Konzipierung der Taxonomie des automatischen Fahrens in der Produktion/Conception of the Taxonomy of automatic driving in the production – Systems engineering processing- and display methodology for multidimensional processes

Als Voraussetzung zur Bewertung einer systemtechnischen Problemstellung, wie die des automatischen Fahrens in der Produktion, wird im zweiten Beitrag des dreiteiligen Forschungsvorhabens, in Anlehnung an die Repertory Grid Methode, eine Taxonomie modelliert und visualisiert. Datenbasis ist das im ersten Teil erhobene morphologische Merkmalsschema. Im Fokus steht die Klassifizierung und damit einhergehend die Konstituierung von Vergleichbarkeit der identifizierten Cluster. Die Taxonomie bildet den Ausgangspunkt für nutzerorientierte, individuelle Auswertungen der Daten. In order to generate the prerequisites for evaluating a system-technical problem, such as automatic driving in the production, in the second contribution of the three-part research project a taxonomy, based on the repertory grid method, is modeled and visualized. The morphological scheme collected in the first contribution functions as the database. The focus is on classifying the identified clusters, resulting in the establishment of comparability. The taxonomy forms the starting point for user-oriented, individual evaluations of the data.

Applying the Repertory Grid Method for Technology Forecasting: Civil Unmanned Aviation Systems for Germany

Multistage expert surveys like the Delphi method are proven concepts for technology forecasting that enable the prediction of content-related and temporal development in fields of innovation (e.g., [1, 2]). Advantages of these qualitative multistage methods are a simple and easy to understand concept while still delivering valid results [3]. Nevertheless, the literature also points out certain disadvantages especially in large-scale technology forecasts in particularly abstract fields of innovation [4]. The proposed approach highlights the usefulness of the repertory grid method as an alternative for technology forecasting and as a first step for preference measurement. The basic approach from Baier and Kohler [5] is modified in-so-far that an online survey reduces the cognitive burden for the experts and simplifies the data collection process. Advantages over alternative approaches through its simple structure and through combining qualitative and quantitative methods are shown and an adaption on an actual field of innovation – civil drones in Germany – is done. The measurement of a common terminology for all experts minimizes misunderstandings during the interview and the achievement of an inter-individual comparable level of abstraction is forced by the laddering technique [6] during the interview.

A cross-cultural perspective on relational exchange

Purpose This study aims to examine relational norms in cross-cultural business settings. Cross-cultural business partners may differ in their normative orientations toward relational exchange. Owing to the high extent of international trade, there is a need for developing a more nuanced understanding of cross-cultural relational exchange. Design/methodology/approach The repertory grid method was used to elicit the personal constructs characterizing the perceptions of business-to-business (B2B) relational exchange for 22 Russian and Finnish managers. These items were further categorized into categories of relational elements drawn from relational exchange literature using a content analysis. Then, the category means of scored importance and scored evaluations of domestic and foreign business partners were tested statistically. Findings Relational norms of flexibility, information exchange, long-term orientation, mutuality and solidarity were equally important to both Russian and Finnish managers. The importance of a business partner’s ability seems to be culturally dependent. Sharing the same cultural background might have an adverse effect when evaluating poorly functioning business relations. Research limitations/implications The validity of these findings is limited to this context and material. Future research should repeat cross-cultural comparisons of the relational norms with more data and other nationalities. Practical implications Firms should focus on long-term orientation and mutual targets to form well-functioning cross-cultural business relationships. Originality/value This study provides new knowledge into B2B marketing literature by revealing the role of relational norms, business partner’s ability and shared cultural background on functionality of cross-cultural business relations. It also demonstrates the use of the repertory grid method in studying perceptions of relational norms.