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The paper identifies different classes of distributed decision making problems in supply chain management. Since, these problem classes have been developed in various sciences like applied mathematics, operations research, economics and artificial intelligence, the paper gives a systematic overview as to the specific contribution each single science is providing, particularly indicating possible synergies. Moreover, it points to those distributed decision-making problems that prove to be of major relevance for supply chain management. Keywords: Distributed decision making; Supply chain management; Coordination

This paper updates and expands upon a previous study (Int. J. Prod. Econom. 54 (1998) 41) on cost and location factors used in the US and internationally. The current study includes 43 US cost and location factors and 30 international cost and location factors for 12 countries. In addition, cost scale-up factors for a wide variety of equipment, plants and processes from air pollution abatement to waste-to-energy facilities are presented. This study reviews the use of these indexes and scale-up factors, and presents caveats for their use. Keywords: Cost estimation; US and international inflation and location indexes; Cost-capacity factors; Scale-up factors; R factors

Studying the impact of market orientation on business performance has been a popular research topic in recent years. However, there seems to be a lack of empirical studies that measure market orientation in quality management environments, even though marketing and quality management are considered complementary business approaches. This paper explores the effects of market orientation on a sample of 304 quality-oriented firms, and its impact on their performance. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the measures of market orientation, quality management implementation, and business performance. Correlation analysis was performed to determine whether market orientation is associated with quality management implementation and a firm's performance. Three aspects of market orientation are found to correlate with 10 critical factors of quality management implementation, and with four dimensions of business performance. The findings indicate that market orientation is strongly correlated with quality management implementation and business performance in a positive direction in the sampled firms. The implications of the results are discussed, and suggestions for further research are proposed. Keywords: Quality; Marketing; Implementation; Survey; Performance

This study presents a general description of the state of the art of capital budgeting methods used by Swedish corporations. It is based on a questionnaire sent to 528 companies selected from 500 of the largest Swedish corporations and some from the O-list of companies. The response rate is 24.4%. The study shows that the public sector companies are most frequent users of discounted cash flow (DCF) methods. The payback method is the most used in all industries; also matters size of company. The use of the net present value method has increased over the years, although the use of DCF methods is generally unchanged. Value-based management models have been introduced in the listed companies. Another conclusion is that tradition is an important factor explaining the choice of capital budgeting method. Large companies within the manufacturing industry use DCF methods more often than other companies. In general, the companies seem unconcerned with the tax consequences of capital budgeting decisions. It would appear as if the public companies have not adopted capital budgeting practices supporting shareholder value increases. Keywords: Capital budgeting methods; Investments; Cost of capital; Capital budgeting decisions; Survey

Business process reengineering (BPR) has been a popular business improvement strategy for the past decade. However, Holland and Kumar (Getting past the obstacles to successful reengineering, Business Horizons, 1995, p. 79) noted that 60-80% of BPR initiatives have been unsuccessful. An extensive review of the literature revealed significant gaps in research in this area of technology and innovation management. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to report on a cross-sectional study based on a survey questionnaire sent to strategic business units within the Australian Financial Services Sector that have implemented BPR. A response rate of 32% was obtained. The central finding of the study is that the proactive implementation of BPR as part of the organisation's business strategy, coupled with focusing BPR efforts on core-customer business processes are the most significant predictors of BPR success. Using multiple regression analysis, these BPR practices were found to explain more than 30% of the variance in organisational performance. On the other hand, there was no significant and positive relationship between the increased use of information technology and process cycle time reduction. The implication of these results is that managers must reengineer their core processes from a customer perspective. The paper concludes that the key challenges for successful BPR implementation are changing attitudes and culture, ensuring extensive communications and dealing with resistance to change from middle management. Keywords: BPR; Customers; Performance

A research conducted to discover unarticulated customer needs and technologies with completely novel applications is presented. It is emphasized that the success of customer oriented research management depends on the self-understanding of modern industrial research center as goal-oriented solution providers.

Research is presented concerning the emphasis which has been given to collective research and the growing number of scientific papers published by collaborating scientists. Competition between scientists is discussed.

The policy study program and research on vocational and technical education and training sponsored by the World Bank and other international agencies were examined. Although the results of the program are available in published form, the process through which these publications are developed is not made known beyond those who were directly involved in the study. This might mislead others into thinking that the policy program research was the only knowledge base of the study. The information that over 900 other studies and reports were also consulted to accomplish the study's aims is as important as the results of the study itself., The outcomes of a policy study are, of course, shaped by the nature of the knowledge base on which it rests, and this knowledge base is in turn largely determined [...]

Technology-intensive firms are increasingly investing in research and development. Companies follow a technical leader, product innovator, nicher or follower type of research policy depending on company requirements. Research laboratories are either research- or development-intensive while research may be classified a basic, common elementary technology, or new product development. Research management must emphasize effective interfaces to enhance research work. Firms spend more than 10 percent of sales to cover research and development costs.

As we prepare to enter the third millennium, we are faced with 'an increasingly global economy marked by frequent bursts of technological innovation and profound technical change'. Canada must meet [...]

What can business learn from Big Science? AS A technical feat, ATLAS takes some beating. It is the world's biggest microscope, used by physicists at CERN, a large laboratory near [...]

Progress made during four-year project has spurred industry to target 2020 for the introduction of virtual certification A prototype collaborative design environment that could contribute to virtual certification is the [...]

Research is presented concerning the analysis of the scientific community involved in research and development in the biotechnology industry in order to determine the influence of collaborations on scientific research.

It can be argued that methodological choices have substantial repercussions for the sorts of explanations produced by comparative industrial relations research. There is a need to look more closely at the epistemological assumptions contained within research designs used by industrial relations researchers. There are several weaknesses connected with the use of a most similar research design to the comparison of industrial relations reform in Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s and 1990s.

Intellectual property rights (IPR) have emerged as the currency of the global economy. The trend, which has led to intellectual property (IP) audit becoming a company's main strategic 'weapon,' is the result of the commercialization of IP. The enforcement of IPR and such harmonization concepts as globalization of technology, licensing strategies and 'niching' are indicative of the emerging importance of intellectual capital in both national and business concerns.

A fourth generation approach to research management is presented. The technique, described as the generation of intellectual capital aimed at developing future businesses and creating new products, involves the management of technological dependencies, complementary skills and the transfer of knowledge via research links. The study cites the research management practices employed by pharmaceutical and biotechnology research groups in industries and universities as prime examples of the fourth generation approach.

The European Union still has very little contact with central and eastern Europe in the area of research. This problem was highlighted at a meeting of the European Union Research Council on May 13, 1997. No firm commitments were made to involve eastern and central European countries in the European Union's Fifth Framework Programme of Research and Technological Development. There is still considerable disagreement about how joint research programmes would be funded.

The pork industry is calling on retailers to help plug a major R&D funding gap. Members of the Pig Meat Supply Chain Task Force met last month to discuss how [...]

Universities are being challenged to make a greater contribution to Canadian society 1993 will mark the 15th anniversary of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) as a separate [...]

Research is presented concerning the development of complex linkage fields by basic research programs which have been funded publicly. Thirty case studies are analyzed to investigate technology transfer as a result of such linkage.

There is considerable potential for meaningful, cross-national research in industrial relations using survey data. Researchers involved in such work must be committed to careful data collection and analysis. They must be aware that even small differences between questions can produce significant differences in the response made, particularly for more qualitative questions. This can be a serious problem when carrying out secondary matching. There can also be difficulties with sample incompatibility, response incompatibility and phenomenon incompatibility. A key feature in seeking to overcome incompatibilities is the research method used and the interpretation of the findings produced.

An analytical approach aimed at helping companies in determining priorities in R&D selection has been devised. The technique, which also shows how such selections can be effectively financed, highlights the importance of choosing priorities in technology development. The strategic approach to technology management is described as a tool that aids in linking business strategy to technology strategy, a move that permits the prioritization of R&D issues in accordance with corporate strategy.

Peer review ensures that resources are not wasted on 'trivial projects' At a time when symphony orchestras and museums are closing their doors to the public, we cannot allow our [...]