Improving Design of Micro-business Systems via VSM and Constituent Orientation Analysis

This paper describes recent design research into prototypical ‘classes’ of designs for operational business systems for micro-businesses of 1-10 employees typical of traditional craft and contemporary information economies. Business process design is an increasingly important and relatively new sub-field of design and design research. Its increasing importance is driven by three factors made more potent by information technology: increasing ability for very small business units to contribute to local and national economies; potential for increased efficiency of micro-businesses via reduction in Coasian transaction costs; increasingly competitive business environments leading to pressure on micro-businesses to deeply cut costs; and increased potential for improved design of micro-business processes to create significant benefits for the micro-businesses themselves and to local and national economies. The analyses used in this paper combine Tellefsen's perspective on constituent orientation with Beerian Viable System analysis and Cashflow Quadrant analysis (Beer, 1972, 1988, 1989, 1995; Kiyosaki & Lechter, 2007; Tellefsen, 1995, 1999, 2001; Tellefsen & Love, 2003). These analyses are used to identify promising foci of design effort particularly with the intention of automating and systematizing business activities. The paper first describes the importance of developing improved guidelines for design of organisational structures and business processes in the micro-business arena. It then outlines the structural, humanistic, financial, business management and computerized automation considerations that need to be addressed. Design issues are illustrated via mini case studies of three characteristic micro-businesses in the areas of publishing, plumbing, and rental investment. The paper shows how improvements to the design of business processes can be viewed through how four constituent orientations: • Self employed • Business managers • Business owners • Investors The paper concludes by integrating the outcomes of the above analyses into a preliminary checklist for the design of effective and efficient automated and systematized business processes for micro-businesses and small business enterprises. Keywords: Business Process Design, Micro-Business, Viable Systems, Constituent Orientation, Cashflow Quadrant Analysis.</p

Materiality and surface of the digital print

This paper discusses how the materiality and surface of the digital printmaking process may be seen as visually evidenced in the resulting printed imag

Teaching and Professional Fellowship Report 2003/4 : Writing in the Context of Fine Art Education

Originating from the question "what happens to writing as a practice when students of Fine Art are doing the writing?" Kate Love investigated the new approaches to art writing which are surfacing both within University of the Arts London and peer institutions, using the knowledge gained to enlarge student perception of the possibilities for writing and writing-based assignments with a Fine Art based curriculum. Her starting point was to research the effect that the contemporary application of 'performative theory' has had on writing in Fine Art educatio

What drives mobile commerce? An empirical evaluation of the revised UTAUT model

© 2012 UK Marketing and Communication Academy. This article is available open access through the publisher’s website at the link below.When developing and aiming to achieve success in the arena of mobile commerce, user acceptance is a key aspect for consideration. This study aims to empirically examine some of the factors affecting the acceptance of m-commerce within the context of Saudi Arabia. Based on the revised UTAUT model, the revised model include two particular construct : costs and trust to enhance our understanding of m-commerce acceptance and usage. Survey data were collected from 574 participants in several cities across Saudi Arabia. The results emphasise that cost, effort expectancy, and performance expectancy all considerably affect the intention to use. In this regard, usage intention actually decides utilisation

Keynote address: Dr. Catherine Love

This keynote address for the National Māori Graduates of Psychology Symposium 2002 addresses the history and current state of psychology in New Zealand, with particular attention to issues affecting Maori

You Know One of Us

**Trigger warning: sexual assault I am afraid of my bed. I am also afraid of heather blue shirts. Men’s voices make me jump. I am constantly scanning crowds, always looking for the closest exit. I sit with my back to the wall. I no longer eat at Servo for lunch or dinner, or walk down a specific pathway as a shortcut home. Instead, I take the long way through the middle of campus to get back to my room. If I see someone with the same haircut or wearing similar clothes, I start to tremble. Unexpected touches from male friends, acquaintances, and strangers make me jump away in fear. [excerpt