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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Process Construct In The Virtual R&D Teams, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha, Marjan Mohammadjafari Dr
Process Construct In The Virtual R&D Teams, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha, Marjan Mohammadjafari Dr
Nader Ale Ebrahim
literature proves the importance of the process role in the effectiveness of virtual research and development (R&D) teams for new product development (NPD). However, the factors that make process construct in a virtual R&D team are still unclear. The manager of virtual R&D teams for NPD does not know which items of process should be used. To address the gap and answer the question, the study presents a set of factors that make a process construct. The proposed construct modified by finding of the field survey. We empirically examine the relationship between construct, dimensions and its factors by employing the …
Managing Communication In New Product Development Process: Virtual R&D Teams And Information Technology, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha
Managing Communication In New Product Development Process: Virtual R&D Teams And Information Technology, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Literature proves the importance of the role of information technology in increasing the effectiveness of virtual R&D teams’ communication for new product development. However, the factors that make information technology construct in a virtual R&D team are still ambiguous. Managers of virtual R&D teams for new product development do not know “which type of technology should be used”. To address the gap and answer the question, the paper presents a set of factors that make a construct that contribute to effective communication strategy for virtual R&D teams. The proposed construct has been modified based on the findings of a field …
Virtual Collaborative R&D Teams In Malaysia Manufacturing Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha
Virtual Collaborative R&D Teams In Malaysia Manufacturing Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
This paper presents the results of empirical research conducted during March to September 2009. The study focused on the influence of virtual research and development (R&D) teams within Malaysian manufacturing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The specific objective of the study is better understanding of the application of collaborative technologies in business, to find the effective factors to assist SMEs to remain competitive in the future. The paper stresses to find an answer for a question “Is there any relationship between company size, Internet connection facility and virtuality?”. The survey data shows SMEs are now technologically capable of performing …
The Effectiveness Of Virtual R&D Teams In Smes: Experiences Of Malaysian Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha
The Effectiveness Of Virtual R&D Teams In Smes: Experiences Of Malaysian Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
The number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially those involved with research and development (R&D) programs and employed virtual teams to create the greatest competitive advantage from limited labor are increasing. Global and localized virtual R&D teams are believed to have a high potential for SMEs growth. Due to the fast growing complexity of the new product, coupled with new emerging opportunities of virtual teams, a collaborative approach is believed to be the future trend. This research explores the effectiveness of virtuality in SMEs virtual R&D teams. An online questionnaire emailed to Malaysian manufacturing SMEs and 74 usable questionnaires …
Virtual R&D Teams: A Potential Growth Of Education-Industry Collaboration, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha
Virtual R&D Teams: A Potential Growth Of Education-Industry Collaboration, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
In this paper, we present our more than two years research experiences on virtual R&D teams in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and draws conclusions, giving special attention to the structure of virtual teams required to support education-industry collaboration. We report the relevant results of an online survey study. The online questionnaire was emailed by using a simple random sampling method to 947 manufacturing SMEs. The findings of this study show that SMEs in Malaysia and Iran are willing to use virtual teams for collaboration and the platform for industry-education collaboration is ready and distance between team members or differences …
Benefits And Pitfalls Of Virtual R&D Teams: An Empirical Study, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Benefits And Pitfalls Of Virtual R&D Teams: An Empirical Study, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
In this paper, advantages and drawbacks of virtual teams in research and development (R&D) are studied. With the globalization of commercial practices and advances in information and communication technologies, increasing numbers of enterprises are establishing cross-functional, geographically distributed virtual teams. Virtual teams in R&D are designed to access external resources and knowledge to maximize the competitive advantage from limited labor and resources. A survey has been conducted on 210 Malaysian and Iranian manufacturing companies, aimed to investigate the characteristics of R&D collaborations and extract the main advantages/disadvantages’ factors of virtual teams. These factors can be a guide line for R&D …
The Preliminary Insight Of Internal-External Npd Practices Integration And Product Development Time In Geographically Distributed Environment, Amlus Ibrahim, Geraldy Dadriyansyah, T Ramayah
The Preliminary Insight Of Internal-External Npd Practices Integration And Product Development Time In Geographically Distributed Environment, Amlus Ibrahim, Geraldy Dadriyansyah, T Ramayah
Geraldy Dadriyansyah
Global competitiveness is one of the most important issues in manufacturing industry nowadays. Almost every company in this business industry is affected by it and they are looking for new ways to remain aligned and competitive. In recent years, the long term success of some manufacturing firms and organizations has been enhanced by their ability to bring new products onto the market at regular and shorter intervals. In order to achieve that, effective new product development requires a good integration and collaboration between internal and external participants. Moreover, in current circumstances, issues on how to effectively integrate NPD constituents in …
Virtual Integration As A Predictor For Product Innovation: A Preliminary Insight, Geraldy Dadriyansyah, Amlus Ibrahim
Virtual Integration As A Predictor For Product Innovation: A Preliminary Insight, Geraldy Dadriyansyah, Amlus Ibrahim
Geraldy Dadriyansyah
The intense competition in manufacturing industry has forced manufacturing firms to switch their product development approach from traditional to concurrent engineering in order to stay competitive in term of product differentiation and innovation. In order to support concurrent engineering practice, both internal and external participants contributing to product development should be located into close proximity; therefore physical integration of team becomes the key enabler of concurrent engineering. However, as the paradigm has been shifted from adopting “centralized integrated product development”, physical integration is no longer efficient and should be replaced by virtual integration. This conceptual paper intends to explore ways …
Virtual Integration As An Approach To Engender Product Innovation And Accelerate Product Development Time: A Literature Analysis, Geraldy Dadriyansyah, Amlus Ibrahim, Mohamad Ghozali Hassan
Virtual Integration As An Approach To Engender Product Innovation And Accelerate Product Development Time: A Literature Analysis, Geraldy Dadriyansyah, Amlus Ibrahim, Mohamad Ghozali Hassan
Geraldy Dadriyansyah
Global competitiveness has forced manufacturing firm, as an internal constituents, to work closer with their suppliers and customers in order to produce highly innovative product in shorter time interval. However as the business trends in manufacturing industry have evolved, centralized integration has become obsolete and no longer be efficient. Concurrent engineering methodology allows manufacturing firms to adopt a new collaboration approach called virtual integration. With the aid of computer-mediated communication, virtual integration is believed to be a promising solution to NPD collaboration issues. Therefore, this conceptual paper is aimed to seek for a new approach to engender product innovation which …
Smes And Virtual R&D Teams: A Motive Channel For Relationship Between Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Smes And Virtual R&D Teams: A Motive Channel For Relationship Between Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
This paper explores potential advantages and barriers of virtual teams toward making an interrelation between small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) with a comprehensive review on different aspects of virtual teams in SMEs based on authentic and reputed publications. The purpose of the state-of-the-art literature review is to provide an overview of what is known about the structure and dynamics of virtual collaboration in SMEs which they are the back bone of the world business. This study seeks to address some of the advantages of virtual R&D team in the existing extensive literature on the increase SMEs interrelations. Besides of identify …
A Conceptual Model Of Virtual Product Development Process, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
A Conceptual Model Of Virtual Product Development Process, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
In today’s dynamic marketplace, companies are under strong pressure to introduce new products for long-term survival with their competitors. Besides, every company cannot cope up progressively or immediately with the market requirements due to knowledge dynamics being experienced in competitive milieu. Increased competition and reduced product life cycles put force upon companies to develop new products faster. In response to this pressing need there should be some new approach compatible in flexible circumstances. This paper presents a solution based on the Stage-Gate system, which is closely linked with virtual team approach. Virtual teams can provide a platform to advance the …
Innovation Process Is Facilitated In Virtual Environment Of R&D Teams, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Innovation Process Is Facilitated In Virtual Environment Of R&D Teams, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Innovation is becoming the most important key issue for company's success in the 21st century. In the competitive environment it is necessary for the enterprises to put together different capabilities and services with the goal. It is widely accepted that innovation can be better achieved by working in team particularly in the virtual environments. The employed web services technology, although very popular nowadays but it is still not mature enough, so dealing with it can bring new findings. Virtual teams base on information technology are formed to facilitate transnational innovation processes and it should be noted that innovation has a …
Virtual Teams For Npd – An Innovative Experience For R&D Engineers, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Virtual Teams For Npd – An Innovative Experience For R&D Engineers, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
New interaction tools such as internet allows companies to gain valuable input from research and development (R&D) engineers via virtual teams. Consequently engineers also get more expertise in diminutive timeframes. Virtual R&D teams present the key impetus to the technology acquisition process. The present knowledge-economy era is characterized by short product life-cycles. Virtual R&D teams may reduce time-to-market, make available a large pool of new product know-how and provide greater flexibilities which are the key success factors in a competitive market. This comprehensive review contains almost 100 references and covers the recent literature with emphasis on topic. The review has …
Virtuality, Innovation And R&D Activities, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Virtuality, Innovation And R&D Activities, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Innovation plays a central role in economic development, at regional and national level. In the competitive environment companies are obliged to produce more rapidly, more effectively and more efficiently in new product development which is a result of research and development (R&D) activities. It is necessary for them to put together different capabilities and services with the goal, through cooperation between suppliers and customers, service providers and scientific institutions to achieve innovations of high quality. Depending on the type of industry, the type of business, the type of innovation and the strategic objectives that have been set, firms will regularly …
Consideration Of The Virtual Team Work And Disabled Citizens, As Promising Opportunity Providers For The E-Government Infrastructure's Formation, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Sumsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Consideration Of The Virtual Team Work And Disabled Citizens, As Promising Opportunity Providers For The E-Government Infrastructure's Formation, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Sumsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
The Information area has revolutionized the workplace. Douglas Kruse, a professor of human resources and the director of the program for disability research at Rutgers University, states that 7% of employed persons with disabilities work 20 hours or more a week from home. While some modern countries have established “virtual teams”, which are said to be comprised of people who are geographically scattered and who work across boundaries of space and time using computer driven communication technologies, it is also true that many developing countries remain structured around conventional face-to-face teams. A motive toward virtual team working may be cost …
Virtual Teams And Management Challenges, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Virtual Teams And Management Challenges, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
As a result of globalization and advances in information and communication technologies, the increased use of virtual teams in business has become prominent. In the competitive environment companies are obliged to produce more rapidly, more effectively and more efficiently. It is necessary for them to put together different capabilities and services with the goal, through cooperation between suppliers and customers, service providers and scientific institutions to achieve firm’s objective with high quality. Nowadays shift from serial to simultaneous and parallel working in entity has become more commonplace. Literatures have shown that collaboration is as a meta-capability for companies. This article …
Virtual R&D Teams: Innovation And Technology Facilitator, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Virtual R&D Teams: Innovation And Technology Facilitator, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Innovation is becoming the most important key issue for company’s success in the 21st century. In the competitive environment is necessary for the enterprises to put together different capabilities and services with the goal. It’s a widely accepted that innovation is better achieved by working in team. The employed web services technology, although very popular nowadays but it is still not mature enough, so dealing with it can bring new findings. Virtual teams base on information technology are formed to facilitate transnational innovation processes and it should be noted that innovation has a positive impact on corporate performance. Information and …
Virtual R&D Team: Technology Transfer Facilitator, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli
Virtual R&D Team: Technology Transfer Facilitator, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli
Nader Ale Ebrahim
A conceptual model is proposed which facilitate the process of technology transfer by applying a virtual R&D team. The underlying hypothesis is responded to competitive challenges, the complex customer requirements and the high instability on the market. The context of the knowledge-based economy introduces a major shift from serial to simultaneous R&D activities in the way technology transfer is conceived. The traditional model of R&D team work is relies on the visual and face-to-face teams. The complexities involved in organizing face-to-face interactions among team members from one side, and the rapid developments of electronic communication technologies from the other ,caused …
Smes: Erp Or Virtual Collaboration Teams, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shansuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Smes: Erp Or Virtual Collaboration Teams, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shansuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Small firms are indeed the engines of global economic growth. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role to promote economic development. SMEs in the beginning of implementing new technologies always face capital shortage and need technological assistance. Available ERP systems do not fulfil the specific requirements of Small firms. SMEs has scarce resources and manpower therefore many SMEs don‟t have the possessions to buy and operate an ERP System. On the other hand competition and competitiveness of SMEs have to be strengthened. This paper briefly reviews the existing perspectives on virtual teams and their effect on SMEs management. …
Virtual Environments Innovation And R&D Activities: Management Challenges, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Virtual Environments Innovation And R&D Activities: Management Challenges, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Companies will not survive long unless they join a threefold revolution in management itself, innovation, and information technology. Innovation plays a central role in economic development, at regional and national level. In the competitive environment companies are obliged to produce more rapidly, more effectively and more efficiently in new product development which is a result of research and development (R&D) activities. It is necessary for them to put together different capabilities and services with the goal, through cooperation between suppliers and customers, service providers and scientific institutions to achieve innovations of high quality. Depending on the type of industry, the …
Virtual R&D Teams: A Sustainable Infrastructure For Promoting Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Virtual R&D Teams: A Sustainable Infrastructure For Promoting Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are a major part of the industrial economies. Their survival and growth has therefore been a prominent issue. Research and development (R&D) enables firms to create new technologies and/or to build on existing technologies obtained through technology transfer. Nowadays unpredictable environment suggests that many firms seek new ways of conducting their business through some kind of R&D activities to make a profit and stay ahead of the competition. To survive in the global economy SMEs have to improve their products and processes exploiting their intellectual capital in a dynamic network of knowledge-intensive relations inside …
Dealing With Virtual R&D Teams In New Product Development, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Dealing With Virtual R&D Teams In New Product Development, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
National and global collaboration in research and development (R&D) is becoming increasingly important in creating the knowledge that makes research and business more competitive. Multinational enterprises have increased their research and development (R&D) investment in different countries. These multiple sites encourage the development of more ideas, due to the varied international backgrounds in global networks and the knowledge spillovers. In order to secure the viability of business processes, services and products R&D teams need to access and retrieve information from as many sources as possible. From the other perspective virtual teams are important mechanisms for organizations seeking to control scarce …
Virtual R&D Teams For Npd In Smes: Past, Present And Future Trend, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Virtual R&D Teams For Npd In Smes: Past, Present And Future Trend, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
This paper provides a comprehensive review on different aspects of virtual teams based on authentic and reputed publications. The purpose of the state-of-the-art literature review is to provide an overview of what is known about the structure and dynamics of R&D collaboration in SMEs. SMEs are the backbone of the world business. The focus of the investigation is on virtual R&D teams in SMEs. After providing a definition and importance of virtual teams, research and development (R&D), small and medium enterprises (SME) and new product development (NPD), the relationship between them will be examined. This paper seeks to address some …
Concurrent Collaboration In Research And Development, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Concurrent Collaboration In Research And Development, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Integration is the essence of current research and development (R&D) activity in many organizations. Integration can be established in various ways depending on the type, size and intricacy in organizational functions and products. Nevertheless, research and development (R&D) has become an inevitable function in most manufacturing companies in order to develop their own product niches for their survival in the prevailing highly completive market environment. Research and development functions are fundamental drivers of value creation in technologybased enterprises. Of creating and maintaining a vibrant R&D environment, organizations individually or collectively need to incorporate virtual R&D team. A virtual R&D team …
New Product Development In Virtual Environment, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
New Product Development In Virtual Environment, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Purpose - The literature on the topic has evolved exponentially since eight years ago. Relaying on a review of studies published in recent years, this article proposes and discusses a framework which incorporates a set of virtual teams involved in a new product development initiative. Design/methodology/approach – A range of academic and practitioner literature related to virtual teams and virtual new product development is reviewed. What is Virtual New Product Development and what determines its development in manufacturing firms? These two questions are answered. Findings - The decision to use a virtual team is often a necessity and not a …
Literature, Principle And The Basics Of Network Value Creation In R&D: The Relationship With Economy, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Literature, Principle And The Basics Of Network Value Creation In R&D: The Relationship With Economy, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
The internationalization of R&D network is a recent phenomenon. In this knowledge based environment, the driving forces for this phenomenon are digitization, the internet, and high-speed data networks that are keys to address many of the operational issues from design to logistics and distribution. From the other direction to surviving in the highly competitive industry, requires strategies to collaborate with or compete with suitable firms within a network in the New Product Development process. The growing internationalization of R&D activities challenges multinational corporations (MNCs) to formulate technology strategies and manage increasingly diffuse and diverse networks of R&D laboratories and alliances …
R&D Networking And Value Creation In Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
R&D Networking And Value Creation In Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Research and development (R&D) activities are fundamental drivers of value creation in today’s technology-based Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs). Seemingly, a successful R&D is a task of innovation processes and development of R&D networks with allied companies. There is a perceived lack of understanding regarding the importance of SMEs and their need to continuously enhancing their technological capabilities for the purpose of establishing them in dominant market positions. This article presents R&D network issues from the perspective of their impact on value creation in SMEs. The fundamental trend to enable SMEs towards creation of new knowledge and diffuse in and …
Demystifying The Legend Of Resistance To Change, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Arash Golnam
Demystifying The Legend Of Resistance To Change, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Arash Golnam
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Nothing is permanent except change. Many authors stress that the reason for the failure of many change initiatives can be found in resistance to change. Resistance to change introduces costs and delays into the change process that are difficult to anticipate but must be taken into consideration. Undoubtedly the resistance to change is key topic in change management and should be seriously considered to help the organization achieve advantages of the transformation. Considering the importance of resistance to change, this paper aims to delve deeper in this field through theoretical exposition of the concept, elaborating more on the literature involving …
Virtual Marketing In Virtual Enterprises, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Hamid A. Fattahi, Arash Golnam
Virtual Marketing In Virtual Enterprises, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Hamid A. Fattahi, Arash Golnam
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Virtualization caused tremendous evolution in the economics of marketing channels, patterns of physical distribution and the structure of distributors and developed a new concept that is known as virtual marketing (VM). VM combines the powerful technologies of interactive marketing and virtual reality. Virtual enterprise (VE) refers to an organization not having a clear physical locus. In other words, VE is an organization distributed geographically and whose work is coordinated through electronic communications." It should be mentioned that here VE encompasses all other similar phrases like Virtual company, virtual corporation, etc. One of the greatest challenges facing business owners and managers …
Globalization Of R&D And Developing Countries, Arash Golnam, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Ali Ghazizadeh
Globalization Of R&D And Developing Countries, Arash Golnam, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Ali Ghazizadeh
Nader Ale Ebrahim
Reflecting a broader trend towards the off shoring of services, a number of developing countries are attracting foreign direct investment in research and development. Transnational corporations, including the ones headquartered in developed countries, are selecting developing countries as locations for such activities. With the off shoring of research and development, firms aim to access the skills of new locations, adapting products to local markets and reducing their costs, in response to competitive pressures, technological changes and a more liberal trade and investment environment. In particular, information and communication technologies have had a profound effect on the way economic activities, including …