bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of employee perceptions on change in a municipal government
Authors: Seijts Gerard H. , Roberts Michael
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate employees' reactions to a comprehensive change: to change aspects of the organization's working atmosphere at a mid‐sized municipal government located in Ontario, Canada. It aims to use the perception of success of the ongoing change effort as the main dependent variable.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was cross‐sectional in nature. Data were collected via a survey, and correlational analysis and PLS were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results showed that the relationship between perceptions of success of the ongoing change effort and perceived sense of competence; affective commitment; satisfaction with organizational members; opportunities to participate in decision making; opportunities for development and growth; and respect in the workplace was significant.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should include a more objective measure of success of the change efforts, such as absenteeism, turnover, levels of service provided, helping behavior and other organizational citizenship behaviors, and grievances filed.

Practical implications

Individual and workplace variables explain significant variance in the perception of success to improve the working atmosphere at a municipal organization. These variables should be given consideration during the implementation of change. Anecdotal evidence often indicates that leaders faced with comprehensive change do things that conflict with increasing readiness for change and to create enthusiasm for the change.

Originality/value

Government agencies face unprecedented change. It is imperative for these organizations to manage change in an effective and efficient manner in their pursuit of creating public value. Research on change in public sector organizations is sparse.
Business process improvement and the tax department
Authors: Holtzman Yair
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate that operations management techniques and operations strategy can be successfully implemented to create more efficient and effective tax department functionality. The paper seeks to bridge two areas that can have a significant impact on the competitive success of any type of enterprise – not just in the short term, but on an enduring basis.

Design/methodology/approach

The driver for this article came from client engagements and discussions with CEOs/CFOs, vice presidents of tax, and directors of tax and operations that the author has served on engagements over recent years.

Findings

The tax department should benefit from effective implementation of management consulting and operational strategy consulting. There is an opportunity to have a huge impact on the tax function, allowing tax to play a more central role within the overall finance function.

Practical implications

Firms have found that implementation of some or all of these ideas into their tax function and tax processes has afforded them a way to more effectively and efficiently manage their operations and set themselves apart from other functions within an enterprise.

Originality/value

The paper is very creative in demonstrating a valuable connection between operations strategy, operations management, and the tax function. The author shows how tools and process improvements can be effectively applied to tax just as they are to other functions of an enterprise.
Diversify your teams and collaborate: because great minds don't think alike
Authors: Holtzman Yair , Anderberg Johan
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This article aims to provide business managers and executives with a framework of how to best utilize and implement teams in the workplace so as to maximize both internal and external diversified skill sets capabilities in team members.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of primary and secondary research was conducted to highlight and strengthen the authors' views and opinions. The original ideas and basic concepts are based upon the authors' own experiences.

Findings

Companies have much to gain from utilizing teams and teamwork within and across corporate boundaries. Success is more likely to be achieved if the team has certain core characteristics. In addition, a heterogeneous team composition could optimize efficiency, quality, and innovation. By collaborating and teaming with external parties companies can overcome internal resource limitations and achieve competitive advantage, greater profitability and maximize chances for long‐term survival.

Research limitations/implications

The article is primarily based upon the authors' own experiences and opinions, which may differ from results of studies and research done on the subject. The secondary research was limited. The survey conducted by the authors was not scientifically constructed. The sample size was small (n=32) but yet statistically significant and based upon a convenience sample.

Practical implications

The article may help company executives and managers who want go get the most out of their employees and enhance their work teams' productivity levels, output quality, and creativity.

Originality/value

The article is a clear and concise read relating to a highly relevant business topic. It takes a multi‐level approach to the concept of teams in the workplace, and could serve as a good guide to business leaders on how to create the most efficient and effective work environment for their employees that will ultimately result in more successful and profitable operations.
Strategic research and development: it is more than just getting the next product to market
Authors: Holtzman Yair
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of a concept that the author refers to as strategic research and development.

Design/methodology/approach

The driver for this article came from interviews and discussions with CEOs, vice presidents, and director level engineers and scientists over the past several years who have demonstrated great interest in understanding why their companies' R&D efforts fall short of target so many times.

Findings

A visionary research and development, or new product or service development that is not linked early on to excellent operational and governance processes, cannot be successfully implemented. Conversely, operational excellence may lower costs, improve quality, and reduce process and lead times; but without a strategic R&D vision and guidance is unlikely to enjoy sustainable success from its operational improvements alone. High performance operating processes in R&D are critical and when combined with pro‐active implementation and governance will result in successful and strategic R&D which could serve as a sustaining advantage of companies in the near term and should secure long term survival.

Originality/value

The paper is insightful in that it makes several suggestions at optimizing research and development efficiency and effectiveness through strategic operational excellence. It is creative in that it links operational excellence and operations management themes with developing new products and services and the work of R&D. This is a very interesting read for high‐level executives and senior management involved with research and development and new product development.
The impact of privacy concern on user adoption of location‐based services
Authors: Zhou Tao
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of privacy concern on user adoption of location‐based services (LBS).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the data collected from a survey, structural equation modeling was employed to examine the research model.

Findings

The results indicate that among four dimensions of privacy concern, collection and secondary use are the main factors affecting perceived risk, whereas errors are the main factor affecting trust. Trust affects perceived risk, and both factors determine usage intention.

Practical implications

Mobile service providers need to alleviate users' privacy concern and perceived risk in order to encourage their adoption and usage of LBS.

Originality/value

Extant research has mainly examined LBS user behavior from the perspectives of technology acceptance model, task technology fit and unified theory of acceptance and usage of technology. The results provided in this paper indicate that privacy concern also has a significant effect on user adoption of LBS. This advances our understanding of LBS user behavior.
Interpreting interrelations across multiple levels in HGLM models
Authors: Tasoluk Burcu , Dröge Cornelia , Calantone Roger J.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Although the use of data from different levels is very common in international marketing research, the practice of employing multi‐level analysis techniques is relatively new. The paper aims to provide an application of a specific case of multi‐level modelling – where the dependent variable is dichotomous, which is often the case in marketing research (e.g. whether a consumer buys the brand or not, whether he/she is aware of the brand or not, etc.)

Design/methodology/approach

A hierarchical generalized linear model is employed.

Findings

Since this is a technical paper, the authors would like to emphasize the process rather than the empirical findings. In summary, the paper: provides a brief theoretical overview of Hierarchical Linear Modeling and Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling; illustrates the application of the method using the domains of consumers within countries and a dichotomous dependent variable; focuses on interpretation of log‐odds results; and concludes with practical issues and research implications.

Originality/value

The main value of this research is to demonstrate how to employ multi‐level models when the dependent variable is dichotomous. Multi‐level techniques are quite new in international marketing research, although nested data structures are relatively common in our field. This is a technical paper that guides the researchers as to how to apply and interpret the results when modeling such data with a dichotomous dependent variable.
A multi‐country assessment of the long‐term orientation scale
Authors: Hassan Louise M. , Shiu Edward , Walsh Gianfranco
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Long‐term orientation (LTO) is an important cultural value, which has been shown to meaningfully affect the behavior of individuals. Beardenet al.developed and tested a two‐dimensional scale measuring LTO at the individual level. This study aims to replicate and extend the work of Beardenet al.examining the psychometric properties and generalizability of the scale across ten countries of the European Union (EU).

Design/methodology/approach

Survey‐based data were collected from 3,491 respondents across ten EU Member States via an internet questionnaire.

Findings

The LTO scale is found to possess adequate dimensional properties in the majority of country samples. Discriminant validity between the two LTO dimensions is not evidenced across four country samples. Significant association is found between LTO and individualistic orientation among respondents in nine of the ten countries with few significant associations found between LTO and uncertainty avoidance. Finally, the generalizability of the scale is assessed through Cronbachet al.'s (1963) generalizability theory and found to be satisfactory though discriminant validity is found to be lacking.

Research limitations/implications

Overall, the scale is recommended for use in measuring LTO with caution. Further research is needed to clarify the difference between the two subscales of tradition and planning.

Practical implications

Measuring and better understanding cross‐cultural differences in customers' LTO can be a means to overcoming difficulties in effectively marketing products and services across cultures.

Originality/value

The paper presents an original and first presentation of a cross‐cultural validation of a parsimonious LTO scale.
I want to believe theyreallycare
Authors: Gruber Thorsten
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Using a realist perspective, this paper seeks to investigate how complaining customers want to be treated by frontline employees in personal complaint handling encounters. For this purpose, an exploratory research study using the qualitative laddering interviewing technique was regarded as appropriate as it allows researchers to gain a deeper insight into an underdeveloped research subject. Following realist thinking and terminology, the exploratory study aims to develop a deeper understanding of the so‐called micro structures of complaining customers.

Design/methodology/approach

A semi‐standardised qualitative technique called laddering was used to reveal the cognitive structures of complaining customers. In total, laddering interviews with 40 respondents with complaining experience were conducted.

Findings

The research shows that the most important attributes for complaining customers are the contact employees' authenticity, competence and active listening skills. These concepts are linked with several consequences and values such as “justice”, “well‐being” and “security”.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the exploratory nature of the study in general and the scope and size of its sample in particular, the findings are tentative in nature. As the study involved students from one university, the results cannot be generalized beyond this group even though in this case the student sample is likely to represent the general buying public.

Practical implications

If companies know what complaining customers expect, frontline employees may be trained to adapt their behaviour to their customers' underlying expectations, which should have a positive impact on customer satisfaction. For this purpose, the paper gives several suggestions to managers to improve active complaint handling and management.

Originality/value

The findings enrich the existing limited stock of knowledge on complaint satisfaction by developing a deeper understanding of the attributes that complaining customers expect from frontline employees, as well as the underlying logic for these expectations. Revealing the important role of employee authenticity adds to our knowledge on complaint satisfaction. Another strong contribution of this paper lies in the finding that all the identified concepts must not be seen in strict isolation, as in previous research, but have to be understood as a network of interrelated concepts: the attributes of frontline employees have several important consequences for customers (e.g. the feeling of being taken seriously), which are then linked to consumers' personal values and basic motivations (e.g. perceptions of justice).
Guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contracts in practice
Authors: Chan Daniel W.M. , Lam Patrick T.I. , Chan Albert P.C. , Wong James M.W.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the operational mechanism, project performance, motives behind, benefits, difficulties and success factors of adopting the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) scheme based on a real‐life case study of Chater House, an international Grade A private office project in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

The case project was analysed by means of the related project documentation and a series of face‐to‐face interviews with the relevant senior project representatives.

Findings

All the interviewed key project stakeholders perceived that the GMP contract helped achieve competitive price, value for money and superior quality of products as well as provided stronger incentives to innovation and cost saving. The case study revealed that the overall success of this GMP project was underpinned by several key attributes.

Originality/value

The paper provides solid groundwork for client bodies and contracting organisations to develop a best practice framework for implementing successful GMP schemes in future construction.
Intergenerational influence on brand preferences
Authors: Perez Maria Eugenia , Padgett Dan , Burgers Willem
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the role that elapsed time and culture may play in affecting intergenerational influence (IGI) on brand preference. The results of an empirical study conducted in Mexico reveal that coincidence in family life‐cycle stage emerges as an important factor in determining IGI strength.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 600 questionnaires were collected from 300 dyads of mothers/daughters. This research extends Moore et al.'s basic methodology and findings to the Mexican context by including daughters at different stages of their family life cycle covering a time frame of up to 15 years out of the parents' household.

Findings

The findings support results from previous research conducted in the USA, signaling IGI as influencing brand preferences. However, the results diverge by demonstrating that in certain cultural contexts (e.g. Mexico), coincidence in family life‐cycle may have a stronger influence on IGI than the amount of elapsed time not living with parents.

Research limitations/implications

Understanding how IGI evolves in different cultural contexts may be applicable in the design of product and communication strategies leading to brand preference.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by providing knowledge about the factors affecting consumers' brand preferences in Mexico, a country sharing cultural values with an important number of nations (including Latin America) where research conducted on these issues is scarce and where effective brand strategies need to be developed.
A three‐stage model of consumer relationship investment
Authors: Hess Jeff , Story John , Danes Jeffrey
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the sources of consumer‐brand relationship investment, specifically isolating the sources and outcomes of communality and exchange relationship characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes a survey‐based empirical study and subsequent structural modeling approach to test a series of hypotheses concerning how brand performance perceptions influence the development of consumer relationship connections.

Findings

The paper finds that perceptions of product performance and service quality influence the development of brand reliability and brand fidelity respectively. Similarly, brand reliability is the primary source of an exchange orientation, while brand fidelity leads to communal brand connections and, ultimately, consumer‐brand relationship investment.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited by the scope of the sample, fast food restaurants. Future research should explore consumer relationship investment in other product and service categories in order to determine the extent to which relationship development processes vary by product category.

Practical implications

Brands that wish to develop enduring relationships with their customers must understand the relative impact of both personal and functional (exchange) relationship characteristics on the development of relationship investment. Each has a specific role to play and the roles of each vary at different relationship stages.

Originality/value

This research offers at least three significant contributions to the marketing discipline and marketing practice. First, it introduces constructs and associated scales for brand fidelity, communality, exchange and relationship investment. Second, it demonstrates how brand service and product performance differentially contribute to two dimensions of consumer‐brand relationships. Finally, it describes three discrete relationship development stages that play specific roles in the evolution of consumer‐brand relationship investment.
The role of attachment in building consumer‐brand relationships: an empirical investigation in the utilitarian consumption context
Authors: Belaid Samy , Temessek Behi Azza
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of attachment in consumer brand relationships and its links with constructs such as trust, satisfaction, commitment and behavioural loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on exploratory and confirmatory studies that provide a model that explains the relationship between brand attachment and its outcomes. A structural equation modelling is used to assess the hypothetical links.

Findings

The findings of the structural model confirm the majority of the hypothesised relationships. Brand attachment is considered as an important input to brand commitment for utilitarian products.

Originality/value

Few studies have attempted to model the relationship between brand attachment and its antecedents and outcomes. This research also focused on a particular utilitarian product that is not – apparently – affect laden.
Consumer culture brand positioning strategies: an experimental investigation
Authors: Gammoh Bashar S. , Koh Anthony C. , Okoroafo Sam C.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of global consumer culture positioning (GCCP) in comparison to local consumer culture positioning (LCCP) strategies on consumer evaluations of a new unknown brand.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental method in the USA and India, the paper examines if the use of such positioning strategies in a print advertisement stimuli influence consumer evaluations of a fictitious brand.

Findings

The results support the effectiveness of such strategies as demonstrated by overall improvement in subjects' attitudinal evaluations of the fictitious brand when GCCP is used relative to the use of LCCP. Furthermore, our results show a moderation effect for subjects' level of belief in global citizenship on the effectiveness of the GCCP strategy. These results were observed across the two samples.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides valuable managerial insights into the potential value of GCCP strategy and offers specific strategic positioning guides to brand managers competing in the global marketplace.

Originality/value

With the emergence of global market segments, it is important to assist brand managers seeking to strengthen their brand's equity in a competitive global marketplace. This paper contributes to the literature on international brand positioning by empirically investigating the usefulness of GCCP as a strategic positioning guide for global marketing managers.
Willingness to pay for professional services
Authors: Nasr Bechwati Nada
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to build a model to help understand consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for professional services. In this paper, professional services are services where, in general, consumers have the choice of doing the work themselves or outsourcing them such as apparel care, landscaping and tax forms preparation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a regression model to predict WTP. The model includes a set of independent behavioral variables such as subjective knowledge, job anxiety, enjoyment and appreciation of leisure activities. Data from two cross‐sectional surveys completed by 488 and 479 consumers are used to test the proposed model.

Findings

The findings support the importance of behavioral variables as determinants of consumers' WTP for professional services.

Practical implications

Understanding which behavioral variables predict consumers' WTP for professional services provides insightful implications. The findings imply that, to increase WTP for professional services, service providers may consider stressing in their promotional messages how much better the outcome is when they (versus consumers) produce the service, and making the importance of leisure activities and the related value of time more salient to consumers.

Originality/value

Unlike previous models, designed to measure WTP and which focus on demographic and economic variables, this model introduces a set of behavioral variables. The findings support the importance of these variables in predicting WTP.
Indulgent parsimony: an enduring marketing approach
Authors: Grossberg Kenneth Alan
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Indulgent parsimony (IP) was originally proposed as a marketing strategy for selling to recession‐shocked consumers shopping for less costly goods and services that would still give them comfort, relief from stress, and a feeling of money well spent. Given that recession spread to many nations there is ample reason to consider applying this marketing approach for the longer term. This paper aims to investigate this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

By learning to incorporate the IP concept into their value proposition, executives can address how to implement marketing strategies that will have traction with the very large segment of consumers.

Findings

IP, a frugal but emotionally supportive standard of value, remains a timely and appropriate approach to encouraging buying.

Practical implications

By using emotional appeals that add to the value proposition, IP gives marketers a useful tool to help them design strategies and forecast what types of offerings can succeed.

Originality/value

What makes IP an effective marketing strategy is that it seeks to simultaneously trigger practical/rational and emotionally‐driven motivators.
The influence of stakeholders on developing enterprising graduates in UK HEIs
Authors: Matlay Harry
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the influence of primary, secondary and tertiary stakeholders on developing enterprising graduates in UK higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

Longitudinal telephone surveys were conducted annually over a ten‐year period (2000 to 2009) to document and analyse a total of 331 stakeholders' influence on developing enterprising graduates in UK HEIs.

Findings

The findings highlighted a number of interesting trends relating to their involvement in, and impact on, entrepreneurship education provision in UK HEIs. A wide range of stakeholders can influence the development of enterprising graduates. Primary stakeholders, such as students, teaching and research staff, managers and administrators emerged as most influential in the development of enterprising graduates. Their influence, representing both the demand and supply sides of entrepreneurship education, was significant and directly relevant to the development of enterprising graduates in UK HEIs.

Practical implications

The results emerging from this longitudinal research study provide valuable stakeholder perspectives into the development of enterprising graduates in UK HEIs. Policy makers should use these findings to inform relevant entrepreneurship education policies and initiatives, focus them on the specific needs of UK students and ensure that scarce resources are targeted efficiently to develop successful graduate entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

This study provides an empirically rigorous insight into stakeholder involvement in developing enterprising graduates in the UK. It provides valuable longitudinal data relating to the influence of a wide range of stakeholders on the development of enterprising graduates in UK HEIs.
Enterprising individuals and entrepreneurial learning
Authors: Crick Dave
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide longitudinal case history data from an investigation into the practices of an enterprising individual associated with two firms in the UK tourism industry. The first business had to be closed down despite the partners employing turnaround strategies to recover from a lack of planning, since an effective work/life balance was not achieved; the second has proved to be more successful due to entrepreneurial learning in overcoming earlier errors.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involved multiple in‐depth interviews with the key business owner and his partners in the two respective businesses together with supplementary interviews with staff and viewing documentation for triangulation purposes.

Findings

The findings based on a longitudinal case history suggest that some enterprising individuals may learn from certain past mistakes but could still need others to support particular business practices for them to succeed. The results also suggest that, even if a badly performing business can be turned around, owner/managers must be aware of the potential social costs that can be incurred in implementing strategies. As such, it demonstrates the need to learn from experiences and plan for social as well as work‐related issues to maintain a work/life balance, particularly in a “lifestyle” business.

Practical implications

The implications of the findings suggest that advisors (including university teaching) involved with assisting entrepreneurs make them aware of the need for effective planning. In particular, that the widely reported hard work and long hours involved in running a business can take a toll on personal lives and the work/life balance of enterprising individuals must be managed.

Originality/value

The main aspect of originality of the paper comes from the study of social costs of running an entrepreneurial venture, but the longitudinal nature of the study provides a further aspect of originality in this field of research.
An examination of entrepreneurship educator profiles in business programs in the United States
Authors: Kabongo Jean D. , McCaskey Patrick H.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This study aims to assess the profiles of faculty teaching entrepreneurship courses in a sample of entrepreneurship programs in the USA for the years 2007‐2008.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed and mailed to entrepreneurship programs directors to provide information for answering questions concerning the following: educational backgrounds, primary teaching focus, research interests, publications in academic journals, and entrepreneurial experience brought into the classroom.

Findings

The results of the study demonstrate that only one‐fifth of the faculty members in the sample held a PhD in entrepreneurship or in combination with another field in a business discipline. Three out of four faculty members concentrated their teaching in the field of entrepreneurship. More than one‐third of the faculty members had a research interest in the field of entrepreneurship. One‐fourth of faculty sampled had published in entrepreneurship journals. The majority of the faculty brought entrepreneurial experience to their classrooms.

Research limitations/implications

The fact that the study depended exclusively on the data available from 218 “non‐ranked” entrepreneurship programs in the USA represents a distinct limitation. Future research is needed to compare study results with a sample incorporating top ranked entrepreneurship programs in the country.

Originality/value

This study will assist administrators and institutions in preparing new faculty to embrace the field of entrepreneurship education.
Learning to learn: a case for developing small firm owner/managers
Authors: Higgins David , Aspinall Coral
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to contribute to the management development debate by providing insight on the dynamics of organisational learning and human interaction in the SME firm. The paper sets out to consider how a practice‐based perspective of knowledge is useful in this regard.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is theoretical in its intent and adopts a social constructionist view of knowledge and learning. Using qualitative analysis the paper establishes a review of the current literature by highlighting the centrality of knowledge and learning.

Findings

The literature has suggested that critical aspects of learning within the SME firm are based on contextualised action, critical reflection and social interaction. A limited number of studies account for how practice is configured and influenced, in terms of value, uniqueness and scope of what is known, and how these influences can vary depending on the contexts in which knowledge is being used, and potentially used.

Practical implications

There is a strong recognition in many of the empirical studies of learning and its use in the SME firm that knowledge is gained through practice as opposed to formal instruction. What current research does not reflect is the changing nature of knowledge research in the wider organisational community, which has focused its attention on the situated nature of knowledgeable activity or knowing in practice.

Originality/value

The paper argues that learning through practice, with its focus on real world issues and lived experiences, which are contextually embedded in the owner‐manager's environment, may provide a better means of successfully developing practitioner‐focused owner/managers.
Funding of university spin‐off companies: a conceptual approach to financing challenges
Authors: Sørheim Roger , Øystein Widding Lars , Oust Martin , Madsen Øystein
Published: February 2011

Purpose

During the last decade, there has been an increasing focus on commercialization of knowledge and technology from universities. However, universities report financing as being the main impediment to successful university spin‐off companies (USOs) creation, leaving valuable inventions un‐commercialized. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model in order to explain financing challenges experienced by USOs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a conceptual model illustrating financing challenges met by USOs, and provides an explanation why TTOs report that obtaining financing is their biggest impediment to spin‐off creation. Two different theoretical perspectives back this conceptual development: Knightian uncertainty and agency theory.

Findings

This theoretical examination suggests that increasing levels of uncertainty affect the investor's willingness to fund new companies in a negative way. Through the literature review, clear indications were also found for the increased uncertainty with which USOs are faced. It is therefore natural to conclude that investors are more reluctant to invest in USOs because of the level of uncertainty compared with other entrepreneurial companies.

Research limitations/implications

This study made a generalization of USOs as a homogeneous group of companies, which is an oversimplification. Further research should address how different business models, types of resources and their institutional link affect USOs' capital requirements and their problems in raising the required capital.

Originality/value

The main contribution from this paper is the combination of theoretical insights from the concepts of Knightian uncertainty and agency theory. These combined with insights from previous empirical studies explain why USOs face specific challenges in order to raise risk capital.
Entrepreneurship and small businesses in Russia: a review of empirical research
Authors: Ojala Arto , Isomäki Hannakaisa
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Entrepreneurship and small businesses in Russia have been of academic interest for over 15 years. This paper seeks to bring together current knowledge concerning the phenomenon, and to suggest further directions for research.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consists of a systematic review of 48 refereed empirical articles on entrepreneurship and small businesses in Russia.

Findings

From the articles reviewed it appears that entrepreneurs in Russia use non‐material resources to overcome the financial and institutional obstacles, which still seem to afflict the market. However, theoretical and methodological issues are, in many cases, poorly reported and this undermines the scientific rigour of the studies they report.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the wide scope of the studies reviewed the results included here provide somewhat broad‐brush descriptions of the phenomenon. However, it is believed that the findings are valuable for an understanding of the current situation for entrepreneurship and small businesses in Russia. The findings may also stimulate more in‐depth research in this increasingly important topic.

Originality/value

To the best of one's knowledge, no literature review on this topic has previously been published in academic journals.
Environmental conditions and entrepreneurial activity: a regional comparison in Spain
Authors: Alvarez Claudia , Urbano David , Coduras Alicia , Ruiz‐Navarro José
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the influence of environmental factors on entrepreneurship at the Spanish regional level, using institutional economics as the theoretical framework for the research. Additionally, this work aims to emphasize how environmental conditions have different effects according to the gender of entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

Regional panel data (19 Spanish regions and the 2006‐2009 period) from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), specifically from the Spanish National Expert Survey (NES) for environmental conditions and the GEM Adult Population Survey (APS) for entrepreneurial activity were analysed within a fixed effects model with panel corrected standard errors.

Findings

The main findings of the study indicate that both informal (cultural and social norms, perception of opportunities to start‐up and entrepreneur social image) and formal factors (intellectual property rights) influence entrepreneurship, but the informal are more determinant than the formal. Concerning the gender issues, informal and formal institutions are also determinant, but female entrepreneurship is significantly associated with the women's support to start‐up, whereas primary and higher education are associated only with male entrepreneurial activity.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the research should be interpreted carefully, because the availability of data constrained the analysis to a time period that is not reflective of the economic cycle; on the contrary, the data correspond to a period of recession, and thus the results cannot be generalized. Also, the study could extend the analysed period and compare the obtained results with international data, considering the global number of participant countries in the GEM Project.

Originality/value

The study provides a methodology to analyse the environmental factors for new firm creation at a regional level, combining GEM data and institutional economics.
Effectiveness of formal and informal surveillance in reducing crime at grocery stores
Authors: Kajalo Sami , Lindblom Arto
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This study aims to analyse grocery retail entrepreneurs' perceptions of the effectiveness of both informal and formal surveillance in reducing vandalism, disturbance, and shoplifting in their stores.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study utilizes elements of CPTED in its theoretical approach. The population for the study consisted of 946 Finnish grocery store K‐retail entrepreneurs. The data collection was carried out through an internet survey in February and March 2009. A total of 161 grocery store retailers filled in the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 17 percent.

Findings

This study shows that, of different types of security problems, grocery store retailers view shoplifting as the most severe. To reduce this and other security problems, retailers have invested in several forms of formal and informal surveillance. Among these investments CCTV systems seem to be the most prominent. However, respondents did not view high‐tech surveillance as the most effective. Instead, this study shows that retailers view security guards and activity of the personnel as the most effective ways for reducing vandalism, disturbance, and shoplifting in their stores. Furthermore, the results emphasize the importance of store environment, e.g. clean and well‐lit premises, as an important way of reducing crime.

Research limitations/implications

Qualitative studies could reveal issues that would enable more thorough operationalization of the concepts linked to surveillance and security in the store environment.

Practical implications

The paper sensitizes retail entrepreneurs to think where informal and formal surveillance work best in the store environment.

Originality/value

Very little empirical research has evaluated the effectiveness of surveillance in store environment. The present study fills this research gap, at least to some extent.
An assessment of the competitiveness of the Moroccan tourism industry
Authors: Yasin Mahmoud , Alavi Jafar , Koubida Sallem , Small Michael H.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine practices, realities and opportunities relevant to Moroccan tourism. In the process, the competitiveness of this vital economic sector is assessed. Based on this examination, relevant, benchmarking implications are identified and advanced to policy makers.

Design/methodology/approach

The shift‐share technique is utilized to analyze tourist arrivals, from different regions of the world, to Morocco, Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt. The shift‐share analysis is utilized to understand the existing competitive position of Morocco in relation to her main competitors.

Findings

The results of the shift‐share analysis revealed that Morocco has not performed as well as the rest of the competitors in the benchmark group. This was attributed, in part, to focusing on markets with less potential for growth.

Research limitations/implications

The shift‐share technique utilized in this study is a diagnostic tool. Thus, more research is needed to uncover the dynamic relationships relevant to the competitive position of Moroccan tourism.

Practical implications

The findings of this study have clear benchmarking implications to Moroccan policy makers, as they pursue a more comprehensive and systematic tourism strategy.

Originality/value

The applied research presented in this article is consistent with the increasing significance of global tourism.
Benchmarking efficiency of public passenger transport in larger cities
Authors: Hilmola Olli‐Pekka
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate public transportation efficiency in larger cities. Global agreements to decrease environmental emissions in the future (CO2), world‐wide decreasing reserves of oil, and growing population in larger cities is the main motivation to develop efficiency benchmarking measurement models for public transportation systems, and gives reason for this research work. Also, from the point of view of the city, data envelopment analysis (DEA) based efficiency measurement has not been researched earlier, which is another motivation for this study from the method development perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Four different DEA‐based efficiency benchmarking models are used to evaluate public transportation efficiency in larger cities. Data are from year 2001, and amount of analyzed cities in smaller DEA model is 52 and in larger 43. This gives statistical significance and efficiency measurement confidence over the results.

Findings

Medium‐sized, old and central European cities such as Bern, Munich, Prague and Zürich show frontier performance in all four models. Mega‐cities fail to reach frontier and/or good performance in small “services used” DEA model. However, some other medium‐sized cities show contrarian behaviour for “space used” DEA model. Lowest performance is more divergent in the analyses, but is found from Spanish cities, Athens, Middle East and North America. The author also found support from regression analysis that higher DEA efficiency results in lower share of private car use in large cities.

Research limitations/implications

This research work uses only year 2001 data, and should be repeated in the future as public transportation data18base is being updated. The research is also limited on the use of DEA method, and other efficiency measurement methods should be used to verify the results further.

Originality/value

According to the author's knowledge, this research work is seminal from the city‐level DEA efficiency benchmarking studies concerning public passenger transportation systems. Earlier research works have concerned actors (e.g. bus companies or rail operators), but the overall picture from the city level has not been researched before.
Selection of third‐party reverse logistics provider using fuzzy extent analysis
Authors: Govindan Kannan , Murugesan P.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a structured model for the selection of a third‐party reverse logistics provider (3PRLP) under fuzzy environment for the battery industry, which establishes the relative weights for attributes and sub‐attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses fuzzy extent analysis to solve the 3PRLP selection problem.

Findings

Owing to growing environmental legislations, reverse logistics (RL) has attained more importance among practitioners and academicians. The important decision related to RL is whether the company should maintain the separate RL system or whether it can be outsourced. RL takes 12 times as many steps to process returns as it does to manage outbound logistics (Accenture supply chain management practice), consequently many companies decided to outsource the RL activities or functions through 3PRLPs. The paper proposes a way of selecting the best 3PRLP using fuzzy extent analysis.

Research limitations/implications

Fuzzy extent analysis is a highly multi‐faceted methodology which requires more numerical calculations and increases the time to take a decision. A limitation of this work is that in this study only fuzzy extent analysis has been concentrated on and other multi‐criteria decision‐making methods such as VIKOR, TOPSIS and ELECTRE can be applied in a fuzzy environment for solving such problems.

Originality/value

In this research, seven attributes and 34 sub‐attributes are considered and the interpretation of RL attributes in terms of their pair‐wise comparisons has been carried out. Those attributes possessing lower priorities in the fuzzy extent analysis need to be taken care of on a selection of the best 3PRLP.
Quality Management in Korea ‐ Past and Present Situations and Future Desirable Directions
Authors: Hyun Park Sung
Published: February 2011

First of all, this paper deals with the past and the present situations of quality management (QM) in Korea to show where the Korean industry stands in terms of QM movements. Next, this paper describes what the future desirable directions are for good and sound QM movements.
An On‐Line Real‐Time SPC Scheme and Its Performance
Authors: Nishina Ken
Published: February 2011

This paper considers a recent environment in the manufacturing process in which data in large amounts can be obtained on‐line in real‐time. Under this environment an on‐line real‐time Statistical Process Control (SPC) scheme equipped with detection of a process change, change‐point estimation, and recognition of the change pattern is proposed. The proposed SPC scheme is composed of a Cusum chart, filtering methods and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). We examine the performance of this scheme by Monte Carlo simulation and show its usefulness.
Economic Design of the Specification for Geometrical Quality Characteristic
Authors: Zizong Ma , Fengyu Xu Jichao Zhao
Published: February 2011

The economic design of specification limits must be determined on an economic basis where we minimize total loss to society, which consists of both the producer and the consumer. Economic specification limits have been developed based on the assumption that the quality characteristic is normally distributed. Unfortunately, the assumption is not to meet some practical cases. In this paper, some non‐normal distributions are considered for quality characteristic with geometrical features. An economic model for selecting the optimum specification limits on the basis of minimizing total cost is introduced. A case study is presented to illustrate the application in practice.