Semantic weak signal tracing

The weak signal concept according to Ansoff has the aim to advance strategic early warning. It enables to predict the appearance of events in advance that are relevant for an organization. An example is to predict the appearance of a new and relevant technology for a research organization. Existing approaches detect weak signals based on an environmental scanning procedure that considers textual information from the internet. This is because about 80% of all data in the internet are textual information. The texts are processed by a specific clustering approach where clusters that represent weak signals are identified. In contrast to these related approaches, we propose a new methodology that investigates a sequence of clusters measured at successive points in time. This enables to trace the development of weak signals over time and thus, it enables to identify relevant weak signal developments for organization’s decision making in strategic early warning environment.     

Semantic compared cross impact analysis

The aim of cross impact analysis (CIA) is to predict the impact of a first event on a second. For organization’s strategic planning, it is helpful to identify the impacts among organization’s internal events and to compare these impacts to the corresponding impacts of external events from organization’s competitors. For this, literature has introduced compared cross impact analysis (CCIA) that depicts advantages and disadvantages of the relationships between organization’s events to the relationships between competitors’ events. However, CCIA is restricted to the use of patent data as representative for competitors’ events and it applies a knowledge structure based text mining approach that does not allow considering semantic aspects from highly unstructured textual information. In contrast to related work, we propose an internet based environmental scanning procedure to identify textual patterns represent competitors’ events. To enable processing of this highly unstructured textual information, the proposed methodology uses latent semantic indexing (LSI) to calculate the compared cross impacts (CCI) for an organization. A latent semantic subspace is built that consists of semantic textual patterns. These patterns are selected that represent organization’s events. A web mining approach is used for crawling textual information from the internet based on keywords extracted from each selected pattern. This textual information is projected into the same latent semantic subspace. Based on the relationships between the semantic textual patterns in the subspace, CCI is calculated for different events of an organization. A case study shows that the proposed approach successfully calculates the CCI for technologies processed by a governmental organization. This enables decision makers to direct their investments more targeted.     

Exploring the evaluation framework of strategic information systems using repertory grid technique: a cognitive perspective from chief information officers

This study aims at developing an evaluation framework of strategic information systems (SIS) and evaluating the SIS planning and implementation by using a cognitive approach called the repertory grid technique. The findings are based on in-depth interviews with chief information officers (CIOs) involved with SIS developments in their organisations. This exploratory study builds on a cognitive methodology and enables us to develop the evaluation framework of SIS within the CIO's mind. In a practical viewpoint, we evaluated the effectiveness of the essential activities in the SIS planning and implementation. Results showed that activities on analysing industry and environment, analysing information system weakness and strength, formulating SIS strategy, identifying SIS initiatives, prioritising and allocating resources for SIS, documenting SIS, and liaising with top management team are well performed.     

OSPM: A design methodology for open strategic planning

This study employs a design science perspective to propose a methodology for open strategic planning (OSP). Habermas’ discourse theory and Bryson’s strategy change cycle are used as informing kernel theories. A methodology is proposed to satisfy the requirements retrieved from the kernel theories. The proposed methodology contains modules for a planning system and a planning process. Design principles are explained through a blueprint of the system and process. The proposed methodology is applied and evaluated in two cases. Contributions to the literature involve extending the literature on OSP to an applicable methodology with guidelines on how to implement open strategy.     

Web mining based extraction of problem solution ideas

The internet is a valuable source of information where many ideas can be found dealing with different topics. A few numbers of ideas might be able to solve an existing problem. However, it is time-consuming to identify these ideas within the large amount of textual information in the internet. This paper introduces a new web mining approach that enables an automated identification of new technological ideas extracted from internet sources that are able to solve a given problem. It adapts and combines several existing approaches from literature: approaches that extract new technological ideas from a user given text, approaches that investigate the different idea characteristics in different technical domains, and multi-language web mining approaches. In contrast to previous work, the proposed approach enables the identification of problem solution ideas in the internet considering domain dependencies and language aspects. In a case study, new ideas are identified to solve existing technological problems as occurred in research and development (R&D) projects. This supports the process of research planning and technology development.     

Detecting weak signals for long-term business opportunities using text mining of Web news

In an uncertain business environment, competitive intelligence requires peripheral vision to scan and identify weak signals that can affect the future business environment. Weak signals are defined as imprecise and early indicators of impending important events or trends, which are considered key to formulating new potential business items. However, existing methods for discovering weak signals rely on the knowledge and expertise of experts, whose services are not widely available and tend to be costly. They may even provide different analysis results. Therefore, this paper presents a quantitative method that identifies weak signal topics by exploiting keyword-based text mining. The proposed method is illustrated using Web news articles related to solar cells. As a supportive tool for the expert-based approach, this method can be incorporated into long-term business planning processes to assist experts in identifying potential business items.     

Strategic orientation and performance of internet-based businesses

Abstract. Many of the pure internet‐based businesses that proliferated over the past 5 years have encountered serious problems as their lofty valuations have plunged. Industry observers have attributed this phenomenon to a variety of factors, generally framed in terms of poor conceptualization or implementation of the ‘business model’. This study explores an often‐used concept in strategic management called ‘strategic orientation’ and applies it to internet‐based businesses. Based on an analysis of over 100 public businesses, firms that cluster together with similar strategic orientation are observed. These strategic groups are then analysed for performance differences. The results are discussed with the intent of learning from the dot‐burn effects as we evolve to the next generation of internet‐based business.     

Knowledge strategy planning: methodology and case

This study aims at suggesting an integrative methodology for planning knowledge management initiatives. First, four major underpinning assumptions which should be addressed in knowledge management are identified through literature reviews on strategic information systems planning and knowledge management. Based on these assumptions, we introduce a knowledge strategy planning methodology, called P²-KSP methodology. The P²-KSP methodology places its emphasis on improving organizational performance by identifying and leveraging knowledge directly related to business processes and performance. The methodology consists of five phases: business environment analysis, knowledge requirements analysis, knowledge management strategy establishment, knowledge management architecture design, and knowledge management implementation planning. After its detailed procedures and related features are explained, results of applying it to a large semiconductor manufacturer's knowledge management project are discussed.     

The relationship between information and communication technologies adoption and management

This paper examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption on management praxis. The study, building on the theoretical framework developed by Scott Morton and his colleagues, attempts to identify the dynamic relationships between ICT adoption and management efforts towards modernization and reorganization. Using data from leading Greek firms, we report evidence as to how changes in strategy, organizational structure, management systems, and human skills link with the current and prospective level of use of various types of advanced ICT. Findings generally appear to suggest that Greek firms are in a process of recognizing the potential of ICT to enable and support changes that are necessary for successfully competing in a hyper-competitive environment. In particular, ICT adoption is shown to affect strategy by supporting long-term strategic objectives and the quest for profitability. Indirectly, it also links to strategic planning systems. ICT is found to be related to an internal environment characterized by open organization and flexibility. Finally, the results show that the sample firms recognize the need for multi-skilled personnel to exploit the advantages stemming from ICT adoption.     

A conceptual framework for trajectory-based medical analytics with IoT contexts

With the increasing availability of medical IoT devices, it becomes feasible to collect health contexts from personal IoT devices and perform analytics to assess the health conditions and identify potential diseases. However, there exist technical challenges in developing such personal healthcare applications; transforming disease diagnosis methods of physicians in machine-readable forms and software implementation of the medical analytic schemes. In this paper, we present a methodology foundation for analyzing medical contexts. That is, we formalize five representative medical diagnosis schemes for personal healthcare application.     

Transforming the Danish Film Field Via ‘Professionalization’, Penetration and Integration

Using a qualitative case study of the transformations of the infrastructure of the Danish film field by the Danish Film Institute and its CEO, three basic questions about entrepreneurial agency are raised. The first deals with the relationship between the institutional environment and the personal backgrounds of entrepreneurial actors. The study finds that certain actors can be seen as possessing extreme or unique levels of legitimacy resulting in being rewarded with tremendous resources and opportunities for strategic action. The second question has to do with how, and what sort of role transformations can take place from a structurally central, but static position in a field. Here ‘intermediary entrepreneurialism’ was used to penetrate and integrate the field in such a way as to turn a structurally fixed position from a weak to a strong nexus. The third question deals with how transformations can be effected by an organization that straddles three prominent institutional fields and logics – the state, market and artistic expression. Here, the key role of the term ‘professionalization’ is emphasized, arguing that this term proved evocative and compelling in each institutional field. The case also adds to our understanding of institutional and transformation processes in creative industries by focusing on two less‐studied contexts – the role and strategies of centrally placed actors in initiating and leading transformational activities, and the role that entrepreneurial ‘bureaucrats’ can play in transforming creative industries.     

A relationship framework and application in between strategy and operational plans for manufacturing industry

The objective of this paper is to develop a system that calculates a company’s strategic manufacturing performance using indicator values of competitive priorities classified according to manufacturing players and their weights and to determine strategic operations plans to guide short-term decisions based on performance and indicator values. A framework is designed that measures strategic manufacturing strength and links these competitive priorities to manufacturing strategy to plan operations that are compatible with the manufacturing strategy. This framework is applied in a panel furniture company. Quantitative data are obtained from Enterprise Resource Planning database. This work provides a new, more structured methodology with greater quantification and new insights. It is hoped that this decision support system helps that managers of a company in their strategic operations plans decision-making as they develop manufacturing capabilities against competitors. This study eliminates several gaps between the academic literature and current management practice, suggesting that researchers should consider the impact of theory on the process of strategy operations planning. It also offers a way for organizations with respect to determine strategy operations planning according to their current performance measurement systems. This study includes a different approach than those described in the literature because it includes a conceptual model, novel methods used in performance calculation and decision-making related to strategic operations plans.     

Detecting mutual configurations of applied planning strategies and performances in small and medium sized businesses with kernel based machine learning methods

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of strategic planning on service small and medium size enterprises’ (SMEs) performance. A machine learning methodology, based on an alternating diffusion process, is applied for organizing the SMEs into a network/graph, and generating management profiles. The method relies on ideas from non-linear dimensionality reduction, where a data-set is parameterized by a small number of intrinsic parameters. Recent advances in this field allow for the construction of a common intrinsic representation for two related dataset by using kernel multiplication. In this work, the method is applied to two related datasets that describe a business from two angles: strategic planning and performance. The goal is to reveal underlying hidden strategic patterns that influence SMEs’ performance.The proposed methods are applied to a dataset containing planning and performance measures of 467 businesses. The obtained model yields an SME graph, where SMEs that share similar planning strategies and performances are located close to each other. Thus, the model generates typical strategic planning and performance profiles, describing distinct groups of SMEs. The study reveals two different planning strategies emphasizing different management approaches that lead to successful performance. Thus, in service SMEs there is more than one way to enhance performance via management strategy. Differentiating between various planning strategies was enabled by utilizing kernel based machine learning methods, thereby overcoming limitations of linear methods that cannot provide such sensitive profile configurations.     

The Fuzzy Early Stages

In past columns we have discussed how MIS can encourage an organization without a strategic plan to develop one (the objective being for MIS to gain guidance in formulating its own strategic plan). In this column, however, we consider an organization ready and eager to modify its own strategic plan to meet new conditions. This is a golden opportunity for MIS to aid in the organization's strategic planning activity by contributing information that policymaking executives can use to craft a new strategy.     

Framing Organization Strategy

In past columns we have discussed how MIS can encourage an organization without a strategic plan to develop one (the objective being for MIS to gain guidance in formulating its own strategic plan). In this column, however, we consider an organization ready and eager to modify its own strategic plan to meet new conditions. This is a golden opportunity for MIS to aid in the organization's strategic planning activity by contributing information that policymaking executives can use to craft a new strategy.     

Enterprisewide Information Management: State-of-the-Art Strategic Planning

MIS plans compete with many other potential business investments and business problems for the attention of senior management. Consequently, a strategic planning methodology should not only produce a plan linked to business planning but also should create a persuasive case for its support. This article examines the state of the art in strategic planning in terms of enterprisewide information management (EwIM), which is a set of concepts and tools that enable MIS managers to plan, organize, implement, and control information resources to meet current and future strategic goals.     

The critical success factors for ERP implementation: an organizational fit perspective

Since early 1990s, many firms around the world have shifted their information technology (IT) strategy from developing information systems in-house to purchasing application software such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. IT managers responsible for managing their organization’s ERP implementation view their ERP systems as their organizations’ most strategic computing platform. However, despite such strategic importance, ERP projects report an unusually high failure rate, sometimes jeopardizing the core operations of the implementing organization. This study explores the root of such high failure rate from an “organizational fit of ERP” perspective. Based on the relevant literature, we define the concept of organizational fit of ERP and examine its impact on ERP implementation, together with ERP implementation contingencies. The results from our field survey of 34 organizations show that ERP implementation success significantly depends on the organizational fit of ERP and certain implementation contingencies.     

Selection effective management tools on setting European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model by a quality function deployment (QFD) approach

EFQM Excellence model literature indicates that using the management tools that are relevant to the organization’s needs has become a strategic issue for companies in today’s competitive environment. By choosing and applying the best management tools among too many management tools, companies can improve their performances and then increase customer satisfaction and gain market shares. The aim of this research is to propose an original approach for the management tools selection based on the quality function deployment (QFD) approach, a methodology which has been successfully adopted in new products development. Specifically, the research addresses the issue of how to deploy the house of quality (HOQ) to effectively and efficiently improve management tools selection processes and thus company satisfaction about its excellence achievement. Fuzzy logic is also adopted to deal with the vagueness nature of the qualitative linguistic judgments required in the proposed HOQ. The model of this research has been tested by means of a real case application, which refers to an Iranian company operating in the automotive industry in this case the mixture of 15 categories of management tools with five EFQM enabler criteria has been characterized by using of the research model. And also the test of the hypothesis of this research has been done by using spearman correlation coefficient.     

基于Scenario的MAS环境建模方法

对多Agent系统（MAS）的环境建模将有助于促进复杂MAS的分析和设计。本文提出了一种基于Scenario的MAS环境建模方法,该方法通过描述MAS的Scenario导出和分析MAS的环境,并采用高层的组织抽象思想对MAS的环境进行建模。本文通过一个电子商务系统的案例分析说明如何利用该方法指导MAS的开发。