEOs for large corporations, this paper examines how control is exercised in the era of financial transparency. In particular, the link between corporate governance and managerial work is investigated. The CEOs felt accountable for the company performance to exchange market actors. Inside their own companies the CEOs governed through setting and maintaining expectations rather then relying on centralised decision-making and giving instructions. Subordinate managers were given discretion, but their performance was closely watched and they had to fulfil expectations. This resulted in self-sacrificing work in the management cadre but also in conformity and non-constructive communication. In the end of the paper, the effects of managing by expectations are discussed with regard to issues about governance ethics, organizational learning and work balance

Standardisering av värderingar. Personalutbildning inom den svenska konsumentkooperationen

Under 90-talet genomfördes flera reformer för att förändra Kooperativa Förbundet, KF:s detaljhandelsverksamhet. Dessa förändringar ifrågasatte den etablerade inriktningen på medlemskap och framförde istället idéer kring kundoch lönsamhetsorientering. I samband med denna ideologiförändring undersöker vi hur utbildningsmaterial till de anställda har använts för att påverka normer och värderingar hos dessa. Vi analyserar användning av metaforer och hur man genom ”normativ styrning” har försökt att förändra KF:s detaljhandelsverksamhet