Using micro-blogging to dismantle knowledge hierarchies in product development teams

The traditional assumption by academics and industrialists that ‘Experts’ are more valuable to an organisation than inexperienced workers is one which should be challenged. Typically, those considered experts employ tried and tested methods for production success passed on by elders with wisdom, while inexperienced knowledge workers often remain unheard and their knowledge under-utilised. However, less experienced workers with an openness to creativity and fresh perspectives to engineering practice might possess the knowledge required to innovate manufacturing projects and sustain competitive advantage. This article extends the research of Tempest [1] and Evans et al. [2] by challenging the unilateral transfer of knowledge seen in traditional product development teams. A methodological framework is presented aimed at dismantling knowledge hierarchies by creating an ‘Anonymous Worker’ environment using micro-blogging which can be embedded into production departments. Potential limitations to the successful implementation of the framework are reported, identifying that the framework would be most beneficial applied to the start of a product’s lifecycle during the conceptualisation of ideas phase

Social Media Strategies in the Retail Sector: Analysis and Recommendations for Three Multi-National Retailers

During the last twenty years (1995-2015), the world of commerce has expanded beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar high street to a global shop front accessible to billions of users via the Worldwide Web (WWW). Consumers are now using the web to immerse themselves in virtual shop fronts, using Social Media (SM) to communicate and share product ideas with friends and family. Retail organisations recognise the need to develop and adapt their strategies to respond to the increasing use of SM. New goals must be set in order to identify how companies will integrate social media into current practices. This research aims to suggest an advisable and comprehensive SM strategy for companies operating in the global retail sector, based on an exploratory analysis of three multi-national retail organisations' existing SM strategies. This will be assessed in conjunction with a broader investigation into social media in the retail industry. From this, a strategy will be devised to improve internal and external communication as well as knowledge management through the use of social media. Findings suggest that the use of SM within the retail industry has dramatically improved collaboration and communication processes for organisations as they are now able to converse better with stakeholders and the tools are relatively simple to integrate and implement as they benefit one another

Identifying Contributing Factors to Sustainability Awareness in the Norwegian Software Industry

During the last decade, cloud computing has grown in importance, popularity and user adoption across many industries. It offers various benefits to organisations; however, many are not aware of the valuable sustainability benefits that can be experienced when using cloud computing software. This research, through case study investigation of 10 accountancy firm clients of a Norwegian cloud computing software provider, aims to identify contributing sustainability factors that affect customer decision making when choosing whether or not to purchase cloud computing services. The views of 10 established Norwegian SME accountancy firms that use the case study organisation's services were captured through face-to-face semi-structured interviewing. Results indicate that sustainability awareness is of low priority among interviewed accountancy firms and that no sustainability factors were considered when choosing to purchase cloud computing software. In future, interviewees acknowledged that sustainability factors may affect their purchasing behaviour. It is, therefore, recommended that cloud computing software providers offer real-world insights to clients on how to become more environmentally friendly by using cloud computing

Adoption of e-Procurement Systems in Developing Countries: A Nigerian Public Sector Perspective

In the last 10 years, numerous studies have examined the adoption of e-procurement by both public and private organisations. However, experiential studies relating to the adoption of e-procurement systems by public sector organisations in developing countries appears neglected. This study, through empirical research, aims to examine the level of adoption of e-procurement in Nigeria with the view of gaining an understanding of the drivers, benefits, barriers, critical success factors, organisational performance post implementation and the impact of e-procurement utilisation on curtailing corruption in public procurement. Results were obtained using a web-based survey, sent to 174 interviewees operating in the e-Procurement departments of Nigerian public sector organisations. In total, 74 responses were received, with results identifying that the majority of those surveyed had not received sufficient training in the use of e-procurement systems. We also identify that at an operational level, public sector organisations are yet to fully attain the full benefits of e-procurement

Exploring the Open Innovation Practices of Three Multi-National Manufacturing Firms

For manufacturers to remain competitive, there is a recognised need to be highly innovative in the creation of new products and enhancements to existing ranges. Since its conception in 2003, Open Innovation (OI) has developed into a prominent research theme within innovation-related literature and is seen to impact positively on company performance. Many large manufacturers are now adapting their innovation processes to adopt OI and seek valuable expertise from external sources, including customers, suppliers and even competitors. This study explores the OI practices of three multinational manufacturers operating in three distinct sectors: aerospace, electronics and beverages. Findings suggest that by adopting the OI model, companies can remain competitive through co-creation and greater engagement with stakeholders. However, companies must explore and identify best practices for inbound and outbound co-creation

A Social Networking Strategy for Improving Knowledge Management and Communication in the Travel Industry

In today’s technology-driven marketplace, the adoption and management of corporate and customer-facing Social Networking Sites (SNs) is often viewed as a key success factor for Travel Industry (TI) organisations. Knowledge management and the sharing of expertise and experiences through communication between internal and external stakeholders via social networks is an activity which TI organisations are aiming to exploit in order to improve the open sharing, retrieval, organisation and leveraging of knowledge. Through a study of currently-available literature relating to social networking adoption within the TI and a case study analysis of corporate social networking practices at three multi-national TI organisations (British Airways, Thomas Cook and Marriott Hotels), it may be observed that correlations exist between the development of social networking and the processes TI organisations now use to manage knowledge. We explore how these companies are currently utilizing SNs to improve knowledge management practices inside and outside of their organisational boundaries. From our analysis, lessons may emerge as to how TI companies are gaining competitive advantage through the use of social networking; a proposed strategy is identified to determine how TI organisations may make best use of social networks

Supporting Global Automotive Product Development Projects through the Integration of Systems Engineering Knowledge

Global automotive companies are vast extended enterprises of geographically dispersed teams that collaborate on the concurrent development of new technologies and multiple vehicle programs. Consequently, it is challenging to effectively capture all new knowledge generated during continuous innovation. Furthermore, current knowledge management tools fail to adequately organise vital new explicit knowledge captured during vehicle development programs and then make it widely accessible for future re-use throughout the product lifecycle. This paper reports the findings of an investigation exploring the current knowledge management practices in a large-scale multinational automotive company, and proposes an integrated framework to address the industrial challenges

Identification of Critical Building Blocks in PLM System Implementation in the Automotive Supply Chain

In today’s industrialised world, manufacturers must adapt and evolve their Product Development (PD) processes through the adoption of bespoke ICT tools. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and its associated tools are one option manufacturers may choose to assist in this change. However, PLM tools are not always viable due to costs associated and system integration issues; therefore, careful selection and consideration of the most appropriate tool, which meets company requirements, needs to be taken before selection and implementation. This paper presents a case study of a Tier 1 supplier in the automotive industry, identifying the critical building blocks for successful implementation and integration of a PLM system in to their manufacturing operations. A framework is proposed to assist manufacturers in identifying and ranking the building blocks which should be considered when implementing such PLM tools

An Investigation into Value Co-creation in Service Supply Chains

In service supply chains, customers select a service provider with whom value would be maximized through the interaction between the service provider and the customer. This study investigates the link between value co-creation and customers’ (re)purchasing intentions in the financial and professional services industry. This research was conducted via a case study of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and one of its clients, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and included in-depth interviews with senior managers. The findings underline that the financial and professional services industry is dominated by end of service results and that the only viable option in gaining competitive advantage is to stand out in today’s dynamic marketplace. It also reveals that there is a huge demand for outsourcing services and that most clients will choose to purchase one which offers the desired value at the right time. Lastly, it proposes a value co-creation framework derived from the study