技术导向一定会带来创新绩效吗?——合作网络的调节作用

在技术创新过程中,企业与外部建立合作网络的重要性不断受到管理实践者和研究者的重视.以开放性创新和社会网络理论为基础,研究了技术导向对创新绩效的影响作用,并分析了合作网络对二者关系的调节作用.本研究以107家高新技术企业为研究样本,构建回归模型对假设进行验证.结果显示:技术导向对创新绩效没有产生直接显著的积极作用;合作网络规模正向调节技术导向的两个衡量指标,也就是技术能力和研发强度,对创新绩效的作用;合作深度正向调节技术能力对创新绩效的作用.     

创业导向、双元创新与企业竞争优势

针对创业导向如何影响企业绩效研究的不足,基于资源基础理论,构建了创业导向、双元创新与企业竞争优势之间的关系模型,旨在揭示双元创新在创业导向和竞争优势之间的中介作用。通过对全国203家企业调查数据进行实证研究,结果表明:(1)创业导向对探索式创新具有显著正向影响,对开发式创新具有倒U型影响;(2)开发式创新和探索式创新具有显著正向相关关系;(3)开发式创新和探索式创新正向影响企业竞争优势,并在创业导向和竞争优势之间起到中介效应。     

创业导向与企业绩效的关系研究——差错学习的中介作用

目的探讨创业导向对企业绩效的影响作用和差错学习在创业导向与企业绩效关系间的中介作用。方法运用SPSS 24.0和AMOS 24.0对205份创业者有效问卷进行实证分析。结果创业导向(创新性、风险承担、超前行动)对企业绩效有显著的正向影响;创业导向(创新性、风险承担、超前行动)对差错学习有显著的正向影响;差错学习对企业绩效有显著的正向影响;差错学习部分中介创业导向(创新性、风险承担、超前行动)与企业绩效间的关系。结论创业导向通过差错学习对企业绩效产生促进作用。     

销售人员的责任心与绩效:客户导向的中介作用

目的探察"责任心—绩效"关系的内在作用机制。方法采用大五人格量表、客户导向问卷以及销售人员绩效问卷,对国内某大型电信企业的302对销售人员及其直接主管进行配对调查并对数据加以分析。结果客户导向能够完全中介责任心对销售绩效的作用。结论责任心可以通过促进客户导向的行为来影响销售绩效。     

供应链伙伴关系、信息共享与企业运营绩效关系

本文以广东省珠三角地区制造企业为调查对象,对供应链伙伴关系、信息共享与企业运营绩效之间关系进行研究.研究结果表明,供应链伙伴关系对信息共享存在显著的正向影响,即增强供应链伙伴关系将有助于提高企业之间信息共享水平;信息共享对企业运营绩效存在显著的正向影响;供应链伙伴关系不仅直接影响企业运营绩效,而且通过信息共享间接地影响到企业运营绩效.另外,我们还发现在供应链伙伴关系中的信任对信息共享与企业运营绩效均有非常显著的影响.本文研究结论可为我国制造企业实施供应链管理策略提供理论指导.     

信任关系对IT匹配及信息共享的作用机理研究

构建了制造商与供应商间信任关系、IT匹配、信息共享、制造商运营绩效之间关系的理论模型。通过对广东省珠三角地区272家制造企业进行问卷调查,运用结构方程模型对提出的假设及概念模型进行检验。研究结果显示,能力信任对善意信任有着显著的正向影响;善意信任对信息共享、IT匹配有着显著的正向影响,但能力信任对信息共享、IT匹配的影响并不显著;IT匹配对信息共享和制造商运营绩效都有着显著的正向影响;信息共享对制造商运营绩效有着显著的正向影响。研究表明,企业不仅要通过加强对IT匹配的投资来改善信息共享及运营绩效,还要善于建立供应链伙伴间信任关系来提高信息共享及运营绩效水平。     

多视角服务导向对服务创新行为的跨层次影响机制

目的基于多层次理论方法,从工作投入视角探讨多视角服务导向对服务创新行为的多层次作用机理。方法对辽宁30家接待服务企业管理者和员工进行多阶段调研,综合运用SPSS、AMOS与HLM工具进行分析。结果组织服务导向正向影响工作投入;个体服务导向正向影响工作投入;组织服务导向正向调节个体服务导向和工作投入之间的关系;工作投入正向影响创造力和创造执行力;在组织服务导向与个体服务导向对创造力和创造执行力的交互作用之间,以工作投入为中介;组织服务导向正向影响聚合创造力和创造执行力。结论研究成果无论在理论上还是在指导管理实践方面都具有较重要的意义。     

风险投资决策中多重参照点作用模式的模拟实验研究

采用风险投资决策的模拟实验,在时间维度、内在维度和外在维度上设置多个参照点探讨了风险决策中多重参照点的作用模式。150名浙江大学的学生参加了本实验。结果表明：（1）满意度评定和风险投资中多重参照点均以独立模式影响个体的决策过程。（2）满意度评定上,实际绩效对其有显著正向影响,目标绩效和对手绩效有显著负向影响;在风险投资方案选择上,实际绩效、目标绩效和对手绩效均有显著的正向影响。     

复杂产品研制项目的流程模块化分析方法

基于复杂产品研制项目模块划分不均匀、管理分工不协调的现状,首先从复杂产品研制项目流程的功能相关性和信息相关性两个方面,提出了项目流程的模块分解、分层及合并方法。其次,依据模块化程度函数和敏感度函数,分析项目流程的模块化程度和敏感度与特质模块间的变化规律,发现：模块化程度函数存在凹凸性拐点,模块化敏感度函数为凹函数。再次,以某航空复杂产品研制项目为例,通过对其模块化程度和敏感度曲线模拟,提出基于模块化程度及敏感度视角下,企业面对不同模块化程度和敏感度情况下的相应管理策略：当模块化程度较高且敏感度较低时,企业应考虑适当拓展新型研制业务;当模块化程度较低且敏感度较高时,应考虑增强企业管理柔性,适当减少新型业务开展力度。     

TQM、TPM与准时制生产实施的关系及对绩效的影响

构建TQM、TPM、JIT及绩效之间的理论模型。以华南地区118家制造企业为调查对象,通过SEM对理论模型的验证,实证研究结果表明在中国情境下:TQM、TPM二者之间相关关系显著,并正向影响JIT的实施;JIT的实施正向影响企业的生产运营绩效,并没有正向影响企业的财务绩效,而是通过生产运营绩效间接影响企业的财务绩效。对于管理实践来说,我国企业可以通过JIT的实施来提升其绩效,在具体实施JIT的过程中综合考虑先行实施TQM、TPM,进而获得更好的效果。     

The effects of product modularity on launch speed

Extant literature suggests that product modularity positively and directly impacts the timeliness and frequency of new products as well as manufacturing performance, particularly flexibility. Little is known about the nature of these relationships, however, since few empirical studies have been done. Important questions remain unanswered including whether the effect of modularity on launch speed is direct or indirect, and what role other constructs might play. This study explores these issues by examining the effects of product modularity on launch speed within a holistic framework that considers the roles of product platforms and manufacturing flexibility. Drawing upon dynamic capabilities theory in the resource-based view, the model depicts product modularity as antecedent to product platforms, product platforms as antecedent to manufacturing flexibility and manufacturing flexibility as antecedent to launch speed. The model is strongly supported by an analysis of 93 manufacturers. Results reveal a positive effect of product modularity on launch speed, but it is delivered through the mediating effects of product platforms and manufacturing flexibility. In contrast to earlier work, the findings show modularity alone is an insufficient condition for the timely and frequent introduction of new products. Rather, launch speed is engendered by a ‘gestalt’ of dynamic capabilities.     

Product and process modularity: improving flexibility and reducing supplier failure risk

As the dependence on suppliers intensifies, companies can adopt product and process modularity to reduce the potential negative effects of supply disruptions. Indeed, enabling manufacturing postponement can provide firms with a prompt response; by reducing the complexity of the system and allowing for easier configuration of the production process, the negative impact of a supply disruption, such as supplier failure, can be absorbed. This study provides a framework that relates the adoption of postponement enablers (i.e. product modularity and process modularity) to the reduction of the negative impact of a supply disruption. We attempt to determine whether the direct effect can be explained by the impact of these practices on companies’ flexibility. Based on data collected from 54 Italian manufacturing companies, we show that the adoption of manufacturing postponement enablers directly reduces the negative impact of the occurrence of supplier failure. Furthermore, we show that this relationship can only be partially explained by an indirect path through companies’ flexibility.     

The impact of sales and operations planning practices on manufacturing operational performance

There is a lack of rigorous empirical studies directly examining the impact of sales and operations planning (S&OP) practices on manufacturing operational performance. This paper aims to fill this gap by analysing a sample of 725 manufacturers from 34 countries. Hypotheses relate internal S&OP, integration with suppliers (IS) and integration with customers with manufacturing operational performance (delivery, quality and flexibility). The constructs were validated with structural equation modelling and the hypotheses were tested using multiple stepwise regression. Our findings showed a positive and moderate-to-large effect of internal S&OP on manufacturing performance, controlling for firm size, country economic development and market dynamics. There was no significant impact of supply chain integration on manufacturing performance. However, we found that IS positively moderated the relationship between internal S&OP and performance, suggesting that firms with mature IS amplify the effect of internal S&OP on performance. The study is among the first to empirically and rigorously establish the impacts of S&OP practices on manufacturing performance, using a large sample of manufacturers spanning different countries, markets and firm sizes. Results show that S&OP practices have a broad impact across several performance dimensions and are a powerful lever for generating manufacturing performance.     

The fit between environmental management systems and organisational learning orientation

With the significant increase in the adoption of environmental management systems (EMSs), it is important to evaluate whether EMSs can improve the business value for organisations that adopt them. However, less is known about whether or not EMSs lead to improved firm performance with only few studies evaluating the broad link between an organisation’s environmental strategies and its business performance. Furthermore, previous studies are inconsistent in their findings about the relationship between environmental strategies and firm performance. We attribute this inconsistency to the misfit between environmental strategies and organisational learning orientation which results in operational inefficiency within the firm. This study tries to find out the proper fit pattern between EMSs and organisational learning orientation by investigating their joint effect on firm performance. Based on survey data from 214 Chinese manufacturing companies, we found that the interactions between EMSs and four dimensions of organisational learning orientation have positive impacts on firm performance. Thus, the proper organisational learning orientation for efficiency and effective EMSs is characterised by high levels of commitment to learning, shared vision, open-mindedness and knowledge sharing.     

Effects of marketing–manufacturing integration across stages of new product development on performance

Our understanding on the benefits of marketing–manufacturing integration (MMI) across various stages of new product development (NPD) process is limited. Based on the resource-based view of a firm, this study empirically examines the direct and interactive effects of MMI in four stages of NPD process on three dimensions of new product performance. Survey data from 214 completed NPD projects in Chinese manufacturing firms are employed to test the developed hypotheses using hierarchical regression. The results indicate that greater MMI in each stage is, respectively, associated with faster NPD speed. Stronger MMI in business/market opportunity analysis (BMA), technical development (TD) and product testing (PT) stage is, respectively, associated with higher NPD cost efficiency. Higher MMI in BMA and PT stage is, respectively, associated with better market performance. In addition, the interactions of MMI in BMA and TD stages and MMI in PT and product commercialization (PC) stages have positive effects on NPD speed and NPD cost efficiency, while the interaction of MMI in BMA and PC stages has negative effects on NPD speed and NPD cost efficiency. The interaction of MMI in BMA, TD and PC stages is positively related to market performance; surprisingly, the interactions of MMI in BMA, TD and PT stages and MMI in BMA, PT and PC stages are negatively related to market performance. These findings have important implications for research and practice in both the cross-functional integration and NPD areas.     

The relationships among functional integration,mass customisation,and firm performance

Previous literature has extensively investigated the impact of supply chain integration on mass customisation and plant performance, but little research has been conducted to examine the impact of functional integration within the focal firm on mass customisation and plant performance. This article seeks to demonstrate this impact theoretically and empirically. Organisational information processing theory and the resource-based view of the firm are used to relate functional integration, mass customisation, and plant performance. Structural equation modelling is applied to analyse a conceptual model with survey data collected from 266 manufacturing plants. The results indicate that functional integration has a significant positive impact on mass customisation and operational performance. Mass customisation partially mediates functional integration's impact on operational performance. Results also indicate that mass customisation's impact on customer satisfaction is not direct. Rather, the relationship is fully mediated by operational performance. Managerial implications of these research findings are discussed.     

Antecedents of implementation success in closed-loop supply chain: an empirical investigation

Implementation of closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) has gained increased consideration in the last few years owing to an increase in environmental concerns, product returns and scarcity of natural resources. It aids in improving environmental, economic and social performances. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of CLSC critical success factors (CSFs) on performance outcomes. Firstly, CSFs and performance outcomes are extracted by conducting exploratory factor analysis using SPSS software. Then, the relationships between CLSC CSFs and performance outcomes are empirically tested by Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach, using the data collected from 138 professionals working in remanufacturing, refurbishing and recycling operations in North American manufacturing organisations. Empirical analysis demonstrates that CSFs, ‘environmental concerns’, ‘sustainable production’ and ‘product design and collection’ have a significant positive effect on environmental performance. Results also validate the significant positive effect of CSFs, ‘demand and inventory management’ and ‘raw material prices’ on economic performance. In our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the impact of CLSC CSFs on performance outcomes. The results provide managers in manufacturing organisations with insights on most important CSFs that improve performance.     

Modularity analysis and commonality design: a framework for the top-down platform and product family design

With a highly fragmented market and increased competition, platform-based product family design is recognised as an effective method for constructing a product line that satisfies diverse customer demand while keeping design and production cost- and time-effective. Recognising the need for modularity and commonality in platform development, this paper presents a systematic framework to assist in implementing top-down platform and product family design, which aims to achieve system-level modularity for variety generation, and rationalise the commonality configuration for module instantiation. In the first phase of platform development, a robust and flexible product family architecture is constructed to accommodate variations by analysing the external varieties of the generic product architecture, and provide a modularity design space, wherein the design tasks are further decomposed into module instantiation. The second phase of detailed platform development aims to enhance commonality in terms of engineering efficiency by coordinating with the back-end product realisation stage. A tractable optimisation method is used to capture and resolve the trade-off between commonality configuration and individual product performance. A family of power tool designs is used to demonstrate the potential and feasibility of the proposed framework at the system level and detailed design stages.     

Entrepreneurial orientation and performance: mediating effects of technology and marketing action across industry types

We contribute to the debate on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance. We theorise, firstly, that the relationship between EO and performance is mediated by the firm’s technology and marketing action and secondly, that these mediating effects will differ by industry. We test the model on 489 Korean SMEs. Results indicate both technology and marketing action mediate the effect of EO on performance. As expected, technology action has a stronger mediating effect than marketing action in manufacturing industries, while marketing action has a stronger mediating effect in service industries. We discuss implications for managers and policy-makers.     

The synergistic effect of environmental sustainability and corporate reputation on market value added (MVA) in manufacturing firms

This study is an attempt to explore the predictive effect, in terms of operational capability, of a large manufacturing firm’s environmental greening efforts carried out in the interest of sustainability, and of the firm’s reputation for social responsibility. Through both a traditional and a new, innovative approach, this study investigates the potential synergistic effect of environmental sustainability and the improvement of corporate reputation on a firm’s market performance in terms of shareholders’ equity value (market value added, or MVA) when taken together with the firm’s other key differential business factors. The findings of this study provide notable implications that establish the integrative paradigm for the influence of environmental greening sustainability on firm performance through the use of an innovative methodological approach regardless of a priori theoretical assumptions. Through this, the impact of environmental sustainability and corporate reputation, as well as their synergistic effect, on firm performance push forward a new foundation in business practice. The major findings and new methodological approach (Back-Propagation Neural Networks; BPNN) in this study will open a broad new spectrum of opportunities for further research on these topical issues.