The Relationship of Information Systems, Supply Chain Management With Organisational Performance

Purpose In today’s world, Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a key strategic factor for increasing organisational effectiveness and for better realisation of organisational goals such as competitiveness, better customer care and increased profitability (Ganesh Kumar and Nambirajan, 2013). As such, research interest has focused on supply chain practices with SMEs and large organisations in terms of supply chain information systems (SCIS) and organisational performance. Research Approach This study aims at the exploration of the statistical relationship between (SCIS) Effectiveness and Organisational Performance. The findings from a survey involving 168 IT managers show a strong correlation between SCIS and non-financial Organisational Performance across a cohort of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large organisations. Findings and Originality These findings are further confirmed by a recent publication from Ganesh Kumar and Nambirajan, (2013). This study identified the items used by researchers for the measurement of both constructs. Exploratory Factor Analysis was employed as there was no theoretical basis to specify a priori the number and patterns of common factors (Hurley et al., 1997) especially for the extraction of factors measuring the non-financial performance of a firm. Research Impact The analyses also revealed that companies with a high implementation degree show a better supply chain performance. Furthermore, the results show that this paper contributes to the SCM field by providing scales for financial and non-financial performance constructs, and by exploring how those are improved by the adoption of specific Supply Chain Information Systems. Practical Impact The purpose of this study aims at the exploration of the statistical relationship between Supply Chain Information Systems’ (SCIS) Effectiveness and Organisational Performance, when this is measured by financial and non-financial variables and the impacts on SMEs performance

The global classroom for supply chain management, any time, anywhere!

Academia is facing increasing demands in the design and delivery of their degree programmes due to resource constraints and the demands to embrace. The purpose of this article is to examine the requirement for quality education in the field of supply chain management. The approach adopted here is a reflective one, looking at recent trends in postgraduate Supply Chain Management (SCM) education and focusing in particular on a new mode of delivery, that of e-learning. The paper considers the development of SCM education and presents the range of supply chain management programmes and modules being offered across a selection of UK universities. The article also highlights the dynamic character of SCM education and considers whether the e-learning format is capable of responding to the requirements for quality in this field. Through a focus on one particular programme, the wholly online postgraduate programme in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the University of Liverpool. The conclusions are that new forms of teaching and learning are opening up to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The aim of the research was to discover the real time dynamic of SCM practice and theory, objective and subjective perspectives

Lean Law

Operations management in service industries is receiving an increasing amount of attention from management researchers Harvey (1989). Previous OM research has defined the PSOM as a generic service type with high levels of customer contact/service customization and fluid/flexible processes with low capital/high labour intensity (Schmenner, 1986, 2004; Chase and Apte 2006; Lewis and Brown 2011). However, published research in this field deals rather cursorily with sector specific cases, such as legal and financial sectors: professional service organisations (PSOs) and less so from a resource based view (RBV) (Lockett, Wright, and O'Shea, 2008). Yet, SOM and PSOM deserve more attention

Supply Chain Information Systems and Organisational Performance in Economic Turbulent Times

Supply Chain Information Systems and their impact on organisational performance has been studied by a number of studies. This study seeks to extend this body of knowledge by adopting a fresh lens to explore empirically the relationship between organizational performance and SCIS in circumstances of economic downturn and financial turbulence. The statistical relationship between Supply Chain Information Systems (SCIS) ˜Effectiveness and ˜Organisational Performance is tested and measured by multidimensional financial and non-financial variables. So even though complexities associated with measuring SCIS efficiency and Organisational Performance continue to dominate research discussions these are somewhat limited to just explaining the phenomenon without addressing the misalignment of the information provided by SCIS, business expectations and Organisational Performance. In consequence this papers reports findings from a large survey of 168 SCIS managers in Greek SMEs where even through economic downturn a strong correlation between SCIS and non-financial Organisational Performance is evidenced. In considering the findings this study proposes guidance to enhance SCIS Effectiveness and Organisational Performance

Stars of low luminosity

The mass density of stars in the Solar Neighbourhood is a fundamental parameter in' Galactic Structure studies. We have applied the method of photometric parallaxes (the M , (V-I)) relation ) to two complete samples of late-type dwarfs; one selected from an objective prism survey, the other from COSMOS photographic photometry of BVI UK Schmidt Telescope plates. The resultant kinematically unbiased luminosity function shows that the stellar number density peaks at M^ = +13 locally, falling off very steeply thereafter. This result excludes hydrogen burning stars brighter than M^ = +19 as significant contributors to any local missing mass. We have also examined the kinematic selection effects inherent in proper-motion based determinatio-ns of the luminosity function, and show that high velocity halo stars significantly affect results derived by this method. These effects are substantial enough to permit an investigation of the local subdwarf number density, which we find to be """CI. 4 percent that of disk dwarfs. Finally, using UBVRIJHK photometry, we have applied a blackbody fitting technique to derive temperatures and luminosities for low luminosity dwarfs, and conclude that even the least luminous are consistent with their interpretation as main sequence dwarfs

nformation Quality, Reporting and Organisational Performance

This study aims at the exploration of the statistical relationship between the quality of the Information produced by Information Systems (IS) such as ERPs and Organisational Performance. The definition of information quality encompasses measures such as accuracy, precision, currency, timeliness, conciseness, which aim at providing decision tools to the users of any Information System. Producing quality information /reports is the primary purpose of any IS. The results from a survey on 168 Greek companies show a strong correlation between Information Quality and Organisational Performance when this is expressed by financial and not financial measures

Toward a Holistic Model of Deception: Subject Matter Expert Validation

Security challenges require greater insight and flexibility into the way deception can be identified and responded to. Deception research in interactions has identified behaviors indicative of truth-telling and deceit. Deception in military environments has focused on planning deception, where approaches have been developed to deceive others, but neglecting counter-deception perspectives. To address these challenges a holistic approach to deception is advocated. A literature review of deception was conducted followed by validation interviews with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). Explanatory thematic analysis of interviews conducted with SMEs (n=19) led to the development of meta-themes related to the ‘deceiver’, their ‘intent; ‘strategies and tactics’ of deception, ‘interpretation’ by the target and ‘target’ decision-making strengths and vulnerabilities. This led to the development of the Holistic Model of Deception (HMD), an approach where strategies reflect context. The implications of this approach are considered alongside the limitations and future directions required to validate the HMD

Professional service operations management: the case for leaner law

This paper examines lean thinking within legal service network (client, solicitors, barristers, external parties, and judiciary) in order to develop a theoretical framework for Leaner Law. Resource Based View (RBV) is used as the core theoretical framework to address leanness in the eight UK legal service disciplines. The purpose of this paper is to trace the value add through the legal profession