 |
|
Building data into management systems is a complex and difficult task. Management, despite the efforts of theoreticians over the past century, remains an art rather than a science, and quantifying art is a minefield of controversy. Like paintings, most casual observers of the art of management would have it that "I don't know much about management, but I know what I like!... In a business scene in Asia where the left brain predominates however, the "art" of quantifying management systems is relatively healthy, compared to other functions we have reviewed in the past. This is reflected in the good assortment of articles this week from Asia on the topic. Several of the articles that caught the reviewers eye are abstracted below. As usual, you can access all of the articles in this week's Journals of the Week from Emerald, (around 600). If one of the featured abstracts below appeals, note the Volume and Issue number and you will be able to find it very quickly while browsing the selection.
Implementation of an environmental management system: the experience of companies operating in Singapore Hesan A. Quazi Industrial Management & Data Systems; 99: 7 1999; pp. 302-311 Examines the issues related to ISO 14001/Environmental Management System (EMS) implementation in Singapore. Using a literature review, the factors that hinder implementation, the possible benefits of such implementation and a list of critical success factors (CSFs) are identified. Seven case studies were conducted with companies which were either ISO 14001 certified, or in the process of certification. The case studies are used to examine the validity of the factors identified in the literature. All the listed CSFs were found to be applicable to all the ISO 14001 certified companies. However, all of these factors were not uniformly applicable to all companies. Similar to the CSFs, all the barriers to implementation that were identified in the literature review section were found to be applicable to the sample companies. However, once again, all of these factors were not uniformly applicable to all companies. The majority of the sample companies reported some form of tangible and intangible benefits from implementation of EMS.
Keywords: International standards, Environment, Singapore, Implementation
Alignment of technology and information systems tasks: a Singapore perspective Sim Kim Lau , Ang Yang Ang , Graham Winley Industrial Management & Data Systems; 99: 6 1999; pp. 235-246 Technology can influence the nature of work performed by information systems and information technology professionals. This study aims to identify technologies and tasks performed by information systems and information technology professionals in a range of business organisations in Singapore. The study examines what technologies will become increasingly important in the business organizations as advances in information technology affect the work performed by information systems professionals. A list of information systems tasks and relationships between the tasks and technologies will be examined. The role of information systems and information technology professionals in relation to the tasks performed will also be discussed.
Keywords: Information systems, Information technology, Singapore, Organizational change
Can there be different forms of market orientation and new product development? Michael Enright Industrial Management & Data Systems; 99: 3 1999; pp. 128-133 This paper examines popularly accepted approaches to market orientation and compares and contrasts them with currently applied alternative approaches. Approaches to new product development are also discussed. It argues for consideration of the existence of pluralism in the marketing domain, with conventional views on what constitutes market orientation and appropriate new product development practice being at times at odds with what is practised.
Keywords: Australia, Market orientation, Marketing theory, New product development
International marketing tool: the Internet Fred Palumbo and Paul Herbig Industrial Management & Data Systems; 98: 6 1998; pp. 253-261 The main purpose of this paper is to provide a clearer understanding about the approaches to international markets using the Internet, and understanding the marketing decisions and challenges that a company will face in a global environment selling through Internet. In order to achieve this purpose, this paper is organized in the following sections: introduction to Internet; adopting marketing decisions to the Internet; and marketing via the Internet.
Keywords: International marketing, Internet
Workforce, information technology and global unemployment Vivek Shah and Kamlesh T. Mehta Industrial Management & Data Systems; 98: 5 1998; pp. 226-231 This paper explores the ramifications of information technology on the global workforce and impact of technology on the world economy. The paper discusses complex issues facing the governments, societies, and business corporations such as changing job contents, global unemployment, and transition from human workers to machines. In conclusion, the replacement of workers by machines is going to force every nation to rethink the role of technology in everyday life in the twenty-first century.
Keywords: Information technology, Unemployment, Workers, World economy
5-S practice: a new tool for industrial management Samuel K.M. Ho Industrial Management & Data Systems; 98: 2 1998; pp. 55-62 It has been recognised that Japanese firms are clean and orderly. The same is true for high quality Western firms. Over the last two decades, the Japanese have formalised the technique and named it as 5-S practice. They believe that it is the base-line for industrial management. As the name is new to most Western societies, the objective of this paper is to explain the intricacy of the 5-S so that it can be understood easily and adopted readily by those who may find the tool useful. In Hong Kong, the government industry department has promoted the 5-S practice since 1994. Many seminars and workshops have been conducted and they were all very well received by the business community. As a result of the success, the department invited the author to commission a 5-S practice workbook with ten successful case studies from the manufacturing, services and public sectors. The experience will also be shared in this article.
Keywords: Hong Kong, Organizational processes, Quality techniques, Works management
An analysis of the Taiwan retail market using Leites' method Charles V. Trappey Industrial Management & Data Systems; 98: 2 1998; pp. 48-54 Links and analyzes qualitative and quantitative sources of information about the Taiwan retail market using an adaptation of Leites' method. Qualitative interviews are abstracted and integrated with quantitative secondary source data and survey data. Outlines, categorizes, and summarizes information useful for making management decisions about consumers, retail formats, products and services, retail development projects, market strategies, and commercial laws and regulations. Demonstrates an efficient means to survey general trends in newly developed retail and consumer markets and shows promise for implementation as a soft OR method to derive management strategies.
Keywords: Qualitative techniques, Retail trade, Strategy, Taiwan
Manufacturing management practices of Japanese subsidiaries in Singapore J.B. Cunningham, Y.A. Debrah and S. Petzall Industrial Management & Data Systems; 96: 7 1996; pp. 3-16 Seeks to better understand the implications of Japanese management methods in non-Japanese and non-Western contexts. Utilizes a framework proposed by Young to assess the implementation of Japanese management practices in Singapore. Based on comparative case studies of five Japanese multinational companies in Singapore, explores their ability to use or adapt practices employed in Japan. Concludes that, on the whole, the companies successfully sought to modify features of the Singaporean environment to suit Japanese manufacturing methods, though they were forced to make some concessions to local conditions. Supports Young's call for further research, where the ability to compare directly the experience of both Japanese subsidiaries and non-Japanese companies seeking to adopt Japanese manufacturing techniques would be a distinct advantage.
Keywords: Japanese management styles, Manufacturing, Multinational companies, Singapore
The IT effects on competitiveness for interaction between manufacturing and marketing: six Taiwan cases This study is to explore the impact of information technology (IT) on the interaction between manufacturing and marketing. Literature reviews are initially conducted to understand the interfunctional goal gap and activity conflict that exist between the two departments which invariably constitute achievement on corporate competitiveness. The application dimension of IT function is introduced as a useful tool in reducing the degree of interfunctional gap through advanced IT which in turn will reduce the conflict on the activity level. Thus, the ultimate end might lead to positive effects on corporate competitiveness. In this paper, we discuss the interaction of manufacturing and marketing departments and the resulting capacity of IT in six firms, located in the HsinChu Science-Based Industrial Park (HSIP) in Taiwan. HSIP is referred to as Taiwan's Silicon Valley. This study's methodology is based on a case study. Deep analysis of the six cases leads to ten hypotheses.
Keywords: Information technology, Manufacturing, Marketing, Organizational conflict,Problem solving, Taiwan
Global manufacturing practices: an empirical evaluation Su¨kran N. Kadipas, Kadipasogˇlu, Julio L. Peixoto and Basheer M. Khumawala Industrial Management & Data Systems; 99: 3 1999; pp. 101-108 The global manufacturing research group (GMRG) is a multi-national group of researchers who are dedicated to the study and improvement of manufacturing practices worldwide. The GMRG developed a survey that has been administered to companies in the machine tools and non-fashion textile industries. In this study we utilize the GMRG data collected during 1993-1995 and we focus on improvement programs and their impact on performance outcomes. Specifically, the improvement programs of interest are cellular manufacturing, factory automation, just-in-time (JIT) systems, and total quality management (TQM); the performance measures used were the percentage change in manufacturing cost, product quality, delivery speed, and on-time deliveries. The relationships among the programs and outcomes were modelled and analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) approach to structural equation modelling (SEM).
Keywords: Empirical study, Globalization, Manufacturing, Modelling, Surveys
Cultural differences encountered by firms when negotiating internationally Robert D. Gulbro and Paul Herbig Industrial Management & Data Systems; 99: 2 1999; pp. 47-53 In this age of the global economy, negotiating across cultures is an inevitable part of doing business for firms desiring to compete internationally. What problems could cultural differences cause? Can firms from some countries or cultures do better than firms from other countries? What problems might firms from one culture encounter compared to firms from other cultures? To study these questions, cross-cultural negotiating behaviour was examined using Hofstede's criteria, to see if some firms may have a cultural competitive advantage. Assumptions about the effects of national cultures were proposed and tested, and differences between cultures were found. Additional research was also suggested.
Keywords: Globalization, International business, National cultures, Negotiating
Cross-cultural negotiating processes Robert Gulbro and Paul Herbig Industrial Management & Data Systems; 96: 3 1996; pp. 17-23 Suggests that, in this age of the global economy, cross-cultural negotiations are becoming increasingly important in the management and marketing process of many companies. Compares the cross-cultural negotiation behaviour and differences in the perceived processes between product-oriented and consumer-product firms. Reports on significant differences between the two groups and provides analysis.
Keywords: Companies, Cross-cultural management, Management, Negotiating
The use of spreadsheet software in China Rodney Turner Industrial Management & Data Systems; 95: 6 1995; pp. 18-21 Spreadsheet software packages find ready applications in Western nations with a high proportion of PCs having a spreadsheet package installed. In Taiwan there is a high degree of acceptance of this class of software. In the People's Republic of China, however, there is not the same degree of acceptance with only a very small proportion of end users utilizing this important class of software. Discusses the present situation with respect to the use of spreadsheet software in China and presents several reasons why the level is low.
Keywords: China, Computer software, End-user computing, Spreadsheets
Identifying future trends in information technology Michael J. Savoie , Mahesh S. Raisinghani Industrial Management & Data Systems; 99: 6 1999; pp. 247-250 Few information technology trends have received more attention from the industry than electronic (e-) commerce - and considering the industry's predisposition to hyperbole, that is saying a lot. This paper discusses the diffusion of e-commerce in three wave-migration phases from current computer communications. From an ontological perspective at the meta level, this paper explains why e-commerce may have a greater impact on exchanging information and optimizing existing business processes than on generating funds flow. In evaluating the nature of e-commerce applications, it is proposed that e-commerce will replace the traditional inventory-based model with an information-based model and the basis of competition will shift from companies with strong distribution systems to those with strong information systems. This might help explain the predictions of triple-digit e-commerce market growth and stock valuations of Internet companies that defy fundamentals.
Keywords: Mass customization, Technology, Information technology, Globalization, Development, Computer industry
Cultural practices in the Spanish subsidiaries of Japanese companies B. Adenso-Díaz , Yayoi Kawamura , Pilar González-Torre Industrial Management & Data Systems; 99: 3 1999; pp. 115-120 The number of Japanese corporations established in Spain increased remarkably during the 1980s, as a result of the political stability that Spain had reached, low salaries, the growing markets, the standard of living, and Spain's joining of the EEC. In this work, we study the degree of implementation of typical Japanese organisational methods in the Spanish subsidiaries, based on the opinions of 57 Japanese presidents and directors in these Spanish branches. We discuss not only the level of assimilation of Japanese business culture, but also the opinion of these executives concerning economic and business activity in Spain.
Keywords: Co-operative organization, Management styles, National cultures, Organizational culture, Spain
The use of the World Wide Web for commercial purposes Waiman Cheung Industrial Management & Data Systems; 98: 4 1998; pp. 172-177 In this information age, business leaders who are able to access more information and make use of it will likely be the winners in the marketplace. Among the different information sources and media, the Internet is a leading technology which facilitates information exchange internationally. Furthermore, the World Wide Web (WWW) is the most popular application on the Internet, used for many diversified business purposes including direct sales, advertisement, customer support, etc. The astonishing growth of WWW users is clear evidence of this. This study investigates how far electronic commerce, and in particular business use of the WWW has actually progressed in Hong Kong. The correlation between companies' business types and their purposes of using Web pages through the WWW are also studied. By physically visiting the Web sites of Hong Kong's commerce, a survey is conducted and the results are summarized.
Keywords: Business development, Hong Kong, Internet
The management of culture diversity: lessons from Brazilian companies Maria Tereza Leme Fleury Industrial Management & Data Systems; 99: 3 1999; pp. 109-114 Despite the extremely diversified cultural context in which Brazilian enterprises operate, the issue of cultural diversity is new in their agenda. The emergence of this theme is much more related to the need of creating competitive advantages by developing diversified competences, usually following policies which are established by the headquarters of local subsidiaries, than attending to legal procedures, as happens in the USA and Canada. Departing from a conceptual elaboration about cultural diversity and its management, this paper presents the results achieved in a research among leading Brazilian firms. The points that emerge as conclusions can be generalized for other countries.
Keywords: Comparative studies, Culture diversity, Human resources management
As always we have only skimmed the surface of relevant articles this week and only those that are particularly relevant for Asia-Pacific managers. Many other articles are available as well including those focusing on other countries and international perspectives.
|
| |||||||
| email updates | email this page | discuss | search | today's asian business strategy news | advertise | about |
| daily asian news, research & commentary for the international business strategy, market research & strategic management professional |