Andres Sousa-Poza

Well-being at work: a cross-national analysis of the levels and determinants of job satisfaction

Abstract The aim of this paper is to analyze the levels and determinants of job satisfaction in a cross-national setting. This aim is accomplished using the latest Work Orientations data set from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP). The survey was conducted in 1997 and, in this paper, data for 21 countries are used. The main results are: (i) workers in all countries are quite satisfied; this result also applies to the five Eastern European countries analyzed here. (ii) Denmark is the country with the highest job-satisfaction level. The United States is ranked seventh, Great Britain fifteenth, Japan nineteenth, and Russia twentieth. (iii) A comparison with the 1989 ISSP data set reveals that job satisfaction has declined in Germany and the United States in the 1990s. (iv) Using a bottom-up psychological model, in which we compare work-role inputs (e.g., effort) with work-role outputs (e.g., pay), we try to explain cross-national differences. Countries with high work-role outputs, in general, have a high job-satisfaction ranking, and vice versa. (v) Having an interesting job and having good relations with management are the two most important work-role outputs, and having an exhausting job is the most important work-role input. (vi) Workers in Eastern European countries tend to value high income.

System of Systems Engineering

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Project Management: A Cultural Literary Review

This paper describes the methodology and results of content analysis research on culture within the leading project management peer review journals and recent published project management books. A review of 770 journal articles and 93 books was conducted, extending four earlier project management literature reviews while focusing on culture within project management. Emerging from this research are three primary themes: (1) knowledge and awareness of culture is important for project management professionals, (2) the percentage of culture-related articles remained fairly constant with earlier research, and (3) empirical-based project management research continues to be limited.

System of systems engineering: an emerging multidiscipline

In this paper, we present System of Systems Engineering (SOSE) as a developing multidiscipline, spanning across and drawing from a variety of disciplines to address complex situations; situations are characterised by ambiguity, high uncertainty and emergence. This paper is organised to: (1) provide an assessment of the current state of SOSE field development, (2) suggest the nature of complex issues for which traditional approaches are falling short to include the corresponding challenges facing SOSE development, (3) describe two perspectives of the SOSE response to complex situations and (4) establish an emerging paradigm for SOSE as a multidiscipline based on current research. This paper concludes with the implications for further development of research and practice for SOSE.

A cross‐cultural study of the differing effects of corporate culture on TQM in three countries

Explores the impact of cross‐cultural differences on the facilitating effects of corporate culture on the implementation of total quality management (TQM). Measures corporate culture using the competing values model pioneered by Quinn and Rohrbaugh. Measures implementation levels of TQM using a questionnaire developed at the University of Missouri‐Rolla by Wu. Applies these measures to 133 manufacturing companies in the USA, Switzerland and South Africa to investigate the relationship between corporate cultures and the implementation of TQM. Using canonical correlation analysis on the two variable sets (corporate culture and TQM), identifies the relationships between corporate culture and TQM for each region. The results show that, in each region, several distinct relationships between the dimensions of TQM implementation and corporate culture exist. Also determines that the relationships differ between the regions, implying that the application of TQM should take into account ethnological cultures. Makes conclusions and recommendations for management action.

Supply Chain Inventory Control: A Comparison Among JIT, MRP, and MRP With Information Sharing Using Simulation

Abstract: Logistics or supply chains play a central role in effective management. Inventory control systems play a significant role in managing supply chains. This article provides engineering managers with guidelines to choose a cost-effective supply chain inventory control system through analyzing push inventory systems (MRP), and pull systems (JIT). Simulation modeling was used to build and analyze the supply chains with stationary and cyclical demand patterns. The article indicates the main variables that should concern the engineering manager to choose between MRP and JIT. The paper concludes that because JIT reduces the holding cost, it becomes a more cost-effective system at a wider range as the demand level increases. The results also show that when information is shared across a supply chain that implements a MRP system, the cost reduction is significant in comparison with no information sharing especially under cyclical and highly variable demand patterns.

Pragmatic idealism as the basis for understanding complex domains: the trinity and SOSE

This paper gives an initial theoretical exposition of pragmatic idealism; the philosophy that forms the base for analysis, design and transformation of complex situations, including system of systems. The philosophy is presented in the form of a trinity composed of the epistemology, ontology and methodology. The philosophy is a derivative of idealism, pragmatism, and fallibilism. Unifying many of the concepts is an epistemological model of complexity. The methodology is presented as a set of principles, structure and requirements that must be met in the development of methods. Some of the propositions upon which the methodology is built are highlighted. As part of the conclusions, it is argued that for the creation of robust methodologies, methods, approaches, etc. to deal with complex situations one must accommodate for the lack of understanding that is inherent in complex situations.

Complex situations: An alternative approach for viewing a System of Systems

Inherent to system of systems (SOS) are wicked problems. This paper generalizes the characteristics of a wicked problem based on a practical example of a System of Systems. In 1994 the Department of Defense (DoD) set into motion a sequence of events that resulted in an unprecedented decision for change, the result of that decision was to standup the joint forces command. The decision carried with it a mandate to change more than processes and doctrine, but more fundamentally, to change how the military thinks and behaves; this decision created a wicked problem. The paper probes the limitations of analysis on a wicked problem going beyond the characteristics of the problem to explore the exacerbating phenomena of the wicked problem: perspective. The paper provides an alternative approach for viewing wicked problems and concludes that system of systems as a wicked problem require a paradigm that is able to deal with this perspective.

Implications of a rationalist inductive approach in System of Systems Engineering research

System of systems engineering (SoSE) is a rapidly growing discipline that has emerged in response to increasingly complex situations. Complexity arises from the use of reducible perspectives on irreducible problems, from emergence, and other sources that serve to create uncertainty. As these factors violate or challenge fundamental assumptions of systems engineering, new approaches to deal with new problems have been developed. Similarly, complex situations inherently provide challenges for research. Traditional management and engineering research approaches, which are based largely on empiricist paradigms, face serious limitations when addressing complex problems. It is argued in this paper that additional paradigms are needed supported by appropriate methodologies. The rationalist inductive approach is discussed in detail, guidelines for a modeling based rationalist inductive approach are presented, and the implications for SoSE are addressed.

A system of systems engineering environment to deal with complex situations

This paper describes a SoSE environment designed to facilitate the problem-solving process of complex situations. Complex situations can be seen as the behavior of a system of systems that needs to be transformed to a desirable state. This is addressed by exploring the impact and implications of systems analysis and design within a social/group setting where many stakeholders with issues, concerns and independent perspectives develop solutions sets. To achieve this objective, the environment was designed to facilitate, in a social setting; (1) assessment of the complexity of the situation, (2) structure of possible frameworks from which the situation can be dealt with and (3) Take the situation to a desirable state.