with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, birds, and bees have been a popular choice... more with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, birds, and bees have been a popular choice of metaphor and provided inspiration in the development of simu-lations beneficial to learning and techno-logical development. Recently, however, references like these seem to have dwin-dled. Perhaps through the overuse of an-ecdotes regarding such social insects, ants and termites have lost their impact and ap-peal, become clichéd, and, for some, even the subject of derision. But is their pos-sible fall from grace fair? Recent research suggests not. This paper argues in favor of ants, termites, birds, and bees, presenting findings from a year-long study engaging 13 participants in interviews and the writ-ing of qualitative diaries, showing that ants, among other species, do have a place. That place is wrapped up in the emotional and intellectual experience of individuals’ learning about and developing an interest in complexity science.
Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Quality-Aware DevOps, 2016
The DevOps phenomenon is gathering pace as more UK organisations seek to leverage the benefits it... more The DevOps phenomenon is gathering pace as more UK organisations seek to leverage the benefits it can potentially bring to software engineering functions. However substantial organisational change is inherent to adopting DevOps, especially where there are prior and established methods. As part of a wider piece of doctoral research investigating the management challenges of DevOps adoption, we present early findings of a six month qualitative diary study following the adoption of DevOps within a UK based SME with over 200 employees. We find that within our case study organisation, the DevOps approach is being adopted for the development of a new system used both internally and by customers. DevOps, conceptually, appears to be generally well regarded, but in reality is proving difficult to fully adopt. This difficulty is down to a combination of necessity in maintaining a legacy system, lack of senior management buy-in, managerial structure and resistance. Additionally, we are finding evidence of job crafting, especially with the software developers. Taken together, we put forward the argument that DevOps is an interdisciplinary topic which would greatly benefit from further management and potentially psychology oriented research attention.
Disruptive innovation is a term used to describe innovation that is of highly discontinuous or re... more Disruptive innovation is a term used to describe innovation that is of highly discontinuous or revolutionary nature, which is the opposite of evolutionary or incremental innovation. The term is becoming more widely recognised, but a consistent view of what disruptive innovation is or how it is defined is missing. This paper explores the different dimensions of disruptive innovation put forward by different authors and proposes a working definition as a key building block for an European Commission (EC) co-sponsored research project ("DisruptIT"). The working definition will be used to guide the development of the tools and methods that will help organisations enable and manage disruptive innovation as a key competitive strategy. Acknowledgements: Thank you to Scott Hawkins and Matthias Stabe for their contributions to the definition.
Provided by the author(s) and NUI Galway in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite the p... more Provided by the author(s) and NUI Galway in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite the published
The 10th Conference on Concurrent Engineering provides an excellent occasion for looking back int... more The 10th Conference on Concurrent Engineering provides an excellent occasion for looking back into the history of the ISPE/CEconf community. This community has manifested itself in the many papers that have been presented at the previous nine conferences. After ten years of concerted effort to develop and disseminate results in CE research and practice sufficient material is available to generate a consolidated vision of Concurrent Engineering. In this paper, results from an analysis of the past nine proceedings are presented. Based on this material, the ISPE/CEconf community is characterized. A medium-term and long-term vision on Concurrent Engineering are formulated to guide the community in the coming 10 years.
This short paper presents a literature review and develops a theoretical framework for developing... more This short paper presents a literature review and develops a theoretical framework for developing a multi-level perspective towards energy regime transitions from fossil fuel to wind energy. By considering the case of wind energy diffusion in the UK and the Norfolk region in particular, this research aims to identify the technological, social and policy factors and actors that most influence the diffusion of wind energy within the region. By collecting and analyzing data from a range of stakeholders, the research proposes to develop a model which shows the relationship between the factors and actors involved. This is in contrast to much research in this area which tends to focus on a single perspective.
The objectives of this research are to co-create understanding and knowledge on the phenomenon of... more The objectives of this research are to co-create understanding and knowledge on the phenomenon of disruptive innovation in order to provide pragmatic clarity on the term’s meaning, impact and implications. This will address the academic audience’s gap in knowledge and provide help to practitioners wanting to understand how disruptive innovation can be fostered as part of a major competitive strategy. This paper reports on the first eighteen months of a three year academic and industrial investigation. It presents a new pragmatic definition drawn from the literature and an overview of the conceptual framework for disruptive innovation that was co-created via the collaborative efforts of academia and industry. The barriers to disruptive innovation are presented and a best practice case study of how one company is overcoming these barriers is described. The remainder of the research, which is supported by a European Commission co-sponsored project called Disrupt-it, will focus on devel...
1.Adoption of Genetic Algorithm for Cross-Docking Scheduling with Time Window.- 2. A generic know... more 1.Adoption of Genetic Algorithm for Cross-Docking Scheduling with Time Window.- 2. A generic knowledge Model for SME Supply Chain Based on Multiagent Paradigm.- 3. Integrated Supplier Selection, Pricing and Inventory Decisions in a Multi-level Supply Chain.- 4. Optimal Pricing with Dynamic Tracking in the Perishable Food Supply Chain.- 5. Identifying Supply Chain Value using RFID-Enabled Distributed Decision-Making for Food Quality and Assurance.- 6. Understanding the Acceptance of RFID in the Healthcare Industry: Extending the TAM Model.- 7. Operational Risk Issues and Time-Critical Decision-Making for Sensitive Logistics Nodes.- 8. Supply Chain Disturbances: Contextualising the Cost of Risk and Uncertainty in Outsourcing.- 9. Product Containment Resources Facilitating Decision-Making in Complex Supply Networks -A Case Study of Milk Distribution from Farm to Retail.- 10. Order Fulfillment - A Key to Supply Chain Integration.- 11. Emerging Technology and the Service Delivery Supply ...
This paper investigates the generative mechanisms for scientific knowledge transfer in the food i... more This paper investigates the generative mechanisms for scientific knowledge transfer in the food industry, addressing the sustainability of knowledge transfer projects related to health, safety and regulation. Different levels of analysis examine structure, agency and interactions within a multilevel framework. The main research questions are: (1) what are the key generative mechanisms within science–industry knowledge transfer? and (2) what are the implications of these mechanisms to policy? This research applies explaining-outcome process-tracing by investigating different knowledge transfer projects, utilising empirical data from 52 in-depth interviews with food scientists and food SMEs, 17 supporting documents and 16 observations. Systematic combining is used to develop a narrative from empirical data, where the evidence leads to the formation of the most plausible explanation. This is followed by the abstraction of mechanisms which are then matched to a suitable theoretical fram...
Product development is a key business activity that drives long term business success. Over time,... more Product development is a key business activity that drives long term business success. Over time, the focus of the product development process has evolved to encompass a more diverse group of stakeholders' needs and inputs, culminating in a call for more Responsible Research and Innovation. Here we extend the debate, from its focus on science and its engagement with society, to bring the principles of Responsible Research and Innovation into the new product development process. Many of the mechanisms exist, but a holistic approach to considering social innovation in all key stages of the product development process has not yet been fully addressed. We provide an overview of the different tools at each stage of the process that can contribute towards responsible research and innovation. In the final part of the paper we establish a future research agenda and call for additional research to investigate best practice and gather empirical evidence to further the development of Responsible Research and Innovation concept within the new product development process.
This study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the ... more This study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the energy sector. We analyse the relationship between branding and consumer switching behaviour among the UK's Big Six electricity providers. Since privatisation companies have competed against each other, but to the consumer they often appear to have very similar product offerings; firms also face criticism from consumer groups regarding confusing and difficult to compare pricing schemes. This study examines the use of corporate branding to enhance differentiation and specifically examines the influence of brand consistency and brand personality on the retention of customers. Consumers, who find it difficult to compare tariffs, may be influenced by more demonstrable factors like branding. We demonstrate the importance of longitudinal brand consistency, as well as the personality dimension Excitement, which when communicated strongly has the greatest influence on customer retention levels. This work contributes to branding theory, demonstrating that brand personality does differentiate otherwise homogeneous (and low-contact) services. Managerial implications are presented for brands seeking to improve consumer retention.
Intellectual capital and collaboration with universities are vital knowledge management practices... more Intellectual capital and collaboration with universities are vital knowledge management practices for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to innovate and improve the effectiveness of their operations. This study investigates empirically the impacts of intellectual capital and university knowledge on indigenous innovation and how business and institutional environments affect the relationships. The research model is tested using moderated regression analysis and data collected from 150 SMEs in India. The results show that intellectual capital and university knowledge improve indigenous innovation both individually and interactively. The effect of intellectual capital on indigenous innovation is amplified by dysfunctional competition whereas the effect of university knowledge on indigenous innovation is attenuated by environmental uncertainty. In addition, we find that indigenous innovation is positively associated with business performance. The impact of indigenous innovation on business performance is enhanced by dysfunctional competition but reduced by environmental uncertainty.
This study proposes and empirically tests a model of the moderating effects of internal integrati... more This study proposes and empirically tests a model of the moderating effects of internal integration and trust on the impacts of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance using structural equation modelling and data collected from 261 manufacturing firms in Vietnam. The results show that all three types of supplier integration positively associate with firm performance. Internal integration enhances the impact of process integration with suppliers on firm performance, but does not moderate the impacts of information and strategic integration with suppliers. Internal trust has insignificant, positive and negative influences on the effects of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance. The findings show that internal integration and trust play different roles in moderating the positive effects of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance, which elucidates a possible reason for previous mixed findings on the relationship between supplier integration and firm performance.
This study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the ... more This study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the energy sector. We analyse the relationship between branding and consumer switching behaviour among the UK's Big Six electricity providers. Since privatization companies have competed against each other, but to the consumer they often appear to have very similar product offerings; firms also face criticism from consumer groups regarding confusing and difficult to compare pricing schemes. This study examines the use of corporate branding to enhance differentiation and specifically examines the influence of brand consistency and brand personality on the retention of customers. Consumers, who find it difficult to compare tariffs, may be influenced by more demonstrable factors like branding. We demonstrate the importance of longitudinal brand consistency, as well as the personality dimension excitement, which when communicated strongly has the greatest influence on customer retention leve...
Complexity science literature abounds with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, bird... more Complexity science literature abounds with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, birds, and bees have been a popular choice of metaphor and provided inspiration in the development of simulations beneficial to learning and technological development. Recently, however, references like these seem to have dwindled. Perhaps through the overuse of anecdotes regarding such social insects, ants and termites have lost their impact and appeal, become clichéd, and, for some, even the subject of derision. But is their possible fall from grace fair? Recent research suggests not. This paper argues in favor of ants, termites, birds, and bees, presenting findings from a year-long study engaging 13 participants in interviews and the writing of qualitative diaries, showing that ants, among other species, do have a place. That place is wrapped up in the emotional and intellectual experience of individuals' learning about and developing an interest in complexity science.
2005 IEEE International Technology Management Conference (ICE), 2005
The six complexity science principles defined in this paper were introduced to employees in knowl... more The six complexity science principles defined in this paper were introduced to employees in knowledge intensive, high-tech firms in a way that facilitated the transformation of implicit knowledge to explicit knowledge and which in turn supported problem solving processes and helped those involved respond to uncertainty. This was manifested by the way they were able to identify, understand and contrive possible explanations of their context specific problems through the language and insight provided by the six complexity principles. These results show that the knowledge transformation process initiated through interdependent learning about the 6 complexity science principles had a significant impact for case companies in terms of improving and increasing their problem solving capabilities.
with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, birds, and bees have been a popular choice... more with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, birds, and bees have been a popular choice of metaphor and provided inspiration in the development of simu-lations beneficial to learning and techno-logical development. Recently, however, references like these seem to have dwin-dled. Perhaps through the overuse of an-ecdotes regarding such social insects, ants and termites have lost their impact and ap-peal, become clichéd, and, for some, even the subject of derision. But is their pos-sible fall from grace fair? Recent research suggests not. This paper argues in favor of ants, termites, birds, and bees, presenting findings from a year-long study engaging 13 participants in interviews and the writ-ing of qualitative diaries, showing that ants, among other species, do have a place. That place is wrapped up in the emotional and intellectual experience of individuals’ learning about and developing an interest in complexity science.
Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Quality-Aware DevOps, 2016
The DevOps phenomenon is gathering pace as more UK organisations seek to leverage the benefits it... more The DevOps phenomenon is gathering pace as more UK organisations seek to leverage the benefits it can potentially bring to software engineering functions. However substantial organisational change is inherent to adopting DevOps, especially where there are prior and established methods. As part of a wider piece of doctoral research investigating the management challenges of DevOps adoption, we present early findings of a six month qualitative diary study following the adoption of DevOps within a UK based SME with over 200 employees. We find that within our case study organisation, the DevOps approach is being adopted for the development of a new system used both internally and by customers. DevOps, conceptually, appears to be generally well regarded, but in reality is proving difficult to fully adopt. This difficulty is down to a combination of necessity in maintaining a legacy system, lack of senior management buy-in, managerial structure and resistance. Additionally, we are finding evidence of job crafting, especially with the software developers. Taken together, we put forward the argument that DevOps is an interdisciplinary topic which would greatly benefit from further management and potentially psychology oriented research attention.
Disruptive innovation is a term used to describe innovation that is of highly discontinuous or re... more Disruptive innovation is a term used to describe innovation that is of highly discontinuous or revolutionary nature, which is the opposite of evolutionary or incremental innovation. The term is becoming more widely recognised, but a consistent view of what disruptive innovation is or how it is defined is missing. This paper explores the different dimensions of disruptive innovation put forward by different authors and proposes a working definition as a key building block for an European Commission (EC) co-sponsored research project ("DisruptIT"). The working definition will be used to guide the development of the tools and methods that will help organisations enable and manage disruptive innovation as a key competitive strategy. Acknowledgements: Thank you to Scott Hawkins and Matthias Stabe for their contributions to the definition.
Provided by the author(s) and NUI Galway in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite the p... more Provided by the author(s) and NUI Galway in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite the published
The 10th Conference on Concurrent Engineering provides an excellent occasion for looking back int... more The 10th Conference on Concurrent Engineering provides an excellent occasion for looking back into the history of the ISPE/CEconf community. This community has manifested itself in the many papers that have been presented at the previous nine conferences. After ten years of concerted effort to develop and disseminate results in CE research and practice sufficient material is available to generate a consolidated vision of Concurrent Engineering. In this paper, results from an analysis of the past nine proceedings are presented. Based on this material, the ISPE/CEconf community is characterized. A medium-term and long-term vision on Concurrent Engineering are formulated to guide the community in the coming 10 years.
This short paper presents a literature review and develops a theoretical framework for developing... more This short paper presents a literature review and develops a theoretical framework for developing a multi-level perspective towards energy regime transitions from fossil fuel to wind energy. By considering the case of wind energy diffusion in the UK and the Norfolk region in particular, this research aims to identify the technological, social and policy factors and actors that most influence the diffusion of wind energy within the region. By collecting and analyzing data from a range of stakeholders, the research proposes to develop a model which shows the relationship between the factors and actors involved. This is in contrast to much research in this area which tends to focus on a single perspective.
The objectives of this research are to co-create understanding and knowledge on the phenomenon of... more The objectives of this research are to co-create understanding and knowledge on the phenomenon of disruptive innovation in order to provide pragmatic clarity on the term’s meaning, impact and implications. This will address the academic audience’s gap in knowledge and provide help to practitioners wanting to understand how disruptive innovation can be fostered as part of a major competitive strategy. This paper reports on the first eighteen months of a three year academic and industrial investigation. It presents a new pragmatic definition drawn from the literature and an overview of the conceptual framework for disruptive innovation that was co-created via the collaborative efforts of academia and industry. The barriers to disruptive innovation are presented and a best practice case study of how one company is overcoming these barriers is described. The remainder of the research, which is supported by a European Commission co-sponsored project called Disrupt-it, will focus on devel...
1.Adoption of Genetic Algorithm for Cross-Docking Scheduling with Time Window.- 2. A generic know... more 1.Adoption of Genetic Algorithm for Cross-Docking Scheduling with Time Window.- 2. A generic knowledge Model for SME Supply Chain Based on Multiagent Paradigm.- 3. Integrated Supplier Selection, Pricing and Inventory Decisions in a Multi-level Supply Chain.- 4. Optimal Pricing with Dynamic Tracking in the Perishable Food Supply Chain.- 5. Identifying Supply Chain Value using RFID-Enabled Distributed Decision-Making for Food Quality and Assurance.- 6. Understanding the Acceptance of RFID in the Healthcare Industry: Extending the TAM Model.- 7. Operational Risk Issues and Time-Critical Decision-Making for Sensitive Logistics Nodes.- 8. Supply Chain Disturbances: Contextualising the Cost of Risk and Uncertainty in Outsourcing.- 9. Product Containment Resources Facilitating Decision-Making in Complex Supply Networks -A Case Study of Milk Distribution from Farm to Retail.- 10. Order Fulfillment - A Key to Supply Chain Integration.- 11. Emerging Technology and the Service Delivery Supply ...
This paper investigates the generative mechanisms for scientific knowledge transfer in the food i... more This paper investigates the generative mechanisms for scientific knowledge transfer in the food industry, addressing the sustainability of knowledge transfer projects related to health, safety and regulation. Different levels of analysis examine structure, agency and interactions within a multilevel framework. The main research questions are: (1) what are the key generative mechanisms within science–industry knowledge transfer? and (2) what are the implications of these mechanisms to policy? This research applies explaining-outcome process-tracing by investigating different knowledge transfer projects, utilising empirical data from 52 in-depth interviews with food scientists and food SMEs, 17 supporting documents and 16 observations. Systematic combining is used to develop a narrative from empirical data, where the evidence leads to the formation of the most plausible explanation. This is followed by the abstraction of mechanisms which are then matched to a suitable theoretical fram...
Product development is a key business activity that drives long term business success. Over time,... more Product development is a key business activity that drives long term business success. Over time, the focus of the product development process has evolved to encompass a more diverse group of stakeholders' needs and inputs, culminating in a call for more Responsible Research and Innovation. Here we extend the debate, from its focus on science and its engagement with society, to bring the principles of Responsible Research and Innovation into the new product development process. Many of the mechanisms exist, but a holistic approach to considering social innovation in all key stages of the product development process has not yet been fully addressed. We provide an overview of the different tools at each stage of the process that can contribute towards responsible research and innovation. In the final part of the paper we establish a future research agenda and call for additional research to investigate best practice and gather empirical evidence to further the development of Responsible Research and Innovation concept within the new product development process.
This study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the ... more This study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the energy sector. We analyse the relationship between branding and consumer switching behaviour among the UK's Big Six electricity providers. Since privatisation companies have competed against each other, but to the consumer they often appear to have very similar product offerings; firms also face criticism from consumer groups regarding confusing and difficult to compare pricing schemes. This study examines the use of corporate branding to enhance differentiation and specifically examines the influence of brand consistency and brand personality on the retention of customers. Consumers, who find it difficult to compare tariffs, may be influenced by more demonstrable factors like branding. We demonstrate the importance of longitudinal brand consistency, as well as the personality dimension Excitement, which when communicated strongly has the greatest influence on customer retention levels. This work contributes to branding theory, demonstrating that brand personality does differentiate otherwise homogeneous (and low-contact) services. Managerial implications are presented for brands seeking to improve consumer retention.
Intellectual capital and collaboration with universities are vital knowledge management practices... more Intellectual capital and collaboration with universities are vital knowledge management practices for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to innovate and improve the effectiveness of their operations. This study investigates empirically the impacts of intellectual capital and university knowledge on indigenous innovation and how business and institutional environments affect the relationships. The research model is tested using moderated regression analysis and data collected from 150 SMEs in India. The results show that intellectual capital and university knowledge improve indigenous innovation both individually and interactively. The effect of intellectual capital on indigenous innovation is amplified by dysfunctional competition whereas the effect of university knowledge on indigenous innovation is attenuated by environmental uncertainty. In addition, we find that indigenous innovation is positively associated with business performance. The impact of indigenous innovation on business performance is enhanced by dysfunctional competition but reduced by environmental uncertainty.
This study proposes and empirically tests a model of the moderating effects of internal integrati... more This study proposes and empirically tests a model of the moderating effects of internal integration and trust on the impacts of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance using structural equation modelling and data collected from 261 manufacturing firms in Vietnam. The results show that all three types of supplier integration positively associate with firm performance. Internal integration enhances the impact of process integration with suppliers on firm performance, but does not moderate the impacts of information and strategic integration with suppliers. Internal trust has insignificant, positive and negative influences on the effects of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance. The findings show that internal integration and trust play different roles in moderating the positive effects of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance, which elucidates a possible reason for previous mixed findings on the relationship between supplier integration and firm performance.
This study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the ... more This study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the energy sector. We analyse the relationship between branding and consumer switching behaviour among the UK's Big Six electricity providers. Since privatization companies have competed against each other, but to the consumer they often appear to have very similar product offerings; firms also face criticism from consumer groups regarding confusing and difficult to compare pricing schemes. This study examines the use of corporate branding to enhance differentiation and specifically examines the influence of brand consistency and brand personality on the retention of customers. Consumers, who find it difficult to compare tariffs, may be influenced by more demonstrable factors like branding. We demonstrate the importance of longitudinal brand consistency, as well as the personality dimension excitement, which when communicated strongly has the greatest influence on customer retention leve...
Complexity science literature abounds with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, bird... more Complexity science literature abounds with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, birds, and bees have been a popular choice of metaphor and provided inspiration in the development of simulations beneficial to learning and technological development. Recently, however, references like these seem to have dwindled. Perhaps through the overuse of anecdotes regarding such social insects, ants and termites have lost their impact and appeal, become clichéd, and, for some, even the subject of derision. But is their possible fall from grace fair? Recent research suggests not. This paper argues in favor of ants, termites, birds, and bees, presenting findings from a year-long study engaging 13 participants in interviews and the writing of qualitative diaries, showing that ants, among other species, do have a place. That place is wrapped up in the emotional and intellectual experience of individuals' learning about and developing an interest in complexity science.
2005 IEEE International Technology Management Conference (ICE), 2005
The six complexity science principles defined in this paper were introduced to employees in knowl... more The six complexity science principles defined in this paper were introduced to employees in knowledge intensive, high-tech firms in a way that facilitated the transformation of implicit knowledge to explicit knowledge and which in turn supported problem solving processes and helped those involved respond to uncertainty. This was manifested by the way they were able to identify, understand and contrive possible explanations of their context specific problems through the language and insight provided by the six complexity principles. These results show that the knowledge transformation process initiated through interdependent learning about the 6 complexity science principles had a significant impact for case companies in terms of improving and increasing their problem solving capabilities.
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