An Empirically Derived Taxonomy of Information Systems Integration

Information systems integration (ISI) represents the degree of cooperation in information system practices between business functions within a firm and between a firm and its trading partners. Although the establishment of information systems integration objective has been reported as one of the key concerns of top management because ISI enhances the firms’ competitiveness and growth, the classification of the information system practices and its managerial implications are still vaguely developed. The two objectives of this paper are: (1) to develop a taxonomy of information systems integration (ISI) called ISI-Matrix, and (2) to report managerial implications for matching each information system class with business process applications. By using a systematic research investigation approach, two ISI structures are identified: Internal ISI (IISI) and External ISI (EISI) from the responses of 220 firms. The ability to identify and understand the implications of the ISI-Matrix is of critical importance to both academic and management practitioners

Measuring Absorptive Capacity: An Antecedent to Time-Based Manufacturing Practices

This study defines absorptive capacity, develops valid and reliable instruments to measure it, describes a framework to examine its impact on time-based manufacturing practices, and test the relationships between these variables

Achieving Mass Customization Through Modularity-Based Manufacturing Practices: A Customer-Driven Perspective

As uncertainty in markets and technology intensifies, organizations are adopting modularity-based manufacturing practices to achieve mass customization and cope with demands for increasingly customized products. Modularity-standardization and substitution principle to product and process design to create modular components and processes that can be configured into a wide range of end products to meet specific customer needs. This study defines customer closeness and modularity-based manufacturing develops instruments to measure these factors, builds a framework that relates customer closeness, modularity-based manufacturing practices, and mass customization, and tests structural relationships in this framework using LISREL

Trust-Driven Joint Operations Practices to Achieve Mass Customization: A Comparative Study for U.S., Chinese and Japanese Companies

This study builds a model of trust, based on joint operational activities and mass customization using theories of social capital and the resource-based view of the firm. Based on 208 responses from suppliers in the U.S. and China, this study empirically supports the notion that trust positively drives manufacturer-supplier activities in operations. It also supports the claim that joint operations activities contribute to mass customization capabilities in a significant way. Moreover, the level of trust and the degree of joint activities are different for the four types of suppliers used in the study: U.S. brands produced in North America, Japanese brands produced in China, U.S. brands produced in China, and Chinese brands produced in China

Production of Hydrogen for Clean and Renewable Source of Energy for Fuel Cell Vehicles

This was a two-year project that had two major components: 1) the demonstration of a PV-electrolysis system that has separate PV system and electrolysis unit and the hydrogen generated is to be used to power a fuel cell based vehicle; 2) the development of technologies for generation of hydrogen through photoelectrochemical process and bio-mass derived resources. Development under this project could lead to the achievement of DOE technical target related to PEC hydrogen production at low cost. The PEC part of the project is focused on the development of photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation devices and systems using thin-film silicon based solar cells. Two approaches are taken for the development of efficient and durable photoelectrochemical cells; 1) An immersion-type photoelectrochemical cells (Task 3) where the photoelectrode is immersed in electrolyte, and 2) A substrate-type photoelectrochemical cell (Task 2) where the photoelectrode is not in direct contact with electrolyte. Four tasks are being carried out: Task 1: Design and analysis of DC voltage regulation system for direct PV-to-electrolyzer power feed Task 2: Development of advanced materials for substrate-type PEC cells Task 3: Development of advanced materials for immersion-type PEC cells Task 4: Hydrogen production through conversion of biomass-derived waste

Manufacturing capability and organizational performance: The role of entrepreneurial orientation

To date there have been mixed findings about the impact of various manufacturing capabilities on organizational performance. This study investigates entrepreneurial orientation (EO) from the perspective of the Contingency Theory as a potential explanatory variable. The findings are that EO moderates the relationship between capabilities in flexibility and cost and organizational performance. Further, without a sufficient level of EO, there are no benefits to organizational performance and as such EO is positioned as a strategic resource to cultivate and nurture. This study provides insight into the connection between operational capabilities and firm level strategy. Specifically, it appears that EO may be the mechanism whereby manufacturing capabilities are linked to market needs

Operations Management : Concepts, Methods, and Strategies

St. Paulxx, 863 p.; Illus.; 26 cm

Understanding causality through path analysis for better budgeting and management control

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/36222/2/b1374047.0001.001.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/36222/1/b1374047.0001.001.tx

An Investigation Of Design And Operating Decisions For Continuous Casting In The Steel Industry.

PhDBusiness communityUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/178742/2/7916838.pd