Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to deepen the knowledge about the role of human resources in a lean environment and its impact on operational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
For this reason, present work investigates the influence of workforce development on the relationship between lean production and operational performance. To test the hypotheses of the paper, a questionnaire was developed and tested on a sample of first tier suppliers in the Spanish automotive industry.
Findings
Results highlight the indispensable role of workforce development in the implementation phase of lean production and draw upon the insight that advancements in implementation of lean production correspond to an increase in knowledgeable employees which in turn facilitates the attainment of improved operational performance outcomes.
Originality/value
The research reaffirm that lean is an integrated socio-technical system oriented to efficiency.
This paper analyzes the influence of Technology Providers, Public Administrations and R&D Institutions on Cloud Computing adoption. This research also considers Killer Applications and Success Cases as other environmental factors. Design/Methodology/Approach: Factorial analyses and structural equation models were used on a sample of High-Technology firms located in technological parks in Southern Europe, with more than 10 employees and sustained investments in R&D. Findings: Results show that Technology Providers and Success Cases are determinant in Cloud Computing adoption. Moreover, Killer Applications are a forerunner for Success Cases. Originality/value: This study contributes to Cloud Computing adoption literature because it includes Technology Providers, Public Administrations and R&D Institutions simultaneously as well as other variables as Killer Applications and Success Cases. The importance of the external agents on IT adoption, especially when the technologies to be adopted are new and in an emergent stage, together with the lack of prior investigations focusing on specific environmental factors affecting the adoption of these new, emerging IT, justify the value of this research.
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