Article: Implementing collaborative improvement – top-down, bottom-up or both? Journal: International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM) 2007 Vol.37 No.3/4 pp.306 - 322 Abstract: The research presented in this article was aimed at increasing the current understanding of the process of developing Collaborative Improvement (CoI) in Extended Manufacturing Enterprises (EME). Based on action research in three EMEs involving a total of 13 companies from five European countries, the study identifies three different implementation approaches. The bottom-up learning-by-doing approach starts at a practical level, with simple improvement activities, and aims at gradually developing a wide range of CoI knowledge, skills and initiatives. The top-down directive approach starts with aligning the partners| CoI objectives and an assessment of their collaboration and CoI maturity in order to provide a common platform before actually starting improvement activities. The laissez-faire approach builds on shared goals/vision, meetings on equal terms and joint work, in a non-directive and non-facilitated way, though. The article demonstrates how and why the different approaches have different effects on the development of collaborative improvement. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Implementing collaborative improvement – top-down, bottom-up or both?

Authors: Rasmus Kaltoft, Harry Boer, Federico Caniato, Frank Gertsen, Rick Middel, Jacob Steendahl Nielsen

Addresses: Center for Industrial Production, Aalborg University, Fibigerstraede 16, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark. ' Center for Industrial Production, Aalborg University, Fibigerstraede 16, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark. ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, P.za L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy. ' Center for Industrial Production, Aalborg University, Fibigerstraede 16, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark. ' Faculty of Technology and Management, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' Center for Industrial Production, Aalborg University, Fibigerstraede 16 9220 Aalborg, Denmark

Abstract: The research presented in this article was aimed at increasing the current understanding of the process of developing Collaborative Improvement (CoI) in Extended Manufacturing Enterprises (EME). Based on action research in three EMEs involving a total of 13 companies from five European countries, the study identifies three different implementation approaches. The bottom-up learning-by-doing approach starts at a practical level, with simple improvement activities, and aims at gradually developing a wide range of CoI knowledge, skills and initiatives. The top-down directive approach starts with aligning the partners| CoI objectives and an assessment of their collaboration and CoI maturity in order to provide a common platform before actually starting improvement activities. The laissez-faire approach builds on shared goals/vision, meetings on equal terms and joint work, in a non-directive and non-facilitated way, though. The article demonstrates how and why the different approaches have different effects on the development of collaborative improvement.

Keywords: collaborative improvement; strategic suppliers; action learning; action research; extended manufacturing enterprises; continuous improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2007.012265

International Journal of Technology Management, 2007 Vol.37 No.3/4, pp.306 - 322

Published online: 02 Feb 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Implementing collaborative improvement – top-down, bottom-up or both?

Keep up-to-date