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Papers by Roberto Sarmiento

Research paper thumbnail of Case Studies and Popperian Falsification: A Note on Flyvbjerg's "Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research

Esta nota de investigacion presenta nuevas ideas acerca de importantes aspectos metodologicos rel... more Esta nota de investigacion presenta nuevas ideas acerca de importantes aspectos metodologicos relacionados con la aplicacion de los resultados obtenidos por medio de "estudios de caso". Los autores respetamos el punto de vista que afirma que los estudios de caso deben ser utilizados para tener un mejor entendimiento de las interpretaciones subjetivas de fenomenos que son socialmente construidos por los diversos actores involucrados. El enfoque sobre la ciencia propuesto por Karl POPPER reconoce que los resultados de todas las investigaciones son falibles y teorico-dependientes. Sin embargo, POPPER tambien comenta que es posible proponer procedimientos criticos y objetivos que faciliten el poner a prueba intersubjetivamente (y posiblemente, falsificar) los resultados de investigaciones cientificas. Nuestra articulo amplia un tema especifico planteado por Bent FLYVBJERG (2004, 2006). El acierta al decir que de acuerdo a la logica Popperiana, una proposicion cientifica puede ...

Research paper thumbnail of Can you have your cake and eat it? Investigating trade-offs in the implementation of green initiatives

Production Planning & Control, 2019

Is it possible for manufacturing or service businesses that pursue green initiatives to 'have it ... more Is it possible for manufacturing or service businesses that pursue green initiatives to 'have it both ways'? In the words of some researchers in the corporate sustainability field, the answer is 'no'. According to those authors, executives who attempt to implement a green agenda in their firms will encounter tensions/trade-offs at various levels and in different forms. Assessment of these trade-offs is a critical issue in the formulation and implementation of corporate sustainability strategies. Similarly, some authors in the operations management field affirm that, due to the limitations of all manufacturing and service systems, trade-offs in their operations are inevitable. In order to provide insights into these important issues, our paper investigates potential trade-offs in the implementation of a green initiative in a SME that manufactures cleaning products. The results show that there is a trade-off between the green initiative pursued by the SME and its overall production costs. Interestingly, once other problems were resolved, this trade-off did not stop the SME from implementing the green initiative. Important implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed, and opportunities for future investigations are outlined.

Research paper thumbnail of Universal-deterministic and probabilistic hypotheses in operations management research: a discussion paper

Production Planning & Control, 2018

Based on Karl Popper's approach to science, this conceptual article aims at promoting a discussio... more Based on Karl Popper's approach to science, this conceptual article aims at promoting a discussion on important issues debated in the OM literature. Our focus is on the different types of hypotheses used in OM investigations and the implications of this for the formulation and testing of theory with an emphasis on case study research. Given that Popper's methodology calls for an adequate testing of scientific propositions (universal-deterministic or probabilistic), we illustrate how case study research can be used to conduct a severe test of a scientific theory. It is also explained how case studies can be utilized to propose universal-deterministic hypotheses that should then be tested. Our investigation further discusses why it is important to clearly acknowledge the differences between the two types of hypotheses. Otherwise, inadequate research designs, deficient policy advice, and other similar problems, can arise. Topics for future research and discussion are also offered.

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling the implementation of green initiatives: An AHP-BOCR approach

Cogent Engineering, 2018

Over the past few decades, there has been a growing need for businesses to become more environmen... more Over the past few decades, there has been a growing need for businesses to become more environmentally friendly in their operations, products and services. However, the decision to undertake initiatives or programs that can help them achieve this goal is complex. While there are clear and desirable ecological benefits from these efforts, it is possible that there are also negative aspects that have to be considered. Our investigation presents a theoretical model that captures the variables, processes and dynamics involved in the decision to implement/not implement a green initiative. More specifically, we propose an analytic hierarchy process model that takes into account the benefits, opportunities, costs and risks that are associated with the potential implementation of these types of programs. A simulated example shows the utility of our proposed framework. Opportunities for future research are laid out.

Research paper thumbnail of A note on ‘beyond the trade-off and cumulative capabilities models: alternative models of operations strategy’

International Journal of Production Research, 2018

A recent thought provoking paper affirms that in practice, the trade-offs model is not used. In t... more A recent thought provoking paper affirms that in practice, the trade-offs model is not used. In this study, we reanalyse the data based on a more complete understanding of Skinner's model. Our results indicate that while there may be some evidence of firms that are capable of achieving high performance across a number of manufacturing capabilities in that investigation, there is also plenty of evidence generally consistent with the core tenet of the trade-offs model. We also emphasise that more practical and definitive statements about Skinner's model must necessarily involve detailed studies of market leading firms, or, individual product/services. Opportunities to move forward on the topic of strategic tradeoffs are outlined.

Research paper thumbnail of Case Studies and Popperian Falsification: A Note on Flyvbjerg's "Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research

Esta nota de investigacion presenta nuevas ideas acerca de importantes aspectos metodologicos rel... more Esta nota de investigacion presenta nuevas ideas acerca de importantes aspectos metodologicos relacionados con la aplicacion de los resultados obtenidos por medio de "estudios de caso". Los autores respetamos el punto de vista que afirma que los estudios de caso deben ser utilizados para tener un mejor entendimiento de las interpretaciones subjetivas de fenomenos que son socialmente construidos por los diversos actores involucrados. El enfoque sobre la ciencia propuesto por Karl POPPER reconoce que los resultados de todas las investigaciones son falibles y teorico-dependientes. Sin embargo, POPPER tambien comenta que es posible proponer procedimientos criticos y objetivos que faciliten el poner a prueba intersubjetivamente (y posiblemente, falsificar) los resultados de investigaciones cientificas. Nuestra articulo amplia un tema especifico planteado por Bent FLYVBJERG (2004, 2006). El acierta al decir que de acuerdo a la logica Popperiana, una proposicion cientifica puede ...

Research paper thumbnail of Can you have your cake and eat it? Investigating trade-offs in the implementation of green initiatives

Production Planning & Control, 2019

Is it possible for manufacturing or service businesses that pursue green initiatives to 'have it ... more Is it possible for manufacturing or service businesses that pursue green initiatives to 'have it both ways'? In the words of some researchers in the corporate sustainability field, the answer is 'no'. According to those authors, executives who attempt to implement a green agenda in their firms will encounter tensions/trade-offs at various levels and in different forms. Assessment of these trade-offs is a critical issue in the formulation and implementation of corporate sustainability strategies. Similarly, some authors in the operations management field affirm that, due to the limitations of all manufacturing and service systems, trade-offs in their operations are inevitable. In order to provide insights into these important issues, our paper investigates potential trade-offs in the implementation of a green initiative in a SME that manufactures cleaning products. The results show that there is a trade-off between the green initiative pursued by the SME and its overall production costs. Interestingly, once other problems were resolved, this trade-off did not stop the SME from implementing the green initiative. Important implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed, and opportunities for future investigations are outlined.

Research paper thumbnail of Universal-deterministic and probabilistic hypotheses in operations management research: a discussion paper

Production Planning & Control, 2018

Based on Karl Popper's approach to science, this conceptual article aims at promoting a discussio... more Based on Karl Popper's approach to science, this conceptual article aims at promoting a discussion on important issues debated in the OM literature. Our focus is on the different types of hypotheses used in OM investigations and the implications of this for the formulation and testing of theory with an emphasis on case study research. Given that Popper's methodology calls for an adequate testing of scientific propositions (universal-deterministic or probabilistic), we illustrate how case study research can be used to conduct a severe test of a scientific theory. It is also explained how case studies can be utilized to propose universal-deterministic hypotheses that should then be tested. Our investigation further discusses why it is important to clearly acknowledge the differences between the two types of hypotheses. Otherwise, inadequate research designs, deficient policy advice, and other similar problems, can arise. Topics for future research and discussion are also offered.

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling the implementation of green initiatives: An AHP-BOCR approach

Cogent Engineering, 2018

Over the past few decades, there has been a growing need for businesses to become more environmen... more Over the past few decades, there has been a growing need for businesses to become more environmentally friendly in their operations, products and services. However, the decision to undertake initiatives or programs that can help them achieve this goal is complex. While there are clear and desirable ecological benefits from these efforts, it is possible that there are also negative aspects that have to be considered. Our investigation presents a theoretical model that captures the variables, processes and dynamics involved in the decision to implement/not implement a green initiative. More specifically, we propose an analytic hierarchy process model that takes into account the benefits, opportunities, costs and risks that are associated with the potential implementation of these types of programs. A simulated example shows the utility of our proposed framework. Opportunities for future research are laid out.

Research paper thumbnail of A note on ‘beyond the trade-off and cumulative capabilities models: alternative models of operations strategy’

International Journal of Production Research, 2018

A recent thought provoking paper affirms that in practice, the trade-offs model is not used. In t... more A recent thought provoking paper affirms that in practice, the trade-offs model is not used. In this study, we reanalyse the data based on a more complete understanding of Skinner's model. Our results indicate that while there may be some evidence of firms that are capable of achieving high performance across a number of manufacturing capabilities in that investigation, there is also plenty of evidence generally consistent with the core tenet of the trade-offs model. We also emphasise that more practical and definitive statements about Skinner's model must necessarily involve detailed studies of market leading firms, or, individual product/services. Opportunities to move forward on the topic of strategic tradeoffs are outlined.