Szu-Yuan Sun

The impact of alignment between supply chain strategy and environmental uncertainty on SCM performance

Purpose – The right supply chain (SC) strategy is widely believed to be able to improve supply chain management (SCM) performance. Ignoring the important concept of alignment means that failures in SCM resulting from a mismatch between two or more crucial factors remain common. Accordingly, Lee proposed an environmental uncertainty framework to devise the right SC strategy. However, the proposed framework has thus far remained conceptual. Therefore, this study seeks to empirically investigate Lees uncertainty framework and examine how alignment between SC strategy and environmental uncertainty impacts perceived SCM performance.Design/methodology/approach – A survey was designed and used to collect 243 usable responses from manufacturers. A profile deviation approach was applied to compute the alignment between SC strategy and environmental uncertainty.Findings – The results of the study verify that the alignment between SC strategy and environmental uncertainty is positively associated with SCM performan...

Consolidating the strategic alignment model in knowledge management

Recently, the importance of Information Technology (IT) for effective Knowledge Management (KM) activities has been stated. Effective KM projects alone cannot lead to success without the support of IT, and vice versa. Thus aligning proper IT and KM strategies to fit the business strategy is the key to reducing costs, which in turn leads to higher performance. Drawing on the concept of strategic alignment, we proposed a KM Strategic Alignment Model (KMSAM) wherein business strategy, KM strategy and IT strategy coexist. Furthermore, we contend that this strategic alignment may contribute to KM performance as well as business performance.

E-government impacts on effectiveness: a survey study of an e-official-document system

Government promulgates directives and disseminates information through official documents. An internet-based official document processing system will not only expedite the document processing flow, which in turn improves administration efficiency, but also result in big savings on paper, envelop, postage, etc. Furthermore, the transport of documents will no longer be affected by the weather or distance, which in turn affords promptness and reliability. This study constructed a research model to measure the effectiveness of an e-official-document system deployed in Pingdong County in Taiwan, in terms of its impact on user satisfaction, individual performance and the performance of subordinate agencies.

A strategic examination of Radio Frequency Identification in Supply Chain Management

Businesses are gaining interest in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, but few studies exist regarding its strategic value in Supply Chain Management. This study combines the theoretical background of technology and sustainable competitive advantage with specific, actionable business cases in which firms currently are employing RFID technology to shift costs and to improve overall industry structure, thereby leading to sustainable competitive advantage. From this study, it is evident that inter-organisational communication and cooperation are even more crucial in truly leveraging the benefits of RFID technology. Companies must negotiate with each other so that they can determine accountability, responsibility, data standards, hardware standards, network standards, and the like.

An innovative scaffolding teaching through the internet

In this study, the internet and the constructivist scaffolding teaching theory are applied to develop an instructional model for use in the research methods curriculum of first year graduate studies. In addition to alleviating conflicts teachers face regarding division of their time, energy and capability, scaffolding teaching also takes advantage of traditional aspects of teaching – namely face-to-face communication and interaction – while making up for deficiencies in internet teaching. To realise the effects of this instructional model, analysis of the differences in learning results between the constructive scaffolding teaching model with internet assistance (CSTMIA) and the traditional teaching model (TTM) and experimentation have been adopted for use in this study.

A Study on Trust Dynamics Influencing Knowledge Sharing in Organization

This study explores how group behavior influences knowledge sharing by conducting a process of trust dynamics development. Whether different degrees of trust among team members differ in terms of the operational development of socialization and natural form is also analyzed. An experiment was conducted from the perspective of process of trust dynamics development to understand how group behavior influences knowledge sharing. A questionnaire survey was also performed to evaluate how quantity of knowledge sharing and quality of knowledge are related.Initial trustworthiness and early communication level influence team members in their early trust. Early trust also increases the late cohesiveness and late satisfaction of a team and, simultaneously, affects team knowledge and sharing behavior. Additionally, the communication level between the team members impacts the late cohesiveness and knowledge share quality of a team. Moreover, goal conflict, opportunism and information asymmetry significantly influence the knowledge sharing of team members. Results of this study provide a valuable reference for managers attempting to understand how trust dynamics development influences knowledge sharing among team members.

Developing a theoretical model on knowledge sharing behaviour in e-communities: integrating the economics, social psychology and social ecology perspectives

Virtual community was designed to organise different communities and getting people involved in creating and sharing knowledge. It was also called e-information exchange system. Bock et al. argued that the research perspectives of knowledge sharing should be classified into economics, social psychology and sociology perspectives. We present a conceptual framework based on economic, social psychology and social ecology perspective and propose a set of propositions for knowledge sharing in virtual community. Finally, we introduce punctuated equilibrium as third theoretical perspective to understand whether the factors affecting knowledge sharing may change with time.

A Holistic Perspective on the Performance Implications of Strategic Alignment in Knowledge Management

Recently, the importance of the information technology (IT) for effective knowledge management (KM) activities has been noted. The match of IT and KM is an important concern for executives. However, their efforts do not always yield positive organizational outcome since enough exceptions indicate that knowledge management strategy and human resource management (HRM) strategy are interdependent that must be integrated with IT as a whole. Consequently, a linkage of effective IT strategy and KM strategy that are consistent with HRM strategy is the key to reduced costs, which in turn, will achieve a higher performance. Drawing on the concept of strategic alignment, this study proposes a KM strategic alignment model within which KM strategy, IT strategy, and HRM strategy, coexist. Survey research method is employed in this study. Empirical data for hypotheses testing are collected from top-ranking companies in Taiwan, yielding 161 valid samples. Performance implications of strategic alignment are examined using covariation and profile deviation approaches. The results suggest that strategic alignment among these three strategies contributes to business performance. Based on the research results, meaningful findings and conclusions are described and suggestions for future research are proposed.