Information Management Approaches Research Articles

Impacts of information management on customized vehicles and after-sales services

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers are confronted with a paradigm shift from Variant Production to Mass Customization. In contrast to variants, mass customized vehicles are configured according to each customer's individual requirements and, nevertheless, are sold at a price comparable to standard vehicles. In order to economically offer customized vehicles and after-sales services, OEMs and suppliers must closely cooperate and apply appropriate information management approaches. Starting with an overview of interconnected business processes between an OEM and supplier, the focus of this contribution lies on grasping customer's requirements as well as generating and utilizing a customer's profile. Consistency of customer's requirements is checked by car configuration and simulation tools. Subsequently, the individual customer's order is transferred into the OEM's and supplier's data management systems. In addition to data generated during the order and production process, the customer's profile is supplemented step by step during car use. Based on a detailed customer's profile, individualized after-sales services can be offered which fulfil each customer's unique requirements and thus significantly contribute to the company's revenue as well as to high customer loyalty rates.

Rejection of an innovation: health information management training materials in east Africa.

A shift towards decentralization in many low-income countries has meant more skills are demanded of primary health care managers, including data and information handling at all levels of the health care system. Ministries of Health are changing their central reporting health information systems to health management information systems with emphasis on managers utilizing information at the point of collection. This paper reports on a research study to investigate the introduction of new information management strategies intended to promote an informational approach to management at the operational health service level in low-income countries. It aims to understand the process taking place when externally developed training materials (PHC MAP), which are intended to strengthen health management information systems, are introduced to potential users in an east African country. A case study has been undertaken and this research has demonstrated that the dynamic equilibrium approach to organizational change is applicable to the introduction of new information management strategies and management approaches in low-income countries. Although PHC MAP developers envisaged a technical innovation needing implementation, potential users saw the situation as one of organizational change. Contributions to theory have been made and many implications for introducing new information systems or the informational approach to management are identified. This theoretical framework could also facilitate the introduction of future information management innovations and would allow practitioners to perceive the introduction of information management innovations as one of organizational change that needs to be managed. Consequently, issues that may facilitate or inhibit adoption could be identified in advance.

Knowledge managing major events: a case study of the Sydney Olympic games

Event management organisations are unique institutions in many ways. One of these is the manner in which they create, manage and transfer the information and knowledge they need to operate efficiently. Their finite project character requires innovative knowledge management (KM) solutions, however, to date, many event organisations have failed to capitalise effectively on recent KM advances. The 2000 Summer Olympic Games, held in Sydney, provides an excellent case study of how an event 'franchiser' (the International Olympic Committee) and an event 'franchisee' (the Sydney Organising Committee of the Olympic Games SOCOG) have successfully adopted KM strategies and practices to become 'learning organisations'. They now provide KM benchmarks for other event organisers. The paper is written from personal experience and outlines the IOC and SOCOG's KMgrowth and development from an information management approach into a wider knowledge management role, assisted by technology solutions. It will also identify some practical examples of KM practices that could be integrated into other event structures.

Industrial environmental information management for technical systems

This paper describes a procedural approach for modelling a technical system for industrial environmental assessments. The approach is formulated as a procedural and conceptual model, denoted PHASETS (PHASEs in the design of a model of a Technical System). The objective of PHASETS is to serve both as a linguistic model for documents describing a technical system, as well as to serve as a guideline when accomplishing or assessing a model of a technical system. The PHASETS approach for information management and data quality control is independent of data format but relies on organisational commitment, for authorisation and for supplying the necessary competence needed to maintain the quality routines. Some applications for PHASETS are described.

The Olympic Games and knowledge management: A case study of the Sydney organising committee of the Olympic Games

This paper uses the context of the Sydney Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (SOCOG) as a case study. It examines how information and knowledge management (KM) were utilised through a specific knowledge project (the Sydney 2000 Games Information System) in an event‐driven organisation with a limited lifespan and increasing staff numbers. This project helped ensure that SOCOG's KM processes became aligned with the corporate objective of sharing knowledge across the organisation, rather than it remaining in the programs or divisions where it was created. The article is written from personal experience and outlines SOCOG's KM growth and development from an information management approach into a wider knowledge management role, assisted by a technology solution. As a commercial knowledge legacy, there was a formal agreement signed between the IOC and SOCOG, which formalised SOCOG's selling of explicit and tacit knowledge. However we believe that the most important lesson that other event organisers can learn from the SOCOG KM project is that accurate and accessible information can be managed effectively throughout a growing organisation.

The PRODNET Federated Information Management Approach for Virtual Enterprise Support

When designing an IT platform aimed at supporting industrial virtual enterprises (VEs), certain issues related to information management requirements become especially challenging, such as the physical distribution of data, the enterprise autonomy and privacy enforcement, access rights to shared information, and data visibility levels, among others. In the ESPRIT project PRODNET II, a federated database architecture was designed and implemented as the base support framework to effectively manage these issues associated with the sharing and exchange of information in the VE environment. In this paper, first the general information management requirements identified for the VE network in the PRODNET II project are described, and then the challenging design issues behind the development of the components of the federated information management system are presented.

An Information Management Architecture for Production Planning in a Virtual Enterprise

An emerging enterprise model for a virtual enterprise requires new production planning and control solutions and a supporting information environment, Based on the CORBA standard and client-server technologies, this paper proposes a new information management approach and a corresponding information management architecture. Its implementation in ESPRIT 20544 (X-CITTIC) is also introduced.

Enabling allied concurrent engineering through distributed engineering information management

The management of engineering information to ensure that the right information is quickly provided to the right place at the right time in the right format is one of the most critical tasks in the engineering process. Within the practice of allied concurrent engineering, the importance and difficulty of engineering information management is increased due to the issues of inter-enterprise communication and process control, system heterogeneity, information and system security, differing engineering data formats and multi-database formats. This paper presents an engineering information management approach for the practice of allied concurrent engineering (ACE). An ACE-based engineering information management methodology is proposed under the concept of enterprise integration. This methodology includes an information management life cycle, a distributed management framework, and rules and methods for information management. Based on this methodology, an ACE-based engineering information system was developed using Unified Modeling Language (UML) modeling techniques. The result of this research will enable the practice of allied concurrent engineering and consequently help increase product development capability and quality, reduce development cycle time and cost, and hence increase product marketability.

Towards an architecture for virtual enterprises

An approach to the design of an architecture for industrial virtual enterprises (VE), with special emphasis on the identification of main functional requirements, is presented. First, a discussion of the various types of virtual enterprises is provided. Some classification scenarios and discussions of the modelling and reengineering tools and methodologies are described. Due to the importance of the information flows and management in the VE, one section is merely devoted to the analysis of the appropriateness of a federated information management approach. This work is based on and represents the ongoing activities in two European Union funded projects; the Esprit PRODNET II and the INCO-DC SCM+ projects.

Homo Nullius or `Where Have All the People Gone‘? Refiguring Marine Management and Conservation Approaches

In Australia, much has been said and written about recent events which finally brought about the rejection of the Western legal concept of terra nullius. The legal recognition of native title in Australia and elsewhere, does not necessarily signify a corresponding and dramatic change in the social status and political position of indigenous peoples. This discontinuity between legal and social discourses is particularly evident when it comes to matters concerning conservation, resource management and sustainable development in a marine environment. All too often in these situations indigenous peoples are ignored and their concerns are dismissed as obstacles to development. They are, to all practical extents and purposes, homo nullius.Drawing upon a range of material from Indonesia and Australia, I argue that in order to understand the phenomenon of homo nullius it is instructive to examine the way we and others think, talk and write about such things as the sea, marine species and the indigenous peoples who possess and use these spaces and resources. In this connection, I focus upon two particular discourses which not only inform marine management and conservation approaches but which also have a tendency to create similar kinds of effects in terms of power, knowledge and agency.

Auditing Practice: An information management approach using problem oriented medical records

Summary This paper proposes a methodology of auditing clinical practice through the use of information management approach to problem oriented medical records.

CREATING A STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES ARCHITECTURE

Abstract A strategic capabilities architecture is the primary basis for a firm's sustainable competitive advantage. When managers think in terms of such an architecture, the creation of new information systems, training programs, capital projects, and management approaches becomes more focused and has greater impact.

エンジニアリング会社の業務形態の特徴と情報管理へのアプローチ

エンジニアリング会社の業務形態の特徴と情報管理へのアプローチ

The Changing Role of the Information Manager

Explores the implications of one model associated with the changing business environment, for the nature of information management and the role of the information manager. Peters′ model of a successful business is characterized by an organization which: has niche oriented market creators; possesses a flat management structure with fewer layers; is fast in responding and adapting; has quality concerns; is internationalist, even if small; possesses smaller or stand‐alone business units within bigger organizations gain sharing, valuing participation and adding value through people. Argues that in such organizations, effective information management is of central importance, but may not always be easy to achieve. In particular, smaller businesses have a reputation for poor utilization of formal information systems. In such an environment it is especially important that informal information management approaches be exploited to the full. A better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of informal and formal information management within smaller organizations and stand‐alone business units is essential for successful businesses.

Reading the organization: metaphors and information management

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of selected metaphors as a way of reading organizations, and to relate this to elements of the practice of information management A brief outline of the philosophical basis of the metaphorical approach is given. This is followed by a detailed discussion of the metaphors of organizations as cultures and political systems. These metaphors are then related to a specific issue in information management, namely the development and implementation of information systems strategy. Finally, some conclusions are drawn on the value of a metaphorical approach for information management.

Some uneasy inquiries into ID expert systems

Alternative approaches to developing software automating instructional development are described in this article. Information management and expert system approaches are compared. General assumptions underlying the development of all authoring tools, including conventional authoring systems, and additional assumptions underlying the development of expert ID tools are identified. Questions are raised concerning the viability of ID automation tools. It is argued that conventional authoring systems may not be as inadequate or inferior as ID expert system developers have claimed, and that of two approaches to ID automation, tools emphasizing information management are probably most useful. Information management tools, however, still may be inappropriate in some contexts.

Adopting an information management approach to the design and implementation of information systems.

As the NHS adopts an information management approach to coordinated handling of total information resources, methods of systems analysis and design require assessment to ensure that they are appropriate. Mandatory use of Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM) may be encouraging a damagingly narrow view of information systems. Research is described in which an holistic view of information systems is applied, allowing the needs of information users to play a stronger role in determining how information will be supplied to them. The techniques may also assist the training activities associated with implementing new systems.

The enhancement of information systems through user involvement in system design

Research on the information needs, information perceptions and information use of health promotion advisers suggests that systems analysis and design methodologies should be chosen with regard to the ‘problem situation’ which the information system will inhabit. Mandatory use of structured systems analysis and design methodology (SSADM) in the development of information systems for the United Kingdom National Health Service may be promoting a damagingly narrow view of information systems and failing to generate sufficient information awareness amongst system managers and users. Such methods do not support a view of total information resources appropriate to an information management approach. Use of alternative methods is demonstrated in order to show the value of an holistic approach to information, its environment and the individual and corporate players involved in its use.

Implementing Entity-Relationship Theory for Handling Leisure and Cultural Information

Abstract Although many computerized social science approaches to information management and analysis are reported in leisure studies publications, there is almost no reference to Entity-Relationship Theory. Details of the concerns with traditional computerized information management and analysis approaches which influenced the development of Entity-Relationship Theory are illustrated. Importance of the difference between a physical structure and a logical structure in information management is elaborated upon. Contemporary E-R Theory application examples are cited. A brief explanation of the implementation process is also provided.

Managing Information Resources in State Government

The 1980s were the decade of major management change for information resources-getting timely and accurate information in the right form through the effective use of information services and information-handling technologies such as computers and telecommunications. This article reports on research completed by Syracuse University in 1989 on how executive branch officials in state governments in the 1980s significantly changed their information technology and information management approaches, otherwise known as information resources management (IRM).1