Whether organizational slack contributes to or hampers firm performance is a constant debate in research and practice. Despite of many empirical studies, the issue remains inconclusive. Nevertheless, previous studies have offered valuable insight that monotonically pursuing a one-sided argument to the issue will unlikely leave the predicament. Instead, a more specific analysis of particular types of slack and the institutional context will be more fruitful in advancing research in this subject. Notwithstanding this insight, however, the mainstream in slack literatures largely focused on financial slack. Attention given to human resources slack is sparse, in particular human resources slack in research & development (R&D HR slack). In addition, most empirical works have confined their inquiries around slack in developed countries and drawn on theoretical perspectives that pay little attention to the institutional context in which the decisions in resources selection and utilization are embedded. It is not clear whether their findings could be applied to emerging economies where R&D supportive institutions are generally underdeveloped. Drawing on resource-based view and institutional theory, this study examined the relationship between R&D HR slack and firm performance as well as the moderating role of foreign ownership. This study argued that foreign ownership could bring in new institutional elements and improve the performance of indigenous firms in the long established manufacturing industries in China. The results show that R&D HR slack is positively associated with firms' innovation performance and foreign ownership moderated this positive relationship. In addition, R&D HR slack is also positively associated with firms' stock market performance, and yet unlike innovation performance, this positive relationship is not moderated by foreign ownership. Finally, despite R&D HR slack is positively associated with firms' innovation performance as well as their stock market performance, it has no significant effect on their accounting performance. Based on these findings, this study proposed a new theoretical perspective borrowed from the symbiotic theory to describe the effect of foreign ownership on the relationship between R&D HR slack and firm performance for future studies.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / Statement of the Problem. - The major thesis is that cyclical sensitivity of New England Standard Metropolitan Areas is a function of any one or a combination of the following variables: 1. specialization in manufacturing industries as opposed to non-manufacturing industries, 2. specialization in durable goods industries as opposed to non-durable goods industries, 3. specialization in a few major "S.I.C. two-digit" manufacturing industries, 4. degree of transition in the structure of manufacturing [TRUNCATED]

The current methods of economic justification are not suitable for identifying the benefits of automated manufacturing systems. This study is an introduction to Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS), its main features, and the economic benefits that can be expected. The models are designed to perform the following analyses: 1. Analysis of direct cost savings. 2. Analysis of the impact of incremental implementation on capital recovery costs. 3. Analysis of the cost effects of improving machine utilization and reducing manufacturing lead time. 4. Sensitivity analysis of the after-tax equivalent uniform annual cost of a FMS and a conventional system. The models are built to (1) utilize readily available data or output data from simulation studies, (2) provide reliable results, and (3) simplify reality to a small package of information that facilitates effective decision making. To explain the models and to analyze empirically the economic performance of an FMS, the models were fed with published, assumed, or generated data. The output of each analysis is summarized in tables, depicted in graphs, and specific conclusions are synthesized at the end of each model presentation.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Customers procure solutions and services to streamline and improve their business functions. For services to be viable to a customer, it is required that the service provide more value to their business than the actual cost of procuring the service. This report aims to understand what the value is that the customers place in the services they require. From this understanding, a framework is produced that drives value in delivering site-based support services. The framework is built on four objectives that will deliver value to the customer. The objectives of a service are as follows: to be customer focused, to have effective resource management, to be proactive in nature and to be sustainable over the life of the service. The framework also defines a set of processes that conforms to, and drives the stated objectives. Although there are many such frameworks in existence, their focus is general in nature. This report will focus specifically on the delivery of site-based support services for automation solutions in a manufacturing industry. Site-based support services are expensive in nature because the solution provider provides dedicated and knowledge specific resources to customers. For this reason, the value expected by a customer is much higher than other forms of support services. This problem is investigated and a framework is produced through research of established Service Management frameworks. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kliente bekom oplossings en dienste om hul besigheidsfunksies te stroomlyn en te verbeter. Vir dienste om aantreklik vir 'n klient te wees, word dit vereis dat die voorsiende diens meer waarde tot hul besigheid toevoeg as wat die koste van die diens is. Hierdie verslag mik om te verstaan wat die waarde is wat kliente heg aan die dienste wat hulle vereis. 'n Raamwerk word gebou wat waarde toevoeg in op-perseel gelewerde dienste. Die raamwerk is gegrond op vier doelwitte wat vir kliente waarde lewer. Die doelwitte van 'n diens is om gefokus op die klient te wees, om hulpbronne effektief te kan hanteer, om proaktief van natuur te wees en om ondersteunbaar oor die lewe van die dienste wees. Die raamwerk beskryf 'n stel prosesse wat by diens doelwitte pas en die doelwitte dryf. Alhoewel daar baie ooreenstemmende raamwerke in bestaan is, is die fokus van die bestaande raamwerke algemeen van natuur. Hierdie verslag ondersoek spesifiek die lewering van op-perseel diens ondersteuning vir geoutomatiseerde oplossings in 'n vervaardigings nywerheid. Op-perseel gelewerde ondersteuningsdienste is duur van natuur omdat die diensverskaffer kliente voorsien van toegewyde, kennisryke hulpbronne. Om hierdie rede, vereis die klient meer waarde van op-perseel gelewerde dienste, as van ander diens forums. Deur navorsing van bekende diens besturings raamwerke is 'n nuwe raamwerk gebou wat fokus op die lewering van op-perseel dienste.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1989.

Maintenance philosophies have evolved over a period of time. These philosophies have evolved from breakdown maintenance to ReliabilityCentred Maintenance (RCM). By performing proper maintenance on plant equipment, organisations' goals can be achieved. This forms the basis of the Total Productive Maintenance strategy, which aims to support business goals. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is based on the integrated manufacturing system approach that includes process control, quality assurance, safety and maintenance. Some organisations in South Africa have taken an initiative to implement the Total Productive Maintenance program. This research study confirms that organisations that have implemented the TPM program have had increased productivity, reduced costs and improved the quality of their products. Secondly, factors that affect successful implementation of the Total Productive Maintenance program are identified. Through training of all the employees on TPM, encouraging teamwork and systematically implementing the TPM program, the organisations' competitiveness can enhanced. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The objective of grand corporate strategy is the attainment of a sustainable competitive advantage; it defines the company and its business, and selects the means of converting strategic intent into competitive advantage. In addition, a company must formulate its business and functional strategies. These are subordinate to the grand strategy and as such, determine and reveal the corporate purpose and goals, produces the company's principal policies and plans, and provides guidelines for its business units and functions to achieve these goals. At the level of a business unit, strategy aims to differentiate the company from its competitors by creating a unique source of value provided. This determines the company's distinctive competency, which is not what it can do well but what it can do better than its competitors. It is this distinctive competency that must be created if a company is to successfully align resources and processes to create a competitive advantage. As the world becomes a global market, the standards applied to "World Class Performance" takes on a common meaning across international boundaries. South African companies are not exempt and have to compete on a global arena. Global competitiveness has never been more intense as firms scan the world for the right mix of technology, skills, cost and stability. The main area to be researched that was highlighted is an evaluation of what can be done to improve the current strategic practices of the company to a level that exceeds that of world-class companies. By eliciting responses from employees, the researcher hopes to conduct an industry evaluation, generate strategy and culture profiles and utilise these profiles to determine the current position of the company. Based on the findings, recommendations would be made to develop an improvement plan for the company. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Caption title.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.