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Heterogeneity and transferring practices: implementing flow manufacturing in multiple plants
Author(s) -
Maritan Catherine A.,
Brush Thomas H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
strategic management journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 11.035
H-Index - 286
eISSN - 1097-0266
pISSN - 0143-2095
DOI - 10.1002/smj.311
Subject(s) - optimal distinctiveness theory , business , resource (disambiguation) , industrial organization , competitive advantage , marketing , process management , knowledge management , computer science , psychology , computer network , psychotherapist
Adopting new practices to develop capabilities and enhance competitiveness is a goal for many firms. This study of a corporate initiative to implement flow manufacturing in multiple plants highlights some elements of the interaction between the content of a complex practice, the sources of the practice knowledge, and the characteristics and competitive priorities of the recipients of the practice. Heterogeneity among the plants, stemming from both differences in resource endowments and differences in choices made by managers, presents challenges to achieving firm‐wide distinctiveness. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.