scholarly journals A DMAIC Framework to Improve Quality and Sustainability in Additive Manufacturing—A Case Study

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 581
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Rodriguez Delgadillo ◽  
Khaled Medini ◽  
Thorsten Wuest
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Control Methodology ◽  
A Company ◽  
Operational Guidance ◽  
Key Industry

Additive manufacturing as a key Industry 4.0 technology brings radical changes to how we execute production and services operations. However, this innovative technology has not reached maturity and research and development are still in progress to unleash its full sustainability potential. This paper aims to provide operational guidance to decision makers to jointly improve quality and sustainability performance of additive manufacturing processes. We propose a framework based on the DMAIC (Define/Measure/Analyze/Improve/Control) methodology and comprehensive pool of targeted key performance indicators (KPIs) and illustrate this framework through a single case study. The paper evidences the feasibility of extending DMAIC to the growing additive manufacturing domain to achieve quality and sustainability objectives. The case study uncovered some challenges, e.g., the need for customization to a company/industry context, which must be addressed in order to widely apply the proposed framework successfully.

Unmasking conflict in vertical coopetition

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anni Rajala ◽  
Annika Tidström
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
And Task

Purpose The purpose of this study is to increase understanding about vertical coopetition from the perspective of interrelated conflict episodes on multiple levels. Design/methodology/approach The empirical part is based on a qualitative single case study of a coopetitive buyer-supplier relationship in the manufacturing sector. Findings Conflicts in vertical coopetition evolve from being merely functional and task-related to becoming dysfunctional and relationship-related, as the level of competition increases. The nature of conflict episodes influences the development of vertical coopetition, and therefore, the interrelatedness of conflict episodes is important to acknowledge. Practical implications Although a conflict is considered functional within a company, it may still be dysfunctional as far as the coopetitive relationship with the buyer or seller is concerned. Competition may trigger conflicts related to protecting own technology and knowledge, which may lead to termination of the cooperation, therefore coopetition should be managed in a way that balance sharing and protecting important knowledge to get advantages of coopetition. Originality/value The findings enhance prior research on vertical coopetition by offering new perspectives on causes of conflicts, their management, outcomes and types. The value of taking a multilevel approach lies in the ability to show how conflicts occur and influence other conflicts through the interrelatedness of conflict elements on different levels.

scholarly journals Driving internationalization through business model innovation

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Cavallo ◽  
Antonio Ghezzi ◽  
Bertha Viviana Ruales Guzmán
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Models ◽  
International Entrepreneurship ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Business Model Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
A Company ◽  
North Western

Purpose This paper aims to investigate how a firm may innovate its business model to internationalize. Design/methodology/approach Owing to its novelty and to the depth of the investigation required to grasp the mechanisms and logics of business model innovation aiming at internationalization, a single case study has been performed related to a company located in North-Western Colombia. Findings The study provides detailed empirical evidences over the mutual connection and complementarities among value mechanisms of business models. Moreover, this study suggests that BMI fosters internationalization to scale, which, in turn, will require additional changes to match new customer needs as they emerge. Also, the study shows an extension of the action–space of lean startup approaches, intended as scientific approaches to international entrepreneurship. Originality/value This study connects business model innovation and internationalization as few studies have done before.

scholarly journals How business accelerators foster startups’ dynamic capabilities: a case study

2020 ◽  
pp. 19-44
Author(s):  
Celia Polo García-Ochoa
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Research Question ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities Perspective

Objective: This study explores how business accelerators programs can impact on the successful growth of their accelerated start-ups based on the dynamic capabilities’ perspective. The author investigates business accelerators practices and tools in supporting new ventures development with the aim of addressing the following research question: To what extend can start-ups benefit from participating in an accelerator program from the dynamic capabilities’ perspective? Methodology: Given the lack of literature on business acceleration practices and on how them influences a start-up’s dynamic capabilities generation, the authors conducted an exploratory case study in a Spanish business accelerator. Results: The business accelerator provide startups with a mix of services embedded in specific practices and tools resulting in the generation of the dynamic capabilities of sensing the market, absorption, integration, and innovation in its startups. Limitations: This study focuses on a single case study resulting in a limited generalization of its findings. Practical implications: This paper open new paths for business accelerators and other institution decision makers by giving guidelines to design business acceleration programs allowing them to allocate resources in a more rational way. It also offers a valuable perspective for founders on the ways of satisfying their needs to complete their business potential. It also offers them an initial checklist of practices to be aware of when deciding to apply to a business accelerator. Also, we add a new perspective to study business accelerator contributions and shed some light on what specific accelerators’ tools and practices may facilitate positive effects in startups.

Managing E-Mail Systems

2011 ◽  
pp. 103-115
Author(s):  
Aidan Duane ◽  
Patrick Finnegan
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Monitoring ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Transformative Action ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Time Frames ◽  
And Control ◽  
A Company

An email system is a critical business tool and an essential part of organisational communication. Many organisations have experienced negative impacts from email and have responded by electronically monitoring and restricting email system use. However, electronic monitoring of email can be contentious. Staff can react to these controls by dissent, protest and potentially transformative action. This chapter presents the results of a single case study investigation of staff reactions to electronic monitoring and control of an email system in a company based in Ireland. The findings highlight the variations in staff reactions through multiple time frames of electronic monitoring and control, and the chapter identifies the key concerns of staff which need to be addressed by management and consultants advocating the implementation of email system monitoring and control.

Spin-in and spin-out for growth – On the acquisition and divestiture of high-tech firms

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Öberg
Keyword(s):  
Single Case ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Study Data ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Company Growth ◽  
A Company

PurposeThis paper describes and discusses company spin-ins and spin-outs as a means to understand company growth in a dynamic context. The following question is asked: How can growth be understood in spin-ins and spin-outs of innovative firms? The paper suggests return on capabilities as a measure to understand growth in an open innovation context.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical part of the paper consists of a single case study. Data was captured through interviews and secondary data sources.FindingsThe paper points to that resources alone do not explain strategic decisions by a company and how spin-ins and spin-outs result from the need for capabilities, changes in business foci and temporary solutions to deal with overcapacities or lack of alternatives.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to research by discussing contemporary issues in strategy and innovation and relating them to the resource-based view and the growth of the firm. Spin-outs, and acquisitions and divestitures as interlinked events have rarely been focused on in the literature, while they remain frequent phenomena in practice.

Using Social Media to Support Trade Shows: Developing the Capabilities

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Lapoule ◽  
James Rowell
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Trade Show ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Communication Approach ◽  
Trade Shows ◽  
A Company

The purpose of this case study is to identify the conditions for a company developing a B2B trade show’s communication to move into an efficient Omni-channel communication approach. The case study method is used to describe the issues facing Plastic Omnium Environnement Company in deploying an Omni-channel communication approach. This company provides services to local authorities and private sector companies to dispose of their waste. Its Director of communication, Pierre Mereau, is faced with the fact that 160 French communes changed hands from one political party to another in the last local elections. This led to stagnation in terms of turnover—the time required for decision-makers to once again invest in waste management. At the same time, his General Directorate is asking him to make cuts and savings. Pierre Mereau evaluates its performance in the two last most important trade shows and set his mind to develop an Omni-channel communication approach. This case study provides an insight in an organization that is optimizing its communication strategy in a specific market. It should help companies to develop synergies between the trade show and social media.

scholarly journals Towards data-driven culture in a Spanish automobile manufacturer: A case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Maria Esteller-Cucala ◽  
Vicenc Fernandez ◽  
Diego Villuendas
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Organizational Change ◽  
Organizational Transformation ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Website Design ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
A Company

Purpose: Data-driven decision-making is a growing trend that lots of companies are nowadays willing to adopt. However, the organizational transformation needed is not always as simple and logical as it could seem and the comfort of the old habits can dim the change effort. The purpose of this study is to identify the potential problems that may arise in a real company’s transformation from a traditional intuition-driven decision-making model to a data-driven model. Design/methodology/approach: In order to reach this goal, a single case study method was used. Initially a literature review was conducted to analyze both the importance of the change to a data-driven culture and the process of organizational change. Thus, a case study method was adopted in a company of the automotive sector that included experimentation in the website design decision-making process. Findings: As a result of the case study, it was found that all the most cited risks for the organizational change process commented in the literature appeared in the project. However, even being warned of potential dangers the specific actions to prevent the damages were not trivial.Originality/value: The study presents in detail, the application of an organizational change model in a company. Important insights can be extracted from the specific case of a digitalization performed inside traditional industrial company.

scholarly journals Overcoming managers’ myopic decisions in a waste collection company

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1023-1041
Author(s):  
Enzo Bivona ◽  
Francesco Ceresia ◽  
Giovanni Tumminello
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Fleet Management ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alternative Scenarios

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to show how the changing interrelationships between fleet management, human resources and outsourcer capacity areas are likely to counterbalance managerial policies, thereby generating a performance decay. The use of system dynamics modelling in a waste collection company offered an effective contribution to support decision makers to overcoming myopic decisions. Design/methodology/approach Literature review and a case study analysis (including interviews with company actors and data gathering) offered the basis to build a system dynamics model. The model built was then used to run simulations sessions to assess alternative investments decisions. Findings Simulation results show that understanding cause-and-effect relationships between company sub-systems can help managers to shift the focus of their decision process from a single department to the whole business system. Further, the paper offers three alternative scenarios (myopic, reactive and proactive) from which to learn how to design effective long-term sustainable policies. Research limitations/implications The simulation model was developed based on a literature review and a single-case study. Although it offers a useful contribution in the investigated case, to generalise its results, additional application to waste collection companies would be desirable. Practical implications The findings of the study have implications for public decision makers and those scholars investigating how to discourage the adoption of myopic decisions in complex environments. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, only few studies investigated how the fleet management is likely to impact on the performance of waste collection companies. This study offers a contribution in this direction.

scholarly journals Single case research methodology: a tool for moral imagination in business ethics

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 890-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Luis Retolaza ◽  
Leire San-Jose
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Moral Imagination ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Corporate Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Research ◽  
Single Case Research

Purpose Although there are several often-used case research methods for teaching purposes, these cannot be used to conduct scientific research into business ethics, perhaps owing to criticism levelled against it. The precise aim of this work is to expound and argue for its use within the framework of scientific hypothetical-deductive methodology. Design/methodology/approach The opportunities offered by this methodological approach, both from an inductive (Eisenhardt, 1989; Dyer and Wilkins, 1991) and a deductive perspective (Yin, 1993; Carson et al., 2000), have been wasted, creating a need for scientific contributions within this area; hence, this study. It was carried on a theoretical approach of the use of single case applied to corporate management based on religion and spirituality inclusion. Findings The results obtained indicate that the single-case research method makes it possible to put forward alternative hypotheses to the dominant hypothesis, making contributions to the theory. Concretely, the scientific legitimacy of its use is justified by what it has been called “possibilistic hypothesis” for what it is not necessary to collect a large data or make an empiric research. Practical implications In the field of business ethics, these hypotheses (possibilistics) make alternatives stand out that widen the moral responsibility of decision-makers. It implies an open mind for decision-makers and rigorous arguments using just a single case. Reinforce and make them easier based on moral imagination improvement. Originality/value The decision process is complex, but in this rich method, the single-case study could permit establishing rigorous and robust decisions easily. The case study is not used widely for management, but this perspective could enrich and increase its use.

The Role of Middle Managers in Knowledge Transfer

2007 ◽  
Vol 06 (04) ◽  
pp. 297-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Carty ◽  
Siobhan Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Middle Management ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Knowledge Loss ◽  
A Company

This paper examines the causes of knowledge loss in a company undergoing a process of radical change. Using a methodology based on a single case study, the research highlights the critical role of middle managers in facilitating knowledge transfer. Middle managers facilitate both socialisation mechanisms for knowledge transfer and the maintenance of knowledge transfer systems based on information technology. The findings of the research suggest that eliminating layers of middle management will inevitably lead to knowledge loss, with consequential implications for competitive advantage. Based on the findings, a typology linking knowledge transfer to organisational forms is proposed.

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