maria J alvarez | Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (original) (raw)
Papers by maria J alvarez
There is a scarcity of guidelines that trigger the adoption of Custonúsation, a concept frequentl... more There is a scarcity of guidelines that trigger the adoption of Custonúsation, a concept frequently brought up in Service-related Operations management. This paper suggests a comprehensive framework of the Custonúsation process and its implications for Service Operations Management. We identify the two most outstanding approaches of Custonúsation, based upon the concepts of Customers'needings and Wishes. Main differences between them and their respective effects on the design of the Service Operations Strategy are discussed. Second, we identify the four dimensions (Time, Space, Volume and Variety) which explain the two mentioned approaches and that may address the process of implementation of the Operations Strategy.
International Journal of Production Research, 2004
The objective of this paper is to take a greater in-depth look at which factors might be consider... more The objective of this paper is to take a greater in-depth look at which factors might be considered to be key to the performance of investments made in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), given their supposed positive effects, and on the influence that the time these factors are taken into account during the adoption and implementation process can have on that relationship. It provides a specially devised empirical analysis in the aeronautical sector in the south of Spain. A survey of the 20 plants in the population was conducted via a postal questionnaire between July 1999 and April 2001, with a structured interview being held at a later date. The testing of hypotheses was performed by applying the t-test to independent samples. The results show that the only factor that has a clear and positive effect on performance is the training of personnel. It can also be seen that a lack of strategic planning contributes to dampening the effects of investments. These results may be of some help to management staff and public administrators in charge of promoting the process of technological innovation, by indicating actions that need to be taken in order to successfully adopt and implement AMT.
WPOM-Working Papers on Operations Management
This study provides a first overview of how to combine some of the elements of the blended teachi... more This study provides a first overview of how to combine some of the elements of the blended teaching models, such as SPOCs, with new teaching approaches, like the Flipped Classroom, in the domains of the Supply Chain Management education. Its main goal is to raise the learning rate in a heterogeneous students' group. The proposal takes into account both classic curricular concerns on the teaching of Supply Chain Management, as in Visich and Khumawala (2006), and its pedagogical new trends, like in Wisner (2017).
Journal of Operations …, 2003
In line with the theoretical premises of the research, the aim of this paper is two-fold: firstly... more In line with the theoretical premises of the research, the aim of this paper is two-fold: firstly, to determine whether there are different patterns of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) investment behavior in the Andalusian aeronautical industry that can be associated with ...
En el presente trabajo se realiza un estudio exploratorio para definir las estrategias medioambie... more En el presente trabajo se realiza un estudio exploratorio para definir las estrategias medioambientales de operaciones entre los establecimientos hoteleros. Para ello, tras una breve revisión teórica, donde se expone la necesidad de integrar las cuestiones ambientales en la ...
ABSTRACT Incluye bibligrafía e índice
In this paper, we examine the determinants for the success of reverse logistics (RL) programs. Ba... more In this paper, we examine the determinants for the success of reverse logistics (RL) programs. Based on a supplier-customer relationship framework, we argue that trust and relational commitment - two fundamental aspects of relational marketing -are essential in defining the performance of RL programs. Furthermore, we analyze the role of resources and their impact on the achievement of successful RL systems. Applying partial least squares (PLS), we test our contention using data of 43 Spanish firms in the automotive component manufacturers industry.
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2015
El presente trabajo analiza la evolución experimentada por Seat desde 1982, ano en que se firm6 e... more El presente trabajo analiza la evolución experimentada por Seat desde 1982, ano en que se firm6 el Acuerdo de Cooperación Industrial, Licencia y Asistencia Tecnica con Volkswagen, hasta Diciembre de 1996. La que comenzó siendo un instrumento para la puesta en practica del plan estratégico de la firma espanola, pasó a convertirse en una primera etapa en el punto de referencia obligado para el desarrollo de todos los planes estratégicos de Seat y ha concluido siendo el motor que inspira y alienta el diseno de dichos planes. A través del estudio de las innovaciones en productos y procesos de la unica empresa con tradición y nombre español que aun opera en los mercados internacionales, así como de sus sucesivas estrategias de marca y del margen de maniobralidad manteniendo por Seat para disenar e implementar planes y programas, va poniéndose de manifiesto cómo Seat ha ido encontrando un sitio en el grupo Volkswagen y viceversa, y cómo las características del sector automovilfstico espna...
2011 IEEE International Conference on Computer Science and Automation Engineering, 2011
Along with the growing usage of the Internet in the service sector, online reviews of service exp... more Along with the growing usage of the Internet in the service sector, online reviews of service experiences have been gaining attention in the hospitality management literature. However, studies of this field are mostly focused on developed countries, with few exceptions concerning developing ones, which are gaining growing importance. This study fills the void by examining the biggest developing country—China, in
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2009
Page 1. MD Lytras et al. (Eds.): WSKS 2009, CCIS 49, pp. 404410, 2009. © Springer-Verlag Berlin ... more Page 1. MD Lytras et al. (Eds.): WSKS 2009, CCIS 49, pp. 404410, 2009. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009 Supplier Networks and the Importance of Information Technology: Outlook on the European Automotive Industry ...
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2009
International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 2005
Purpose-When acquiring advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), the greatest caution should be ... more Purpose-When acquiring advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), the greatest caution should be taken regarding the performance measurement system to be used: the decision regarding new investments should not be conditioned by the excessive use of financial indicators to the detriment of the strategic objectives that motivated the investments. It is intended to analyze the aeronautical sector, for which the purchase of AMT is qualifying criteria, with two intentions: first, to identify the performance measurement systems that are used, and second, to test their correspondence with the objectives that motivated the investments. Design/methodology/approach-A survey of the 20 plants in the population was conducted via a postal questionnaire plus a structured interview. The unit of analysis has been maintained through the triangulation of data sources. Findings-The findings suggest that both financial and non-financial indicators are used, with the latter gaining predominance over the former on some occasions, even though there is no clear correspondence between strategy and the measurement of performance. In the light of the findings, the question of what inspires a company's performance measurement system is still open, especially in those cases where there is no explicit strategy. With regard to practical implications, what seems to be indispensable is an improvement in the determination of the critical variables that should be used to measure performance. Research limitations/implications-Being valuable for academics and practitioners, this contribution relies, rather, on the possibility of a logical extrapolation to circumstances where the findings might apply, and researchers can judge whether the particular findings would be valid. Originality/value-Provides new evidence on the adaptation of the make-up and combination of the type of performance measures currently used by plants in the aeronautical industry, one of the sectors in which technological innovation is of the utmost importance.
La literatura sobre privatizaciones es básicamente teórica, de forma que el número de trabajos em... more La literatura sobre privatizaciones es básicamente teórica, de forma que el número de trabajos empíricos sobre sus resultados, especialmente el relativo al intercambio de recursos que generan, es muy reducido. Habida cuenta de los diferentes grupos y agentes con intereses diversos -y a menudo contrapuestos-que se generan en torno a estos procesos, parece interesante estudiar en qué medida y cuantía las privatizaciones afectarán a estos grupos. Comparar los beneficios y costes de estas decisiones públicas, en las que se comprometen recursos escasos, puede ser una vía sensata de actuación dentro del sector público. El objetivo del presente trabajo consiste en evaluar los beneficios y costes derivados de la privatización de Seat, identificando los agentes ganadores y perdedores tras la adopción de dicha decisión. En la realización de la evaluación se han seguido muy de cerca las pautas metodológicas aplicadas por Galal y otros (1994) en lo referente al estudio de casos. En primer lugar...
Social and Environmental Accountability Journal, 2013
The main objective of this work is to explore the driving forces of sustainability reporting in t... more The main objective of this work is to explore the driving forces of sustainability reporting in the Spanish context. To achieve this aim, 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers and other experts, who had participated in the development of the sustainability report of 20 Spanish firms. This qualitative analysis enabled us: i) to build a map of the main drivers (internal and external) of social reporting and accountability processes; ii) to reveal the relations between drivers at different analytical levels (individual, organizational and institutional); and iii) suggest areas for further research.
Scandinavian Journal of Management, 2003
We draw on the insights of stakeholder theory to explore the extent to which environmental manage... more We draw on the insights of stakeholder theory to explore the extent to which environmental management practices are driven by (i) an attempt to enhance a firm's legitimacy, and (ii) a response to pressures arising from powerful stakeholders. The material for this investigation has been gathered from a sample of 279 Spanish hotels. The hotel industry which is only marginally affected by environmental regulation and is thus a widely neglected setting in this context, could be a particularly interesting subject for investigation, able to throw some light on the extent to which firms produce different responses to the environmental concerns of their stakeholders. Our results reveal that corporate environmental management practices may be a response to genuine environmental concerns, and we then speak of explicit environmental management, or there may also be reasons different from the environmental, in which case we speak of tacit environmental management. Our findings suggest that explicit and tacit environmental management account for a variety of organizational responses to the environmental demands of stakeholders, depending on (i) the stakeholders' power regarding environmental issues, (ii) the stakeholders' use of power to protect the environment, and (iii) the perceived economic advantages of environmental management activities.
R and D Management, 1999
The importance of the automotive industry in the global economy is widely recognised. The sector ... more The importance of the automotive industry in the global economy is widely recognised. The sector has undergone enormous changes in order to prepare for the fierce competition of the 21st century. Among these transformations, the most relevant are those technologies developed for the rapid evolution of activities linked to new designs, new products, and new manufacturing processes and systems. Innovative Japanese carmakers have stimulated international performance comparisons in these activities. International technology alliances may be one way of gaining access to new competitive technologies. Risks and costs associated with new product development can be shared among the partners and more effective use can be made of manufacturing facilities and production capabilities. Sometimes, an alliance agreement may lead to the deployment of new capabilities. However, in spite of this potential, the literature presents the success rate of alliances at less than 50%. Our study considers two examples of companies that developed international joint ventures (IJVs): Rover with Honda, and Seat with Volkswagen. Since these two European peripheral companies, Rover and Seat, no longer remain as independent firms, we are interested in identifying the reasons leading to the success or failure of these IJVs as regards the New Product Development (NPD) process. In particular, in both cases the paper looks at the problems of the weaker partner becoming increasingly dependent on the other partner and the need for a well-defined strategy to benefit from IJVs.
Journal of Business Research, 2007
Reverse logistics (RL) has strategic importance. However, little is known concerning what motivat... more Reverse logistics (RL) has strategic importance. However, little is known concerning what motivates firms to adopt RL systems. Drawing on stakeholder theory formulations, organizational slack, and the manager's strategic stance concept, this article develops a model that proposes external, internal, and individual factors that affect the implementation of RL programs. Our framework considers three major explicative variables: the attributes of the stakeholder (power, legitimacy and urgency), organizational slack for RL programs, and the manager's strategic posture. The study draws on a sample of 118 Spanish companies and uses a probit model to determine the influence of these factors on the probability of firms to implement RL systems. The study finds that customers, employees, and the government salience in terms of RL activities and manager's progressive posture have a significant influence on the final decision of implanting RL programs. Conversely, the study finds that shareholder salience negatively impacts the decision.
International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2004
This study has a twofold objectivc. First, we attempt to promotc an understanding of the relation... more This study has a twofold objectivc. First, we attempt to promotc an understanding of the relationship betwecn the dcsign of Service Opcrations Stratcgics and their implementation, as they are driven by the eustomisation efforts. Seeond, we study the extent to which such service orientation may have t\\"o difIerent forms, depending upon whether a company focuses on services that may have long-term or short-term efIects on the customer nature. Consequently, a eompany aiming at raising its quality levels, and therefore its performance, should design and implement its Service Operations Strategy, mirroring the scrvicc oricntation of the firm. \Ve suggest four dimensions (Time, Spacc, Scale and Scope), whieh contribute towards explaining the two mcntioned approaches. This may address the proecss of implernentation of the Serviee Operations Strategy.
There is a scarcity of guidelines that trigger the adoption of Custonúsation, a concept frequentl... more There is a scarcity of guidelines that trigger the adoption of Custonúsation, a concept frequently brought up in Service-related Operations management. This paper suggests a comprehensive framework of the Custonúsation process and its implications for Service Operations Management. We identify the two most outstanding approaches of Custonúsation, based upon the concepts of Customers'needings and Wishes. Main differences between them and their respective effects on the design of the Service Operations Strategy are discussed. Second, we identify the four dimensions (Time, Space, Volume and Variety) which explain the two mentioned approaches and that may address the process of implementation of the Operations Strategy.
International Journal of Production Research, 2004
The objective of this paper is to take a greater in-depth look at which factors might be consider... more The objective of this paper is to take a greater in-depth look at which factors might be considered to be key to the performance of investments made in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), given their supposed positive effects, and on the influence that the time these factors are taken into account during the adoption and implementation process can have on that relationship. It provides a specially devised empirical analysis in the aeronautical sector in the south of Spain. A survey of the 20 plants in the population was conducted via a postal questionnaire between July 1999 and April 2001, with a structured interview being held at a later date. The testing of hypotheses was performed by applying the t-test to independent samples. The results show that the only factor that has a clear and positive effect on performance is the training of personnel. It can also be seen that a lack of strategic planning contributes to dampening the effects of investments. These results may be of some help to management staff and public administrators in charge of promoting the process of technological innovation, by indicating actions that need to be taken in order to successfully adopt and implement AMT.
WPOM-Working Papers on Operations Management
This study provides a first overview of how to combine some of the elements of the blended teachi... more This study provides a first overview of how to combine some of the elements of the blended teaching models, such as SPOCs, with new teaching approaches, like the Flipped Classroom, in the domains of the Supply Chain Management education. Its main goal is to raise the learning rate in a heterogeneous students' group. The proposal takes into account both classic curricular concerns on the teaching of Supply Chain Management, as in Visich and Khumawala (2006), and its pedagogical new trends, like in Wisner (2017).
Journal of Operations …, 2003
In line with the theoretical premises of the research, the aim of this paper is two-fold: firstly... more In line with the theoretical premises of the research, the aim of this paper is two-fold: firstly, to determine whether there are different patterns of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) investment behavior in the Andalusian aeronautical industry that can be associated with ...
En el presente trabajo se realiza un estudio exploratorio para definir las estrategias medioambie... more En el presente trabajo se realiza un estudio exploratorio para definir las estrategias medioambientales de operaciones entre los establecimientos hoteleros. Para ello, tras una breve revisión teórica, donde se expone la necesidad de integrar las cuestiones ambientales en la ...
ABSTRACT Incluye bibligrafía e índice
In this paper, we examine the determinants for the success of reverse logistics (RL) programs. Ba... more In this paper, we examine the determinants for the success of reverse logistics (RL) programs. Based on a supplier-customer relationship framework, we argue that trust and relational commitment - two fundamental aspects of relational marketing -are essential in defining the performance of RL programs. Furthermore, we analyze the role of resources and their impact on the achievement of successful RL systems. Applying partial least squares (PLS), we test our contention using data of 43 Spanish firms in the automotive component manufacturers industry.
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2015
El presente trabajo analiza la evolución experimentada por Seat desde 1982, ano en que se firm6 e... more El presente trabajo analiza la evolución experimentada por Seat desde 1982, ano en que se firm6 el Acuerdo de Cooperación Industrial, Licencia y Asistencia Tecnica con Volkswagen, hasta Diciembre de 1996. La que comenzó siendo un instrumento para la puesta en practica del plan estratégico de la firma espanola, pasó a convertirse en una primera etapa en el punto de referencia obligado para el desarrollo de todos los planes estratégicos de Seat y ha concluido siendo el motor que inspira y alienta el diseno de dichos planes. A través del estudio de las innovaciones en productos y procesos de la unica empresa con tradición y nombre español que aun opera en los mercados internacionales, así como de sus sucesivas estrategias de marca y del margen de maniobralidad manteniendo por Seat para disenar e implementar planes y programas, va poniéndose de manifiesto cómo Seat ha ido encontrando un sitio en el grupo Volkswagen y viceversa, y cómo las características del sector automovilfstico espna...
2011 IEEE International Conference on Computer Science and Automation Engineering, 2011
Along with the growing usage of the Internet in the service sector, online reviews of service exp... more Along with the growing usage of the Internet in the service sector, online reviews of service experiences have been gaining attention in the hospitality management literature. However, studies of this field are mostly focused on developed countries, with few exceptions concerning developing ones, which are gaining growing importance. This study fills the void by examining the biggest developing country—China, in
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2009
Page 1. MD Lytras et al. (Eds.): WSKS 2009, CCIS 49, pp. 404410, 2009. © Springer-Verlag Berlin ... more Page 1. MD Lytras et al. (Eds.): WSKS 2009, CCIS 49, pp. 404410, 2009. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009 Supplier Networks and the Importance of Information Technology: Outlook on the European Automotive Industry ...
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2009
International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 2005
Purpose-When acquiring advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), the greatest caution should be ... more Purpose-When acquiring advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), the greatest caution should be taken regarding the performance measurement system to be used: the decision regarding new investments should not be conditioned by the excessive use of financial indicators to the detriment of the strategic objectives that motivated the investments. It is intended to analyze the aeronautical sector, for which the purchase of AMT is qualifying criteria, with two intentions: first, to identify the performance measurement systems that are used, and second, to test their correspondence with the objectives that motivated the investments. Design/methodology/approach-A survey of the 20 plants in the population was conducted via a postal questionnaire plus a structured interview. The unit of analysis has been maintained through the triangulation of data sources. Findings-The findings suggest that both financial and non-financial indicators are used, with the latter gaining predominance over the former on some occasions, even though there is no clear correspondence between strategy and the measurement of performance. In the light of the findings, the question of what inspires a company's performance measurement system is still open, especially in those cases where there is no explicit strategy. With regard to practical implications, what seems to be indispensable is an improvement in the determination of the critical variables that should be used to measure performance. Research limitations/implications-Being valuable for academics and practitioners, this contribution relies, rather, on the possibility of a logical extrapolation to circumstances where the findings might apply, and researchers can judge whether the particular findings would be valid. Originality/value-Provides new evidence on the adaptation of the make-up and combination of the type of performance measures currently used by plants in the aeronautical industry, one of the sectors in which technological innovation is of the utmost importance.
La literatura sobre privatizaciones es básicamente teórica, de forma que el número de trabajos em... more La literatura sobre privatizaciones es básicamente teórica, de forma que el número de trabajos empíricos sobre sus resultados, especialmente el relativo al intercambio de recursos que generan, es muy reducido. Habida cuenta de los diferentes grupos y agentes con intereses diversos -y a menudo contrapuestos-que se generan en torno a estos procesos, parece interesante estudiar en qué medida y cuantía las privatizaciones afectarán a estos grupos. Comparar los beneficios y costes de estas decisiones públicas, en las que se comprometen recursos escasos, puede ser una vía sensata de actuación dentro del sector público. El objetivo del presente trabajo consiste en evaluar los beneficios y costes derivados de la privatización de Seat, identificando los agentes ganadores y perdedores tras la adopción de dicha decisión. En la realización de la evaluación se han seguido muy de cerca las pautas metodológicas aplicadas por Galal y otros (1994) en lo referente al estudio de casos. En primer lugar...
Social and Environmental Accountability Journal, 2013
The main objective of this work is to explore the driving forces of sustainability reporting in t... more The main objective of this work is to explore the driving forces of sustainability reporting in the Spanish context. To achieve this aim, 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers and other experts, who had participated in the development of the sustainability report of 20 Spanish firms. This qualitative analysis enabled us: i) to build a map of the main drivers (internal and external) of social reporting and accountability processes; ii) to reveal the relations between drivers at different analytical levels (individual, organizational and institutional); and iii) suggest areas for further research.
Scandinavian Journal of Management, 2003
We draw on the insights of stakeholder theory to explore the extent to which environmental manage... more We draw on the insights of stakeholder theory to explore the extent to which environmental management practices are driven by (i) an attempt to enhance a firm's legitimacy, and (ii) a response to pressures arising from powerful stakeholders. The material for this investigation has been gathered from a sample of 279 Spanish hotels. The hotel industry which is only marginally affected by environmental regulation and is thus a widely neglected setting in this context, could be a particularly interesting subject for investigation, able to throw some light on the extent to which firms produce different responses to the environmental concerns of their stakeholders. Our results reveal that corporate environmental management practices may be a response to genuine environmental concerns, and we then speak of explicit environmental management, or there may also be reasons different from the environmental, in which case we speak of tacit environmental management. Our findings suggest that explicit and tacit environmental management account for a variety of organizational responses to the environmental demands of stakeholders, depending on (i) the stakeholders' power regarding environmental issues, (ii) the stakeholders' use of power to protect the environment, and (iii) the perceived economic advantages of environmental management activities.
R and D Management, 1999
The importance of the automotive industry in the global economy is widely recognised. The sector ... more The importance of the automotive industry in the global economy is widely recognised. The sector has undergone enormous changes in order to prepare for the fierce competition of the 21st century. Among these transformations, the most relevant are those technologies developed for the rapid evolution of activities linked to new designs, new products, and new manufacturing processes and systems. Innovative Japanese carmakers have stimulated international performance comparisons in these activities. International technology alliances may be one way of gaining access to new competitive technologies. Risks and costs associated with new product development can be shared among the partners and more effective use can be made of manufacturing facilities and production capabilities. Sometimes, an alliance agreement may lead to the deployment of new capabilities. However, in spite of this potential, the literature presents the success rate of alliances at less than 50%. Our study considers two examples of companies that developed international joint ventures (IJVs): Rover with Honda, and Seat with Volkswagen. Since these two European peripheral companies, Rover and Seat, no longer remain as independent firms, we are interested in identifying the reasons leading to the success or failure of these IJVs as regards the New Product Development (NPD) process. In particular, in both cases the paper looks at the problems of the weaker partner becoming increasingly dependent on the other partner and the need for a well-defined strategy to benefit from IJVs.
Journal of Business Research, 2007
Reverse logistics (RL) has strategic importance. However, little is known concerning what motivat... more Reverse logistics (RL) has strategic importance. However, little is known concerning what motivates firms to adopt RL systems. Drawing on stakeholder theory formulations, organizational slack, and the manager's strategic stance concept, this article develops a model that proposes external, internal, and individual factors that affect the implementation of RL programs. Our framework considers three major explicative variables: the attributes of the stakeholder (power, legitimacy and urgency), organizational slack for RL programs, and the manager's strategic posture. The study draws on a sample of 118 Spanish companies and uses a probit model to determine the influence of these factors on the probability of firms to implement RL systems. The study finds that customers, employees, and the government salience in terms of RL activities and manager's progressive posture have a significant influence on the final decision of implanting RL programs. Conversely, the study finds that shareholder salience negatively impacts the decision.
International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2004
This study has a twofold objectivc. First, we attempt to promotc an understanding of the relation... more This study has a twofold objectivc. First, we attempt to promotc an understanding of the relationship betwecn the dcsign of Service Opcrations Stratcgics and their implementation, as they are driven by the eustomisation efforts. Seeond, we study the extent to which such service orientation may have t\\"o difIerent forms, depending upon whether a company focuses on services that may have long-term or short-term efIects on the customer nature. Consequently, a eompany aiming at raising its quality levels, and therefore its performance, should design and implement its Service Operations Strategy, mirroring the scrvicc oricntation of the firm. \Ve suggest four dimensions (Time, Spacc, Scale and Scope), whieh contribute towards explaining the two mcntioned approaches. This may address the proecss of implernentation of the Serviee Operations Strategy.