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Full-Text Articles in Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Product Complexity: A Definition And Impacts On Operations, Mark A. Jacobs
Product Complexity: A Definition And Impacts On Operations, Mark A. Jacobs
Mark A. Jacobs
The difficulty for organizations arises because neither complexity nor its impacts on performance are well understood (Fisher & Ittner, 1999b). The mechanisms through which it affects cost, quality, delivery, and flexibility need to be explained (Ramdas, 2003). However, this cannot happen until complexity can be explained theoretically. But, to build theory there must first be a common understanding about the construct of interest (Wacker, 2004). Only then can researchers operationalize it and search for meaningful relationships. In light of this, I develop a definition of complexity below. A sampling of the operations management literature is then presented within the context …
Volume And Cost Implications Of Product Portfolio Complexity, Mark A. Jacobs
Volume And Cost Implications Of Product Portfolio Complexity, Mark A. Jacobs
Mark A. Jacobs
Business leaders are concerned about the impacts of increasing levels of product portfolio complexity since many sense that complexity related costs such as order management, procurement, and inventory threaten to undermine operational efficiencies and consume profits. Even so, managers do not fully understand the extent and breadth of the impacts of product portfolio complexity. A more complete understanding of the operational effects of product portfolio complexity is lacking partially because researchers have not yet offered a robust theoretical perspective or studied it in a focused controlled way; until now. Herein, measures of product portfolio complexity are developed and related to …