Competition in the global economic scenario has led to the use of simulation in many areas such as manufacturing, health systems, military systems and transportation. With the importance of simulation in supporting decision making and operations, model building has been recognised as one of the crucial steps in simulation studies. However, model building is not as easy as it may seem. It can be time-consuming and expensive, and requires special training, skills and experience. This research, therefore, aims to investigate a new method to rapidly build a simulation model based on the classification of problems in assembly lines using a cladistics technique and template approach. Three objectives were established in order to achieve the aim and a four-stage research programme was developed according to these objectives. The first stage starts by developing a thorough understanding of and collecting typical problems in assembly lines. The next stage formulates the classification of problems and the main deliverable is a cladogram, a tree structure that can be used to represent the evolution of problems and their characteristics. The third stage focuses on the development of a proof-of-concept prototype based on an established classification and template approach. The prototype helps users to develop a model by providing the physical elements and specific elements required for the performance measures analysis. The prototype is then tested and validated in the final stage. The results show that the prototype developed can help to rapidly build a simulation model and reduce model development time.

Though knowledge has become an increasingly important resource for modern businesses, it was not until the mid-1990's that the 'knowledge management' research stream emerged in the business and information systems literature. Initial research on how to manage knowledge came from an objectivist epistemology of knowledge that viewed it as something that was capable of captured, stored and transferred via information to increase organisational efficiency. This study is grounded in a more recent and alternative perspective that takes a practice based epistemology seeing knowledge as embedded in and inseparable from practice. The practices of interest relate to how knowledge work is performed in environments where there is heavy reliance on information systems. Using an interpretive case study this research analyses the practices of a product support centre of a US multinational. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and internal documentation, including access to the firms „knowledge management‟ repository. Two central practices were examined: how product support engineers made sense of problems to develop fix procedures and how these were subsequently documented. Even within a work environment where client fixes were verifiable, suggesting an objectivist epistemology, this research found that the practice based perspective could be used to provide a different perspective and develop alternative and useful insights. The study contributes to the practice based perspective on knowledge management by providing an analysis of context specific knowledge work practices by analysing how even in procedural repetitive work agency can be exhibited as actors enact practices. It also helps develop the application of Structuration Theory by aiding an understanding of how meanings, norms and resources are developed, drawn upon, conflict, and are changed as everyday work is accomplished. The study is of relevance by providing an understanding of informal knowledge work practices rather than their formal description.

It is a requirement of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) award of the University of Glasgow that the candidate undertakes a research which is relevant to the strategic development of his employing organisation.The overall aim of the DBA thesis is to conduct a critical and strategic analysis of the environment in which the candidate's organisation operates, and to demonstrate how this analysis might inform and contribute to the organisation's stragic planning and development. In this particular case the author is an employee of the Uganda Management Institute. In order to achive the above general objective and in conformity with the University of Glasgow DBA requirements, the author examined the environment through a series of five (5) Learning Goals. While handling each Learning Goal, a firm eye was directed towards its implications for Uganda Management Institute (UMI)strategy. In the final analysis, the views through those different Learning Goals(or lenses)were integrated to provide a more holistic appraisal of UMI's strategy. The following are the Learning Goals which were examined: 1. To conduct an initial strategic analysis of the business environment in which the Uganda Management Institute(UMI) operates which analysis should support the organisational goal. 2. To undertake a programme of study in reserch methods and data analysis likely to be relevant to the other Learning Goals. 3. To evaluate the context of the structural adjustment programmes(SAPs), past and contemporary, affecting the economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa and in particular the Ugandan economy. 4. To undertake a study of the structure, characteristics and performance of the market in Uganda for human resources and the related labour relations institutions and mechanisms. 5. To conduct a strategic analysis of the external, global environment in which the Uganda Management Institute will have to compete and survive.

This thesis investigates the effects of simulation through the use of a distribution planning system (DPS) on distribution costs in the setting of unique make-to-order manufacturers (UMTO). In doing so, the German kitchen furniture industry (GKFI) serves as an example and supplier of primary data. On the basis of a detailed market analysis this thesis will demonstrate that this industry, which mostly works with its own vehicles for transport, is in urgent need of innovative logistics strategies. Within the scope of an investigation into the current practical and theoretical use of DPS, it will become apparent that most known DPS are based on the application of given or set delivery tour constraints. Those constraints are often not questioned in practice and in theory nor even attempted to be omitted, but are accepted in day-to-day operation. This paper applies a different approach. In the context of this research, a practically applied DPS is used supportively for the removal of time window constraints (TWC) in UMTO delivery. The same DPS is used in ceteris paribus condition for the re-routing of deliveries and hereby supports the findings regarding the costliness of TWC. From this experiment emerges an overall cost saving of 50.9% and a 43.5% reduction of kilometres travelled. The applied experimental research methodology and the significance of the resulting savings deliver the opportunity to analyse the removal of delivery time window restrictions as one of many constraints in distribution logistics. The economic results of this thesis may become the basis of discussion for further research based on the applied methodology. From a practical point of view, the contributions to new knowledge are the cost savings versus the change of demand for the setting of TWC between the receiver of goods and the UMTO supplier. On the side of theoretical knowledge, this thesis contributes to filling the gap on the production – distribution problem from a UMTO perspective. Further contributions to knowledge are delivered through the experimental methodology with the application of a DPS for research in logistics simulation.

Despite a growing literature on business process re-engineering (BPR) principles and prospects, there is little empirical research evaluating the success or failure of BPR initiatives. This is especially so in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) where the potential for BPR benefit may differ significantly from that in their larger counterparts. An examination of the literature on process re-engineering reveals that BPR guidelines derived from the experiences in large organisations are inadequate for SMEs given the different characteristics of SMEs in terms of size, structure, culture, resources and technology. The objective of this research is to develop an appropriate basis of BPR guidelines for SMEs. A pluralistic research method is used due to the exploratory nature of the study and the absence of existing rigorous research in the area. This consists of a questionnaire survey of 116 Taiwan-based SMEs, followed by case studies of eight chosen organisations. The findings from the survey enable the researcher to modify the proposed framework of BPR implementing for SMEs, and the case studies explore the factors that facilitate/inhibit BPR success in SMEs in greater detail. The study reveals an opportunity for SMEs to benefit from BPR efforts, although their BPR initiatives are mainly inter-functional. Re-engineering in SMEs is often a response to positive trends, and is largely dependent upon the owner-manager's perceived benefits and risk-taking attitudes. A strategic vision as well as sound external relations may leverage SMEs' re-engineering efforts to higher business integration, while a lack of financial support and non-standardised IS infrastructure may restrict SMEs' BPR initiatives to functional areas. Employee empowerment, dedication to R&D, and innovative use of IT are intertwined and significantly related to BPR success. The study concludes by outlining the principles of BPR guidelines for SMEs based on a modified framework detailing the BPR environment in SMEs. These include a holistic and strategic view towards BPR, the roles of owner-managers and employees, change issues, and implementing BPR as a process change project.

Today, flexibility is widely concemed as the key capability an organisation should possess due to the fast change of business and technology environment (Haeckel 1999; Golden and Powell 2000). Business is fundamentally concerned with and driven by changes. It requires flexibility to quickly respond to new conditions, to absorb sudden shocks and to accommodate diversity and heterogeneity. All of these demands, in turn, feed through to the computer-systems that modem organisations rely upon (CBDi Forum 2001). The attainment of information system flexibility is becoming an essential requirement for the business (Golden and Powell 2000; Behrsin et al 1994). Despite ITAS has been developed to achieve great flexibility and functionality in order to provide more agile and more effective solution for the businesses, it is also Widely subject to criticism for its inflexibility and rigidity (Allen and Boynton 1991; Avison et al 1995; Davenport 2000). This research addresses the IS flexibility issue and studies "how organisations adapt their ISs/ESs to accommodate ongoing business changes" A model of tactical ES adaptation for ongoing business changes has been developed from three organisations' ES post-implementation experience. This model depicts a complicated decision making process for ES adaptation to support ongoing business changes and attain flexibility. It demonstrates the dynamic relationship among emerging business needs, adaptation tactics, adaptation activities, performance and resource measurement, and risk evaluation.

Increasing global competition within industry has forced businesses to respond by reducing costs and product development lead times in order to survive. In the automotive industry, these strategic responses include the specific exploitation of new technologies and mergers with other companies to gain economies of scale. BMW AG purchased Rover Group in 1994 but it wasn't until 1998 that competitive pressure led to the completion of the merger through the creation of a single "Group Function" structure within BMW Group. The BMW Board stated high-level objectives for the process but provided no mechanism to convert them into reality. Similarly, the BMW Group Board initiated a business process "Re-engineering" programme in 1997/8 and stated cost, time and other objectives that would have to be met. The technical and process changes that would help to achieve the business improvements were being largely driven from the bottom of the organisation but there were no frameworks available to guide strategic technology introduction. The principal innovations generated during the course of this research are frameworks for: • Maximising the business benefits from the creation of 'Group Functions' • Internal strategy creation for technology-based business sub-units These two new frameworks have for the first time provided management and staff with the means to develop meaningful strategies and operational action plans from the corporate strategic objectives. The economic and business literature concentrates mainly on whole business strategy and merger activity, neglecting the need for guidance at the sub-corporate level. Although corporate strategy can provide the overall direction of a company, it is the managers that have to drive strategic change within the business. The frameworks were developed by the author based on an in-depth review of the literature and the specific context relating to Rapid Prototyping & Tooling (RP&T) within BMW. The frameworks were validated within the business situation and further enhanced where appropriate. The Group Function framework fills the process gap between the high-level objectives and the need for operational action plans. It provides a straightforward and easy to communicate structure to the process of optimising duplicated business subunits. Use of the framework led to the retention of both RP&T teams and the initiation of beneficial synergistic activities. The framework should be applicable to other similar groups in similar circumstances. The author developed a new strategy creation framework that for the first time combines a range of strategy development approaches from within the literature into a practical framework for sub-corporate strategy development. The framework was matched to the specific context of the RP&T case but could be used in other similar circumstances. The framework was used to successfully develop a new strategy for RP&T in BMW Group and includes new approaches developed by the author that reduce the impact of environmental change and uncertainty. The framework has been described in a stand alone form that can easily be more widely exploited.

Industrial organisations face uncertainty created by consumers, suppliers, competitors and other environmental factors. To deal with this uncertainty, managers have to coordinate the resources of the organisation to produce a variety of behaviours that can cope with environmental change. An organisation that does not have sufficient internal complexity to adapt to the environment cannot survive, while, an organisation with excessive complexity would waste resources and might lose its ability to react to the environment. The main objective of the research was to create a model for dealing with complexity and uncertainty in organisations. The initial ideas for the model originated from the literature, particularly in the fields of systems and complexity theory. These initial ideas were developed through a series of five case studies with four companies, namely British Airways, British Midlands International (BMI), HS Marston and the Ford Motor Company. Each case study contributed to the development of the model, as well as providing immediate benefits for the organisations involved. The first three case studies were used in the development of the model, by analysing the way managers made decisions in situations of complexity and uncertainty. For the final two case studies, the model was already developed and it was possible to apply it, using these cases as a means of validation. A summary of the case studies is presented here, highlighting their contributions to the creation and testing of the model. The main innovation of the research was the creation and application of the Complexity-Uncertainty model, a descriptive framework that classifies generic strategies for dealing with complexity and uncertainty in organisations. The model considers five generic strategies: automation, simplification, planning, control and self-organisation, and indicates when each of these strategies can be more effective according to the complexity and uncertainty of the situation. This model can be used as a learning tool to help managers in industry to conceptualise the nature of complexity in their organisation, in relation to the uncertainty in the environment. The model shows managers the range of strategic options that are available under a particular situation, and highlights the benefits and limitations of each of these strategic options. This is intended to help managers make better decisions based on a more holistic understanding of the organisation, its environment and the strategies available.

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Chapter One: The effects of bilingualism with two spoken languages on a child’s psychosocial development: A critical review. This paper critically reviews the literature to explore the effects of bilingualism with two spoken languages on a child’s psychosocial development. Researchers have primarily been concerned with the effects of bilingualism on intelligence (e.g., Darcy, 1963, as cited in Ricciardelli, 1992, p.301) and educational achievement (e.g., Tucker & d’Anglejan, 1971). More recently research has focused on the psychological impact of bilingualism on a child, and how their social, cultural, and familial relationships may be affected (e.g., Han & Huang, 2010). A search of papers identified 12 papers for review. The findings portrayed that societal, cultural, and familial factors are not only important with regard to language development, but are important for psychological well-being including relationships and behaviours (e.g., Han, 2010). Chapter Two: The experiences of bilingualism within the deaf and the hearing world: The views of d/Deaf young people Research into bilingualism and the learning potential offered by a second language are widely reported, with much of this evidence relating to both languages being spoken. However, further reviews have identified that learning a language in two different modalities, offers a much richer learning environment for children. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the language development of deaf children who access both a signed language and a spoken language. For this empirical paper, 7 deaf bilingual young people were interviewed to explore their views and experiences of bilingualism and deafness. The results were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. It highlighted the experiences for deaf young people of having a strong identity within the deaf and the hearing communities (e.g., Calderon, 2000). Chapter Three: Communication within the d/Deaf world: Reflections on the research and clinical process This paper reflects on my personal and professional learning throughout this research as a hearing person communicating with deaf people. Hearing people, with access, generally use spoken language to communicate. However, deaf people can communicate through spoken language, sign language, and lip-reading. Being aware of the many needs of deaf people has helped me to reflect on my experience of communication in the context of everyday life.