International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management (0265671X)39(8)pp. 1977-1995
Purpose: This paper aims to develop a system dynamics (SD) model to identify causal relationships among the elements of failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), i.e. failure modes, effects and causes. Design/methodology/approach: A causal loop diagram (CLD) has been developed based on the results obtained from interdependencies and correlations analysis among the FMEA elements through applying the integrated approach of FMEA-quality function deployment (QFD) developed by Shaker et al. (2019). The proposed model was examined in a steel manufacturing company to identify and model the causes and effects relationships among failure modes, effects and causes of a roller-transmission system. Findings: Findings indicated interactions among the most significant failure modes, effects and causes. Moreover, corrective actions defined to eliminate or relieve critical failure causes. Consequently, production costs decreased, and the production rate increased due to eliminated/decreased failure modes. Practical implications: The application of CLD illustrates causal relationships among FMEA elements in a more effective way and results in a more precise recognition of the root causes of the potential failure modes and their easy elimination/decrease. Therefore, applying the proposed approach leads to a better analysis of the interactions among FMEA elements, decreased system's failure rate and increased system availability. Originality/value: The literature review indicated a few studies on the application of SD methodology in the maintenance area, and no study was performed on the causal interactions among FMEA elements through an FMEA-QFD based SD approach. Although the interactions of these elements are significant and helpful in risks ranking, researchers fail to investigate them sufficiently. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Tourism (18491545)70(1)pp. 67-86
Given the fact that tourism is an important sector of many national economies, it is very essential to examine the factors which can help develop successful and smart tourism experiences. The importance of developing tourism destinations through smart technologies as a strategic tool to develop tourism has persuaded many countries to explore the implementation of these destinations, their models, components, and policies. The present study proposed a model for developing online tourism services in smart tourism destinations. The model was analyzed via structural equation modeling using SPSS (version 20) and Lisrel (version 8.8). The data analysis identified 21 components in six major dimensions which can affect smart tourism development: online content quality, access to interactive online services, end-user internet service, demand for online services, the utilization rate of location-based services, and level of online services. The identified factors can help researchers gain a better understanding of the factors affecting the development of smart destinations and recognize their importance and their degree of influence and power. It is recommended that more attention be paid to improving the quality of services provided to tourists for developing smart destinations. ©2022 The Author(s).
Tourism Review (17598451)76(3)pp. 505-528
Purpose: This study aims to present a systematic review of smart tourism articles using a meta-synthesis method. Effective systematic reviews are essential for assisting stakeholders in implementing smart destinations. A systematic comprehension of studies on smart tourism is needed regarding the various components of smart tourism destinations, the metrics to map these components and their expected results. This study creates a framework for understanding how smart tourism destinations are theorized and developed. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the meta-synthesis approach, this study collects, analyzes and synthesizes relevant research in smart tourism published in online databases by following a predetermined review protocol. Findings: This study contributes to the discourse on smart tourism destinations by increasing the knowledge on the subject of smart destinations in regard to different categories. The selected articles were analyzed according to the proposed research questions and classified into three main categories: components, measurement and outputs. This study presents a new archetype for developing smart destinations and addresses efforts to bridge the gap in this research field. Practical implications: This paper is noteworthy for stakeholders because it provides a comprehensive vision into the components that influence the growth of smart destinations. The advantage of the proposed methodology is that it creates a framework for understanding how smart destinations are theorized. Furthermore, it is helpful to use qualitative methodologies that efficiently allow the analysis of related literature and that also offer conceptual insights. Originality/value: The findings provide information that can be used to help shape a fully conceptualized understanding of the smart destinations concept and can also prove important in providing a guide for policymakers and stakeholders in the tourism industry who seek to intelligently develop tourism destinations. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Tourism Management Perspectives (22119736)31pp. 287-300
The main contribution of this paper was to present a new model for smart tourism destinations using the steps of grounded theory as an analytical framework. To build the model, a systematic review of articles published between 2000 and 2017 was undertaken. Strauss and Corbin's framework for grounded theory formed the basis of the review process. The first step, which was open coding, involved the collection of a group of primary concepts and the extraction of analytic categories. In axial coding, the relationship between the categories was determined. Using selective coding, all of the identified categories were integrated and built, and 6 main categories and 28 sub-categories were identified. In addition to making an important contribution to the literature regarding sustainable and smart tourism destinations, this model is likely to be of interest to policymakers to enhance their awareness of the prerequisites and strategies of developing smart tourism destination. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd
International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management (0265671X)36(8)pp. 1454-1474
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrative approach for improving failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA). Design/methodology/approach: An extensive literature review on FMEA has been performed. Then, an integrative approach has been proposed based on literature review. The proposed approach is an integration of FMEA and quality function deployment (QFD). The proposed approach includes a two-phase QFD. In the first phase, failure modes are prioritized based on failure effects and in the second phase, failure causes are prioritized based on failure modes. The proposed approach has been examined in a case example at the blast furnace operation of a steel-manufacturing company. Findings: Results of the case example indicated that stove shell crack in hot blast blower, pump failure in cooling water supply pump and bleeder valves failed to operate are the first three important failure modes. In addition, fire and explosion are the most important failure effects. Also, improper maintenance, over pressure and excess temperature are the most important failure causes. Findings also indicated that the proposed approach with the consideration of interrelationships among failure effects, failure mode and failure causes can influence and adjust risk priority number (RPN) in FMEA. Research limitations/implications: As manufacturing departments are mostly dealing with failure effects and modes of machinery and maintenance departments are mostly dealing with causes of failures, the proposed model can support better coordination and integration between the two departments. Such support seems to be more important in firms with continuous production lines wherein line interruption influences response to customers more seriously. A wide range of future study opportunities indicates the attractiveness and contribution of the subject to the knowledge of FMEA. Originality/value: Although the literature indicates that in most of studies the outcomes of QFD were entered into FMEA and in some studies the RPN of FMEA was entered into QFD as importance rating, the proposed approach is a true type of the so-called “integration of FMEA and QFD” because the three main elements of FMEA formed the structure of QFD. In other words, the proposed approach can be considered as an innovation in the FMEA structure, not as a data provider prior to it or a data receiver after it. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Internet Research (10662243)26(1)pp. 38-56
Purpose – This study makes an integrated approach in identifying the factors affecting usage intention of mobile-based payment services. Such services are being marketed aggressively by cellular service providers and are different from usual mobile-based banking. The study incorporates prominent factors like the technical characteristics, technology-specific characteristics, user-specific characteristics, and task-specific characteristics and others from published literature. The purpose of this paper is to highlight those factors which have significant impact on the adoption of such service so that the adoption rate can be increased. Design/methodology/approach – A nationwide primary survey was conducted using validated questionnaire requesting response for the factors obtained from published literature. In total, 196 respondents participated in the survey. Totally, 11 hypotheses were formulated and statistically tested for their significance in context to the study. Confirmatory study was on the significant factors and a model has been proposed. Findings – The study finds that factors like perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, system quality, connectivity, discomfort, task-technology fit and structural assurance have significant impact on the usage intention of mobile money services whereas factors such as perceived monetary value, absorptive capacity and personal innovativeness have been found to be insignificant. Originality/value – There have been no studies conducted which reported mobile-based transfer payment adoption issues where-in the transfer mechanism is independent of formal banking. The findings would be beneficial for service providers of mobile-based payment services to understand their subscribers and roll out value added services. © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management (17410401)65(6)pp. 860-872
Purpose – Knowledge workers (KWs) in information technology (IT) sector have become one of the key drivers for strategic competitiveness as they contribute toward an organization’s performance. In this context, the role of knowledge workers, who work on deputation to client side, is even more critical as they contribute directly to the revenue inflows. The purpose of this paper is to explore their role efficacy (RE) and organizational role stress dimensions, which have been affecting their performance and organization effectiveness. The study further explored the relationship between RE and role stress dimensions. Two distinct samples were identified, one where Indian KWs working in Indian company and Indian KWs working in foreign firm, where they have been discharging client facing technical roles. Design/methodology/approach – A primary study has been conducted choosing questionnaire survey and telephonic interviews. A questionnaire was designed in such a manner so that the authors can extract the required information from the respondents about various dimensions of RE. This instrument was used to test the conceptual model of RE. Overall 50+ responses were obtained from IT companies in each of the two selected categories. Findings – The results have shown that role expectation conflict and role isolation are the two major dimensions contributing to role stress for the selected sample, while centrality and integration have contributed to overall role efficacy for both the categories. Human resource interventions were suggested to enhance their RE and reduce their role stress. Originality/value – This study made an attempt to investigate the relationship between RE and role stress dimensions of the KWs which has not been attempted in any previous published literature. © 2016, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Journal of Enterprise Information Management (17410398)25(5)pp. 479-504
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to apply a philosophical framework in order to come to a life-world oriented understanding of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for evaluating system success. To do so, according to Dooyeweerd's theory of aspects, a multi-aspectual understanding is derived based on end-user's everyday experience of the system. Design/methodology/approach: Through a qualitative case study, data are gathered based on 17 semi-structured interviews. The company within which this study was conducted is an Iranian manufacturer which fully implemented a SAP R/3 system about four years ago. In order to analyze text data, an interpretive text analysis is conducted. Findings: According to the results, among all 15 aspects and from end users' point of view, the qualifying aspects are analytical, pistic, economic and formative, which means that the other aspects are ignored or repressed throughout the organization. All these qualifying aspects include both positive and negative norms but for three of them (analytical, economic and formative) the positive norms are dominant. Regarding the pistic aspect, even though it includes strong positive norms, they are not dominant compared to negative norms. Synthesizing results show that according to "Meeting objectives", "User satisfaction" and "Emancipation" as general norms, ERP success, in order to be completely realized, requires each general norm to be considered as a multi-aspectual criterion. Practical implications: First, the management team has to concentrate not only on economic and formative objectives but also on the other aspectual objectives which are more qualitative and intangible. Each aspectual objective requires its own specific methods and data to be measured, therefore the management team must provide supportive conditions so that multiple measurement systems are allowed to be implemented. Second, through new long-term plans, budgets and training courses, already ignored aspects such as psychic, lingual, social, aesthetic, juridical and ethical must be more focused in order to bring to them more visibility and recognition throughout the organization. Third, In order to increase the positive norms for all aspects, holding periodical workshops and training courses is helpful. In addition, implementing reward systems can be a complementary action in order to improve positive norms. Originality/value: The paper shows that evaluating ERP success according to end users' point of view brings more visibility to some issues which are usually ignored or missed by quantitative or uni-aspectual approaches. Furthermore, utilizing Dooyeweerd's framework as a life-oriented philosophy for evaluating ERP success is a novel work, which may lead to a kind of development and enrichment in the ERP success literature. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Journal of Enterprise Information Management (17410398)24(2)pp. 130-145
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a study which is based on the results of a comprehensive compilation of literature and subsequent analysis of ERP implementation success factors in the context of Indian micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs). The paper attempts to assess empirically which factors are most critical in the ERP implementation process from the perspective of the Indian MSMEs. This research is potentially aimed at being useful to MSMEs as a guideline, so as to ensure a positive outcome of the implementation process. Design/methodology/approach: The paper tries to explore the factors affecting implementation across the stages of ERP implementations using the responses from 98 MSMEs engaged in manufacturing activities. The minimum number of factors explaining the maximum variance in data is determined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The factor analysis is performed on SPSS with the principal component method using the Varimax rotation technique. Findings: The results of this study highlights four crucial factors that influence the ERP implementation process in the Indian MSME segment. Broadly, they may be summed up under the following heads: project execution competency; product and vendor perspective; organizational climate; and technical perspective. Originality/value: The findings will be beneficial for MSMEs for proper utilization of their limited resources and to pay adequate attention to those factors that are most likely to have an impact on the implementation of the ERP system. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.