NOPR Collection:

Systemic Technology Management — An Organizational Learning View

2001-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Systemic Technology Management — An Organizational Learning View Authors: Richter, Frank-Jurgen Abstract: The article opposes conventional innovation management to systemic technology management requiring organizations to simultaneously internalize and develop innovations, competencies and the organizational culture. This is a strategic and holistic approach to organizational self-renewal and consists of the combination of horizontal and vertical learning processes, thereby determining an organization's internal as well as external relations. Several indicators of systemic technology management have been brought out. Indicators of varieties of knowledge layers, and of different types of learning-modes, along with the corresponding learning orders are described. It is contended that indicators of innovation cannot be described without a complete account of the learning. Page(s): 284-290

Evaluation of Technological Indicators: From Theory to Practice

2001-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Evaluation of Technological Indicators: From Theory to Practice Authors: Madanmohan, T R Abstract: Innovation and its indicators are multidimensional: ranging from technological, financial to market related aspects. Commonly used technological indicators such as R & D intensity, Capital expenditure, Patents and industry awards are inappropriate in capturing the innovative outputs occurring at firm level in a developing country. Studies have shown that most of the technological changes that accrue at firm level in a newly industrializing country are incremental in nature. These changes may be material changes, process changes, or product changes. The aim of the study is to identify: (i) the status of technological measurement in Indian firms and (ii) to develop an integrated framework that could employ published and primary data. Based on an empirical assessment of thirty R&D intensive Indian organizations, the study proposes technological indicators that capture three forms of contributions: improvement in the capabilities and quality of existing products (including modifications to facilitate wider applications), development of products yielding future improvements in products or process, and advances in knowledge likely to yield future improvements. Page(s): 277-283

Indicators for Establishing SME Product Development Networks

2001-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Indicators for Establishing SME Product Development Networks Authors: Post, Ger J J; Hop, Louweris; Aken, Joan E van Abstract: The results of research into SME product development networks are presented. The paper provides insight to the process of establishing such networks and the use of indicators in the design and monitoring of this process. It is based on five extensive case studies and in addition on several in-depth interviews with SME entrepreneurs and business managers. The practical experiences in these case studies and the indicators used by practitioners in network development are briefly described. These experiences together with theoretical insights were combined into a comprehensive set of indicators, describing the progress and effectiveness of the network formation and operation process. The discussion closed with more generic conclusions about establishing inter-organisational networks and monitoring network development processes in practice. Implications for further research have also been put forward. Page(s): 264-276

Management of WIP Inventory in JIT Environment Under Cellular Layout - A Case Study

2001-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Management of WIP Inventory in JIT Environment Under Cellular Layout - A Case Study Authors: Venkataramanaiah, S; Krishnaiah, K; Pichandi, R Abstract: In order to enhance the productivity and quality of products and services under the stiff competition in the global market, organisations are compelled to change their manufacturing technologies and strategies. One such strategy is to change the traditional layout into a cellular one to retain flexibility of jobs hop and to bring in more related benefits. This paper discusses the effect of work-in-process (WIP) inventory on throughput rate in a cycle manufacturing company which switched over to a cellular manufacturing recently. A GPSS simulation model was developed to study the performance of the production system. For various models of the cycles, past data on demand, demand arrival time and process times were gathered from each cell. The distributions of these data were used and simulation was carried out for various combinations of WIP inventory with throughput rate as the performance measure. Finally WIP inventory levels for each cell were suggested for future production. Suggestions were also given for effective implementation of JIT strategies under cellular layout to improve the overall productivity. Indicators of a manufacturing system, where the technology was stable and the market structure was static and pre-defined, could be constructed upon the degree of production economy achieved. Normally, these are achieved through incremental innovations. Throughput, defined as the ratio of total satisfied demand to the total generated demand, and expressed as percent customer orders fulfilled, could be considered as an indicator of a stabilised manufacturing system. A related indicator that is somewhat dependent on the technology in operation was the ratio of WIP inventory levels at various cells/workstations to the throughput rate of the system, under throughput maximisation. The distribution of WIP along the cells and not the total WIP, was the most important process indicator under throughput maximisation. Page(s): 256-263