The role of product lean launch in customer relationships and performance in the high-tech manufacturing industry

How managers' cognitive frames affect the use of process improvement approaches in new product development

Purpose

Despite the numerous implementations of process improvement approaches (PIAs) in new product development (NPD), the espoused benefits of PIAs are rarely realized in practice. This paper explores how managers' cognitive frames provide knowledge structures that affect the use of PIAs in the development of new products.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative multiple case study method was used to elaborate theory in relation to the use of PIAs in NPD. Four large multinational companies were selected. Interviews with informants from different functional specialisms were conducted, and internal and online documents were collected and analyzed.

Findings

Two main findings emerge. First, the authors identify three types of managers' cognitive frames: conflicting, paradoxical, and supporting. Second, these cognitive frames are found to influence managers' decisions over whether to promote, adapt or prevent the implementation of PIAs, sometimes in contrast with the managers' organization’s strategic intent.

Practical implications

This paper generates insights into the importance of managerial decision-making in determining the scope and depth of implementation of PIAs in NPD.

Originality/value

This study helps explain conflicting findings in the literature regarding the implementation and effects of PIAs in NPD by identifying managers' cognitive frames as a key factor. Moreover, the paper highlights managers' roles in shaping an organization's approach for managing contradictory goals and shows how an organizational frame may conflict and sometimes be displaced by individual managers' cognitive frames.

The impact of information integration on purchase order finance and new product launch: a case study

Purpose

In this study, we examine the implementation of purchase order finance (POF) which is an innovative supply chain finance (SCF) solution by an innovative SCF lender (i.e. supply chain service provider (SCSP)). The effect of information integration between the SCSP (lender) and product designers (borrowers) on the lender's POF decisions and the borrowers' new product launch is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

We conduct a case study in the Chinese smartphone industry. A mixed methods design is used, and data are collected from both the supply chain service provider (SCSP) and product designers. We first conduct a qualitative study. Hypotheses are developed concerning the relationships between information integration, in terms of social interaction and information system integration, POF and new product launch. We then conduct a quantitative study. The multilevel structural equation modelling method is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

We find that information system integration is positively associated with POF but has no significant effect on new product launch. Social interaction is negatively associated with POF but positively associated with new product launch. POF is positively associated with new product launch.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by empirically examining the implementation of POF from both the lender's and borrower's perspectives. We find that information system integration and social interaction have different effects on POF and new product launch. The results thus provide insights into how a lender makes POF decisions and reveal the benefits of POF for borrowers.

Development of a System Measurement Model of the Brazilian Hospital Accreditation System

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a measurement model that evaluates the Brazilian hospital accreditation methodology (ONA), based on a multivariate model using structural equation modeling (SEM). The information used to develop the model was obtained from a questionnaire sent to all organizations accredited by the ONA methodology. A model was built based on the data obtained and tested through a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique using the LISREL® software (Scientific Software International, Inc., Skokie, IL, USA). Four different tests were performed: Initial, calibrated, simulated, and cross-validation models. By analyzing and validating the proposed measurement model, it can be verified that the selected factors satisfy the required criteria for the development of a structural model. The results show that leadership action is one of the most important factors in the process of health services accredited by ONA. Although, leadership, staff management, quality management, organizational culture, process orientation, and safety are strongly linked to the development of health organizations, and directly influence the accreditation process.