Strategic objectives in modern discrete-part manufacturing are shifting from the previously sought economies of scale to the so called economies of scope, where emphasis is placed on product variety and customization, as well as the increased responsiveness of the production system to widely...

This thesis presents a model designed to optimize the allocation of corporate resources required for the success of a product in the marketplace. The product development resources used in the model are: market research, applied research, product design, cost reduction and advertising.

At the heart of any decision problem is some degree of "flexibility" in how to act. Most often, we aim to extract greatest possible value from this inherent flexibility. The three essays compiled here are aligned with this same general aim, but we have an important secondary concern: to...

Although existing laboratory research shows that software is often used inefficiently, relatively little is known about (a) how efficiently software is used in a real work environment and (b) the factors that influence the efficiency of individual users. The present research consists of an...

This study explored the relative efficacy of Enterview as measured by speed, accuracy, and perceived complexity. Enterview was contrasted with Lotus 123. The effect of methods of data entry and acquisition were investigated. These were the independent variables. Speed, accuracy, and perceived...

The principal aim of this paper is to measure the amount by which the profit of a multi-input, multi-output firm deviates from maximum short-run profit, and then to decompose this profit gap into components that are of practical use to managers. In particular, our interest is in the measurement...