Fatima M. Albar

Heuristics in decision making

Heuristics are simple rules of thumbs for problem solving that follow a logic that is quite different from consequential logic. They have long been regarded, as an inferior technique for decision making that is the source of irrational decision behavior. Recently, decision making researchers have demonstrated that some heuristics are highly efficient and can compete with complex decision models in some application domains. This paper explores the different streams of research, summarizes the state of the art decision making model, and discusses its implications for complex decisions in engineering and technology management.

Few or more attributes: Deleting criteria using sensitivity analysis

Research has shown that as the attractiveness of alternatives rises with more choices, individuals experience conflict between the alternatives, which causes them to defer their decision, search for new alternatives, or choose the default option. Having lesser attributes simplifies complex problems and the decision making process. This paper uses the sensitivity analysis in hierarchical decision model, developed by Hongyi Chen, to prove that we can reduce the size of a problem and make the decision easier with the future change of values of attributes, without affecting the final decision.

Project management in product development: Toward a framework for targeted flexibility

As a discipline, project management has been accused of having lost its relevance for innovative initiatives because it emphasizes planning and control over the flexibility and learning-based strategies that are needed to succeed under uncertainty. Several authors therefore recommend adaptive project management practices - sometimes named “targeted flexibility” - that respond to project characteristics commonly found in innovation, namely novelty, complexity, speed and - as a result - uncertainty. This paper investigates how this proposed adaptation of project management occurs in a context with high levels of novelty that organizes work in projects and needs to accommodate projects of different pace, complexity and innovativeness: product development in small and medium enterprises that do research and development work in the same organizational unit. Results of a literature review and two exploratory studies, covering a total of 8 companies with multiple projects each, are presented. Implications for a future framework for targeted flexibility are developed, leading to the identification of the following needs for project management: (1) better understanding of the many ways in which project management impacts exploration and exploitation activities, (2) improved attention for the currently poorly supported pre-project and early initiation stages, (3) a shift of focus from monitoring against plans toward monitoring against achieved learning, and (4) the formulation of transition paths from current new product development practice to higher project management maturity.

Employee rating systems and innovation

Creativity is the production of novel, appropriate ideas to a problem or opportunity presented, in any realm of human activity from science, to arts, to education, to business, to everyday life. People will be most creative when they are primarily intrinsically motivated by working on some thing they like, involving, exciting, and satisfying. About what they do, as well as with the extrinsically motivated like expected evaluation, surveillance, competition with peers, dictates from superiors, or the promise of rewards. Work environment , which is strongly influenced by management at all levels, can make the difference between the production of new, useful ideas for innovative business growth and the continuance of old, progressively less useful routines. Organization motivation, resources and management practices, appraisal system are the main components of organization creativity and innovation systems. This paper studies the impact of the appraisal system on employees creativity in high technology corporations. The outcome recommendations depend on analysis of literature reviews and five interviews have been conducted with managers and a veteran engineer.

Decision-Making Tools: Deleting Criteria Using Sensitivity Analysis

Research has shown that as the attractiveness of alternatives rises with more choices, individuals experience conflict between the alternatives, which causes them to defer their decision, search for new alternatives, or choose the default option. Having lesser attributes simplifies complex problems and the decision-making process. This chapter uses the sensitivity analysis in hierarchical decision model, developed by Hongyi Chen, to prove that we can reduce the size of a problem and make the decision easier with the future change of values of attributes, without affecting the final decision.