Browsing by Author "Johnson, Mark"
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Item Open Access Business triads in servitization; The influence of the provider's - partner relationship on the performance of the partner towards the provider(Cranfield University, 2012-10) Karatzas, Antonios; Johnson, Mark; Bastl, MarkoThe thesis is concerned with a problem arising in contexts where there is provision of integrated product-service offerings (servitization). It may be the case that the provider relies on independent service partners for the delivery of the services to the customer, which means that the three actors (provider, service partner and customer) form a triad. This makes the performance of the partner determinative for customer satisfaction and hence an important issue for the provider. Because the buyer – supplier relationships and business triads literatures suggest that relationships affect the performance of the related parties, the aim of this work is to understand how the provider – partner working relationship influences the service performance of the latter. To satisfy the aim, an appropriate setting in the UK commercial vehicles industry was identified (one provider plus a network of service partners), and a mixed-methods research design was employed. The qualitative part consisted of several exploratory interviews and three case-studies of purposively sampled provider – partner relationships. The quantitative part had a supplementary character, and as part of it, questionnaires completed by 38 of the provider’s partners were analyzed with the use of a configurational method (fsQCA). In this study, the firm-level working relationship was considered as a five-dimensional construct based on Cannon’s and Perreault’s (1999) framework of relationship connectors. The findings consist of: 1) A model capturing the causal ordering of the relationship dimensions, their interplay with two emergent exogenous factors, and their eventual impact on the service performance of the partner. 2) A set of configurations of relationship dimensions and exogenous factors enhancing service performance. With the in-depth study of the influence of the provider – partner relationship on the performance of the partner towards the provider’s customer-base, my research simultaneously contributes to knowledge in two ways. Firstly, it helps in the theoretical development of the phenomenon of servitization, and secondly, it extends triadic research by examining in depth and in a novel setting the relationship – performance interdependence within the triad.Item Open Access Comparison of self-referencing techniques for photothermal detection of trace compounds in water(Elsevier Science, 2000-09) Hodgkinson, Jane; Johnson, Mark; Dakin, John P.Self-referencing techniques are compared for a closed-cell photothermal detector that uses a water meniscus as a pressure sensor. Deflection of the meniscus was measured using an optical fibre Fabry–Perot interferometer. For long measurement integration times, interference fringe drift was a serious limitation on the detection repeatability for non self-referenced measurements. Two self-referencing techniques were compared for measurements of optical absorption. The first technique used a simultaneous reference absorption signal at a second wavelength, and the second used a simultaneous volumetric modulation within the cell. Both methods have been evaluated with photothermal excitation by a 658-nm LED, a 478-nm LED and a UV discharge lamp. For the detection of absorption in aqueous solutions, the two methods had similar performance. However, the volumetric method could be used for detection of any absorbing compound, regardless of its absorption spectrum and was more convenient to use.Item Open Access How does servitization impact inter-organisational structure and relationships of a truck manufacturer's network?(Cranfield University, 2013-06) Cakkol, Mehmet; Johnson, Mark; Godsell, JanetNetwork relationships play a significant role in the provision of servitized offerings. To date, little empirical research has been conducted to investigate the link between servitization and inter-organisational relationships. The objective of this doctoral thesis is to explore the implications of servitization on a manufacturer’s network. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact on the network structure and relationship attributes. An exploratory in-depth case study was conducted within the truck manufacturing industry using a multi-organisational perspective. An abductive research approach was adopted which was underlined by pragmatism. As part of this approach, 43 interviews were conducted in a total of 11 companies. The findings of the study suggest that managers need to be aware of the different customer needs, related offerings and resultant implications on the network structure and relationships. To this end, the findings show that as the offerings move towards advanced servitized offerings the network becomes more complex in terms of its structure and relationships. The research contributes to the literature by providing a more nuanced description of what actually occurs in a network when a manufacturer provides servitized offerings in conjunction with other product-based offerings. In particular, it identifies the relationship attributes that need to be managed in order to drive the right behaviour for the provision of each of these offerings. Moreover, it is the first known study to uncover triadic as well as tetradic network structures in a servitization context. Equally important, it provides a framework that captures the interplay between the different offerings and the resultant network structure and relationship attributes. In all of these capacities, this research is one of the first known studies to uncover some of the complexities surrounding the way in which inter-organisational relationships are enacted in a servitization context.Item Open Access The influence of supply chains on a company's financial performance(2007-05-01T00:00:00Z) Johnson, Mark; Templar, SimonItem Open Access Performance of a photothermal detector with turbid liquids(Optical Society of America, 2005) Hodgkinson, Jane; Johnson, Mark; Dakin, John P.A closed-cell photothermal detector for aqueous analytes has been evaluated at 254nm and 678nm. The detector used a water meniscus as a pressure sensor, whose periodic deflection was measured using a low finesse optical fibre Fabry-Perot interferometer. Performance was compared with a commercial diode-array spectrometer and found to be similar for absorption measurements in non-turbid samples, but the results were affected up to 60 times less by scattered light. Finally the photothermal cell was converted into an integrating cavity using ceramic inserts, showing freedom from scattering related errors at 678nm but a degradation in performance at 254nm.Item Open Access Photothermal detection of trace compounds in water, using the deflection of a water meniscus(Iop Publishing Ltd, 1998-01-01T00:00:00Z) Hodgkinson, Jane; Johnson, Mark; Dakin, John P.Anovelphotothermaldetectorisdescribed,basedonaclosedcellsuitableforusewithlow-frequencymodulatedcontinuous-wavelightsources.Photothermalexpansioninaqueoussamplescausedthedeflectionofawatermeniscusheldacrossa200m-radiuspinhole.Displacementofthewatermeniscuswasmeasuredusingfibreopticinterferometry.Amercurydischargelamp(254nm)andalaserdiode(678nm)wereusedtodetecttoabsorptionby2ppbanthraceneand0.5ppmpotassiumpermanganateinaqueoussolution,respectively.Thetechniquewasusedtodetectdifferencesbetweenabsorptioncoefficientsinaqueoussolutionsdowntoapproximately20%ofthebackgroundabsorptionofthewateritself.Item Open Access Product service systems and supply network relationships: an exploratory case study(MCB University Press, 2011-03-01T00:00:00Z) Lockett, Helen L.; Johnson, Mark; Bastl, Marko; Evans, StephenPurpose - In recent years there has been increasing interest in Product Service Systems (PSS) as a business model for selling integrated product and service offerings. To date there has been extensive research into the benefits of PSS to manufacturers and their customers, but there has been limited research into the effect of PSS on the upstream supply chain. It is this gap that this research seeks to address. Design/Methodology/Approach - The research uses case based research which is appropriate for exploratory research of this type. In depth interviews were conducted with key personnel in a focal firm and two members of its supply chain and the results were analysed to identify emergent themes. Findings - The research has identified differences in supplier behaviour dependent on their role in PSS delivery and their relationship with the PSS provider. In particular it suggests that for a successful partnership it is important to align the objectives between PSS provider and suppliers. Originality/ value - This research provides a detailed investigation into a PSS supply chain and highlights the complexity of roles and relationships among the organisations within it. It will be of value to other PSS researchers and organisations transitioning to the delivery of PSS. Keywords - Product Service Systems, Servitization, Supply Networks, Relationships, Case Study, Product LifecycleItem Open Access Quantitative analysis of a closed photoacoustic cell that uses a high compliance piezoelectric transducer(American Institute of Physics, 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z) Hodgkinson, Jane; Johnson, Mark; Dakin, John P.A treatment of the operation of low-frequency closed photoacoustic cells is presented, which considers the compliance of various cell elements. The optimum detector, according to our predictions, has a sensor whose compliance is large compared to that of the fluid enclosed by the cell. A simple photoacoustic cell has been built, incorporating a thin-walled piezoelectric cylinder. It was used to test the theory, and demonstrate photoacoustic detection of an absorber in aqueous solution, excited by a low power 678nm laser diode modulated at 110Hz. We have detected absorbances as low as approximately 3ï ´10 -3 cm -1 (SNR=1), corresponding to the absorption of light with a modulated power of 50ï ÂWItem Open Access RFID in the supply chain: lessons from European early adopters(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2008-02-01T00:00:00Z) White, Andrew; Johnson, Mark; Wilson, HughPurpose Radio frequency identification (RFID) is increasingly being presented as a technology with the potential to improve supply chain performance, but empirical evidence from early adopters is sparse. This paper aims to rectify this scarcity and contribute to a more informed discussion in and between academic and practitioner communities. Design/Methodology/Approach The paper is based on a conceptual model of factors influencing the success of adoption efforts. It then reports the results of a survey of 612 European supply chain managers, focusing on the 128 respondents who have begun RFID trials. Findings A significant influence on operational deployment is the presence of mandates from key customers requiring the technology’s use. Customer mandates also impact the anticipated benefits of a faster sales cycle and of enhanced systems integration, though the relationships are complex. By contrast, greater cost reduction benefits are anticipated in two industries where mandates are less common – industrial goods and logistics. Perceived organizational innovativeness positively impacts anticipated ROI from RFID. Companies adopting a ‘slap and ship’ approach are less likely to anticipate pricing benefits than those integrating RFID into enterprise systems Research Limitations/Implications The limitations of the paper include the limited sample size of early adopters. In addition, qualitative research is needed into RFID supply chain applications and into different approaches to IS integration of RFID, to inform future survey work. Practical Implications This paper informs supply chain managers and senior decision makers who are examining the potential of RFID technology. It offers guidance on what issues to look for when adopting this technology, approaches to take and the benefits that might be accrued. Originality/Valuer This paper offers a major contribution to understanding the current status of the adoption of RFID in European supply chains. This understanding is put in the context of the wider literatures on supply chain management and the adoption of information systems and tecItem Open Access Supply Chain Management for Servitized Products: A multi-industry case study(Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z) Johnson, Mark; Mena, CarlosManufacturers are combining products and services in order to provide greater value to the customer and to facilitate longer more profitable business relationships. Organisations that pursue this route are following a strategy of servitization which requires the effective management of supply chains. A framework was developed from the extant literature that was used as a lens for the analysis of supply chains for servitized products. This research uses case studies to explore the challenges and opportunities that face the supply chain management function within organisations that are pursuing a strategy of servitization. The case studies indicate that servitized supply chains are different to their production counterparts and need to be responsive which is facilitated by real-time information.Item Open Access Very efficient sampling technique for fiber-remote optical emission spectroscopy of aqueous solutions(1997-01-01T00:00:00Z) MacKenzie, Steven J.; Hodgkinson, Jane; Johnson, Mark; Dakin, John P.; Cecchi, G.; Lamp, T.; Reuter, R.; Weber, K.We have measured fluorescence from a waveguide formed by a falling cylindrical stream of liquid. The configuration is suited to taking measurements from liquids with any refractive index, such as aqueous solutions. The parameters which determine the stream stability have been investigated, and the optical collection efficiency has been mathematically modelled. We have produced streams up to 350 mm long with a 2.5 mm diameter, and measured a fluorescence collection enhancement factor of 9 from a 100 mm long, 1 mm diameter stream.