Print VersionA Sampling of CIBER-Funded Research
Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Spring 2008
Coordinating Global Manufacturing and Retailing Decisions: Risk-Free Incentive Policies
Kevin Weng, associate professor of operations and information management, UW-Madison
An environment characterized by short product-life cycles and high volatility in a global market is becoming more common in many industries. Some global companies question the profitability of an incentive/returns policy in this environment and are hesitant to employ such policies. This project will examine from the viewpoint of a global manufacturer the decision whether or not to offer an incentive policy to one single risk--neutral retailer. It will frame the decision as a tradeoff between risk and return and will investigate whether there are incentive policies that transcend the risk-return tradeoff regardless of the manufacturer’s attitude toward risk. Through analysis of two classes of return policies—a percent rebate policy and a quantity rebate policy—in a global manufacturing and retailing supply chain, the goal is to establish a theory that rigorously addresses the question of whether there are returns policies that lead to increased expected manufacturer and retailer profit without any, or at least with minimal, downside exposure for the manufacturers facing the exchange rate uncertainty. This research represents the first study of risk-free incentive/return policies for coordinating global manufacturing and retailing supply chains. It could potentially impact and stimulate more theoretical and empirical work on emerging coordination issues in global supply chains.
The Strategic Management of Disruption in Global Operations
Mason Carpenter, associate professor of management and human resources, UW-Madison Kennan Yoho, Ph.D. candidate in operations and information management, UW-Madison
The availability of managers and leaders who can administer scarce resources and personnel in the event of a sudden disruption or catastrophe is of national strategic importance. Recent weather and environmental catastrophes, the global war on terror, and the ongoing diaspora of the firm as a result of offshoring underscore the need to develop managers and leaders capable of acting effectively in high-risk, volatile environments. Infrastructure, geographic and cultural factors condition how, when and where managers may respond. This project will develop curriculum and teaching materials for an interdisciplinary course in the Strategic Management of Disruption in Global Operations which will educate and train students to formulate large, complex problems and to make effective decisions under conditions of uncertainty. Salient issues of managing risk in areas such as Europe, China, Mexico and the Middle East will be built into cases, problems and simulations to help develop creative, analytical, disciplined and flexible managers.
Paradoxical Outcomes of Explorations in Biotech Startups
Anne Miner, professor of management and human resources, UW-Madison Yanfeng Zheng, Ph.D. candidate in management and human resources, UW-Madison
The biotechnology industry is characterized by young and energetic knowledge-based companies, yet the consequences of exploring new technologies are not fully understood. Biotech startups may use mature technology to create patch solutions or they may pursue state-of-the-art knowledge creation. U.S.-based biotech startups are more inclined to use novel technologies while biotech firms of other countries tend to exploit the knowledge base of their U.S. counterparts. This project will examine the pros and cons of the exploration of new technologies by young biotech firms. It aims to illustrate patterns of knowledge flow across national borders and to explain reasons behind the ups and downs of biotech firms from various countries employing different technology strategies. Armed with such information, policymakers can adjust corresponding policies to align with national interests and individual firms can modify their technology strategies to cope with threats arising from international knowledge flow.