H Barton

Organizing for continuous improvement: Structures and roles in automotive components plants

This paper reports some preliminary findings from a research project on the management of problem solving and continuous improvement in UK and US first tier automotive component manufacturers. It draws on organizational theory to interpret emerging structures, relationships and roles in the light of recent work on the “learning factory” model of manufacturing. There is considerable evidence of shifting patterns of roles and responsibilities, especially for operators, front‐line managers and a new cadre of continuous improvement specialists, but only limited evidence of knowledge transfer across organizational boundaries. Overall the findings suggest that there are various routes toward the learning factory and that ultimately this model of operations is likely to have numerous practical incarnations.

Development in the learning factory: training human capital

Examines innovation, labour and human resource management in contemporary manufacturing. Case study data are presented from automotive plants in the USA and the UK. Reports on the human resource practices in use and considers the relationship with the plants’ manufacturing and innovation activities. In particular, focuses on current developments in the roles of employees and their training and development implications.

HRM in support of the learning factory: evidence from the US and UK automotive components industries

This paper investigates HRM practices in eighteen automotive component plants in the US and UK and is based on data obtained from interviews and a questionnaire survey of the plants. HR practices are reviewed and consideration is given to whether the firms in the study display evidence of a ‘human capital’ approach. This is important given that there is growing evidence to suggest that high-performance workplaces depend on ‘high skill’ strategies that make better use of, and continuously develop, human capital. In particular, we consider practice in areas of recruitment, reward systems, training and development. In addition, we briefly review the relationship between HR practices and the continuous improvement activities that have increasingly come to be associated with manufacturing ‘best practice’ under the learning factory model.

Understanding occupational (sub) culture – a precursor for reform

Over the past two decades successive British governments, both Conservative and Labour, have attempted to implement reforms within the English and Welsh police service. The latest Labour government proposals have resulted in new legislation which paves the way for wide‐scale reforms of how the police are managed, financed and judged against specific performance targets. Further, the introduction of the UKs first “national policing plan” has led to the belief that this is a sign of the British governments intention to reduce/remove the historical, political neutrality identified through “constabulary independence”. Past experiences suggest that greater “nationalisation” of policing in the UK is unlikely to meet government expectations owing to the strength of police (sub) culture to adopt and yet resist reform and that the governments failure to pay attention to this may result in the failure of reform.

Convergence and Divergence Dynamics in British and French Business Schools: How Will the Pressure for Accreditation Influence These Dynamics?

This paper focuses on convergence and divergence dynamics among leading British and French business schools and explores how the pressure for accreditation influences these dynamics. We illustrate that despite historical differences in approaches to management education in Britain and France, these approaches have converged partly based on the influence of the American model of management education but more recently through the pursuit of accreditation, in particular from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the European Quality Improvement Standard. We explore these dynamics through the application of the resource‐based view of the firm and institutional theory and suggest that, whilst achieving accreditation is a necessary precursor for international competition, it is no longer a form of competitive advantage. The pursuit of accreditation has fostered a form of competitive mimicry reducing national distinctiveness. The resource‐based view of the firm suggests that the top schools need a more heterogeneous approach that is not easily replicable if they are to outperform the competitors. Consequently, the convergence of management education in Britain and France will become a new impetus for divergence. We assert that future growth and competitive advantage might be better achieved through the reassertion of national, regional and local cultural characteristics.

Challenges, issues and change: what's the future for UK policing in the twenty‐first century?

Purpose – This paper aims to review calls on the UK police service to respond to the dual challenge of increasing governmental/public demands for improvements in police efficiency and effectiveness in the likely context of decreasing real time increases in financial resources. Specifically it aims to highlight the reform of police organizational structures, a greater focus on performance management and people development initiatives as areas that have the potential to bring about significant benefits for future UK policing.Design/methodology/approach – Using the results of Government‐sponsored research and other secondary data the approach is to explore the potential for implementation of new approaches to policing.Findings – There would appear to be a consensus between the Government and the police service of the need for reform. The mechanics of successful implementation, however, face institutional, cultural and financial obstacles.Research limitations/implications – The complexity of policing and its ...

‘Lean’ policing? New approaches to business process improvement across the UK police service

The drive for efficiencies across all areas of public spending in the UK has accelerated the need for improvements in service performance. This article considers how police performance might be improved through the adoption of a ‘Lean’ philosophy. This is seen as a potential driver for internal police improvements and is made in response to the governments call for reform and to address the challenges of a decrease in future police funding.

Entrepreneurial marketing within the French wine industry

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to develop an understanding of the value and application of entrepreneurial marketing within the French wine industry.Design/methodology/approach – Following an initial review of the literature describing the nature of entrepreneurial marketing and its potential application within the wine industry, a case study is presented of a small independent winery of the Cotes du Rhone in order to explore the theory and practice of entrepreneurial marketing in this commercially important French wine growing region.Findings – The marketing approach adopted by the case company is found to contrast with the traditional adversarial approach to competition prevalent throughout the French wine industry. The case study illustrates how entrepreneurial marketing has allowed the leverage of superior knowledge of customer preferences, market intelligence and product knowledge in the process of delivering superior value to the customer through brand differentiation at firm level. Additionally...

Tipping the scales: ambidexterity practices on e-HRM projects

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine and conceptualise the ways in which a balance can be achieved between optimising the efficiency and effectiveness of electronic human resource management (e-HRM) systems for human resource management (HRM) and enabling innovation to occur during the system implementation. Design/methodology/approach – An interpretive case study of a UK local authority e-HRM system implementation is examined using the notion of ambidexterity as an analytical device. Ambidexterity relates to how an organisation develops the ability to operate efficiently in the now, while at the same time being able to adapt to environmental changes around and ahead of them in order to grow into the future. Findings – As an intra-organisational capability, ambidexterity is found to derive from the simultaneous interplay and balancing of dual capabilities: exploitation and exploration. e-HRM exploitation concerned the capability to generate new knowledge with innovatory effects, created throu...

Delivering the “learning factory”?: Evidence on HR roles in contemporary manufacturing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evidence the emergence of new forms of work organisation which if observed could be seen as consistent with the concept of the “learning factory”. This is attempted through reporting the views of those workers engaged in team based operations and reflects upon the emerging role of first-line and team-based supervisors. The implications of such developments are then considered from the perspective of the current HR plant managers. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reports on a study of 18 US and UK automotive component suppliers. The information gathered included questionnaire data detailing management practices and giving plant level performance measures. The paper draws primarily on data gathered from interviews conducted with workers, team leaders and managers, including HR managers. Findings – While the majority of plants may be some way from a “learning factory” model there is evidence of changing practices, structures and expectations in each that are in varying ways broadly consistent with elements of this approach. As a consequence of the prioritisation for increases in devolution of responsibility to other employees, the traditional role of the HR manager was seen to be evolving which to a number of managers was creating difficulties. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the growing evidence of the devolvement of traditional “managerial” responsibilities to lower levels within increasingly “lean” manufacturing organisations. It also comments on the evolving role of HR managers in contemporary manufacturing.