Essays on Operational Flexibilities in Production Planning under Supply and Quality Uncertainty

This dissertation investigates the use of operational flexibilities in production planning in order to mitigate the negative effects of supply and quality uncertainty. Uncertainties in supply and quality are commonly experienced among agro-businesses, and in particular, in the wine industry. The goal of the dissertation is to provide prescriptive solutions in mitigating such risks from the lives of agricultural businesses. The first essay of the dissertation examines the impact of supply and quality uncertainty on the investment decisions made by winemakers who lease vineyard space to grow their own fruit. At the end of the growing season, the winemaker receives an uncertain amount of high- and low-quality grapes, due to varying growing conditions such as adverse weather conditions, diseases and natural disasters. High-quality grapes are used in the making of a high-end (reserve) wine, and low-quality grapes are used for the production of a low-end wine. In this study, we investigate the benefits of the downward substitution flexibility, where the winemaker uses its excess high-quality grapes for the production of its low-end wine. In addition, we examine the influence of, and the interrelationships between, three forms of operational flexibilities: downward substitution, price-setting, and fruit trading flexibilities. The second essay of the dissertation investigates the use of advance selling to mitigate quality risk in wine production. This essay examines the influence of quality uncertainty on winemakers\u27 decisions regarding the allocation of its wine for retail operations. Specifically, we study what proportion of the wine should be sold through regular distribution channels versus what proportion should be sold as wine futures in advance of bottling. Due to the intricacies of the production method, the quality of wine may vary from the moment aging begins in the barrel to the time it is bottled and sold to the general public. This study examines the use of wine futures, whereby a winemaker sells its wine while it is still in the barrel in order to reduce the quality rating risk at the time of distribution. Overall, wine futures not only allow the winemaker to pass on the quality rating risk established through expert tastings to consumers but also let them bring in cash for immediate reinvestment into the next vintage

Organization Benefit as an Outcome of Organizational Security Adoption: The Role of Cyber Security Readiness and Technology Readiness

The increasing number of cyber-attacks has become a serious threat to organizations, organizations that are not prepared to face cyber-attacks on their organizational resources will experience huge losses and reduce organizational performance. It is a big challenge for organizations to combat cyber-attacks by improving cyber security, but there is still little research examining the factors that affect an organization’s cyber security readiness from a holistic point of view. This study integrates a framework based on technology, organization, environment, and technology readiness to examine various factors that affect cyber security readiness in organizations, as well as their impact on organizational performance, where the impact is in the form of tangible and intangible benefits. This study proposes 4 hypotheses to test the framework that has been built. A total of 260 data have been validated from an online questionnaire survey given to organizations and companies. This study applied quantitative approach, while the main method used was SEM-PLS and the software involved was SmartPLS V2. The results of the study indicate that the overall hypotheses proposed have a significant impact, cyber security readiness and technology have a positive impact on organizational security performance, which in turn has an impact on the intangible benefits and tangible benefits. The results of this study can be used by organizations as a guide in improving cyber security to achieve superior performance in organizations and improve understanding of references related to cyber security in organizations. Meanwhile, this research has impact to the society because the good cooperation and good organization will be achieved. it also increases the social cooperation responsibility

Organization Benefit as an Outcome of Organizational Security Adoption: The Role of Cyber Security Readiness and Technology Readiness

The increasing number of cyber-attacks has become a serious threat to organizations, organizations that are not prepared to face cyber-attacks on their organizational resources will experience huge losses and reduce organizational performance. It is a big challenge for organizations to combat cyber-attacks by improving cyber security, but there is still little research examining the factors that affect an organization’s cyber security readiness from a holistic point of view. This study integrates a framework based on technology, organization, environment, and technology readiness to examine various factors that affect cyber security readiness in organizations, as well as their impact on organizational performance, where the impact is in the form of tangible and intangible benefits. This study proposes 4 hypotheses to test the framework that has been built. A total of 260 data have been validated from an online questionnaire survey given to organizations and companies. This study applied quantitative approach, while the main method used was SEM-PLS and the software involved was SmartPLS V2. The results of the study indicate that the overall hypotheses proposed have a significant impact, cyber security readiness and technology have a positive impact on organizational security performance, which in turn has an impact on the intangible benefits and tangible benefits. The results of this study can be used by organizations as a guide in improving cyber security to achieve superior performance in organizations and improve understanding of references related to cyber security in organizations. Meanwhile, this research has impact to the society because the good cooperation and good organization will be achieved. it also increases the social cooperation responsibility