Search results

The contemporary e-tailing marketplace insists that distribution centers are playing the roles of both wholesalers and retailers which require different storage-handling load sizes due to different product variants. To fulfill piecewise retail orders, a separate small size-fast pick area is design called “forward buffer” wherein pallets are allocated from reserve area. Due to non-uniform pallets, the static allocation policy diminishes forward space utilization and also, more than practically required buffer size has been identified as wastage. Thus, dynamic storage allocation policy is required to design for reducing storage wastage and improving throughput considering non-uniform unit load sizes. The purpose of this paper is to model such policy and develop an e-decision support system assisting enterprise practitioners with real-time decision making.

The research method is developed as a dynamic storage allocation policy and mathematical modeled as knapsack-based heuristics. The execution procedure of policy is explained as an example and tested with case-specific data. The developed model is implemented as a web-based support system and tested with rational data instances, as well as overcoming prejudices against single case findings.

The provided model considers variable size storage-handling unit loads and recommends number of pallets allocations in forward area reducing storage wastes. The algorithm searches and suggests the “just-right” amount of allocations for each product balancing existing forward capacity. It also helps to determine “lean buffer” size for forward area ensuring desired throughput. Sensitivity and buffer performance analysis is carried out for Poisson distributed data sets followed by research synthesis.

Warehouse practitioners can use this model ensuring a desired throughput level with least forward storage wastages. The model driven e-decision support system (DSS) helps for effective real-time decision making under complicated business scenarios wherein products are having different physical dimensions. It assists the researchers who would like to explore the emerging field of “lean” adoption in enterprise information and retail-distribution management.

The paper provides an inventive approach endorsing lean thinking in storage allocation policy design for a forward-reserve model. Also, the developed methodology incorporating features of e-DSS along with quantitative modeling is an inimitable research contribution justifying rational data support.

In order to allow flexibility in the enforcement of the tax law, the language used is often intentionally vague and ambiguous. This enables the government to implement the intent of the lawmakers in administering that law. However, interpreting these vague and ambiguous laws requires tax professionals to face planning situations that are complex and uncertain. Due to an increase in civil litigation, the importance of tax professionals making defensible decisions has been magnified in recent years. Carnes, et al. (1994) report that tax partners with Big‐Six accounting firms spend about 30 to 45 percent of their time resolving ambiguous tax questions. Therefore, tax professionals could benefit from models or systems (i.e., decision support systems, expert systems, artificial intelligence) that provide decision direction when facing ambiguous tax situations. One such area in which tax professionals must assist their clients is the determination of what levels of compensation are reasonable for owner‐employees of closely‐held corporations (Hagan, et al. 1995).

This paper describes a decision support system for once‐off facility acquisition decisions in a manufacturing environment. The system is based on the Kepner Tregoe Decision Analysis Technique and has been implemented in a high‐level language.

Maintenance management information technology (MMIT) systems have existed for some 40 years. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the advancement of these systems and compares the development of MMIT with other corporate information technology (IT) systems.

This paper is a literature study of 97 scientific papers within the topic of MMIT in the period 1988 to 2003. Additional readings have been made in books covering MMIT.

The paper finds that the focus of MMIT has changed in several aspects during the 40 years that have been investigated; from technology to use; from maintenance function to maintenance as an integrated part of the business; from supporting reactive maintenance to proactive maintenance; and from operative to strategic maintenance considerations. Advancements in MMIT have in general followed the development of corporate IT.

Further studies to cover application‐specific development, for instance the use of decision support systems within maintenance management and to cover literature after 2003, are of interest.

Knowledge about the development of MMIT adds to the understanding of today's computer applications for maintenance management, which is crucial for every maintenance manager using or purchasing MMIT. The findings could be used as a means to identify the future trends of MMIT, as well as possibilities and problems with the new technology, tools, techniques and methods.

Papers dealing with the development of maintenance management IT are scarce and this paper represents the first full review of MMIT so far.

Business intelligence (BI) systems and tools are deemed to be a transformative source with the potential to contribute to reshaping the way different healthcare organizations’ (HCOs) services are offered and managed. However, this emerging field of research still appears underdeveloped and fragmented. Hence, this paper aims to reconciling, analyzing and synthesizing different strands of managerial-oriented literature on BI in HCOs and to enhance both theoretical and applied future contributions.

A literature-based framework was developed to establish and guide a three-stage state-of-the-art systematic literature review (SLR). The SLR was undertaken adopting a hybrid methodology that combines a bibliometric and a content analysis.

In total, 34 peer-review articles were included. Results revealed significant heterogeneity in theoretical basis and methodological strategies. Nonetheless, the knowledge structure of this research’s stream seems to be primarily composed of five clusters of interconnected topics: (1) decision-making, relevant capabilities and value creation; (2) user satisfaction and quality; (3) process management, organizational change and financial effectiveness; (4) decision-support information, dashboard and key performance indicators; and (5) performance management and organizational effectiveness.

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first SLR providing a business and management-related state-of-the-art on the topic. Besides, the paper offers an original framework disentangling future research directions from each emerged cluster into issues pertaining to BI implementation, utilization and impact in HCOs. The paper also discusses the need of future contributions to explore possible integrations of BI with emerging data-driven technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence) in HCOs, as the role of BI in addressing sustainability challenges.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of strategic integration of knowledge management (KM ) and customer relationship management (CRM). The integration is a strategic issue that has strong ramifications in the long‐term competitiveness of organizations. It is not limited to CRM; the concept can also be applied to supply chain management (SCM), product development management (PDM), eterprise resource planning (ERP) and retail network management (RNM) that offer different perspectives into knowledge management adoption.

Through literature review and establishing new perspectives with examples, the components of knowledge management, customer relationship management, and strategic planning are amalgamated.

Findings include crucial details in the various components of knowledge management, customer relationship management, and strategic planning, i.e. strategic planning process, value formula, intellectual capital measure, different levels of CRM and their core competencies.

Although the strategic integration of knowledge management and customer relationship management is highly conceptual, a case example has been provided where the concept is applied. The same concept could also be applied to other industries that focus on customer service.

The concept of strategic integration of knowledge management and customer relationship management is new. There are other areas, yet to be explored in terms of additional integration such as SCM, PDM, ERP, and RNM. The concept of integration would be useful for future research as well as for KM and CRM practitioners.

In 2002, The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) observed the 25th anniversary of the publication of its first Systems, Auditability, & Control (SAC) study. This paper reviews the development of the SAC projects and their impact on Information Systems (IS) auditing in particular. Three different research methodologies were used for collecting the data for this research. First, a rigorous literature review was conducted. Second, an oral‐history methodology was used to collect data via interviews. Third, notes and minutes from many early committee meetings of IIA, including the SAC Committee, were studied. The early years (1954‐1977) saw a dearth of related literature. Thus individual accountants and auditors found it difficult to acquire or gather information on emerging issues. The Systems, Auditability, & Control (SAC) study published in 1977 was one of the major attempts to codify IS auditing knowledge. This study has been followed up by three other SAC projects in 1991, 1994, and 2001. These SAC projects have provided some of the best guidance for IS auditors over these last 25 years. From the beginning of IS auditing, there has been a continued acceleration of technology. In particular, the audit process has been impacted by the proliferation of microcomputers.

Redesign activity is taking place within organizations faced with rapidly changing business environments. In this article, the current state of organization redesign, the role of information systems, and the effect of redesign activities on job satisfaction and motivation are reviewed. The current state and projected trends are then related to a field study conducted at the Zeeland, Michigan, machine processing plant (ZMP) of Herman Miller. Interviews with both hourly and managerial personnel were conducted. The results of the interviews suggest that effective redesign efforts focus on the human or intangible aspects, as well as structural changes.

Social commerce (SC) is a new genre in electronic commerce (e-commerce) that has great potential. This study proposes a new research framework to address deficiencies in existing social commerce research frameworks (e.g. the information model).

In the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 technologies and new social commerce (s-commerce) models, the authors believe that there is an immediate need for a new research framework. The authors analysed the progress of the s-commerce paradigm between 2003 and 2023 by applying longitudinal science mapping. The authors then developed a research framework based on the themes in the strategic diagrams and evolution map.

From 2003 to 2010, studies on s-commerce mainly focused on social networking sites, virtual communities, social shopping and analytic approaches. From 2011 to 2015, it shifted to s-commerce, consumer behaviour, Web 2.0, artificial intelligence, social technologies, online shopping, user studies, data gathering methods, applications, service-based social commerce constructs, e-commerce and cognitive factors. Social commerce remained the primary research paradigm from 2017 to 2023.

The SC framework may be analogous to popular research frameworks such as technology-organisation-environment (T-O-E) and stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R). Based on this SC framework, researchers may gain a better understanding by determining the factors of the social, commercial, technological and behavioural dimensions.

The authors redefined s-commerce and developed an SC framework. Practical guidelines for the SC framework and an exemplary research model are presented. Overall, this study offers a new research agenda for the extant understanding of s-commerce, with the SC framework as the next frontier of the theoretical advancements and applications of s-commerce.

Focuses on consulting experiences utilizing simulation approaches that capture decision‐making processes in formulations that are transparent to the general manager. Examines the dual benefit of modelling in terms of not only providing forecasts and an objective framework for quantitative evaluations, but also in the softer sense of building consensus in management teams. Casts these experiences against theories of effective group decision making, and other decision support examples which focus on the use of models. Reconciles the circumstances of the case with the conditions specified for effective group working and suggests that the greatest contribution may be made to consensus decision making when the whole modelling approach, not just access to model outputs, is integrated into the decision‐making process, and where the model complexity is commensurate with the task complexity and the task familiarity of the management group.