Sora Lee

Selection of technology acquisition mode using the analytic network process

Selecting the appropriate acquisition mode for a required technology, is one of the critical strategic decisions in formulating a technology strategy. Although a number of factors were found to be influential in the choice of technology acquisition mode, it still remains a void in the literature how to make a strategic decision, based on a huge set of those factors with the help of a systematic approach. This study deals with the selection of technology acquisition mode as a multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. The proposed solution to the problem in this study, is the analytic network process (ANP) approach. Since the ANP is a MCDM method that can accommodate interdependency among decision attributes, it is capable of providing priorities of alternatives with consideration of interrelationships among strategic factors. The 21 influential factors identified from the empirical studies are included as sub-criteria in the ANP model, and they are grouped into five criteria: capability, strategy, technology, market, and environment. The final decision can be made based on the resulting priorities of the alternative acquisition modes. The proposed approach is expected to effectively aid decision making on which mode is adopted for acquisition of required technologies. A case of a software company is presented for the illustration of the proposed approach.

Combining technology roadmap and system dynamics simulation to support scenario-planning: A case of car-sharing service

Abstract Due to the volatile market environment, the use of scenario approach comes to the forefront in business strategy. As a means of scenario planning, several approaches have been proposed and conducted. However, previous research, mainly having resorted to the expert judgment for planning and evaluation, still remains conceptual and lacks a systematic link to the planning process. In response, this paper provides an integrative approach to the technology roadmap and system dynamics to support scenario planning. The proposed approach consists of three parts: scenario building, technology roadmapping, and system dynamics simulation. The first step is to construct the scenarios which are used as inputs for the scenario planning. Second, technology roadmap is developed, incorporating the scenarios built in the first step. The technology roadmap works as a strategic framework to realize the hypothetical scenarios, linking the external and hypothetical business and internal strategies. Finally, the strategic model for technology roadmap is transferred to the operational viewpoint using system dynamics. When the simulation ends, the result of each scenario is reflected to the technology roadmapping, making the multi-path technology roadmapping. As an illustrative example, three scenarios of car-sharing business are developed and analyzed.

Evaluating new concepts of PSS based on the customer value

We propose a method for evaluating product service systems (PSS) concept.The method is based on perceived value through the customer experience cycle.We compare customer acceptability of new PSS concepts with existing products.The ANP and niche theory were adopted to quantify customers perceptions.A case study on car sharing has verified the feasibility of the proposed method. Product-service systems (PSSs) have been highlighted as a prevailing trend for manufacturers to survive the modern era of tough competition in their industries. Despite the importance of the customer in such systems, previous studies offer little in terms of evaluating new PSS concepts from the customers perspective. To fill this academic lacuna, this paper proposes a method for evaluating such concepts that focuses on their acceptability to customers. The proposed approach is based on customer perceptions of value throughout the customer experience cycle: customers acceptability results from their comparison of new PSS concepts with existing products. This approach successfully employs the analytic network process and niche theory to quantify customers perceptions of their experience of PSSs. A short case study shows the usefulness of the proposed approach, which is expected to aid manufacturers adopting PSS strategies.

Fabrication of PEG-carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel by thiol-norbornene photo-click chemistry.

Both poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) are biocompatible polymers, which have been widely utilized in biomedical fields. In this study, we demonstrated the fabrication of pH-sensitive PEG-CMC hydrogels based on thiol-norbornene photo-click reaction and characterized their properties, such as swelling ratio, stiffness, degradation, and protein drug release. For the hydrogel fabrication, tetra-arm PEG and CMC were functionalized with norbornene groups and thiol groups, respectively. The hydrogels fabricated with varying concentration (0-3%) of CMCSH and a fixed concentration (4%) of PEG4NB by orthogonal step-growth photopolymerization showed high gel fractions (∼0.85). The presence of CMCSH in hydrogel did not affected gel point (∼4 s) but significantly prolonged completion time of gelation. Swelling ratios of PEG-CMC increased from ∼32 to ∼60 and the shear elastic modulus decreased from ∼3000 to ∼600 Pa with an increase of CMCSH content (0-3%). PEG-CMC hydrogel containing more CMCSH not only underwent slower hydrolytic bulk degradation but also showed a slower BSA release in acidic condition. These results indicate thiol-norbornene PEG-CMC hydrogel has potential as pH-sensitive protein drug carrier.

Measuring the functional dynamics of product-service system

We address the concept of functional dynamics as a distinctive measure of PSS functionality.This paper measures the functional dynamics of product-service system using system dynamics.We propose a five-phase analytic scheme of functional dynamics.We suggest a four-step procedure using system dynamics to measure the functional dynamics.A case study of a u-healthcare system is presented. In the light of the prevailing trend towards product-service systems (PSSs), this paper focuses on the measurement of PSS functional performance. As a dynamic system wherein various stakeholders achieve functional performance through long-term relationships in a complex value network, PSS functional performance requires a dynamic approach for measuring its effectiveness, an approach that is missing in the literature. This study aims to fill that void. Firstly, we address the concept of functional dynamics as a distinctive measure of PSS functionality with regard to functional performance and propose a five-phase analytic scheme of functional dynamics. Then, to measure the functional dynamics of PSS using the analytic scheme, a four-step procedure based on the system dynamics is suggested. As a representative method for measuring the long-term dynamics of a complex system, system dynamics is effectively employed to measure PSSs functional dynamics comprehensively. To illustrate the proposed approach, a case study of a u-healthcare system is presented.

Fabrication of schizophyllan hydrogel via orthogonal thiol-ene photopolymerization

Schizophyllan (SPG) is a water soluble β-glucan, which is obtained from Schizophyllum commune. SPG has been widely explored with its unique properties such as triple helical structure, immune-modulation, and anti-tumoral activity. In this study, we tried to fabricate SPG hydrogel via thiol-ene photopolymerization. SPG-norbornene and SPG-thiol were synthesized from ultrasonicated SPG. Two types of SPG hydrogels (SPG and PEG/SPG hybrid) were formed via thiol-ene photo-click reaction. By controlling the SPG content and stoichiometric balance of norbornene and thiol groups, swelling ratio and shear elastic modulus of SPG hydrogel could be controlled in the range of 20-60 and 0.5-10kPa, respectively. For PEG/SPG hybrid hydrogel, we found that the triple-helical structure of SPG played a role in physical network formation with thiol-ene cross-linking. The degradability of SPG hydrogel could be also modulated by varying formulation. Therefore, such highly tunable SPG hydrogels would be utilized for various applications.