The material requirements planning system for aircraft maintenance and inventory control: a note

Airline operators and maintenance organizations were queried regarding their maintenance and inventoryprocedures. Of 175 respondents, 152 were using the reorder point system, and the remainder the material requirements planning (MRP) system. The surveywas intended to examine the experience of companies using MRP. It indicates that the aircraft parts industrytakes this system seriously. However, it is more difficult to implement in the aircraft maintenance environment than in a commercial environment, where the need for spare parts is unpredictable. But if the obstacles are understood and a sound plan is realised by good management, MRP can be successfullyimplemented, with substantial benefits.

Information technology support for the knowledge and social processes of innovation management

While the management of innovation is the most knowledge-intensive organizational process, its information technology support has received only fragmented attention. The majority of systems proposed are either aiming at augmenting individual creativity and productivity, or at increasing the productivity of communication among the actors involved. In this paper, building on the view of innovation as a process of consecutive problems resolution, we present an information systems framework that aims at integrating different actors' perspectives and tools across different activities, by explicitly addressing the knowledge and social dynamics of the whole process. The framework is based on a systemic problem-knowledge representation scheme and an evolutionary problem-resolution methodology that supports the innovation process in its entirety, enabling the gradual 'breeding' of innovation concept(s). After reviewing the relevant literature, we present the structure, functionality and use of Knowledge Breeder, a web-based software system that implements this methodology through a structured dialogue and a formal argumentation scheme. By means of a use case we show how this system can support the innovation process effectively.

Keywords: Innovation management; Knowledge management; Collaborative problem resolution

Usability Literature Review

Usability evaluation methods measure the probable effectiveness of a computer system or tool by looking at how learnable, efficient, memorable, safe, and satisfying it is for a given set of users.
With many of the tools that we use every day to accomplish our tasks and goalscomputers, wireless phones, Web pageswe communicate with complex computer systems. Because human beings don't speak in zeros and ones (binary code), and computers don't speak natural English, the software and the user must communicate via an intermediary--a layer of information that both user and system can interpret. We call this layer the "user interface." So when we are evaluating a computer system or application's usability, we are evaluating how well it communicates with and supports the functional needs of its target users.
Usable interfaces possess five basic attributes:
Learnability.--The system is easy to learn. Novice users are able to complete basic tasks in a short period of time, with a minimum of training.
Efficiency of use.--Experienced users are able to reach a steady state of productivity.
Memorability.--The system is easy to remember. Users can return to it after an absence and complete tasks without retraining.
Error Prevention.--Users experience few errors while using the system, and recover quickly from them.
Satisfaction.--The system is pleasant to use.

Manufacturing planning and control: The evolution of MRP andJIT integration

Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Just-in-Time (JIT) system are directed toward planning and controlling the important characteristics of material flow: how much of what materials flow and when. Since the material flow is at the heart of the manufacturing finn, MRP and JIT are the powerful management tools that could determine the success or failure of an entire manufacturing system. One of the strongest debates in manufacturing has been centered on the performance comparison and compatibility of JIT production system to the existing MRP. The primary intent of this research is to provide an overview of the manufacturing planning and control environment associated with MRP and JIT. Classifying the existing MRP/JIT comparison and integration literature, two different perspectives on MRP/JIT are discussed, and future research area is proposed based on the taxonomy.

Configurations and Coordination for Global Information Technology  Governance: Complex Designs in a Transnational European Context

This paper describes an exploratory study of  configurations and coordination mechanisms for IT governance in European-based transnational  companies. IT governance is traditionally defined as the formal allocation of IT decision-making  authority. Rooted in organisation design theory, a  research framework is proposed and comparative case study research is conducted in three large  financial service companies. The findings indicate that financial institutions adopt distinct hybrid  configurations and coordination mechanisms contingent on their strategic context. The results suggest that whatever formal configuration is chosen for IT governance, mechanisms for lateral coordination need to be addressed, if performance targets are to be achieved. Effective mechanisms for lateral coordination move beyond the level of structure, and focus on the different stakeholders involved in the IT governance process. An  organisation's capability to deal with globalization and IT is dependent on the complexity of both the configuration and coordination for IT governance.

An analysis of interorganizational resource sharing decisions in collaborative knowledge creation

Collaborative relationships between organizations for knowledge creation have received considerable attention in recent literature. For any collaborative endeavor to succeed, adequate allocation and sharing of resources is important.
We explored the conditions of resource sharing in which organizations are motivated to collaborate for knowledge creation, as well as the conditions required for the collaboration to continue. Using the game theoretic framework, we modeled the collaboration for knowledge creation as a Stackelberg leader-follower game. Specifically, we modeled two scenarios, the first in which organizations expend current efforts only, and the second in which organizations have made relevant prior efforts. The equilibrium values of current efforts in knowledge creation, the leader organization's resource participation rate, and the total expected system gain in both of these scenarios were determined. Both within scenario and cross-scenario analyses were conducted. It is important to maintain an optimal ratio between the leader's and follower's marginal gains for the formation and continuation of the collaboration.

Tacit knowledge acquisition and sharing in a project work context

In this article we address the question of what kind of social engagements provide the proper project work context for tacit knowledge acquisition and sharing to take place. In pursuit of this objective two epistemological assumptions are presented, and the analytical tool for understanding the behaviour of project team members, the Holistic Concept of Man, is illustrated and discussed.
Project as a context of tacit knowledge utilisation is discussed, and different factors and situations that affect acquisition and sharing of tacit knowledge in project work, are analysed. The results of the study suggest that the situations, where the members of a project team can interact face-to-face with each other, reinforces tacit knowledge sharing. Also used language, mutual trust and proximity are factors which affect the grade of tacit knowledge utilisation in project work.

Keywords: Tacit knowledge; Interaction; Language; Trust; Proximity; Holistic Concept of Man