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The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights in understanding the value of integrating the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) with Six Sigma.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights in understanding the value of integrating the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) with Six Sigma.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a comprehensive literature review of the BSC and Six Sigma. The literature review provides the basis for a new integration framework that is grounded on the Plan‐Do‐Check‐Act cycle.
Findings
The literature review for both Six Sigma and the BSC crystallise how a fusion can add further value in comparison to a standalone implementation of either the BSC or Six Sigma. This new integration framework is identified through first, leveraging the strengths of both the BSC and Six Sigma and second, by incorporating the key themes of the literature review.
Practical implications
This paper provides practitioners with a greater understanding of the value of integrating Six Sigma with the BSC. Also, the study provides a framework that can serve as a basis for the integration of Six Sigma with the BSC.
Originality/value
Little research has been carried out on the integration of the BSC with Six Sigma. This paper takes a novel approach for the integration framework by identifying the integration leverage points through the strengths and weaknesses of both the BSC and Six Sigma. The key contribution of this paper is that it provides new insights in understanding how the BSC can be integrated with Six Sigma. In addition, the paper provides direction for future research that will address weaknesses in the way organisations execute integration of the BSC with Six Sigma today.
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The paper aims to report on the development of a process mapping approach to explore adaptive re‐use processes.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to report on the development of a process mapping approach to explore adaptive re‐use processes.
Design/methodology/approach
Four case studies of adaptive re‐use projects in London (UK) were conducted. Two are reported here. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews with key agents and archival research on planning case documentation. Archival research was also used to “triangulate” interview data, which was analysed by using NUD*IST (now QSR N6) and Decision Explorer™ (DE). Data analysis entailed coding in NUD*IST, and map building and analysis in DE.
Findings
The key common areas between different projects, and networked pivotal activities and issues are identified. A powerful tool for visualising project complexity, and hence for project assessment and evaluation, is provided.
Research limitations/implications
Statistical tools could have complemented the post‐analysis verification discussions with the interviewees to ensure validity of the findings. Data processing and data export/import between software tools are extremely labour intensive and time consuming. Automated visual output is relatively poor for presentation purposes. Tacit researcher bias may be inherent.
Practical implications
The findings provide a basis for developing specific management strategies for complex re‐use projects. This novel approach could be developed into a tool for: post‐project reviews, strategic learning for experienced practitioners, educating and training academics and novice practitioners, and for managing project knowledge.
Originality/value
The creative use of NUD*IST and DE in combination is novel. Experienced practitioners will be presented with a powerful tool for visualising project complexity, and thus for monitoring and reviewing the levels of complexity at each stage, once further development, automation and sophistication are achieved. The critical aspects of adaptive re‐use process, the key activities and issues are pointed out for novice practitioners. Researchers will find the adoption of content analysis and cognitive mapping tools to process mapping innovative.
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Scott Inglis and Joanna Kozubska
Making presentations is a task undertaken by most managers, yet relished by few. In this excerpt from the The Communications Portfolio, published by MCB University Press, Books…
Abstract
Making presentations is a task undertaken by most managers, yet relished by few. In this excerpt from the The Communications Portfolio, published by MCB University Press, Books, Courseware and Resources Division, the skills and techniques of making presentations effectively are outlined.
The speed of computing and other automated processes plays an important role in how the world functions by causing “time compression”. This paper aims to review reasons to believe…
Abstract
Purpose
The speed of computing and other automated processes plays an important role in how the world functions by causing “time compression”. This paper aims to review reasons to believe computation will continue to become faster in the future, the economic consequences of speedups and how these affect risk, ethics and governance.
Design/methodology/approach
A brief review of science and trends followed by an analysis of consequences.
Findings
Current computation is far from the physical limits in terms of processing speed. Algorithmic improvements may be equally powerful but cannot easily be predicted or bounded. Communication and sensing is already at the physical speed limits, although improvements in bandwidth will likely be significant. The value in these speedups lies in productivity gains, timeliness, early arrival of results and cybernetic feedback shifts. However, time compression can lead to loss of control owing to inability to track fast change, emergent or systemic risk and asynchrony. Speedups can also exacerbate inequalities between different agents and reduce safety if there are competitive pressures. Fast decisions are potentially not better decisions, as they may be made on little data.
Social implications
The impact on society and the challenge to governance are likely to be profound, requiring adapting new methods for managing fast-moving and technological risks.
Originality/value
The speed with which events happen is an important aspect of foresight, not just as a subject of prediction or analysis, but also as a driver of the kinds of dynamics that are possible.
The Ghanaian banking industry has over the last 20 years witnessed tremendous growth to the extent that rural banks are now expanding their activities into urban centres…
Abstract
Purpose
The Ghanaian banking industry has over the last 20 years witnessed tremendous growth to the extent that rural banks are now expanding their activities into urban centres. Hitherto, rural banks operated in rural and peri-urban areas in Ghana, but nowadays, there is an upsurge of rural banks activities in the urban centres of Ghana; and, they operate from rented premises, most of which are existing buildings in the urban areas. To meet the banking demands and the urban banking competitions such as the introduction of new technologies and regulations, the rural banks endeavour to expand (refurbish) the old/existing buildings with inherent adaptation and retrofitting challenges. Even though, adaptation and retrofit projects may not be popular in Ghana at large scales, this paper through combined methodology of constructive dialogue, case studies and condition survey approaches presents rural banks projects in Ghana as case studies of refurbishment and maintenance to “unearth” and resonate some key challenges of managing adaptation and retrofits in Ghana for future effective projects management solutions during their conception and execution. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Through combined methodology of constructive dialogue, case studies and condition survey approaches this paper presents rural banks projects in Ghana as case studies of refurbishment and maintenance to “unearth” and resonate some key challenges of adaptation and retrofit projects.
Findings
The condition survey revealed unprecedented infrastructural drive by rural banks throughout Ghana and their desire to penetrate the urban areas as well. However, this drive unfortunately as it appeared, is not informed and carried out within the confines and dictates of existing legislations in Ghana. Again, it was found that adaptations and retrofitting will improve and integrate the rural banks in the urban economy through prudent project management practices.
Research limitations/implications
Availability of local researches and literature on adaptations and retrofitting as project management practices in Ghana.
Practical implications
Retrofitting and adaptation projects in Ghana is crucial for project management practices on low-impact building as Ghana faces energy challenges.
Social implications
This research brings to bear realistic programme to build capacity of personnel to strategically integrate the rural banks into the central banking system of Ghana as well as project management practices through better and effective monitoring for social, ethical and equity impacts of their project managers.
Originality/value
Apparently, adaptation and retrofit projects are not be popular in Ghana at large scales and this is the first time an academic paper of a kind has been written to guide and manage future adaptation and retrofit projects during their conception and execution as well as project management practices in general.
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Victoria Timchenko, John Reizes and Eddie Leonardi
The development of novel cooling techniques is needed in order to be able to substantially increase the performance of integrated electronic circuits whose operations are limited…
Abstract
Purpose
The development of novel cooling techniques is needed in order to be able to substantially increase the performance of integrated electronic circuits whose operations are limited by the maximum allowable temperature. Air cooled micro‐channels etched in the silicon substrate have the potential to remove heat directly from the chip. For reasonable pressure drops, the flow in micro‐channels is inherently laminar, so that the heat transfer is not very large. A synthetic jet may be used to improve mixing, thereby considerably increasing heat transfer. This paper seeks to address this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
CFD has been used to study the flow and thermal fields in forced convection in a two‐dimensional micro‐channel with an inbuilt synthetic jet actuator. The unsteady Navier‐Stokes and energy equations are solved. The effects of variation of the frequency of the jet at a fixed pressure difference between the ends of the channel and with a fixed jet Reynolds number, have been studied with air as the working fluid. Although the velocities are very low, the compressibility of air has to be taken into account.
Findings
The use of a synthetic jet appreciably increases the rate of heat transfer. However, in the frequency range studied, whilst there are significant changes in the details of the flow, due primarily to large phase changes with frequency, there is little effect of the frequency on the overall rate heat transfer. The rates of heat transfer are not sufficiently large for air to be a useful cooling medium for the anticipated very large heat transfer rates in future generations of microchips.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to two‐dimensional flows so that the effect of other walls is not considered.
Practical implications
It does not seem likely that air flowing in channels etched in the substrate of integrated circuits can be successfully used to cool future, much more powerful microchips, despite a significant increase in the heat transfer caused by synthetic jet actuators.
Originality/value
CFD is used to determine the thermal performance of air flowing in micro‐channels with and without synthetic jet actuators as a means of cooling microchips. It has been demonstrated that synthetic jets significantly increase the rate of heat transfer in the micro‐channel, but that changing the frequency with the same resulting jet Reynolds number does not have an effect on the overall rate of heat transfer. The significant effect of compressibility on the phase shifts and more importantly on the apparently anomalous heat transfer from the “cold” air to the “hot” wall is also demonstrated.
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The Magellan Systems SkyNav 5000 avionics GPS receiver has been approved by the Bundesamt für Zulassungen in der Telekommunikation (BZT) civil aviation authority of Germany and…
Abstract
The Magellan Systems SkyNav 5000 avionics GPS receiver has been approved by the Bundesamt für Zulassungen in der Telekommunikation (BZT) civil aviation authority of Germany and the Direction Générate de l'Aviation Civile (Service Technique de la Navigation Aérienne) of France for installation in light aircraft.