A Project Management Plan to Reach Sustainable Competitive Advantage for a Photovoltaic (PV) Manufacturer

• Main Authors: Hsing Hung Chen, He-Yau Kang, Amy H. I. Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-08-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: photovoltaic (PV); research and development (R & D) project management; fuzzy analytic network process; fuzzy goal programming
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/9/1496

Because the skills, knowledge and management required for exploitation and exploration are contradictory, firms still struggle to utilize useful methods to keep exploitative and exploratory activities balanced. Thus, a mathematical model is proposed to challenge the above vacancy. First, in order to allocate limited resources flexibly when implementing projects, a computer-mediated social groupware with Delphi technique is developed to manage conflicts. However, these operations may result in path dependence or lock-in technologies in the long run. Then, second, in order to adjust unbalanced exploitation and exploration after a period of time, a fuzzy analytic network process with fuzzy goal programming is proposed to facilitate the selection of projects in exogenous and endogenous environments. After investigating a real case of a photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer, the paper concludes that a balanced exploration and exploitation can be achieved, and sustainable competitive advantages can subsequently be reached.