Andrew Taylor

Operations management research: contemporary themes, trends and potential future directions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the contemporary research themes published in IJOPM in order to contribute to current debates about the future directions of operations management (OM) research.Design/methodology/approach – All 310 articles published in IJOPM from volume 24 issue 9 in 2004 through volume 29, issue 12 in 2009 are analysed using content analysis methods. This period of analysis is chosen because it represents all the articles published in issues for which the authors are able to have full control, during their period of tenure as Editors of the journal. This analysis is supplemented by data on all 1,853 manuscripts submitted to the journal during the same time period and further, by analysis of reviews and feedback sent to all authors after review.Findings – The paper reports the main research themes and research methods inherent in the 310 published papers. Statistics on the countries represented by these papers and the size and international composition of author teams a...

Does data warehouse end-user metadata add value?

Many data warehouses are currently underutilized by managers and knowledge workers. Can high-quality end-user metadata help to increase levels of adoption and use?

Towards greater understanding of success and survival of lean systems

The purposes of this research are to remove some of the confusion surrounding the characterisation of lean systems; to delve deeper into the human issues associated with lean; and to explore the complexity of an established lean system to identify issues which affect its success and ongoing continuance. Using the mixed methods of literature analysis, semi-structured interviews and document analysis, we examine the lean implementation in one site of an international car manufacturer. We claim several contributions for the work. First, we produce a literature-based taxonomy defining the core dimensions of lean – this gives managers a clear roadmap for lean implementation. A second contribution is a detailed delineation of the human issues of lean, from which managers can follow our set of themes to guide their managerial efforts. Finally, we provide insights into the inner workings of a lean system showing several examples of the delicate balances and tensions which exist. Perhaps none is as significant as the issue of its long term survival, which our findings suggest may be at risk. This serves as a warning signal to managers to be on constant lookout for signs of faltering or failure.

Sustainable supply chains: a framework for environmental scanning practices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the empirical reality of environmental scanning (ES) practices in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) contexts. In particular it tests a conceptual framework proposed in 2011 by Fabbe-Costes et al. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical data for this research were obtained from 45 semi-structured interviews with key informants, combined with a discussion of the main results with a focus group of supply chain experts. These data are compared with the literature and brought to bear on the framework. Findings – The research finds both breadth and depth in the scope of sustainability scanning practices of the respondent group and provides evidence of multi-level scanning, with all respondents describing scanning activity at the societal level. It further demonstrates the adoption of multiple and diverse scanning targets at all levels in the conceptual framework. The articulation and ranking of scanning targets for SSCM at all levels informs the development of priorities for practice. The paper also makes some observations about the boundaries of the scanning process. Practical implications – The results provide managers with concrete guidance about what to scan in sustainable supply chain contexts. The validated framework can serve as a practical tool to assist managers with the organization and prioritization of their ES activities. Originality/value – The paper is among the first to address the role of ES in sustainable supply chain contexts. It highlights the need for a multi-level framework for such scanning activities and opens up a debate about their implementation.

Factors influencing effective implementation of performance measurement systems in small and medium-sized enterprises and large firms: a perspective from Contingency Theory

This article investigates the influence of organisation size on the effective implementation of performance measurement systems (PMSs). Contingency theory suggests that size effects are relevant for many operations management practices and extant studies confirm this to be true for practices such as total quality management, Lean and business process re-engineering. However, robust empirical evidence of size effects on PMS implementation has not yet been produced. We draw upon fundamental differences between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large firms to develop eight hypotheses about size effects for PMS implementation. Using empirical data from 349 UK manufacturing firms we find support for seven out of the eight hypotheses which confirms the presence of size effects in PMS contexts. Our findings help managers to recognise that practices which enable PMS implementation in large firms are not necessarily the most relevant ‘levers’ in SMEs and vice versa. The results provide guidance on where to focus attention and resources during PMS implementation and on the most likely sources of any missing knowledge and expertise. Our findings also provide a mandate for further investigation of size effects on PMS implementation in a wider range of contexts.

Integrating new technology in established organizations: A mapping of integration mechanisms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the various mechanisms that can be used to integrate new technology into existing products, and to determine some of the conditions under which specific integration mechanisms are most appropriate.Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopted an exploratory theory‐building approach based on analysis of data from 12 case studies, each representing companies with varying levels of: technological maturity of the organization and technological advancement of their products. Informants were managers and engineers who had responsibility for, or a significant role in, the integration of software and hardware. At least three interviews were conducted in each company and all interviews were of at least two hours duration. In total, 41 interviews were conducted. The different approaches used for technology integration were examined and subsequently mapped using the twin dimensions outlined above.Findings – Cross‐case pattern analysis indicates that fo...

Antecedents of effective performance measurement system implementation: an empirical study of UK manufacturing firms

This paper examines the antecedents to effective performance measurement system (PMS) implementation. There have been only a few studies which have investigated this topic, and to-date there is no consensus about what factors are significant. Using empirical data collected from 349 UK manufacturing firms, we identify six potential factors from an item pool derived from an extensive literature review. Subsequent regression analysis reveals that all six factors have a significant influence on PMS implementation effectiveness. We characterise these factors into two sub-sets, with the technical sub-set accounting for most of the variance in the dependent variable. We also demonstrate that ‘softer’ social factors additionally have a significant, albeit comparatively small, effect. These, we argue, are essential in order to bind an organisation’s approach to performance measurement into one cohesive whole. Our findings provide managers with a clearer view of the factors which may influence the effectiveness of their PMS implementation. Moreover, we anticipate that the findings should provide empirical stimulation of an important debate about how to ensure that organisations can implement PMSs that are adequate for their purposes. As such, while the findings have current utility, their additional value is in providing a platform for subsequent research.

Performance measurement in the Third Sector: the development of a stakeholder-focussed research agenda

This paper addresses a need for greater insight into the theory and practice of performance measurement (PM) in the Third Sector (TS). Effective PM is crucial to the long-term viability of Third Sector organisations (TSOs), since it provides funders with the requisite evidence to demonstrate value for money and to convince them to provide further funding. It also serves to ensure that vulnerable societal groups receive the social care they need and that the internal management processes of TSOs continuously improve their effectiveness and sustainability. PM research has been scant in this sector and our literature review suggests that no extant models or frameworks are particularly suitable in this context, due in part to the wide range of stakeholders and the distinctive characteristics of TSOs. Drawing on a comprehensive review of the literature, we develop the conceptual foundation of PM in the Third Sector and derive a research agenda that provides a platform for future work. This draws in part on the notions embedded in Stakeholder Theory.

Winning the Hearts and Minds of Business Intelligence Users: The Role of Metadata

Business Intelligence (BI) applications are strategic decision support systems that are significantly underutilized in many organizations. We propose that adoption and use can be improved by designing BI applications that provide users with high-quality metadata (i.e. information about the meaning, quality, location, and lineage of decision support data). Metadata’s value is that it positively influences user attitudes towards data as measured by cognition and affect.

Additive Manufacturing: Current Status and Future Prospects

The potential implications of additive manufacturing or 3D printing technology are being recognized across a number of different industries. In developed countries where the traditional manufacturing sector has experienced decline, the developments in additive manufacturing present potential opportunities for growth. The paper presents the outcomes of preliminary data analysis from an exploratory survey of senior managers working in the additive manufacturing sector in the Australasian region. The analysis suggests that while there has been progress, there is scope for improving technologies and reducing costs in order to facilitate wider adoption of and greater business value from 3D printing.