Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert

This assignment analyzes the case of A.C. Gilbert to explore the issues that lead to the downfall of the organization. It highlights the importance of innovation and continuous improvement in helping organizations adapt to changes in the market. The assignment includes an assessment of key processes, analysis of key processes, evaluation of review strategy, performance analysis, trends, and recommendations for improvement.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 0
Title: Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert
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Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 1
Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Assessment Task One................................................................................................................3
1. Key Processes at A.C. Gilbert.........................................................................................3
2. Analysis of the Key Processes........................................................................................5
3. Evaluation of the review strategy and suggestions for improvement.............................6
4. Performance Analysis up to 1966...................................................................................7
5. Trends..............................................................................................................................8
6. Recommendation...........................................................................................................10
Assessment Task Two..............................................................................................................10
1. Performance Improvement Strategy.............................................................................10
2. Management Team Briefing.........................................................................................12
3. Lead Session..................................................................................................................13
4. Risk Analysis Strategy..................................................................................................15
5. Cost-benefit analysis.....................................................................................................16
Assessment Task Three............................................................................................................16
1. Implementation.............................................................................................................16
2. Action Plan for Transition.............................................................................................18
3. Contingency plans.........................................................................................................19
4. Follow Up......................................................................................................................20
Conclusion................................................................................................................................24

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 2
References................................................................................................................................25

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 3
Introduction
The aspects of innovation and continuous improvements facilitate an organization to
adapt to the changes that occur due to the emerging trends in the market. It is vital for
organizations to identify these changes as it helps in attaining competitive advantages. Also,
if an organization ignores these new innovative trends then the organization may face
humongous losses, in the same manner, the organization A.C. Gilbert faced. It is through
innovation and continuous improvement that an organization incorporates the trait of being
flexible and adapting to any change with the transforming times. In this assignment, the case
of A.C. Gilbert has been analyzed to explore the various issues that lead to the downfall of
the organization.
Assessment Task One
1. Key Processes at A.C. Gilbert
a. Supply Chain
The supply chain management in an organization has a responsibility of
transferring products from suppliers to manufacturers to wholesalers to retailers and
finally to the customers. At the A.C. Gilbert, the supply chain consisted of three main
people that are suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers.
 Suppliers – They conducted the task of recognizing the demands of the
customers and they also have the responsibility of taking orders for the toys
from the customers.
 Manufacturers – They were responsible for the production of the toys which
was conducted on the basis of demands and orders.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 4
 Retailers – The retailers offer the product to the customers and functions as a
mediator between the customer and the suppliers1.
b. Organizational Systems
The organizational system at A.C. Gilbert includes various different aspects,
which helped the organization in attaining their goals. The organizational system
includes –
 Designs – The designs of the toys were conducted with boys as the main target
market. The designers of the organization were finalized according to the
demands of the customers.
 Planning – After the finalization of designs, effective planning is conducted
for the development of the product, the sale of the product, and to fulfill the
main organizational objectives.
 Purchasing – For the production of toys, the organization requires raw
materials for its development and packaging, which is purchased from the
suppliers.
 Manufacturing – The process of production and packaging are included in
the manufacturing process.
 Distribution – The process of distribution includes the delivery of the product
to the final customer and the retailers. The process of distribution also includes
the storage of the final product in the warehouses.
c. Product & Service Delivery
In the A.C. Gilbert, the product delivery is conducted through an efficient
manner, as proper planning is conducted for delivery the toys on time to the retailers
and the customers.
1 M A. Hitt, R Ireland & R E. Hoskisson, Strategic Management Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization, in ,
10th ed., Texas, Cengage Learning, 2012, pp. 120-240.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 5
2. Analysis of the Key Processes
The analysis of the process that is practiced in the organization A.C. Gilbert,
highlights the aspect that these processes can help in elevating the performance of the
organization. The different assessment tools and sustainability measures that can be
utilized by the organization are –
 Key Result Areas
The key result area is determined by the organization's outcome that is,
the profit attained through sales. Thus, in the A.C. Gilbert, the organization’s
profit will be the best way to identify and examine the KRAs.
 Key Performance Indicators
The key performance indicators of the A.C. Gilbert Company are –
 The toys quality.
 Customer satisfaction.
 Performance Review Processes
The customer’s preferences have evolved with the changing times. The
shift in the customers demand to more realistic toys, will force the
organization to provide new products to the customers. The performance of
the A.C. Gilbert can be reviewed through the feedback that customers will
provide on the new approaches of the organization2.
 Service Level Agreements (SLA)
The main customers of the organization are children and teenagers,
thus their assessment about the delivery, durability, and quality of the product
will be most effective for the assessment of SLA.
2 G Arzu Akyuz & T Erman Erkan, "Supply chain performance measurement: a literature review",
in International Journal of Production Research, vol. 48, 2010, 5137-5155.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 6
3. Evaluation of the review strategy and suggestions for improvement.
The organization A.C. Gilbert has utilized several techniques, which includes
the management techniques that have been utilized for improving the product quality
and also for continuous improvement.
The main aim of continuous improvement is to increase the efficiency of
business operations. This helps in improving the organization’s product, management,
processes, and services. In the organization A.C. Gilbert, the supply chain
management was effective and was in sync with the various company’s functions.
Even with such efficiency, the organization suffered a loss of 1.1 million in the year
1961 and this lead to selling the major part of the organization to Jack Wrather. This
was also due to the low standard of innovation practiced in the organization and also
the ignorance that the organization exhibited to the emerging trends in the market3.
After the takeover by Jack Wrather, the organization suffered losses for six
continuous years. Though these losses were less in comparison to the earlier ones and
it was due to the continuous changes and improvement that Jack brought to the
organization. For the purpose of continuous improvement, it was crucial that the
organization utilize the PDCA cycle. This helps in improving the performance of the
organization. The model facilitates an organization with the opportunity to improve at
different stages. The stages are the plan, do, check and act. The other theories that can
be utilized are the six-sigma approach and the total quality management. The total
quality management is an effective approach for A.C. Gilbert to improve the quality
of product that degraded after the takeover by Jack Wrather.
3 J Chen, Y Li & B Shady, "From value stream mapping toward a lean/sigma continuous improvement process:
an industrial case study", in International Journal of Production Research, vol. 48, 2010, 1069-1086.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 7
4. Performance Analysis up to 1966
 Quality
Initially, the products were designed only for boys. After Jack Wrather took
control the products were targeted to pre-school children and teenagers. In the
year 1963, the quality of the products degraded. The change in the customer’s
preferences to have dolls with changing clothes option were identified by the
organization, but the quality of the product was very bad.
 Sales
The sales decreased from 1961 to 1963 massively. In the year 1965, they were
increased to $14.9 million, this was due to the changes that were formulated by
the organization by targeting a broader audience. But in the year 1966, the sales
dropped.
 Profits
The organization hardly attained any profits from 1961 to 1966. The
organization required a better pricing strategy, especially after the decrease in the
profits from 1963 to 1964. The poor quality products made it difficult for the
organization to make profits.
 Supply chain Performance
The organization supply chain got less effective and performed less efficiently
with each passing year. Especially after 1962, the organization utilized no
innovation methods, which affected the supply chain and the delivery of the
product immensely.
 Business Growth
The staff turnover of the organization increased after Jack Wrather dismissed
many key employees of the organization after his takeover. The new elected team

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 8
dismissed furthermore crucial employees of the organization. This was further
continued with the new CEO Isaacson, who removed the complete sales team.
All these factors reduced the performance of the organization and increase staff
turnover4.
5. Trends
It is very crucial for an organization, to identify the different trends, which
emerge in the market. In 1950, the biggest mistake made by the A.C. Gilbert was
ignoring the new emerging trends and the change in customer preferences due to the
trends.
The strengths and weaknesses of the organization before 1960 –
Strengths Weaknesses
The organization though being small,
have a great market share.
The company lacked stability.
The product quality was great and it
provided the organization with a
credible reputation.
The company lacked innovation and
never changed according to the
emerging changes.
The company always offered immense
customer satisfaction.
Innovation was at the lowest level.
The supply management was efficient. The financial decrease in the
organization affected the employee’s
performance.
4 C Cheng et al., "Enhancing service quality improvement strategies of fine-dining restaurants: New insights
from integrating a two-phase decision-making model of IPGA and DEMATEL analysis", in International
Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 31, 2012, 1155-1166.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 9
The trends relevant to the A.C. Gilbert are –
 Market Share
The organization in 1950, gained a solid market share with the increase in
sales up to $17 million.
 Reputation
The organization had a reputation for providing high-quality products that
were durable and also were immensely innovative.
 Stability
The organization attained stability of customers by offering great customer
satisfaction.
 Profits & sales
Even after offering the customers with expensive products, the profit and sales
were stable.
 Adapt to change
The company’s weakest aspect was adapting to changes.
 Customer service standard.
Due to the high-quality product, the customers were always immensely
satisfied.
 Innovation
The only innovation that was conducted was the production of erector
engineering set. Else, the organization lacked innovation.
 Employee performance
The employee was dedicated to their work and the organization. Their main
goal was to provide a high-quality product. But, after the demise of Gilbert senior, the
performance of the employees degraded.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 10
 Production and manufacturing
The organization produced limited products but all of them were of high
quality. The organization has the main aim of not compromising with the product
standard.
6. Recommendation
Some of the recommendations for the organization are –
 Internal
The organization A.C. Gilbert produced products that were used for
educational motives. It would have been beneficial for the organization to hire
engineering, which would have helped the organization in improving the quality
of the product at a lesser price and also to include the new advancement in the
field of technology for the betterment of the product.
The A.C. Gilbert also should have hired a more efficient manufacturing and
packaging team. The organization needs to increase the level of innovation and
thus, it was crucial to hire professional designers, who will also conduct the
production in a set budget.
 External
The organization should have appointed an aggressive marketing team that
conveyed the core message of the organization through different channels and to
a larger audience. The organization was in need of serious brand awareness and
brand formulation.
Assessment Task Two
1. Performance Improvement Strategy
 Strategic Goals

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 11
According to the circumstances in the A.C. Gilbert Company, the organization is
in need of innovation and continuous improvement. Thus, the strategic goals are –
 To increase the sales of the organization up to 20 million.
 To increase the profit of the organization.
 Hire a more efficient workforce that has the potential to foresee emerging
changes.
 To offer the customers with a variety of good quality products.
 To have better marketing approaches5.
 Proposed processes
According to the different organizational goals decided for the A.C. Gilbert, the
organization also requires certain changes in the organization’s processes.
 The supply chain management needs to utilize the raw material that is cheaper
in price but still offers the customers with a satisfying quality product.
 The organization requires a separate team for conducting marketing
operations.
 The organization also have to broaden their approaches in delivering the
products. Thus, it requires more distribution channels.
 The products require a new pricing strategy, which helps in dealing with
emerging competitors.
 KRAs, KPIs, Targets
The organization has to identify new KRAs, so as to evaluate the performance
of the organization in a better way. For the A.C. Gilbert organization, the key result
areas should include customer satisfaction, quality of the product, and operational
cost. The KPIs may include efficient management, correct utilization of resources,
5 M de Assunção, A di Costanzo & R Buyya, "A cost-benefit analysis of using cloud computing to extend
the capacity of clusters", in Cluster Computing, vol. 13, 2010, 335-347.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 12
and appropriate planning process. The main target of the organization is to increase
the sales and profits of the organization, with a powerful brand image.
2. Management Team Briefing
It is the most crucial aspect to fulfill the organizational goals, is to brief the
management team about the different strategies and providing clear direction. The
main aim of the organization is to improve the employee’s performance and to
manage the emerging competitors. The management team should be provided with all
the information about the strategies that have been decided for improving the
performance of the organization. In the A.C. Gilbert organization, the management
team has to be briefed about the new additions to the organization in the form of
marketing and advertising team. The planning team has to incorporate the marketing
team for better product development. The marketing team will help in increasing the
sales and profits of the organization. Also, the new addition in the organization will be
of a new pricing strategy. Along with it, the organization will have a regular
inspection of each department to evaluate the performance of the employee and to
measure the level of innovation in the organization.
Pros & Cons
Pros Cons
It will improve organizational functions. The organization will struggle with so
many changes.
It will elevate profits. Controlling the cost will be the most
difficult part.
It will increase the credibility of the
organization in the market.
This will increase the time of various
organizational operations.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 13
Changes or Improvements
The main changes that have been made in the organization are the addition of
a marketing team, which is crucial for the effective promotion of the products to a
bigger audience. It is crucial that the evaluation of different organizational
departments should be conducted every 15 days for the initial six months. This is due
to identifying the different issues that the various departments are facing due to the
various changes added in the organization.
3. Lead Session
 Group Suggestions
The group suggestions are needed for attaining transparency in the different
organizational teams. The group suggestions help in better allocation of the task and
help in prioritizing the different organizational functions. For the A.C. Gilbert
organization, it is crucial that the marketing team provide their valuable inputs to the
other departments, especially the design and planning team. Also, the distribution
team should be briefed about the storage of the products and new channels for
delivery6.
 Creative Techniques
The various creative techniques for better development of strategies are –
 Relationship marketing
It is crucial that in the A.C. Gilbert organization, a strong relationship
should be formulated with the customers. In offering the customers with good
6 S G.Anantwar & R R. Shelke, "Simplified Approach of ANN: Strengths and Weakness", in International
Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT), vol. 1, 2014, 73-77.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 14
services, the most crucial aspect is the relationship of the customer with the
organization.
 Online marketing
The marketing and advertising team should utilize the medium of the
internet that will help in developing a more effective brand image in a lesser
time. The organization’s main target customers are children and teenagers,
who are very active on the internet.
 Event marketing
The utilization of the event company will help in creating a more
credible image in the market. The association of the organization as a sponsor
of prestigious events will help the organization in building a better brand
image7.
 Team’s opinion
It is crucial that the different team members of the various department of the
organization should exhibit their opinion on the different suggestions and should
identify the various advantages and limitation of a strategy. This will help to provide
the organization with the opportunity to make changes before the implementation
process.
 Issues in implying the new strategies
The organization A.C. Gilbert will face some challenges like –
 Excessive cost.
 Increased competition.
 More complex processes.
7 A Ruiz-Torres, F Mahmoodi & A Zeng, "Supplier selection model with contingency planning for supplier
failures", in Computers & Industrial Engineering, vol. 66, 2013, 374-382.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 15
4. Risk Analysis Strategy
The risk analysis strategies will help in identifying the different hidden risks in the
strategies formulated for the organization. In the A.C. Gilbert organization, the risk
analysis strategy has to be considered and it will include the following four steps –
 Mapping the strategy –
In the A.C. Gilbert organization, it is crucial that the organization clearly
explain their goals, vision, and mission of the organization8. The organization
should also consider the financial factor in the different strategies, while the main
focus of the organization should be on growth, processes, and customers.
 Identifying the risks.
The organization A.C. Gilbert has to clearly analyze the different advantages
and disadvantages of utilizing the various strategies. The organization has to
clearly identify the changes that will occur in the different departments of the
organization and their working due to the addition of the marketing and
advertising team9.
 Evaluation of risks.
It is crucial that the risk should be clearly analyzed. The organization should
evaluate the effect of a risk on the organization. After this, the organization has to
formulate a plan to mitigate the risk, transfer risk, avoid risk, and accept the risk.
 The formulation of a risk control system.
In the organization A.C. Gilbert, it is crucial that the organization formulate an
effective risk control system. The organization will be formulating new strategies
8 D Goetsch & S Davis, Quality management for organizational excellence, in , 7th ed., Upper Saddle River,
Pearson, 2016, pp. 150-200.
9D Parmenter, Key performance indicators for government and non profit agencies, in , 3rd ed., Hoboken, N.J.,
Wiley, 2012, pp. 135-180.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 16
and it is crucial that a risk control system should work efficiently that will
include boundary control, internal control, and diagnostic control.
5. Cost-benefit analysis
The cost-benefit analysis is an approach that facilitates an organization with
the opportunity to analyze the decisions of the organizations in a better way. The cost-
benefit analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the decision and its impact on the
organization. The cost-benefit analysis is the most effective approach for continuous
improvement. In the A.C. Gilbert organization, the new marketing and advertising
team will help in elevating the organization’s performance and also will elevate the
organization’s profits. But this will also increase the cost of production and will
increase the complexity in the organization’s operations. This will increase the
customers of the organization and will make the competition in the market intense10.
Assessment Task Three
1. Implementation
Examining different factors of new processes
In the organization A.C. Gilbert, the production manager is planning to
implement new processes that will help the organization in increasing the productivity
of the organization, will reduce the wastage, and is offering more sustainable practices
in the organization. The production manager has the main plan of allocating a
specialist on the individual production lines. The organization has to increase their
specialization. The other approach of the production manager is to increase their
10 J Meiling, F Backlund & H Johnsson, "Managing for continuous improvement in off‐site construction",
in Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 19, 2012, 141-158.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 17
employee retention rate. The organization is in need of a more effective workforce
that have professional skills.
This approach of the production manager may be beneficial in increasing the
productivity level in the organization and will also address the various issues that will
affect the organization’s performance. The main aim is to divide the employees into
teams of five. The approach is built around the aspect that each team should
accomplish their set goals. This will help in increasing the productivity and quality
level in the organization. There will be a reduction in the errors from 22% to 4%. The
productivity will be enhanced by 40%. Also, the organization will have to close the
production line for at least 48 hours, till the time the workers are provided with
necessary training.
The entire plan cost is high and is costing around $150,000. The
implementation cost is around $70,000. The retooling cost of the production line is
very high, close to $1.2 million. Also, the ongoing cost of the organization is
estimated to be $150,000. This is a very effective plan, especially due to the savings
which the organization is attaining from the plan. The assumed savings from this plan
is around $300,000 for a year that is from the staff turnover. The organization will be
receiving $1 million from less productivity and from the errors. Also, the A.C. Gilbert
will be receiving $200,000 from the repair and servicing cost of the equipment.
According to the new processes, some of the benefits and fears are –
Benefits Fears
Increase in the morale of the
organization.
The employee may get bored, by
continuously working on the same line
of production.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 18
A more effective decision-making
process, due to a collaborative decision.
Reduction in the level of productivity
due to the transitions.
2. Action Plan for Transition
Activities Objectives Measures Timeframe
Execute the
processes
Execution of the
new process
Maintaining and
continuously
improving the
working
conditions
30 days
Increase
sustainability
Hire new
professionals
Appropriate
resource
utilization
10 days
Minimal impact
on people
To Reduce
errors
Process
Improvement
30 days
Action plan for communication
Activities Objectives Measures Timeframe
Implement the
process
An effective
communication
Process 20 days

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 19
system has to be
implemented
Improvement
Increase
sustainability
Elevate
communication
Process
Improvement
10 days
Reduce the
negative impact
on people
To improve the
communication
system
Process
Improvement
20 days
3. Contingency plans
The various issues that can emerge during the implementation process have to be reduced
and an effective set up of the communication system is also required. In the A.C. Gilbert
organization, the contingency plan requires the consideration of two crucial activities that
will help in bearing the risks11. The employee should be continuously trained and the
employee’s needs from the training should be answered effectively. Also, the contingency
plan is needed to reduce the cost of installation of the communication system
How long can you
do without?
Impact of doing
without.
Contingency
in case of
disaster?
Reducing errors 1 month Due to the
reduction in
efficiency, the
Take the
appropriate
time from the
11 S Merriam & E Tisdell, Qualitative research, in , 3rd ed., San Francisco, CA, Jossey-Bass, 2016, pp. 120-160.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 20
outcome will be
bad.
client to fulfill
the order
effectively.
The setup of the
communication
system
1 month There can be a
huge disaster due
to repetitions and
confusion.
After one
month there are
no
contingencies
due to improper
work.
4. Follow Up
Examining Issues and Failures
During the time period of eight weeks, the following issues can occur –
 Productivity reduced by 8%
 Wastage increased by 10%
 Increase in delay by 10%
 The increase in employee resignation around 15.
 Mostly tired of staff.
These are some of the main issues that the organization can face, which will
majorly affect the organization’s workforce. Also, these various issues will affect the
implementation process too12.
Amendment in action plans
12 A Nottrott, J Kleissl & B Washom, "Energy dispatch schedule optimization and cost benefit analysis for grid-
connected, photovoltaic-battery storage systems", in Renewable Energy, vol. 55, 2013, 230-240.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 21
Action plan for Transition
Activities Objectives Measures Timefram
e
In case
of
failure
s
Implement
the process
Implementatio
n of the new
process
Developing
good
working
circumstance
s
30 days 60
days
Increase
sustainabilit
y
Hire a new
specialist
appropriate
resource
utilization
10 days 20
days
Reduce the
negative
impact on
people
To Reduce
errors
Process
Improvemen
t
30 days 60
days
Action plan for communication
Activities Objectives Measures Timefram
e
In
case

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 22
of
failur
e
Execute the
process
Set up of the
communicatio
n system
Process
Improvemen
t
20 days 40
days
Increase
sustainabilit
y
Improve
communicatio
n
Process
Improvemen
t
10 days 20
days
Reduce
negative
influence on
people
To improve
communicatio
n activities
Process
Improvemen
t
20 days 40
days
Contingency plan
How long
can you do
without?
Impact of
doing
without.
Contingency
in case of
disaster?
In case
of
failure
Reducing errors 1 month Poor result
due to
Proper time
should be
Failed

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 23
affected
efficiency.
taken from
the client to
complete the
task.
plan.
Communicatio
n systems set
up
1 month Huge
disaster due
to repetitive
actions.
No
contingency
after one
month.
Plan
fail.
After the failure of the contingency plan, there will be no contingency and the
company will the opportunity to implement work again.
Evaluation Schedule & Monitoring of Continuous Improvement
Schedule
Evaluation of activities Decided time for retition
To learn from different activities Over a month
To incorporate the learning into different
organizational activities.
Every day if possible

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 24
Conclusion
From the various different strategies that have been formulated for the organization,
this can be concluded that the organization will be able to manage innovation and will
facilitate an environment on continuous learning. The strategies focuses mainly on increasing
the organization's performance with the main aim to improve the product quality and to have
better marketing approaches. The proposed strategies will help in increasing the profits and
sales of the organization. Also, the organization issue of an increase in staff turnover will be
effectively handled.
References
A. Hitt, M, R Ireland, & R E. Hoskisson, Strategic Management Cases: Competitiveness and
Globalization. in , 10th ed., Texas, Cengage Learning, 2012, pp. 120-240.
Arzu Akyuz, G, & T Erman Erkan, "Supply chain performance measurement: a literature
review.". in International Journal of Production Research, 48, 2010, 5137-5155.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 25
Chen, J, Y Li, & B Shady, "From value stream mapping toward a lean/sigma continuous
improvement process: an industrial case study.". in International Journal of Production
Research, 48, 2010, 1069-1086.
Cheng, C, C Chen, F Hsu, & H Hu, "Enhancing service quality improvement strategies of
fine-dining restaurants: New insights from integrating a two-phase decision-making
model of IPGA and DEMATEL analysis.". in International Journal of Hospitality
Management, 31, 2012, 1155-1166.
de Assunção, M, A di Costanzo, & R Buyya, "A cost-benefit analysis of using cloud
computing to extend the capacity of clusters.". in Cluster Computing, 13, 2010, 335-347.
G.Anantwar, S, & R R. Shelke, "Simplified Approach of ANN: Strengths and Weakness.".
in International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT), 1, 2014, 73-
77.
Goetsch, D, & S Davis, Quality management for organizational excellence. in , 7th ed.,
Upper Saddle River, Pearson, 2016, pp. 150-200.
Meiling, J, F Backlund, & H Johnsson, "Managing for continuous improvement in off‐site
construction.". in Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 19, 2012,
141-158.
Merriam, S, & E Tisdell, Qualitative research. in , 3rd ed., San Francisco, CA, Jossey-Bass,
2016, pp. 120-160.
Nottrott, A, J Kleissl, & B Washom, "Energy dispatch schedule optimization and cost benefit
analysis for grid-connected, photovoltaic-battery storage systems.". in Renewable
Energy, 55, 2013, 230-240.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 26
Parmenter, D, Key performance indicators for government and non profit agencies. in , 3rd
ed., Hoboken, N.J., Wiley, 2012, pp. 135-180.
Ruiz-Torres, A, F Mahmoodi, & A Zeng, "Supplier selection model with contingency
planning for supplier failures.". in Computers & Industrial Engineering, 66, 2013, 374-
382.

Manage Innovation and Continuous Improvement in A.C. Gilbert 27