Search results

The potential for differential functioning of performance assessments across ratings sources has gained recent research interest. This study used multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) to examine whether measures of task and contextual performance are invariant across both supervisors and subordinates. As an extension, multiple indicators multiple causes modeling (MIMIC) was used to examine potential covariates of task and contextual performance ratings on latent task and contextual performance variability. Consistent with previous research, I found measurement invariance across subordinate- and supervisor ratings. Moreover, MIMIC results showed supervisor and subordinate demographic variables systematically influenced latent task and contextual performance variability despite measurement invariance over these rating sources. Implications for multi-source performance systems are discussed.

In common with most service companies, banks today are faced with a myriad demands on their delivery processes made by an increasingly fragmented market. Management theorists and consultants prescribe up‐to‐date technology and service personnel generalists as progenitors of the flexibility required by companies seeking to deliver quality of service. However companies gear up their systems to deal with variable market demands and expectations, penalties of time, finance and quality are inevitable. So, how flexible need a service company be, and what degree of variability need it countenance as acceptable from its customers in today’s marketplace? Can service companies approach such questions in ways similar to those taken in the past by manufacturing companies? Indeed, does “flexibility” mean the same in services as it does in manufacturing? Does it involve the same challenges and, if not, is a radically different model required in order to delineate the concept and challenges of flexibility in services? Attempts to answer such questions conceptually and in terms of information technology’s role in enhancing flexibility of service delivery. Proposes a model by which to integrate the most relevant elements in the service and manufacturing literature, and applies this model to explore four service‐specific dimensions of flexible delivery.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the roles that employee-initiated Lean improvement projects play in health care. Lean ideas are introduced to improve flow in health care. Although variability is detrimental to flow performance, it is unclear whether Lean initiatives set out to reduce this variability and the associated buffers.

Longitudinal field research is combined with an exploratory field-quasi-experiment. First, a large set of Lean interventions were explored and their focus classified. Semi-structured interviews with practitioners supported the initial findings regarding the focus. Second, this study investigated whether a knowledge deficiency could explain the identified focus through a quasi-experiment in which the authors’ stimulated knowledge on the roles of variability and buffers and then classified subsequent interventions.

The results reflected a narrow application of Lean, with most interventions directed at reducing direct waste. A quasi-experiment demonstrated that a small investment in knowledge enables the focus to shift toward buffers and variability issues – i.e. toward a more complete Lean approach.

This research supports the commonly held view that there is a tendency to focus on waste. Furthermore, a lengthy experience of Lean does not guarantee interventions will focus on buffers and variability, issues with arguably a higher complexity compared to obvious waste. However, small investments in knowledge can broaden the focus of practitioners’ interventions.

This study is one of the first to research the focus of Lean interventions through a data set spanning several years. The results are based on a unique data set covering a large number of documented Lean interventions.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of external and internal sources of variability on the degree of lean production implementation. For this, this paper analyzes the effects of environmental risk and the company’s past operational performance on the level of lean production implementation.

Utilizing the reasoning of prospect theory and the threat-rigidity hypothesis, three hypotheses have been developed as to the impact of internal and external sources of variability on the degree of lean production implementation. A questionnaire has been developed to test the hypotheses of the paper on a sample of first-tier suppliers in the Spanish automotive industry. The methodology comprises a combination of hierarchical regression analysis and mediation analysis.

In line with the propositions of prospect theory, the results obtained show support for the influence of firm risk and past operational performance variability in terms of undertaking decisions that favor further progress in lean production implementation.

This paper contributes to the explanation of the circumstances that ultimately lead to the implementation of lean production. Consequently, the impact of the external and internal environment influences a company’s commitment to increasing its level of lean production implementation and fosters managers’ strategic decision making. Furthermore, its implementation could help guarantee firm survival.

Indentifies the dimensions of a higher customer contact food and beverage operative′s job as perceived by managers, supervisors and operatives and examines within‐source and between‐source differences in these perceptions. Uses two instruments, the repertory grid and the work profiling system. Shows a number of distinct dimensions which are defined in terms of the worker behaviours necessary for the job tasks to be performed. Managers/supervisors and operatives generally agree on a number of dimensions. Discusses variations occurring both with and between groups and implications for the choice of sources of job analysis data and the use of job analysis in a personnel selection and training context.

In order to minimize the impact of variability on performance of the process, proper understanding of factors interdependencies and their impact on process variability (PV) is required. However, with insufficient/incomplete numerical data, it is not possible to carry out in-depth process analysis. This paper presents a qualitative framework for analyzing factors causing PV and estimating their influence on overall performance of the process.

Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is used to evaluate the weight of each factor and Bayesian network (BN) is utilized to address the uncertainty and conditional dependencies among factors in each step of the process. The weighted values are fed into the BN for evaluating the impact of each factor to the process. A three axiom-based approach is utilized to partially validate the proposed model.

A case study is conducted on fused filament fabrication (FFF) process in order to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed technique. The result analysis indicates that the proposed model can determine the contribution of each factor and identify the critical factor causing variability in the FFF process. It can also helps in estimating the sigma level, one of the crucial performance measures of a process.

The proposed methodology is aimed to predict the process quality qualitatively due to limited historical quantitative data. Hence, the quality metric is required to be updated with the help of empirical/field data of PV over a period of operational time. Since the proposed method is based on qualitative analysis framework, the subjectivities of judgments in estimating factor weights are involved. Though a fuzzy-based approach has been used in this paper to minimize such subjectivity, however more advanced MCDM techniques can be developed for factor weight evaluation.

As the proposed methodology uses qualitative data for analysis, it is extremely beneficial while dealing with the issue of scarcity of experimental data.

The prediction of the process quality and understanding of difference between product target and achieved reliability before the product fabrication will help the process designer in correcting/modifying the processes in advance hence preventing substantial amount of losses that may happen due to rework and scraping of the products at a later stage.

This qualitative analysis will deal with the issue of data unavailability across the industry. It will help the process designer in identifying root cause of the PV problem and improving performance of the process.

Pink ring is a ubiquitous problem arising during the manufacture of multilayer PCBs, being the manifestation of local delamination at the inner‐layer oxide interfaces around drilled holes and subsequent dissolution of the oxide during plating processes. Except in extreme cases, there is no evidence that the occurrence of pink ring identifies any in‐service reliability problem, but it is nevertheless a clear process indicator and is strictly monitored in statistical process control. The UK Printed Circuit Industry has carried out a collaborative research programme aimed at providing an understanding and a quantitative analysis of the pink ring condition. The research has advanced on two fronts: (i) an investigation into the micro‐mechanisms of the delamination and stress relief around drilled holes and subsequent rôles of the desmear and plating chemicals, and (ii) a statistical analysis of boards manufactured in a variety of ways, analysing the quantitative measurements of pink ring in terms of, for example, panel source, drill supplier, drill quality, drilling backing material, drilling chip rate, stack position, and panel entry/exit side.

The insurance industry, in general, accepts large risks due to the combined severity and frequency of catastrophic events; further, these risks are poorly defined given the small amount of data available for extreme events. It is important for the equitable transfer of risk to understand and quantify this risk as accurately as possible. As this risk is propagated to the capital markets, more and more parties will be exposed. An important part of pricing insurance‐linked securities (ILS) is quantifying the uncertainties existing in the physical parameters of the catastrophe models, including both the hazard and damage models. Given the amount of reliable data (1945 till present) on important storm parameters such as central pressure drop, radius to maximum winds, and non‐stationarity of the occurrence rate, moments estimated for these parameters are not highly reliable and knowledge uncertainty must be considered. Also, the engineering damage model for a given class of building in a large portfolio is subject to uncertainty associated with the quality of the buildings. A sample portfolio is used to demonstrate the impact of these knowledge uncertainties. Uncertainties associated with variability of statistics on central pressure drop, occurrence rate, and building quality were estimated and later propagated through a tropical cyclone catastrophe model to quantify the uncertainty of PML results. Finally their effect on the pricing of a typical insurance‐linked security (ILS) was estimated. Statistics of spread over LIBOR given different bond ratings/probability of attachment are presented using a pricing model (Lane [2000]). For a typical ILS, a relatively large coefficient of variation for both probability of attachment and spread over LIBOR was observed. This in turn leads to a rather large price uncertainty for a typical layer and may explain why rational investors expect a higher return for assuming catastrophe risk. The results hold independent of pricing model used. The objective of this study is to quantify this uncertainty for a simple call option and demonstrate its effect on pricing.

This paper presents an exploratory investigation of myths on lean production (LP), by identifying, dispelling and assessing their pervasiveness.

A list of myths was proposed mostly based on seminal LP texts and our rich experience from researching, teaching and consulting in lean journeys. Complexity thinking was adopted as a lens for dispelling the myths, as it challenged generalizations implied in myths. An investigation of the pervasiveness of the myths was also conducted, based on a survey with 120 academics and practitioners.

Ten myths were identified and dispelled. Survey's results indicated that belief in lean myths was more common among less experienced practitioners (<10 years), while experience was not a relevant factor for academics.

The lean myths partly reflect the experience of the authors. Furthermore, a larger sample size is necessary for a full analysis of pervasiveness.

The lean myths might be underlying barriers to LP implementation (e.g. lack of knowledge of managers and workers), and they might be proactively accounted for in lean training and education programs.

This is the first work to explicitly frame a set of lean myths.

This study provides empirical evidence for the impact that income and expenditure fluctuations have on understanding the fundamentals of BoP household share-of-wallet in South Africa.

The study used a longitudinal financial diary methodology to record household income in 80 households (in four different geographic areas) over four monthly waves.

The study showed the lack of reliability of aggregated population income and expenditure surveys when understanding the specific behaviour of BoP households. The study concludes that major category trade-offs occur on a monthly basis, and that these trade-offs directly impact our fundamental understanding BoP SoW.

While the BoP consumer theory is developing (especially in the last decade), most of the theory is focused on development and business strategy. Empirically based consumer theory is noticeably lacking, given that the BoP is the largest population segment on earth. In addition, research is largely absent of highly rigourous and in-depth quantification of consumer SoW behaviour. This study contributes to the BoP theory by examining monthly fluctuations in income and expenditure, a line of analysis not done before to this extent. In doing so, the study proposes a new metric for the measurement of category expenditure as an index of the total spend.