Emmanuel Adamides

A knowledge centred framework for collaborative business process modelling

Purpose – The paper aims to present the design rationale, the structure and the use of a web‐based information systems framework for collaborative business process modelling.Design/methodology/approach – By viewing process modelling as a “problematic situation” that entails a considerable amount of social and knowledge activity in order to be resolved, a novel process modelling construct has been developed and a participative problem‐structuring methodology adapted to the specific domain. The framework presented is the result of an action research study for process improvement and has been introduced in a real organizational setting as a pilot application.Findings – Experiences from the use of the framework presented indicate that it stimulates interaction and makes participants more accountable for their modelling contributions, as well as aiding them to define, understand, document, analyze and improve business processes in a holistic manner by interacting with one another and with the model under const...

Supporting collaboration in the development and management of lean supply networks

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the appropriate information and communication technology can act as a catalyst in the development and operations management of lean supply networks; not by automating tasks and procedures, but by providing the enabling infrastructure required for structuring difficult problems and issues arising at inter-organisational boundaries and for taming the social complexity of their resolution processes. Towards this end, we present the design rationale and the functionalities of Co-LEAN, which is an integrated suite of software tools developed by the authors for the design and management of lean supply networks. In addition to providing full operational support in the planning and execution of the lean supply network, Co-LEAN supports internet-based collaboration in the specification of value, the identification and optimisation of value-streams, the alignment of supply-chain strategy with the overall operations strategy, and the supply-chain improvement tasks. The paper discusses the knowledge and information management requirements of lean supply networks, and presents the main components and functionalities of Co-LEAN in the context of a use case in a supply network formed around a stainless steel tanks’ manufacturer.

A multi-methodological approach to the development of a regional solid waste management system

The management of solid waste at regional level has received considerable attention over the last years. Increased consumption levels are causing an exacerbation of the problem, whereas the sensitivity of the public over environmental issues makes its solution harder. Although the main difficulties in resolving the different occurrences of the problem belong to the realm of policy making, so far the employment of operational research and systems methods seems to adopt a purely technocratic stance, concentrating on the content and understating the solution process. In the different formulations of the problem as static optimization relating to the economics of the location of the treatment facilities and the methods and routes of waste transportation, the dynamics of the issue and the intervention activities are neglected, whereas cognitive and social perspectives of the solution process are objectified and over-rationalized. This paper aims at demonstrating how the solid waste management (SWM) problem and its solution process can be addressed in a more holistic way by adopting a multi-methodological point of view. Towards this end, we present the combined application of soft systems methodology, system dynamics and multi-objective optimization in an action research project for the development of an SWM system for a specific region in Greece.

A computerized knowledge management system for the manufacturing strategy process

This paper presents Co-MASS, a computerized knowledge management system for the collaborative development of manufacturing and operations strategy. The system supports the social and knowledge processes of collaborative strategy development by integrating a domain-specific modelling formalism based on the resource view of the firm, an associated structured dialogue scheme, an argumentation-enabling mechanism, and an efficient algorithm for the evaluation of alternatives. The competence-based manufacturing strategy paradigm behind its design rationale, its main elements, and a use case in a real setting are presented. Evaluation results provided positive feedback for the usability of the system, the discourse structure and the functionality of the user interface. The main contribution of our system lies in the integration of knowledge management, decision support and argumentation features, which constitutes a novel approach to develop manufacturing strategy.

Linking operations strategy to the corporate strategy process: a practice perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a micro-level, human-activity-centred interpretative framework for the way operations strategy is formed, linked and aligned with corporate-level strategies, and to apply it to gain insights on these processes. Design/methodology/approach – Relying on the theoretical foundations of social practice theory and actor-network theory, as well as on the analysis of the organisational realities of the operations strategy formation process embedded in pluralistic organisational contexts, a conceptual framework for analysing the production and alignment of operations strategy is developed. The framework is then used to guide field research for the analysis of an operations-led strategic initiative in a medium-sized agro-food company. Findings – Operations strategy formation can be interpreted as an ongoing practical, distributed social activity of network (re)formation. Specific initiatives, or events, act as catalysts for the association of operations strategy for...

Critical realism in supply chain research: Understanding the dynamics of a seasonal goods supply chain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how a critical realist paradigmatic stance and its associated research methodology can contribute to supply‐chain research by providing explanations for specific supply‐chain‐ and logistics‐related dynamic phenomena.Design/methodology/approach – Initially, the case for a critical realist research paradigm is made, and then a retroductive pluralistic research methodology is used for demonstrating its application. Starting from an observation in the distribution part of a seasonal goods supply chain, ethnographic‐like field research suggested deeper social structures as being responsible for the events observed. The operation of event‐generating mechanisms related to these structures was matched to existing behavioural theories using dynamic modelling and simulation.Findings – The adoption of the critical realist perspective and its pluralistic research methodology can bring into surface the root causes of, and explain, complex supply chain phenomena. In the pa...

Internal Supply-chain Competition In Remanufacturing: Operations Strategies, Performance And Environmental Effects

This paper investigates the competitive and environmental effects of different operations strategies of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and semi-independent remanufacturers, which simultaneously cooperate and compete in different stages of a closed-loop supply chain. In particular, a co-opetitive situation, in which remanufacturing is undertaken only by retailers while the OEMs’ role is restricted to recycling is considered. After adopting a resource-based perspective of competition, investigations are accomplished using system dynamics simulation modelling. The results of simulations indicate that, in the long run, OEMs, regardless of the operation strategy they adopt, are unable to (re)capture the market gained by the remanufacturers. However, some of these strategies contribute to the improvement of the environmental performance of the entire supply chain.

Developing an integrated solid waste management system in western Greece: a dynamic location analysis

We study the problem of the simultaneous design of a distribution network with central treatment facilities, transfer stations and landfills, and the coordination of waste flows within this network for a long-term planning horizon. We apply these concepts in a research project for the development of a solid waste management system for a specific region in Greece. We then formulate a dynamic mixed integer programming model that minimizes the sum of costs for opening facilities and variable transportation costs related to solid waste flows. Finally, we analyze the results of the model and evaluate the various technologies that may be implemented in the treatment facilities.

Integrating Simulation and Argumentation in Organizational Decision Making

This paper presents a framework for organizational decision making that provides simulation and argumentation features. The overall approach allows for distributed and asynchronous collaboration and aims at giving an active role to the decision makers involved in the solution of the underlying problems. Its main contribution lies in the seamless integration of a discourse-based decision support tool with an organizational knowledge base, a system dynamics simulation environment and a collection of models for addressing specific strategic issues. The usability of the proposed framework is illustrated through a comprehensive example of collective formulation of manufacturing strategy.

Understanding the Role of Computer-Supported Argumentation in the Strategic Change Process

In this paper the authors develop a conceptual framework for appreciating the use of computer-supported argumentation systems in organisational settings undergoing strategic change. More specifically, the authors concentrate on the role of computer-supported argumentation as catalyst for compensating distortions in the outcome of change, originating from the organisation’s power regime. The framework developed is based on a view of strategic change as actor-network (re)formation. Argumentation is in the core of this process which is greatly influenced by the power distribution among the participants of the change effort. A dynamic simulation model is used to instantiate the conceptual framework and to capture the dynamics of change. Simulation experiments are conducted to investigate the effects of employing argumentation technologies with specific characteristics related to the representation of power and accessibility in the argumentation discourse on the outcome of change.