An enterprise collaborative management system – a case study of supplier relationship management

A multi-stage method to determine organizational constraint structure and its application in a steel plant in India

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify potential constraints and determine the constraint structure in a steel manufacturing plant. “Potential constraint” is defined as a factor that is either a constraint at present or can become one in the future and “constraint structure” is used to denote the network of influences between the potential constraints in an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-step methodology was followed. First, potential constraints in a steel manufacturing plant were identified with a literature review and expert inputs. Then, the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) technique was applied to uncover the structure and finally, an ex-post validation and refinement of the results was done with help from other experts.

Findings

A total of 10 key potential constraints to steel manufacturing were identified. The two outputs of fuzzy DEMATEL – the influence scatter plot (ISP) and the influence network diagram (IND) – together reveal the constraint structure. The 10 potential constraints could be classified into three types – influencers, mediators and influenced – respectively. Of these “Top management commitment (TMC)” and “Clear vision and long-term planning (CLP)” influence other factors the most, and are themselves influenced the least; while “Customer Relationship Management (CRM)” is most influenced by other factors, while influencing other factors the least.

Practical implications

Potential constraints and the constraint structure can help decision makers in a steel manufacturing plant to identify which organizational factors to address and achieving the plant's goals.

Originality/value

This is the first study that analyzed organizational level constraints in a steel manufacturing context.

Development of IoT based data-driven agriculture supply chain performance measurement framework

Purpose

Performance measurement (PM) of any supply chain is prerequisite for improving its competitiveness and sustainability. This paper develops a framework for supply chain performance measurement (SCPM) for agriculture supply chain (ASC) based on internet of things (IoT). Moreover, this article explains the role of IoT in data collection and communication (SC visibility) based on the supply chain operation reference (SCOR) model.

Design/methodology/approach

This research identifies various key performance indicators (KPIs) and also their role in SCPM for improving its sustainability by using SCOR. Further, Shannon entropy is utilized for weighing the basic processes of SCPM and by using weights, fuzzy TOPSIS is applied for ranking of identified KPIs at metrics level 2 (deeper level).

Findings

“Flexibility” and “Responsiveness” have been reported as two most important KPIs in IoT based SCPM framework for ASC towards achieving sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

In this research, metrics are explained only at SCOR level 2. But, this research will guide the managers and practitioners of various organizations to set their benchmark for comparing their performance at different levels of business processes. Further, this paper has managerial implications to develop an effective system for PM of IoT based data-driven ASC.

Originality/value

By using IoT based data driven system, this article fills the gap between SCPM by measuring different SC strategies in their performance measurable form of reliable, responsive and asset management etc.

Barriers of knowledge transfer and mitigating strategies in collaborative management system implementations

Purpose

As the dynamics of the external environment of the enterprise continue to increase, the support of information systems for organizational agility becomes increasingly important. Collaborative Management System (CMS) is a new type of information system that can cope with the dynamic changes of the organization. Effective knowledge transfer is the core of the system implementation. The purpose of this study is to explore the knowledge transfer barriers faced by CMS in its implementation process.

Design/methodology/approach

Through field interviews with a representative CMS provider, this paper summarizes the barriers of knowledge transfer during CMS implementation into three aspects.

Findings

Based on the innovative measures taken by the company and relevant literature, the corresponding mitigating strategies are proposed.

Originality/value

The findings enrich the implementation methodology of agile information systems by exploring the knowledge transfer problem from a novel context. The study also provides a reference for practical implementation to overcome the dilemma of knowledge transfer.

Effects of shared vision and integrations on entrepreneurial performance

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the possible benefits and effects of shared vision and integration on entrepreneurial management for new Chinese ventures. By examining new enterprises, rather than already established and operating firms, this study can better demonstrate the impact of shared vision and internal or external integration on entrepreneurial performance. The empirical analyses demonstrate the importance of shared vision and both types of integration for new ventures, particularly enterprises in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study collected data from firms in Greater China, including China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Five hypotheses were tested, for which the total sample size was 246 respondents. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied for statistical analyses.

Findings

– The results indicate that entrepreneurial vision correlates positively with shared vision. In its turn, shared vision correlates positively with internal integration and external integration. Furthermore, internal integration correlates positively with entrepreneurial performance. Although external integration is essential during new enterprise establishment, analytical results indicate that external integration is not strongly correlated with entrepreneurial performance.

Practical implications

– Shared vision plays a critical role in the integration process during the establishment of new enterprises. The results of this study show that newly established firms need to put more efforts than do operating firms into integrating external resources.

Originality

– /

value

This study contributes to a better understanding of the effects of shared vision and the different kinds of integration on entrepreneurial management. Knowing the driving forces behind these phenomena may help new firms to engage more actively in resources integration and enhance their entrepreneurial performance.

Singh R, Issar S, Varkey J. Evaluation of vendors ranking by EATWOS approach

Purpose

– In order to improve the supply chain performance, organizations need to improve the efficiency of vendors. Although many techniques are used for vendor efficiency measurement, there is a lack of research about defining satisficing level to analyze improvement potential of vendors. The purpose of this paper is to incorporate satisficing level of some outputs to determine efficiency improvement potential of existing vendors.

Design/methodology/approach

– Method used in this paper is an extension of Data Envelopment Analysis, which has been used frequently for efficiency measurement of Decision Making Units. This method is known as Efficiency Analysis Technique with Output Satisficing (EATWOS), which has been mainly used in the field of economics for efficiency measurement.

Findings

– A case illustration of a National Capital Region of Delhi, India, based manufacturer and distributor of packaged drinking water is depicted to portray the practical application of EATWOS in vendor efficiency evaluation and their relative ranking. This method has helped in evaluating the improvement potential in performance of given vendors and helping in strategic decision making for the given organization

Research limitations/implications

– In case of more variables, this method becomes more complex to get the solution. Second, sometimes difference in vendors ranking without and with satisficing concept is very less, as in this case. Therefore, recording and analysis of output data of vendors should be done very carefully.

Practical implications

– Major implications of this study is that while selecting vendors, organizations should also try to understand improvement potential for given vendors by applying satisficing concept as given in this research. This approach helps in analyzing improvement potentials of suppliers.

Originality/value

– This paper explores an innovative approach to rank vendors on basis of certain criteria after considering the satisficing concept and improvement potentials of vendors.

Benchmarking suppliers’ performance when some factors play the role of both inputs and outputs

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a slack-based measure (SBM) model in the presence of dual-role factor. Then it is applied in supplier selection problem.

Design/methodology/approach

– The developed model in this paper is based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique.

Findings

– The proposed evaluation platform is capable of identifying ill-performing suppliers which seek to future improvement. The findings provide valuable insights for practitioners, as well as academicians, policy makers and also integrate selection criteria under the supply chain.

Originality/value

– This is the first time that a non-radial DEA model considers dual-role factors. The proposed model does not deal with dual-role factor as a non-discretionary factor. The proposed model considers dual-role factors on both the input and output sides in a similar manner. The proposed model can fully measure the inefficiency of suppliers. The proposed model can give a complete ranking of suppliers.

Information support technologies of integrated production planning and control for OEM driven networked manufacturing

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the information support technologies of integrated production planning control for OEM (original equipment manufacturer) driven networked manufacturing systems, and offer implications to firms for implementing networked manufacturing.

Design/methodology/approach

OEM driven networked manufacturing and its operations modes and support technologies are first discussed. Then, integration framework of production planning and control is proposed and relative technologies are discussed. Finally, a case of the application of information support technologies in networked manufacturing is illustrated.

Findings

Both theory analysis and case experience show that information integration and sharing are critical for effective operations of OEM driven networked manufacturing and an integrated production planning and control system can benefit firms for successfully operating a networked manufacturing system.

Practical implications

It is valuable to develop and apply integrated production planning and control systems in OEM driven networked manufacturing, Firms should pay more attention to information sharing and communication with partners and utilize advanced information technologies to synchronize the operations of partners.

Originality/value

Integration framework of production planning and control proposed in this paper has originality and the technology strategies are also practical. Managerial ideas, technology framework and application strategies of integrated production planning and control are helpful for firms to implement OEM driven networked manufacturing.