Klas Eric Soderquist

Knowledge effectiveness, social context and innovation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conduct an investigation into knowledge‐sharing mechanisms by empirically testing the role that context plays in the transfer of actionable knowledge, and, in turn, for innovation.Design/methodology/approach – A multiple‐respondents survey was performed in 72 business units of companies belonging to the ICT, pharmaceutical and food industries in Greece. In total, 295 useful questionnaires were collected using a multiple respondent strategy. All constructs were measured with multi‐item scales and validated using exploratory factor analyses. A total of seven hypotheses were generated following a literature review on the key determinants of context for effective knowledge sharing. The hypotheses were tested using ordinary least squares regression.Findings – The research shows that when units pursue knowledge transfer between their different actors, contextual factors such as trust, motivation to transfer knowledge, management support and learning orientation are cruc...

Portfolio approaches to procurement: Analysing the missing link to specifications

Abstract Portfolio models have been used in strategic planning and marketing, but their application to the field of purchasing has been limited. This seems, however, to be changing, as procurement management has become more strategic. Applying portfolio models to purchasing can introduce a major risk in that the implications for suppliers and/or operational staff are scarcely considered. This article explores existing portfolio models in purchasing, which classify purchases into different product categories. Based on case studies of two automotive OEMs and two vehicle industry suppliers (all European), together with benchmarking interviews at Toyota, Japan, we attempt, firstly, to link these product categories to different types of suppliers and, secondly, to link the product categories and the supplier types to the specification process—in other words, to link the specification types and the specification generators. We argue that product categories must be matched by distinctive suppliers that have the required capabilities and capacities to satisfy specific product demands. The connection between the portfolio models and the specification process will help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers to improve relations with each other.

Black box engineering: redefining the role of product specifications

Abstract Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in numerous industries recognize the benefits of involving their suppliers in the product design process. Specifications play a central role in guiding that supplier-OEM relationship. For so-called “black-box” parts, the OEM specifies overall requirements for product function and performance, cost targets, and development lead time, and then communicates this information to suppliers, who perform detailed engineering and testing. Black-box engineering marks a fundamental change in the buyer-supplier relationship, and companies that use or plan to adopt this practice must understand the factors that contribute to its successful implementation. Using survey responses from more than 300 suppliers to a European automobile OEM, Christer Karlsson, Rajesh Nellore, and Klas Soderquist identify the problems those suppliers face in the specification process. To provide insight into the context and the causes of those problems, they also describe the results of case studies conducted in the OEM and two suppliers. In this way, they attempt to identify critical factors that can help to improve the specifications process both internally at an OEM and between the OEM and its suppliers. The respondents identified numerous problems that they face in the specifications process. Based on feedback from product development managers and design staff members in the case study companies, those problems are categorized as follows: technical content and the level of detail in requirements, changes of specifications, cost, interpretation and understanding, and supplier participation in the specification process. Black-box engineering redefines the role of specifications. Instead of a fixed document that dictates to the supplier, the specification becomes an open medium for communicating functional and performance requirements and necessary technical adjustments. In other words, black-box products require a highly interactive design process. Product development managers for suppliers and OEMs must understand that they cannot avoid changes in specifications during black-box engineering projects. Rather than view such changes as wastes of time and effort, they should approach the black-box engineering process as a learning opportunity. By working with several parallel sets of functional solutions, which they can validate with the customer before developing detailed dimensional definitions, suppliers can limit the amount of time they lose as a result of changes in specifications.

From task‐based to competency‐based

Purpose – Organizational effectiveness today depends largely on the ability to activate, share and transform the intellectual capital of the company into sustainable and difficult‐to‐imitate competitive advantage. This paper seeks to develop a competency typology that integrates previous definitions and frameworks from the literature and to propose a methodology for identifying competencies to aid the transition from a task‐based to a competency‐based logic for human resource management.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a longitudinal research project. The paper outlines a methodology and presents the findings from the implementation of a competency model in two case companies. It illustrates how the systematic use of the identified competency categories can support the identification and coding of competencies, which will facilitate the critical organizational transformation from a task‐based to a competency‐based approach.Findings – The experience from the deployment offers potential c...

Lean supply and price-based global sourcing — the interconnection

Abstract Just-in-time delivery, design for manufacturing, and early supplier involvement based on frequent and close interactions between buyers and suppliers are some of the basic conditions of lean supply in the automotive industry. Many of these conditions appear to be difficult to achieve in global purchasing. This is because global purchasing has mostly been seen as a means of putting price pressures on suppliers. The aim of this paper is to highlight the interconnection between global purchasing and lean supply. A strategic project “live or die” was chosen within a major global auto original equipment manufacturer (OEM) located in North America. To get as complete a picture as possible of the context and causal conditions, and to be able to make coherent benchmarks with objectives, global purchasing was followed across one major project rather than across different ones. The data was collected through interviews both in the OEM and in six suppliers and validated by triangulation and internal seminars. The analysis was done by screening data into some of the conditions identified in lean supply, which were observed to be the most relevant in the case company. We found that lean supply is affected negatively by global purchasing based on price and thus, price-based global purchasing should not be used for sourcing complex components that require early supplier involvement and intensive engineering collaboration between OEMs and suppliers. Instead, it could be proactively used in the sourcing of less complex modules and simple components.

Strategic outsourcing through specifications

Outsourcing is one of the top priorities on the strategic agenda of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in many industries. The decision of outsourcing an activity as opposed to doing it in-house and the development of a part or parts system is one of the most complex decisions facing todays industrial managers. Several models have been developed in order to aid in this process. The present paper analyses some of these models, and proposes an extension based on the role that specifications might play in outsourcing decisions. Based on how the specification is generated and on the nature of the data it contains, it can be of significant help in outsourcing decisions. The research reported in the paper is based on a longitudinal study of one automotive OEM (global family), one truck OEM and four medium-sized expert suppliers, all located in Europe. A procurement matrix is developed in which guidance for outsourcing decisions is provided in terms of specification generator, type of supplier, and contract relationship.

A specification model for product development

The specification processes in new product development is critical for obtaining a high quality, low cost and well interfaced product. However, despite the rich literature on product development, specification management has been given less attention. By means of two in-depth cases studies in one auto and one aircraft OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) located in Europe, the research reported here identifies the specification processes in the case companies. Comparative studies are conducted between the specification processes in the two companies. A model of specification management that identifies important steps from the conceiving of the idea to delivery and customer feedback is developed. It is concluded that following the steps proposed in the model could lead to a high quality product. The model proposed is not a best practise model but rather can help companies identify the critical steps from idea generation to design.

Quality issues in lean production implementation: A case study of a French automotive supplier

Among the major changes related to the emergence of lean production that the European automotive component sector has undergone over the last 5 years, new approaches to quality management is one of the most significant. However, there is very little literature, in terms of case studies or examples, that focuses on the daily struggle in companies of transforming these strategies into working practice. The research reported in this paper illustrates, by means of a case study, how a French automotive supplier has confronted the challenge and adopted quality management-related concepts of lean production in its operation. Lean quality management is analysed in six domains: top management support-leadership policy, customer relationships, product design process, process flow management, continuous improvement and market outcomes. It is concluded that if quality is managed in an integrated way where management support and customer relationships condition the operations context, quality management can become a r...

Performance measurement in R&D and new product development: setting the scene

In parallel to the focus on what is a high performance R&D and new product development (NPD) organisation, the question of measuring the performance of R&D and NPD is gaining increasing interest. Internally, many projects never result in a commercial product, and if they do, still many new products fail to generate economic return in the marketplace. Numerous different methods have been developed in order to evaluate R&D and NPD outputs (expected and realised), inputs (resources allocated, enabling structures/factors etc.), and the processes involved (project management, learning dynamics etc.). The paper presents a comprehensive literature review of the rationales, metrics and methods of performance measurement in R&D and NPD. It introduces seven performance measurement perspectives: financial, customer satisfaction, strategic management, process management, technology management, innovation, and knowledge management. This overview gives managers a framework for developing their measurement strategy and provides a platform for further academic research into R&D performance measurement.

Information Systems In Fast Cycle Development: Identifying User Needs In Integrated Automotive Component Development

Product development literature strongly emphasizes the need for open communication between suppliers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). There is a widespread expectation that computer-aided communication networks will enable organizational members to work more flexibly, to share knowledge and competencies, and to span functional and company boundaries. However, few studies merge the possibilities of new information technologies and the operational needs of specific groups of users, for example product development engineers. The research reported in this paper aims to fill that gap. Through in-depth case studies of two development projects involving one auto OEM, one of its systems suppliers (working directly with the OEM) and five medium-sized expert suppliers (working either directly with the OEM or through the systems supplier), we identify three groups of user needs that are not currently satisfied by existing information system solutions: improvement of coordination and communication; enhancement of the access to new technological information; and support for the development of an organizational memory. We then explore what kind of information systems might help satisfy the above-mentioned needs. Potential barriers to efficient implementation of information systems in terms of the motivation of people using the systems, the reliability of the information, and the willingness to render information more transparent are discussed. It is concluded that when implementing information systems to support operational development work, it is essential to ground the system specification in clearly identified user needs that reflect the double nature of product engineering, namely the continuous interplay between routines and cognitive processes.