Information is an important part of the manual assembly process. Information provides the user with the means to fulfil assembly tasks so that the right quality as well as high productivity are accomplished. This thesis addresses issues connected to information and information use in a modern manual assembly environment, and how these issues affect human operators, quality and productivity. The overall objectives of the research were to gain further knowledge on how attention affects the internal reject rate, to investigate these phenomena in industrial and laboratory environments and finally to propose a suitable evaluation method to be utilised at the design stage of an information system. Studies were performed with the purpose of investigating how the assembly personnel were affected by the information and how it affected quality and productivity. The studies were performed in an assembly plant and in the laboratory. Quantitative data collection included 10 days and nights of production where the information impact on quality was investigated. Connected to this study was a qualitative survey performed among 171 persons from the assembly personnel. The laboratory study took place during three days, approximately eight hours each day. It involved 30 persons, all experienced assembly workers from the reference assembly plant. The focus of this study was how information affected the personnel and thereby the productivity. The findings revealed that information affected the quality rates and productivity and that this can be linked to how the information is presented as well as when the information is presented. It was possible to link these findings to the outcome of a successful information search process, and to conclude that a use of an evaluation method or work process during the product lifecycle could have made it possible to avoid some of the problems connected to the information presentation. This is the basis for a proposed pragmatic evaluation method. The method was tested as a support system during the design of a prototype user interface to be used at the pilot plant. The major contribution of this research is the connection between attention and quality as well as the connection between attention and productivity. Knowledge regarding the importance of presenting the information at the right time must also be regarded as an important and proven contribution.

Today most demolition projects undertaken are complex and involve many parties who must comply with a myriad of regulations as well as other constraints (e.g. finance). The management of demolition projects requires individual team members to have a wide range of skills and knowledge in addition to practical experience. Demolition processes currently operated are frequently performed in an unstructured, intuitive manner with considerable reliance on experience, skill, knowledge or subjective judgement of the demolition engineer or other individual responsible for a demolition project. Research on demolition ‘process management' is a new area that has rarely been addressed. However, within the building design and construction management sectors, there are a number of intelligent solutions that have been developed to assist in the management of business processes and business process re-engineering. Process management systems and process mapping through the use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) technology have been applied to help the construction industry significantly improve performance. In an attempt to provide intelligent support to the management of dynamic demolition processes, this research reports upon that was developed using ICT applications a management system prototype entitled “Demolish-IT”. The prototype of Demolish-IT utilises four tiers of information which includes: (1) the standard demolition process map; (2) user-defined demolition process map; (3) demolition task manager; and (4) database of demolition process requirements. The prototype provides on ICT platform that unifies demolition processes and requirements to achieve improved process management. The research involved a combination of face-to-face interviews with demolition experts; real projects document reviews and site observation to produce the generic demolition process map. Other products of the work included: database solutions to store demolition process requirements; and process modelling to manage demolition task compliance flow within relevant industry standards. Evaluation of the research work proved its validity, acceptance and applicability within industry. Future work will aim to transpose the outputs into commercially viable software.

Demonstrating compliance with food safety requirements of the global economy is a prerequisite for access. As tariff barriers diminish, developing countries are exposed to greater opportunities for repositioning their food manufacturing sectors in global value chains (GVCs). At the same time, the measures for the protection of public health and safety are becoming more stringent because of the series of food safety crises that characterised the global food value chain in the 1980s and 1990s, and that still linger on. The new demands arising from the need to protect consumer safety, coupled with the structure of the global economy have introduced new challenges for developing countries in terms of accessing the global food manufacturing value chain(GFMVC) with manufactured products. This is the case for the Ghanaian food manufacturing sector. Therefore, this study aims to understand the practice of developing food safety capability to enhance access to the GFMVC using high value added products, to identify performance gaps in the Ghanaian context and propose an appropriate framework (legal, institutional and policy) to address the major gaps, while meeting the basic requirements of food safety. A multiple case study methodology was adopted, using the UK food and drinks sector as a benchmark for the Ghanaian food manufacturing sector. The main techniques employed for data collection were surveys, interviews and content analysis. Based on the findings and insights gathered from the investigation, a technical regulation based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is proposed as a means to enhance the compliance of enterprises in Ghana with the basic requirements of food safety. Because of the current lack of capability at the national and enterprise level, a four-phase implementation plan is recommended to progressively ease enterprises into mandatory compliance with integrated food safety management systems. The study also recommends that the current multiple agency structure is maintained, however, mandates, roles and responsibilities, and jurisdictions need to be clarified, and values reformed. Various kinds of support (e.g. funds, training) also have to be provided to enterprises to facilitate their compliance and enhance their access to the GFMVC.

A significant change is taking place in manufacturing company strategies around the globe. With new monitoring and service methods, new opportunities of product use and service provision emerge. The manufacturing companies once focused on mere product manufacture, now have started to provide ‘systemic solutions’, i.e. products combined with service packages, which are often referred to as Product-Service Systems (PSS). Currently, there is not a well-established feedback mechanism between service and design. The aim of this research is to develop a methodology to capture, represent, and re-use service knowledge to support product design. For the accomplishment of this aim an extensive literature review of the related themes to the research area took place. It was found that the feedback from service to design is fundamental for the enhancement of product performance; however, the existing literature in this area is not adequate. The industrial investigation led to the realisation that there is not an established mechanism in place to show how service knowledge (SK) can be used by designers. An in- depth investigation took place with the collaboration of, in total, four UK manufacturing companies. The author studied both the conceptual and detailed design, focusing on the design requirements (DR) and the design/service features (DF/SF) respectively. The first step was the capture of SK and its representation using Protégé software. Following this, at the conceptual design stage, SK can be re-used through the DR-SK tool. The two main purposes of the tool are the knowledge retrieval by designers, and the identification of gaps in SK. At the detailed design stage, designers can access SK through the DF-SK tool, and the developed knowledge templates. The SKaD framework was created, as a result of the amalgamation among the SKaD methodology, the knowledge templates, and the tools developed to link SK and DR, SF, and DF. Conclusively, the framework was applied on case studies within the pump manufacturing and aerospace industries, and its purpose (to aid designers accessing and re-using SK) was validated by experts within the collaborating organisations. As a result of this research’s findings, the service personnel can capture SK in a structured manner, which can then be re- used by product designers at both the conceptual and detailed design stage.

The purpose of this research was, in order to forestall future failures of foresight, to provoke those responsible for risk governance into new ways of thinking through a greater exposure to and understanding of the body of existing academic knowledge. The research, which focused on the scholarship of application, synthesised the existing knowledge into a ―coherent whole‖ in order to assess its practical utility and to examine what is to be learnt about existing knowledge by trying to use it in practice. The findings are in two parts. The first focuses on how one ―thinks about thinking‖ about an issue. Early work identified three issues that were seen as being central to the understanding of risk governance. The first is the concept of risk itself, the second is to question whether there is a single paradigm used and the third is what is meant by the term ―risk indicator‖. A ―coherent whole‖, structured around seven-dimensions, was created from the range of definitions used within existing literature. No single paradigm was found to be used when discussing risk issues. Three paradigms were identified and labelled ―Line‖, ―Circle‖ and ―Dot‖. It was concluded that Risk Indicators were used to performance manage risk mitigation barriers rather than as a mechanism by which organisations may identify emerging risks. The second focus was the synthesis of academic work relevant to risk governance. It produced a list of statements which encapsulated the concerns of previous writers on this subject. The research then operationalised the issues as questions, which were seen to have practical utility. The elements of the ―coherent whole‖ suggest a way to provide access into the original research. The research suggests that it is unlikely that practitioners would wish to access the original research in its academic format. Further work therefore needs to be done to present the original work in a format that is more digestible to the practitioner community if it is to be used effectively. The results of this research are considered to be preliminary. No claim is being made that these questions are definitive. The research is however addressing an area which is of concern to those in practice and has not been previously examined.

Business Intelligence (BI) techniques provide the potential to not only efficiently manage but further analyse and apply the collected information in an effective manner. Benefiting from research both within industry and academia, BI provides functionality for accessing, cleansing, transforming, analysing and reporting organisational datasets. This provides further opportunities for the data to be explored and assist organisations in the discovery of correlations, trends and patterns that exist hidden within the data. This hidden information can be employed to provide an insight into opportunities to make an organisation more competitive by allowing manager to make more informed decisions and as a result, corporate resources optimally utilised. This potential insight provides organisations with an unrivalled opportunity to remain abreast of market trends. Consequently, BI techniques provide significant opportunity for integration with Decision Support Systems (DSS). The gap which was identified within the current body of knowledge and motivated this research, revealed that currently no suitable framework for BI, which can be applied at a meta-level and is therefore tool, technology and domain independent, currently exists. To address the identified gap this study proposes a meta-level framework: - ‘KDDS-BI’, which can be applied at an abstract level and therefore structure a BI investigation, irrespective of the end user. KDDS-BI not only facilitates the selection of suitable techniques for BI investigations, reducing the reliance upon ad-hoc investigative approaches which rely upon ‘trial and error’, yet further integrates Knowledge Management (KM) principles to ensure the retention and transfer of knowledge due to a structured approach to provide DSS that are based upon the principles of BI. In order to evaluate and validate the framework, KDDS-BI has been investigated through three distinct case studies. First KDDS-BI facilitates the integration of BI within ‘Direct Marketing’ to provide innovative solutions for analysis based upon the most suitable BI technique. Secondly, KDDS-BI is investigated within sales promotion, to facilitate the selection of tools and techniques for more focused in store marketing campaigns and increase revenue through the discovery of hidden data, and finally, operations management is analysed within a highly dynamic and unstructured environment of the London Underground Ltd. network through unique a BI solution to organise and manage resources, thereby increasing the efficiency of business processes. The three case studies provide insight into not only how KDDS-BI provides structure to the integration of BI within business process, but additionally the opportunity to analyse the performance of KDDS-BI within three independent environments for distinct purposes provided structure through KDDS-BI thereby validating and corroborating the proposed framework and adding value to business processes.

The literature identifies perceptions of data quality as a key factor influencing a wide range of attitudes and behaviors related to data in organizational settings (e.g. decision confidence). In particular, there is an overwhelming consensus that effective customer relationship management, CRM, depends on the quality of customer data. Data warehouses, if properly implemented, enable data integration which is a key attribute of data quality. The literature highlights the relevance of formulating problem statements because this will determine the course of action. CRM managers formulate problem statements through a cognitive process known as enactment. The literature on data quality is very fragmented. It posits that this construct is of a high order nature (it is dimensional), it is contextual and situational, and it is closely linked to a utilitarian value. This study addresses all these disperse views of the nature of data quality from a holistic perspective. Social cognitive theory, SCT, is the backbone for studying data quality in terms of information search behavior and enhancements in formulating problem statements. The main objective of this study is to explore the nature of a data warehouse's customer relationship data quality in situations where there is a need for understanding a customer relationship problem. The research question is What are the inner and inter construct associations of the quality of data warehouse customer relationship data for problem enactment? To reach this objective, a positivistic approach was adopted complemented with qualitative interventions along the research process. Observations were gathered with a survey. Scales were adjusted using a construct-based approach. Research findings confirm that data quality is a high order construct with a contextual dimension and a situational dimension. Problem sense making enhancements is a dependent variable of data quality in a confirmed positive association between both constructs. Problem sense making enhancements is also a high order construct with a mastering experience dimension and a self-efficacy dimension. Behavioral patterns for information search mode (scanning mode orientation vs. focus mode orientation) and for information search heuristic (template heuristic orientation vs. trial-and-error heuristic orientation) have been identified. Focus is the predominant information search mode orientation and template is the predominant information search heuristic orientation. Overall, the research findings support the associations advocated by SCT. The self-efficacy dimension in problem sense making enhancements is a discriminant for information search mode orientation (focus mode orientation vs. scanning mode orientation). The contextual dimension in data quality (i.e. data task utility) is a discriminant for information search heuristic (template heuristic orientation vs. trial-and-error heuristic orientation). A data quality cognitive metamodel and a data quality for problem enactment model are suggested for research in the areas of data quality, information search behavior, and cognitive enhancements.

This thesis investigates the learning processes of internationalising small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Based on a framework of absorptive capacity the research explores and examines: i. types and sources of new knowledge acquired by firms, ii. assimilation of new knowledge within firms, iii. exploitation of new capabilities gained and iv. outcomes of the new knowledge and learning. This research adopts a qualitative approach based on 12 longitudinal case studies of internationalising firms which were participating in the Scottish Enterprise Global Companies Development Programme. Multiple semi-structured interviews with the chief executive officers were carried out over a three year period and access was gained to Scottish Enterprise records and consultancy reports on the firms. This research provides new insights into the nature of knowledge used by internationalising firms and has clarified distinctions between different types of knowledge. Findings suggest that three types of knowledge – market, internationalisation and product/technological – were acquired depending on decisions facing firms at the time. Internationalisation knowledge was the most frequent new knowledge needed. This was knowledge which is specific to the internationalisation process or generic, which is applicable to overseas and domestic operations. Specific internationalisation knowledge is often developed by combining market and product knowledge. New insights are given into how firms acquire new knowledge from external, internal, experiential and objective sources of knowledge. To increase adsorptive capacity it was important for firms to create internal procedures and systems to convert tacit and individual knowledge to explicit and shared knowledge. The impact of new knowledge and learning on firms’ capabilities, decision making, competitive advantage and performance, and the constraints faced by firms are explored.

In today's competitive environment, there is a continual need for organisations to invest substantial amounts of resource into the development and manufacture of products and processes, and Automotive Manufacturing Organisations are no exception to this. However, if the success rate of the projects undertaken by these organisations could be increased, then the level of resources invested in these projects could potentially be reduced. The management of risk offers a method through which the success rate of projects can be increased. However, as yet, many organisations within the Automotive Manufacturing Sector have not undertaken to integrate a rigorous method of managing the risks to their projects. This work focuses on the development and implementation of a project Risk Management Methodology into the Automotive Manufacturing Industry. The methodology was developed from a rigorous examination into the use of project and risk management into the Automotive Manufacturing Industry, as well as an investigation of risk management and project risk management processes within both the industrial and academic domains. Therefore, the Risk Management Methodology was designed to fit the needs of the users within the Automotive Manufacturing Industry, and as such, is compatible with the project management methods used within this industrial sector. The deliverables of the Risk Management Methodology were compared to 9 risk management processes and were found to give additional benefits to these processes. These were identified as the realisation of quality benefits, improvements to the technology and changes to working practices from reactive to pro-active management, which indicate that the Risk Management Methodology is more suited to Automotive Manufacturing Organisations than the other risk management processes. The Risk Management Methodology is a cyclic process, consisting of 5 stages; identification, assessment, analysis, reduction and/or mitigation and monitoring of the risks. Various tools have been developed as part of the Risk Management Methodology. They are the Front-End Assessment Tool to determine if there is a potential need to use the Risk Management Methodology, a Risk Register Database System to document the identified risks irrespective of geographical location, and the Risk Assessment Tool to enable the level of risk within the project to be reported. In addition to this, a Tracking Tool for Research and Technology Projects, based on the requirements of Rover's Technology Strategy Team, was developed to enable the probability of success of technology projects to be determined and tracked throughout their lifespan. The application of the Risk Management Methodology into 7 projects within the Rover/BMW group enabled the methods through which the assessment of the risks as well as the use of numbers within the tools themselves to be critiqued, as well as benefits of the use of the methodology and the tools to be ascertained. What was determined from its implementation was that it enabled the risks to be made visible through their identification, assessment, analysis and management. Deviations from the proposed plan could be identified, and an effort made to reduce and/or mitigate against the effects of the risks. In addition, the decision making process was improved, through increasing the amount of relevant information within the project and that there was identified a change in the working practices of the individuals and teams, from reactive, firefighting to pro-active management of the project. In conclusion, the Risk Management Methodology and its associated tools and techniques provides the means by which the risks and potential problems within projects in the Automotive Manufacturing Sector can be actively managed and as such, enables the projects to be completed successfully.

This research created a database of financial and non-financial information extracted from DataStream, annual reports and accounts, company websites and other reputable sources to investigate the incidence of conglomeration amongst the largest, by market capitalisation, companies, both industrial/manufacturing and service, that comprised the London Stock Exchange FTSE100 index at the end of 1993, 1998 and 2003. Categorising companies according to the 4-category Rumelt-based scheme used in previous UK research by Channon (1973, 1978) and Whittington & Mayer (2000), this research has found support for the contention, based on anecdotal evidence, that conglomeration amongst the FTSE100 has declined, especially between 1998 and 2003. Rather than confirming the evolutionary flow of companies through the Model of Corporate Development from single business to conglomerate strategies, the research shows more companies to have retreated to greater focus than advanced to wider diversification. Furthermore, the breadth of activities pursued by conglomerates fell through the research period and there was also an increase in diversified companies with a core activity generating more than 50% of their turnover. Whilst acknowledging that several conglomerates were created by strong business personalities including Lords Hanson and White at Hanson and Sir Owen Green at BTR, no strong relationships were found between corporate governance and diversification. The enhancement of corporate governance Best Practice resulted in improvements across all companies. Finally, this research suggests performance is not a primary driver of the trend towards focus but that financial/market and regulatory, especially competition authority, factors led to changes in diversification through a mixture of divestment, demerger, capital reduction/downsizing, acquisitions and internationalisation. The Model of Corporate Development has become multi-directional with movements influenced by generic, industry specific and company specific factors. There is also an inherent trade-off across diversification categories in the potential level of risk, growth, scale and scope benefits.