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Article
Publication date: 29 June 2012

Philippe Nemery, Alessio Ishizaka, Mauricio Camargo and Laure Morel

Most of the proposed decision aid methods provide the user only with a prescriptive approach (quantitative analysis) without any descriptive approach (qualitative analysis). It is…

Abstract

Purpose

Most of the proposed decision aid methods provide the user only with a prescriptive approach (quantitative analysis) without any descriptive approach (qualitative analysis). It is therefore not possible to justify and recommend ways of improvement. The purpose of this paper is to introduce visualization techniques to complement prescriptive approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

Visual techniques have been developed for the FlowSort sorting method, namely the FS‐GAIA and stacked bar diagrams.

Findings

It is found that with visual techniques, fine details can be captured, e.g. detection of incomparability (with FS‐GAIA) and the composition of a score (with stacked bar diagrams).

Research limitations/implications

In the future, it is expected that other multi‐criteria decision methods will be complemented by prescriptive approaches.

Practical implications

A real case study is introduced in order to illustrate the practicality of the visual techniques. In this paper, the innovation performances of small and medium enterprises from the French Lorraine region are assessed.

Social implications

It is expected that the quality of the decisions taken are improved because of being better informed.

Originality/value

The paper, using a real case study, provides important new tools to enhance decision quality.

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2011

Helmi Ben Rejeb, Vincent Boly and Laure Morel‐Guimaraes

The purpose of this paper is to provide a new decision‐aided tool for selecting customer needs during the new product development process.

1499

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a new decision‐aided tool for selecting customer needs during the new product development process.

Design/methodology/approach

The study started by examining the principles of attractive quality and its limits. The theory of attractive quality developed by Kano was used to conduct a requirement assessment and classification within four categories. The study also proposed a new method for needs analysis and, finally, an experiment with a case study was carried out for new self‐directed learning software.

Findings

This paper proposes a methodology involving the three following steps: identifying customers' needs, classifying and evaluating them, and comparing several concepts of new products. The paper proposes a matrix modeling that is based on the Kano model, which results in an analytical approach of the attractive quality theory. This enables the selection of innovative concepts and new ideas through the evaluation of their impact on needs satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Future research is required in order to study the impact of the vocabulary used in the Kano questionnaire; misunderstanding these needs could lead to incorrect classification. Moreover, future work could consider other technical criteria for concept selection, including technical feasibility and cost constraints.

Practical implications

The formality of the model (clear steps and matrix modeling) and its graphical aspect (decision made based on graphical mappings) makes it a simple decision tool. It can be used by design teams during the Front‐End phases and in activities coming upstream from the more formal and well‐structured New Product Development Process (NPDP).

Originality/value

A major concern for companies during an innovation process is to discover users' needs. This paper presents an integrated method for customer environment analysis, needs identification, needs classification, and new concept selection. The most interesting concepts – those that yield satisfaction – will then continue through the innovation process.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. 23 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 August 2015

Laurent Dupont, Laure Morel and Claudine Guidat

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how French universities can play a key role in generating Smart City (SC) through an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) dedicated…

1110

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how French universities can play a key role in generating Smart City (SC) through an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) dedicated to urban transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors led an action-research study for five years with several research and pedagogic projects, including users or citizens.

Findings

The paper points out main factors of SC development. It also presents shared demonstrators’ characteristics, including industrial scale, sustainability, and citizens’ participation.

Research limitations/implications

This research is experimented with only one regional multi-case study.

Practical implications

Practical implications of this paper include a University of Lorraine diversification strategy through the “Chaire REVES” supported by public and private partners.

Social implications

At the regional level, industrial-university-territorial partnerships could tackle both societal and economical issues “with,” “for,” and “by” citizens.

Originality/value

Based on the Living Lab concept, this case study shows a concrete regional university strategy involving: user-centric design, collaborative processes, citizens’ workshops, and new financial and organizational answers enabling collaboration between private companies and public institutions. The paper also argues that innovative PPPs involving users are necessary for developing SC.

Article
Publication date: 19 October 2012

Hermann Kühnle and Rob Dekkers

Scientific progress in a field is mostly discussed within disciplines. Far less attention is paid to outside or between disciplines' work. To speed up research progresses for…

564

Abstract

Purpose

Scientific progress in a field is mostly discussed within disciplines. Far less attention is paid to outside or between disciplines' work. To speed up research progresses for collaborative networks (CN) in manufacturing, a base for further grounded theory establishment is propagated, recalling some of the most relevant chapters of philosophy of science. The focus is put onto the roles of disciplines and their scholars involved in interdisciplinary contexts, in order to further motivate as well as to hint at a number of catalysing forces and fruitful impacts of outside disciplines' work.

Design/methodology/approach

The intentions of this Special Issue are mirrored to important and well‐accepted findings in the philosophy of science. All papers that are included in this journal issue are positioned within a general framework of scientific disciplines and theory building understanding.

Findings

Interdisciplinary work is speeding up theory building and innovation in CNs in general and in all applications for manufacturing in particular. In order to encourage publications of project work and solutions that do not neatly fit into the scientific disciplines set up, it is pointed out that exactly these papers have the potential to unveil unattended and valuable insights. This kind of outline often confirms both gut feelings of managers, as well as vague hypotheses of researchers and scientists.

Research limitations/implications

The paper shows that more attention might be paid to outside contributions and to mechanisms to increase their impact on theory building in manufacturing science.

Originality/value

For the field of CN, the paper represents a first and unique attempt to enhance scientific progress by emphasising theory contributions from other disciplines. The approach contributes to theoretically as well as methodically supporting the fast growing number of practical solutions beyond state of art.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 23 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 September 2021

Linda Montanari, Robert Teltzrow, Sara Van Malderen, Roberto Ranieri, José Antonio Martín Peláez, Liesbeth Vandam, Jane Mounteney, Alessandro Pirona, Fadi Meroueh, Isabelle Giraudon, João Matias, Katerina Skarupova, Luis Royuela and Julien Morel d’Arleux

This paper aims to describe the impact of the COVID-19 containment measures on the provision of drug treatment and harm reduction services in European prisons in15 countries…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the impact of the COVID-19 containment measures on the provision of drug treatment and harm reduction services in European prisons in15 countries during the early phase of the pandemic (March –June 2020).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a mixed method research approach that triangulates different data sources, including the results of an on-line survey, the outcome of a focus group and four national case studies.

Findings

The emergence of COVID-19 led to a disruption in prison drug markets and resulted in a number of challenges for the drug services provision inside prison. Challenges for health services included the need to maintain the provision of drug-related interventions inside prison, while introducing a range of COVID-19 containment measures. To reduce contacts between people, many countries introduced measures for early release, resulted in around a 10% reduction of the prison population in Europe. Concerns were expressed around reduction of drug-related interventions, including group activities, services by external agencies, interventions in preparation for release and continuity of care.

Practical implications

Innovations aimed at improving drug service provision included telemedicine, better partnership between security and health staff and an approach to drug treatment more individualised. Future developments must be closely monitored.

Originality/value

The paper provides a unique and timely overview of the main issues, challenges and initial adaptations implemented for drug services in European prisons in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details

International Journal of Prisoner Health, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1744-9200

Keywords

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