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- Ahlskog, Mats, 1970-
(author)
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The fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development : Exploring the link between the known and the unknown
- 2017
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- It is well known that a way of competing on a global market is through the introduction of new manufacturing technologies in the production system that can improve product quality as well as contribute to reducing manufacturing time, reduced product price and in the end increased profits. Manufacturing companies that develop and introduce new manufacturing technologies can differentiate themselves from others and thus achieve increased competitiveness.The fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development is characterized by a high degree of technology uncertainty and challenges due to the lack of access to relevant knowledge, lack of a structured development process, and enough resources that are working with development of new manufacturing technologies.In the literature only a few empirical studies that explore the fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development can be found. Prior research highlights that little is actually known about what should be done in the fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development projects, and thus more research is needed. Supporting the fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development is important to facilitate a successful introduction of new manufacturing technologies, fast time-to-volume and long-term production system development.Based on the above-mentioned importance of developing new manufacturing technology, the objective of the research presented in this thesis is to explore the fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development. In order to fulfil the objective, empirical data were collected from five case studies conducted in the manufacturing industry. During the empirical studies four important parts were studied: organising, knowledge development, collaboration and the development process.The main findings revealed that development of new manufacturing technology is often conducted in collaboration with external partners and many ad hoc decisions are taken due to lack of a predefined development process for the fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development. In addition, in the fuzzy front end access to relevant manufacturing knowledge is important and knowledge needs to be developed in order to reduce technology uncertainty.In order to support the fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development projects, a supporting framework has been developed. The proposed framework is an elaboration of results from the research questions addressed and can be used as a guideline to overcome the challenges observed in the fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development projects. The framework is built on two important dimensions for innovations, degree of technology uncertainty and degree of novelty. The critical factors identified in the analysis are embedded in the proposed framework as central parts in the fuzzy front end of manufacturing technology development.
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| 2. |
- Cenamor, Javier, et al.
(author)
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Adopting a Platform Approach in Servitization : Leveraging the Value of Digitalization
- 2017
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In: International Journal of Production Economics. - : Elsevier. - 0925-5273 .- 1873-7579. ; 192, s. 54-65
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explores how a platform approach facilitates the implementation of advanced service offerings in manufacturing firms. Understanding servitization through a platform approach is important because many manufacturing firms fail to manage the service paradox, that is, the challenge of simultaneously enriching the value proposition by adding services while maintaining cost levels. This study focuses on how adopting a platform approach leverages the value of digital and information technologies (e.g., smart and connected machines) for advanced service offerings. It is argued that a platform approach based on a modular architecture can enable manufacturers to pursue both customization and operational efficiency. Based on multiple case studies, the findings highlight the importance of information modules replacing product and service modules as the core modules for successful servitization. More specifically, the findings illustrates the journeys of manufacturing firms as they leverage value from information modules to facilitate the orchestrating role of back-end units and the builder role of front-end units.
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| 4. |
- Eriksson, Per-Erik, et al.
(author)
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Managing Interorganizational Innovation Projects : Mitigating the Negative Effects of Equivocality Through Knowledge Search Strategies
- 2016
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In: Long range planning. - : Elsevier BV. - 0024-6301 .- 1873-1872. ; 49:6, s. 691-705
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Equivocality, or divergent interpretations and understandings of tasks and knowledge, has negative effects on performance because it increases conflicts and creates communication and coordination challenges in inter-organizational innovation projects. However, equivocality may also stimulate team members to discuss beliefs and interpretations in ways that provide improved understanding of knowledge and tasks. We theorize that mitigation of negative effects of equivocality on project performance is conditional on explorative or exploitative knowledge search mode. Exploitative search (increasing search depth) allows for rapid learning based on the partners' existing knowledge, but it also limits a team's ability to interpret and combine diverse knowledge. Explorative search (increasing search breadth), on the other hand, allows for novel combinations of diverse knowledge and thereby alleviates the negative effect of equivocality on performance. Based on quantitative data from 251 respondents in 52 heavy-engineering innovation projects in four multinational corporations based in Sweden and from their 29 collaborating partner firms worldwide, we find that equivocality reduces project performance, but that joint explorative search mitigates the negative effect of equivocality on project performance. However, we do not find support for the moderation effect of exploitative search on the relationship between equivocality and project performance. Theoretical and managerial contributions as well as limitations and suggestions for future research are presented
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| 7. |
- Frishammar, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Problem-Finding and Problem-Solving Challenges in Large Firms
- 2015
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In open innovation processes, when partners actively transfer technology and knowledge across firm boundaries, effective and timely problem solving is the key to progress any given collaborative project. We propose that the problems a development team need to solve may be conceptualized as ambiguous, equivocal, uncertain or complex, or a combination of the four. By means of a multiple case study of new product and technology development at global manufacturing firms, we propose that efficient solution search is contingent on matching the nature of a problem with the appropriate solution search strategy. We identify four solution search strategies, so far tentatively referred to as: analytic search, interpretative search, restrictive search, and acquisition search. The article elaborates the key activities, effects and trade-offs of these strategies and provides managerial implications for improved problem solving in open and collaborative development.
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| 8. |
- Frishammar, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Processinnovation över företagsgränserna : Varför tidig brukarinvolvering och gemensam problemlösning skapar framgångsrika projekt
- 2013
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In: Management of Innovation and Technology. - 2001-208X. ; :2, s. 4-5
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Journal article (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Processutvecklingsprojekt mellan företag är ofta komplexa och riskfyllda, och resulterar inte sällan i oönskade projektavvikelser i tid, kostnad och kvalitet. Vår studie av 52 sådana projekt visar att tidig brukarinvolvering och gemensam problemlösning är nyckelaktiviteterna som möjliggör för medverkande parter att reducera osäkerhet och tvetydighet, och därmed skapar bättre förutsättningar för framgångsrika projekt.
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| 9. |
- Gama, Fabio, et al.
(author)
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Managing interorganizational technology development : Project management practices for market- and science-based partnerships
- 2017
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In: Creativity and Innovation Management. - Chichester : John Wiley & Sons. - 0963-1690 .- 1467-8691. ; 26:2, s. 115-127
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Firms are increasingly relying on collaborating with external partners to drive technology development. Many firms struggle with managing the inherently uncertain and ambiguous technology development process, however, especially with external actors involved, because they may not have or share the same project management practices concerning coordination and control activities. To address this gap, this study examines appropriate project management practices for market- and science-partnerships in three large technology intensive firms. Our results suggest that interorganizational technology development is problematic because firms lack sufficient partner understanding and struggle with aligning their project management practices with those of their partners. To address these problems, we identify project management practices of coordination and control to fit the contingencies of each type of partner collaboration. Our results provide implications for theory and managerial practices related to managing interorganizational technology development.
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| 10. |
- Gama, Fábio, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Managing Open Technology Development : Adapting Stage-Gate Processes to Partner Types
- 2015
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Firms are increasingly reliant on collaborating with external partners to drive their technology development efforts in light of increasing pace of development and global competition. However, many firms struggle with managing the inherently uncertain and ambiguous process of technology development with external actors because these may not share the same technological understandings, processes and goals. Accordingly, we argue that further research is required to better understand the management of joint projects with different types of partners within technology development. To fill this gap this study examines the adaptation of traditional stage-gate processes for technology development projects with science-based and market-based partners in three large technologies oriented firms. Our results shows that open technology development projects are often problematic because firms lack partner understanding and have difficulty aligning their development processes with external partners. To address these problems we found that our firms adapted their processes by implementing externally oriented stages, gates and roles to suit the contingencies of collaboration with science-based and market-based partners respectively. Our results provide implications for theory and management practice concerning the management of open innovation and stage-gate processes.
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