Where next for manufacturing productivity research? Propositions based on exploratory empirical investigation

Ben Clegg; Jill MacBryde; Peter Ball; Donato Masi; Helen Mullen; Stella Despoudi

doi:10.1108/IJPPM-05-2023-0229

Where next for manufacturing productivity research? Propositions based on exploratory empirical investigation

Ben Clegg
, Jill MacBryde
, Peter Ball^*
, Donato Masi
, Helen Mullen
, Stella Despoudi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Strathclyde University
University of York; UNITED KINGDOM
University of Glasgow
University of Western Macedonia

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

55 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to develop empirically grounded propositions for further research into UK manufacturing productivity.

Design/methodology/approach: Interviews were conducted with managers from strategic, tactical and operational levels from four manufacturing sectors to produce case studies. A modified strategic alignment theory framework was used to code, compare and contrast narratives on perceived productivity antecedents, definitions, compatibility with the definition from the UK Office for National Statistics, and vertical alignment issues within and across cases.

Findings: It was found that different key antecedents can facilitate and/or prevent strategic vertical alignment. Discussion reveals complex nuances in perceptions of manufacturing productivity and using the modified strategic alignment theory/productivity antecedent framework.

Originality/value: In revealing the alignment or otherwise of productivity definitions at different levels within the firm, the paper reveals nine propositions for future research including definitions, skills, metrics, performance measurement systems, people and system-centric perspectives, the value-added perspective of productivity and the role of innovation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1026-1051
Number of pages	26
Journal	International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
Volume	74
Issue number	3
Early online date	26 Sept 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-05-2023-0229
Publication status	Published - 27 Feb 2025

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. This author's accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact [email protected].

Data Access Statement

Interview transcriptions are available as an anonymised ESRC dataset (MacBryde et al., 2019) and can be made available on request.

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge support of the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Productivity Insights Network https://productivityinsightsnetwork.co.uk/ and the Industry and Parliamentary Trust (IPT, Houses of Parliament, UK) for hearing and debating these propositions.

Funders
Economic and Social Research Council
Industry and Parliamentary Trust

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Keywords

productivity
efficiency
strategic alignment
manufacturing
case study

Access to Document

10.1108/IJPPM-05-2023-0229

Productivity alignment paper IJPPM July 2024 Full paper clean
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. This author's accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact [email protected].
Accepted author manuscript, 576 KBLicence: CC BY-NC 4.0

Cite this

@article{84c87a401078406e82c0d16193e6a6f3,

title = "Where next for manufacturing productivity research? Propositions based on exploratory empirical investigation",

abstract = "Purpose: The purpose of this research is to develop empirically grounded propositions for further research into UK manufacturing productivity. Design/methodology/approach: Interviews were conducted with managers from strategic, tactical and operational levels from four manufacturing sectors to produce case studies. A modified strategic alignment theory framework was used to code, compare and contrast narratives on perceived productivity antecedents, definitions, compatibility with the definition from the UK Office for National Statistics, and vertical alignment issues within and across cases. Findings: It was found that different key antecedents can facilitate and/or prevent strategic vertical alignment. Discussion reveals complex nuances in perceptions of manufacturing productivity and using the modified strategic alignment theory/productivity antecedent framework. Originality/value: In revealing the alignment or otherwise of productivity definitions at different levels within the firm, the paper reveals nine propositions for future research including definitions, skills, metrics, performance measurement systems, people and system-centric perspectives, the value-added perspective of productivity and the role of innovation.",

keywords = "productivity, efficiency, strategic alignment, manufacturing, case study",

author = "Ben Clegg and Jill MacBryde and Peter Ball and Donato Masi and Helen Mullen and Stella Despoudi",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. This author's accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact [email protected].",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

day = "27",

doi = "10.1108/IJPPM-05-2023-0229",

language = "English",

volume = "74",

pages = "1026--1051",

journal = "International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management",

issn = "1741-0401",

publisher = "Emerald",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Where next for manufacturing productivity research? Propositions based on exploratory empirical investigation

AU - Clegg, Ben

AU - MacBryde, Jill

AU - Ball, Peter

AU - Masi, Donato

AU - Mullen, Helen

AU - Despoudi, Stella

N1 - Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. This author's accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact [email protected].

PY - 2025/2/27

Y1 - 2025/2/27

N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this research is to develop empirically grounded propositions for further research into UK manufacturing productivity. Design/methodology/approach: Interviews were conducted with managers from strategic, tactical and operational levels from four manufacturing sectors to produce case studies. A modified strategic alignment theory framework was used to code, compare and contrast narratives on perceived productivity antecedents, definitions, compatibility with the definition from the UK Office for National Statistics, and vertical alignment issues within and across cases. Findings: It was found that different key antecedents can facilitate and/or prevent strategic vertical alignment. Discussion reveals complex nuances in perceptions of manufacturing productivity and using the modified strategic alignment theory/productivity antecedent framework. Originality/value: In revealing the alignment or otherwise of productivity definitions at different levels within the firm, the paper reveals nine propositions for future research including definitions, skills, metrics, performance measurement systems, people and system-centric perspectives, the value-added perspective of productivity and the role of innovation.

AB - Purpose: The purpose of this research is to develop empirically grounded propositions for further research into UK manufacturing productivity. Design/methodology/approach: Interviews were conducted with managers from strategic, tactical and operational levels from four manufacturing sectors to produce case studies. A modified strategic alignment theory framework was used to code, compare and contrast narratives on perceived productivity antecedents, definitions, compatibility with the definition from the UK Office for National Statistics, and vertical alignment issues within and across cases. Findings: It was found that different key antecedents can facilitate and/or prevent strategic vertical alignment. Discussion reveals complex nuances in perceptions of manufacturing productivity and using the modified strategic alignment theory/productivity antecedent framework. Originality/value: In revealing the alignment or otherwise of productivity definitions at different levels within the firm, the paper reveals nine propositions for future research including definitions, skills, metrics, performance measurement systems, people and system-centric perspectives, the value-added perspective of productivity and the role of innovation.

KW - productivity

KW - efficiency

KW - strategic alignment

KW - manufacturing

KW - case study

UR - https://www.emerald.com/ijppm/article/74/3/1026/1239246/Where-next-for-manufacturing-productivity-research

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85205066178

U2 - 10.1108/IJPPM-05-2023-0229

DO - 10.1108/IJPPM-05-2023-0229

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105001066255

SN - 1741-0401

VL - 74

SP - 1026

EP - 1051

JO - International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management

JF - International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management

IS - 3

ER -

Where next for manufacturing productivity research? Propositions based on exploratory empirical investigation

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Access Statement

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this