bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The optics of fraud: affiliations that enhance offender credibility
Authors: Perri Frank S. , Brody Richard G.
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how a financial fraud practice, known as affinity fraud, relies on building trust with victims based on shared affiliations or characteristics such as age, race, religion, ethnicity or professional designations, for the purpose of exploiting the trust factor for financial advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Sources of information consisted of scholarly articles and articles retrieved from the web.

Findings

Findings suggest that these fraud offenders rely on a myriad of persuasion techniques to overcome offender skepticism coupled with victims engaging in a psychological concept known as projection bias to evaluate the credibility of these offenders. These factors create a negative synergy that dilutes the perceived need for due diligence normally required prior to engaging in securities transactions. In addition, these offenders display a predatory quality, debunking the myth that fraud offenders exhibit a homogenous crime group behavioral profile.

Practical implications

Social institutions that include both for profit and not for profit should consider evaluating their interactions with those who share similar characteristics and affiliations that attempt to offer goods or services by considering some of the factors contained within this article that may dilute due diligence protocol.

Originality/value

This paper serves to alert and educate anti‐fraud professionals, law enforcement and policy makers of a predatory fraud practice that targets organizations exploiting the inherent trust that these organizations rely upon.
Managing knowledge for business performance improvement
Authors: Schiuma Giovanni
Published: July 2012

Purpose

What is the role of managing knowledge within organizations? This is one of the fundamental research and practical questions which has animated and moved forward the rich scientific debate around the management of knowledge resources. This article aims to introduce the focus of the special issue. Its fundamental premise is that organizations invest their scarce resources only if these investments are capable of enhancing the business value creation capacity. Thus managers are interested in managing knowledge not for the sake of knowledge management, but because the planning, design, assessment and revision of the organizational knowledge resources and processes can support the business performance improvements.

Design/methodology/approach

The selection of the articles collected in this special issue is largely based on the work of the conference “International Forum on Knowledge Assets Dynamics – IFKAD” which took place in June 2011 in Tampere, Finland. IFKAD gathers leading experts in the field of the strategic knowledge‐based development of micro and macro organizations paying great attention to the knowledge dynamics affecting organizational value creation capacity.

Findings

Knowledge represents one of the fundamental constituent parts of any organization and it can be incorporated into people's abilities or ingrained into structural and technological capital. Thus management of knowledge is at the core of organization's business growth. In the light of this reflection this special issue pays attention to two main perspectives. First, recognizing that knowledge, likewise any other organization's resource, needs management means to support its allocation and development, the frameworks and tools aiming to identify, manage and assess the critical knowledge resources for growth are focused on. Second, acknowledging that the translation of knowledge into business outcomes requires management mechanisms, and then considering the knowledge processes grounding the improvement of performance.

Originality/value

The special issue explores the phenomena integrating the organizational, group and individual perspectives. This integration overcomes some limitations about the understanding of the issues under investigation.
Knowledge assets assessment strategies: organizational value, processes, approaches and evaluation architectures
Authors: Lerro Antonio , Iacobone Francesca A. , Schiuma Giovanni
Published: July 2012

Purpose

Companies coping with global business are called more and more to lead their transformation into intelligent organizations, i.e. organizations able to leverage their intellectual capital to achieve their business objectives and envision new development paths. This paper, assuming that the organizational intellectual capital corresponds to the knowledge assets attributed to a company, aims to discuss the organizational value, the processes, the approaches and the evaluation architectures of the knowledge asset assessment strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of a literature review, first the sub‐processes of the assessment are discussed, highlighting the main features of the assessment of knowledge assets as well as the twofold nature of the knowledge asset assessment, distinguishing between stock and flow perspective of the evaluation. Second, the managerial reasons at the basis of the implementation of measurement systems for disclosing organizational knowledge resources are discussed. Finally, according to a distinction between the assessment approaches and the evaluation architectures, four main knowledge asset assessment strategies are defined.

Findings

Despite a number of models to assess intellectual capital being proposed, they highlighted a need for clarification of their strategic focus. With the aim of filling this gap, the main finding of the paper is to clarify relevant issues providing an organic, literature review‐based and coherent framework about the knowledge assets assessment strategies.

Originality/value

The identification of these strategies not only contributes to advance the theory of knowledge asset assessment, but also provides insights to managers to better define and implement models and approaches for measuring organizational knowledge resources. Especially they support managers in choosing and arranging critical information for defining the most suitable decisions and actions concerning the effective management and development of a company's intellectual capital.
Does knowledge management really matter? Linking knowledge management practices, competitiveness and economic performance
Authors: Andreeva Tatiana , Kianto Aino
Published: July 2012

Purpose

While nowadays an extensive literature promoting knowledge management (KM) exists, there is a worrying shortage of empirical studies demonstrating an actual connection between KM activities and organizational outcomes. To bridge this gap, this paper aims to examine the link between KM practices, firm competitiveness and economic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a framework of KM practices consisting of human resource management (HRM) and information communication technology (ICT). These both are hypothesized to impact competitiveness and economic performance of the firm. Hypotheses are then tested with structural equation modeling by using a survey dataset of 234 companies.

Findings

The results show that HRM and ICT practices for managing knowledge are quite strongly correlated and have a statistically significant influence on both financial performance and competitiveness of the firm. The findings also indicate that ICT practices improve financial performance only when they are coupled with HRM practices.

Research limitations/implications

The data are limited to companies from Finland, Russia and China.

Practical implications

The paper contributes to managerial practice by pointing out the importance of utilizing a combination of both social and technical means for KM and illustrating that they do matter for the company bottom line.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on knowledge‐based organizing by empirically analyzing the performance impact of various areas of KM. It thereby tests the proposition put forth in many previous theoretical and case‐based studies that KM promotes high organizational performance. It also addresses the interaction of social and technical KM practices in producing organizational outcomes.
Knowledge management and succession planning in SMEs
Authors: Durst Susanne , Wilhelm Stefan
Published: July 2012

Purpose

An ignorance of knowledge attrition caused by employee exits is considered as careless and can lead to considerable consequences regarding both a firm's financial capital and intellectual capital, or in other words an ignorance of the danger of knowledge loss is associated with a missing or improper succession planning. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of how a medium‐sized firm copes with the danger of knowledge loss due to employee exit or long‐term absence.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained through semi‐structured interviews with 14 organization members from a German medium‐sized enterprise operating in the printing sector. These participants represented different departments and positions.

Findings

The findings demonstrate the influence of a precarious financial situation on activities related to knowledge management and succession planning. Although the organization members are aware of obvious needs for improvement within the firm, their actual scope of action is centered on the execution of current orders.

Research limitations/implications

The data are cross‐sectional and were collected in one organization. Future studies should consider longitudinal designs across multiple organizations.

Practical implications

Based on the findings some suggestions were derived that may help firms facing similar circumstances.

Originality/value

The study's findings provide fresh insights into how an established firm tackles the issue of knowledge attrition and its likely implications for the firm's performance.
The formation of coordinative knowledge practices in distributed work: towards an explanatory model
Authors: Franssila Heljä , Okkonen Jussi , Savolainen Reijo , Talja Sanna
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The paper proposes a model aiming at the explanation of the formation of coordinative knowledge practices in distributed work. Findings from a pilot study aiming at the preliminary testing of the model are presented and discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The explanatory model was developed by combining concepts and findings developed in studies of social capital, knowledge sharing and computer supported cooperative work. The empirical data were gathered in 2007‐2008 in a multi‐unit Finnish chemical company production site. The methods used were structured observation of work processes, semi‐structured interviews and a web‐based questionnaire.

Findings

The model suggested that coordinative knowledge practices are shaped by four major factors: work coupling, social capital, spatio‐temporality and affordances of collaboration technologies. The empirical study showed that these concepts can be successfully applied in empirical research to better understand and support the development of coordinative knowledge practices.

Practical implications

The findings can be utilized in the analysis and assessment of coordinative knowledge practices between distributed work groups in multi‐unit organizations. The findings can also be used in the development of solutions for knowledge sharing and communication in distributed work organizations and communities.

Originality/value

The model developed provides a novel perspective for the study of knowledge practices in the context of distributed group work. The model proposes that varying degrees in work coupling intensity, social capital, spatio‐temporality and affordances of collaborative technologies explain the emergence of coordinative knowledge practices. The study shows how coordinative knowledge practices can be studied empirically. The empirical study resulted in a typology of coordinative knowledge practices.
Does country of brand origin (COBO) matter for the Lebanese consumers?
Authors: Ahmed Zafar U. , Zbib Imad J. , Sikander Arif , Gilbert Noujaim Ralph
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This study aims to examine country of origin (COO), price and brand effects on Lebanese consumers’ attitudes towards US products and brands while evaluating a low‐involvement product like chocolate.

Design/methodology/approach

The research comprised formulation of a detailed questionnaire that was served to 488 administered at various shopping malls across Lebanon. Statistical analyses of data employed included Pearson correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests.

Findings

The data supported both the hypotheses that respectively predicted that brand price was more important than COO in the evaluation of low‐involvement products. The data did not support the hypothesis that predicted a preference by Lebanese consumers for “Made in Lebanon” products, based on a similar observed preference for domestic products in developed nations.

Research limitations/implications

The external validity of the findings are limited since an over‐exaggerated weight is provided for the “made in” label while in a real purchase situation; price as well as brand have a weight that is far superior to that of the COO. In today's business world several cues are already embedded in the brand name which limits the internal validity of the study; this includes the “made in” labels as external cues used by respondents while evaluating a particular chocolate brand regardless of the origin cue already dispatched by the brand itself.

Originality/value

The results have evidenced, if needed, the importance of taste when purchasing a particular brand. Hence, a Lebanese consumer would not mind choosing a Ghour chocolate bar instead of a Nestlé or even a Cadbury chocolate bar only if these three brands had equivalent attributes. Brand is the second attribute considered by consumers when choosing a particular chocolate. Thus, a successful approach for international marketers would be to build strong brand equity. The results provide extremely useful outputs to the marketing professionals.
The role of organizational culture in Greek businesses
Authors: Kriemadis Thanos , Pelagidis Theodore , Kartakoullis Nikos
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to contribute to an understanding of the organizational culture of the spin‐off knowledge‐based enterprises, which operate within the science and technology parks in Greece. In this context, a critical number of questionnaires have been distributed to the spin‐offs to examine whether firms born within the parks have developed a functional organizational culture, one that provides a solid foundation for organizational effectiveness and business excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

The Organizational Culture Assessment Questionnaire (OCAQ) was developed by Sashkin to help people identify and understand the nature of the culture in their own organization, as a first step in identifying problems and defining the sort of culture they want (and the sort of culture that will help deal with organizational problems). The data for the present study were obtained by the OCAQ mailed to a sample of 33 spin‐off companies that operate within the aforementioned science and technological parks. The mailing consisted of the questionnaire itself, a cover letter, and a stamped pre‐addressed return envelope. Of the 90 questionnaires mailed after phone contact, 33 were received, representing a 37 percent response rate.

Findings

There seems to have been ascertained serious organizational culture weaknesses regarding management of change practices, goal and customer orientation, cultural strength and efficient team working. It is of critical importance for policy makers to set general principles, guidelines as well as organizational reform measures and priorities to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness of spin‐offs in Greece and approach business excellence. Finally, implications for theory, managers and future research are presented.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful information on organizational culture assessment.
Global mindset – a cognitive driver of small and medium‐sized enterprise internationalization
Authors: Miocevic Dario , Crnjak‐Karanovic Biljana
Published: July 2012

Purpose

Global mindset has gained the respectable attention of international business scholars. Global mindset is a multidisciplinary concept comprised of cognitive and cultural dimensions which both influence the international behavior and decision making of the firm. The key purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that global mindset is a crucial cognitive driver of the small and medium‐sized enterprise (SME) internationalization process. In order to do so, it aims to establish the link between global mindset and export performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a literature review, the conceptual model was developed. Data were obtained through survey questionnaire and analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) path modeling on the sample of 121 exporting SMEs in Croatia.

Findings

Findings of this study suggest that global mindset is positively, directly and significantly related to the export performance. Furthermore, the link between global mindset and export performance was assessed with the moderating effect of international experience (export diversity and export intensity) and findings reveal that there is no significant moderating effect present.

Research limitations/implications

Findings of this study suggest that global mindset is a crucial driver of the SME internationalization process as it exhibited a significant impact on the export performance outcomes. However, the focus of this paper was solely on the strategic (cognitive) dimension of global mindset. Future studies are yet to reveal the relevance of the integrated concept of global mindset.

Originality/value

The value‐added of this study is in the idea that market‐specific experience cannot be easily transferred to other foreign markets by utilizing global mindset. The moderating effect of international experience dimensions on relationship between global mindset and export performance was found to be insignificant. Eventually, findings suggest that global mindset is not related to the SME's international experience.
Profitability factors and efficiency of Greek banks
Authors: Ioanni Schiniotakis Nikos
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to search for the factors that influence the profitability of Greek commercial and cooperative banks by examining other variables that have never been used before. It also seeks to examine bank performance before and during the economic crisis in Greece. The survey is based on previous similar research.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple regression analysis has been used for the determination of the factors which influence the profitability of the Greek banking sector as well as the multicriteria method PROMETHEE for the examination of the Greek banking sector performance before (2007) and during the economic recession (2008‐2009).

Findings

The paper finds that: type of bank plays an important role in profitability; the indicator ROA is associated only with well‐capitalized banks with sufficient liquidity and cost efficiency; and cooperative banks in general at the beginning of the crisis were less influenced by the economic crisis than commercial banks.

Originality/value

This is the first time that the entire Greek banking system has been examined for the particular period regarding the factors that influence bank profitability. Up to now there has been no published research examining whether the type of the bank influences profitability or which of banks remained efficient and “durable” before and during the first two years of the economic crisis in Greece.
Study‐based moderators influencing the relationship between organizational climate and employee's organization commitment
Authors: Arora Nitin , Nuseir Mohammed T. , Nusair Talal T. , Arora Rumy
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to measure the relationship between organizational climate (OCL) with organizational commitment meta‐analytically and the moderators influencing them.

Design/methodology/approach

A meta‐analytic research method was used in this research to determine the strength of relationship, fail safenand presence of heterogeneity in study.

Findings

The unfavourable OCL (Case 2) (k=40,n=66,318) is correlated negatively with organizational commitment with confidence interval range varying from −0.552 to −0.562. The favourable OCL (Case 1) (k=89,n=53.865) is correlated positively with confidence interval range varying from 0.509 to 0.521. This research reviewed 106 valid studies after screening from 256 studies. Ten moderators were utilized to see the degree of change in relationship. Case 1 had four moderators namely gender, tenure, age, educational background, while for Case 2, there were two major moderators namely tenure and age.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusions of this research are limited to employees based in organizations located in the USA and as such cannot be generalized for very dissimilar countries/cultures.

Practical implications

To minimize the unfavourable OCL, role conflicts, supervisor employee relations, leadership styles, decision making needs to be minimized and focus should be more on favourable climate enhancing variables in order to have substantial employee organization commitment or employee retention.

Originality/value

This study combines the previous available research on relationship between OCL and organization commitment and strives to find the study‐based moderators for comprehension of meta‐analysis results.
Opportunity development: an exploratory study of ecopreneurs using a creativity perspective
Authors: Hansen David J. , Monllor Javier , McMurchie Leslie
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the development of entrepreneurial opportunities within the context of environmentally‐sustainable business. The “4P” creativity framework (person, process, press/situation, and product) was used.

Design/methodology/approach

Three cases were used to examine opportunity development. Each case involved an entrepreneur in the process of starting a new environmentally‐friendly business. The entrepreneurs were interviewed on a weekly basis.

Findings

Findings suggest that the 4Ps are useful framework for examining entrepreneurial opportunity development. Furthermore, they are strongly interrelated.

Research limitations/implications

Given their inherent creative nature, a creativity perspective is useful for examining opportunities. Additionally, the findings suggest that future research should consider the interaction within the constellation of creative factors – person, process, press and product – when using a creativity perspective.

Originality/value

This study provides one of the few accounts of the development of entrepreneurial opportunities in which data were collected contemporaneously.
Marketing to the American entrepreneur
Authors: Abrahams Alan S. , Coupey Eloise , Rajivadekar Anuja , Miller Joshua , Snyder Daniel C. , Hayden Samantha J.
Published: July 2012

Purpose

At the marketing/entrepreneurship interface, most research concerns how entrepreneurs market their businesses, rather than how advertisers market to entrepreneurs. The purpose of this study is to address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors undertake a content analysis of 88 recent issues of the two largest print magazine titles targeted at American entrepreneurs, with particular attention to advertising content for known small business success factors.

Findings

This study finds no correlation between factors most important to small business success and advertising volume. However, this study finds a strong, inverse correlation between US small business performance for each success factors and the volume of advertising for that competitiveness factor. Finally, it is found that advertisement characteristics (placement, timing, repetition, contact channel, and competitor comparison) vary by competitiveness factor.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to print advertising to US entrepreneurs. The findings imply that small business competitiveness factors may need to be amended, and that the nature of advertising to small businesses should be further investigated.

Practical implications

The ability to identify shortcomings in what small businesses need to succeed may spur advertisers to remedy the gap with product promotions that create awareness of need solutions.

Originality/value

This study is the first to use content analysis of B2B print advertising targeted at entrepreneurs to develop insights into the nature of the target market (US entrepreneurs); to explore the extent to which advertised goods and services match needs of the target market; and to examine whether advertisers communicate the various factors that address target market needs, in different manners.
Emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial orientation
Authors: Suleiman Awwad Mohammad , Kada Ali Hanane
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of managers' emotional intelligence, organizational climate and employees' creativity on industrial small to medium‐sized enterprises' (SMEs') entrepreneurial orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey methodology was adopted to collect data from industrial SMEs' owner‐managers in Jordan. A sample of 317 managers from 418 SMEs, located at three Jordanian industrial estates, was used. Data were analyzed using AMOS 16.0 to determine the interactions between the various factors.

Findings

Empirical findings confirmed that managers' emotional intelligence, organizational climate and employees' creativity had a positive direct effect on industrial SMEs' entrepreneurial orientation. In addition, managers' emotional intelligence had a positive direct effect on organizational climate. In turn organizational climate had a positive direct effect on employees' creativity.

Practical implications

The current study could be useful to managers to understand the role of emotional intelligence, organizational climate and employees' creativity, as important antecedents of entrepreneurial orientation, in encouraging entrepreneurial culture towards enhancing the company's entrepreneurial orientation level, and the possible positive effect it could have on their organizations' success.

Originality/value

This study advanced the literature in the field of entrepreneurship by testing a new model of entrepreneurial orientation that links between managers' emotional intelligence, organizational climate and employees' creativity as antecedents of entrepreneurial orientation in the context of industrial SMEs. While such perspective is considerably new and relevant to general marketing literature, the fact that this paper is one of few papers that focus on entrepreneurial orientation in Jordan adds to its originality.
A computer‐aided approach to material selection and environmental auditing
Authors: Djassemi Manocher
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an environmental‐oriented material selection methodology with two distinct features: it uses a computer‐aided material selector coupled with environmental auditing; and it provides a quantitative analysis of environmental impact of selected material.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐phase computer‐aided procedure that considers material properties, manufacturing constraints, and design and economic requirements is introduced with the objective of finding the material with least negative environmental impact. The procedure is illustrated for an industrial component.

Findings

The implementation of the proposed procedure resulted in screening of three feasible materials from a database of 2,900 materials, among which cast aluminum exhibits savings in energy consumption and CO2 emission. This result shows the effectiveness of using a systematic computer‐aided method for a speedy selection of material and generating quantitative data to measure the environmental performances and assess the product life cycle.

Research limitations/implications

Although the use of digital databases and material selectors can increase the searching speed and efficiency, the user's knowledge is still needed to achieve the maximum benefits.

Originality/value

Consideration of eco‐sustainability factors in product development may require handling an overwhelming amount of data and performing a good many calculations. The literature review also indicates the difficulty of incorporating quantitative data into environmental and life cycle assessments of a product. As a first step to overcome such challenges, the paper presents a practicalcomputer‐aided procedure that can assist product mangers or designers in quickly and efficiently incorporating environmental and sustainability considerations into their business decision making.
Complex product and supplier interfaces in aeronautics
Authors: Cagli Ayshe , Kechidi Med , Levy Rachel
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The aeronautical industry is a perfect example of a complex product industry characterized by a hierarchically‐organized supply chain. The authors can identify four types of supplier interfaces: interactive, translation, specified and standardized ones. The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors explaining the diversification of these relationships between aircraft manufacturers and their suppliers, through the example of Airbus suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

Network analysis (to define the complexity level of aircraft components), data analysis (to characterize the diversity of aircraft suppliers) and a logit model were combined in order to link the supplier interfaces to the complexity of components and to the suppliers' characteristics.

Findings

It is shown that the earlier a supplier is involved in the development process, the more responsibility is delegated to him and the more intertwined its relationship is with the prime contractor. Also, it is shown that component complexity plays a major role in a supplier's involvement during the integral design and face‐to‐face interactions matter greatly during the co‐design phases of the products.

Research limitations/implications

The research has rather a static perspective covering all the inter‐firm relations within Airbus programs at once. By using the same databases, one could look into the evolution of supplier interfaces within the aeronautical supply chain. A dynamic view would provide some evidence regarding the recent restructuring of the supply chain.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper comes from the methodology and the use of original data allowing to test in the same analysis the role of the component complexity and the characterization of the suppliers on the form of relationship between the manufacturer and its principal suppliers.
CIO to CEO: a difficult transition?
Authors: Jones Stephen
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the changing role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and illustrate how it now resonates with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role, especially in the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper identifies where and how this has developed in terms of the correlation between the skill sets of the two groups.

Findings

It is suggested that CIOs should rise to the challenge and aim for CEO positions in organisations.

Originality/value

The paper brings together some of the recent discussions within the business, computing and information management press on the role of the CIO and CEO, especially in the public sector.
Determinants of informal coordination in networked supply chains
Authors: Ogulin Robert , Selen Willem , Ashayeri Jalal
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine capability connectivity, relationship alignment and the ability to informally network in the supply chain as determinants for better utilizing capabilities amongst supply chain partners. In particular, the paper focuses on how the above described determinants may impact on operational performance in the supply chain when responding to short‐lived demand requirements or highly dynamic markets.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed research methodology is used, including a qualitative exploratory phase to confirm the relevance of the research question to the practitioner, followed by quantitative structural equation modeling, based on a sample of 231 supply chain professionals.

Findings

In total, four determinants of informal networking were derived: capability connectivity, describing the ability of supply chain partners to rapidly and informally integrate capabilities, such as IT, to service an ad hoc market requirement; relationship alignment or the ability to informally integrate resources across supply chain partners in the context of highly dynamic market situations; the informally networked supply chain itself, measuring the ability of supply chain partners to respond to transient opportunities in the context of highly dynamic markets; and finally operational performance which measures the effect informal networking has on company performance. Results show that informal coordination of supply chain activities influences operational performance in different ways, and most significantly impacts positively on operational efficiency through supply‐oriented informal networking. The study identified that industry rules and regulations have a significant impact on the propensity of supply chain partners to collaborate informally. Finally, it is also shown that relationship alignment between companies is an important factor to achieve both market‐ and supply‐oriented informal networking capabilities.

Practical implications

The management of industry rules, regulation, connectivity, and relationship alignment are significant antecedents for informal coordination of supply chain capabilities in business networks. The study shows positive effects of informal networking in supply chains on operational efficiency, and suggests that companies should strive to enable greater flexibility to connect with their trading partners without an abundance of idiosyncrasies. Furthermore, relationship alignment, in combination with process and IT connectivity, is significant in creating the foundation for informal networking in supply chains, in particular for supply‐related activities.

Originality/value

The paper adds a new concept, the informally networked supply chain, and shows that capability connectivity and relationship alignment may enable new alternative ways of coordinating supply chain capabilities to meet a specific market requirement. As such, it offers a new perspective in relation to flexibility and agility in the supply chain.
The implementation of enterprise content management systems in SMEs
Authors: Haug Anders
Published: July 2012

Purpose

A literature review revealed that none of the few longitudinal studies of enterprise content management (ECM) implementations focus on small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). To contribute to this area, the purpose of this paper is to generate insights in relation to how SMEs can successfully promote implementation of ECM solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents and analyses a longitudinal study of an ECM project.

Findings

The findings of the paper include a definition of a process model for ECM implementation in SMEs, identification of ten success factors related to ECM system implementation, and a definition of a new pattern for ECM technology development, compared to existing case studies.

Research limitations/implications

Since it appears to be the first detailed study of ECM system implementation in SMEs, this paper provides a point of departure for future research in the use of ECM technology in SMEs.

Practical implications

Practitioners in SMEs preparing to engage in ECM projects may utilize the findings of the paper in relation to managing the implementation process and understanding various benefits that ECM systems can produce.

Originality/value

The paper represents a contribution to the sparse literature on ECM implementation. In fact, the case seems to be the first longitudinal study of ECM implementation in SMEs.
User adoption of mandatory enterprise technology
Authors: Ojiako Udechukwu , Chipulu Maxwell , Maguire Stuart , Akinyemi Bolaji , Johnson Johnnie
Published: July 2012

Purpose

Drawing on extant technology acceptance literature, the purpose of this paper is to critically examine the impact of mandatory enterprise technology adoption in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from a survey of stockbrokers operating on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange on two occasions over a four year period. Expert forecasting (TSModel) algorithms were employed to assess attitudinal changes of users on mandatory system adoption.

Findings

The results suggest that over time, users (stockbrokers) developed an increasingly negative perception of the technology, thus emphasising the need for managers to focus on subjective imperatives that might impact the adoption of mandated technology.

Practical implications

Africa remains neglected in relation to information systems/information technology (IS/IT) research. This has driven the authors’ interest in seeking to understand how contextual peculiarities specific to Africa could play a significant role in an understanding of well‐established IS/IT models.

Originality/value

To facilitate deeper explorations of the antecedents of user adoption of mandatory enterprise technology, the authors choose to lay the theoretical foundations of this study in social theories (specifically, voluntariness and subjective norm).
Activity specific knowledge characteristics in the internationalization process
Authors: Veng Søberg Peder
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate differences in the characteristics of knowledge, which is very important for the internationalization of different business activities. In particular, the focus is on internationalization in emerging markets such as China and India.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a framework primarily based on knowledge management theory, which is illustrated in relation to interesting cases of four companies that are global leaders.

Findings

An R&D knowledge gap still exists in China and India. Differences across business activities exist in terms of the characteristics of the knowledge, which is most important for the internationalization in emerging markets within multinational corporations (MNCs). The most important knowledge for the internationalization of R&D activities is more tacit than it is for manufacturing activities and international purchasing activities. The source of the most important knowledge for the internationalization of R&D activities, as well as manufacturing activities, is more likely to be the MNC itself, than when marketing activities or purchasing activities are internationalized to emerging markets.

Originality/value

A model is developed that illustrates differences between the most important knowledge for the internationalization of key business activities within MNCs. It is proposed that the technical dimension of tacit knowledge is more easily codified than the cognitive dimension of tacit knowledge. The cognitive dimension of local tacit knowledge is crucial for the internationalization of marketing activities, whereas the technical dimension of tacit R&D knowledge from the home base is crucial for the internationalization of R&D activities.
The replication of expansive production knowledge: the role of templates and principles
Authors: Vejrum Wæhrens Brian , Cheng Yang , Skov Madsen Erik
Published: July 2012

Purpose

With the aim to support offshore production line replication, the specific purpose of this paper is to explore the use of templates and principles to transfer expansive productive knowledge embedded in a production line and understand the contingencies that influence the mix of these approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of two case studies are introduced. Empirical data were collected over a period of two years based on interviews and participating observations.

Findings

The findings show that knowledge transfer within the replication of a production line is a stepwise expansive process; and rather than being viewed as alternative approaches, templates and principles should be seen as complementary once the transfer motive moves beyond pure replication.

Research limitations/implications

The concepts introduced in this paper were derived from two Danish cases. While acceptable for theory exploration, the small sample size is an obvious limitation for generalisation.

Practical implications

A roadmap for knowledge transfer within the replication of a production line is suggested, which, together with four managerial suggestions, provides strong support and clear directions to managers.

Originality/value

Research in replication to date has mostly focused on templates and has mainly taken an organizational perspective. This paper shows its potential contribution on bridging the relevant theoretical gaps by addressing the effects of principles; and exploring how to use templates and principles to transfer productive knowledge in a specific context, which, in this paper, is a production line.
Benchmarking: a longitudinal study
Authors: Putkiranta Antero
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use and effect of benchmarking in manufacturing companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 23 companies were interviewed longitudinally in 1993, 2004 and 2010. For the study a standard questionnaire was used, and the questions asked concerned the best practices used in the companies and their operational performance.

Findings

The use of benchmarking has changed a lot over the last 15 years. It grew a lot after the first study was made, but by the time of the third study it had shrunk to the same level as in 1993. There may be several reasons for that, but, as the data indicates, there is no clear relation between the use of benchmarking and operational results, which may be one reason.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the small sample size the results are only indicative and more research is needed in this area. Furthermore, there may also be several other reasons affecting the performance of companies. It is always risky to claim that the use of a certain best practice is the only reason for a performance improvement. One implication is that certain best practices may not be suitable at all levels of operation and that therefore they need to be applied and used carefully.

Originality/value

This study is the only longitudinal study in this field using data from three different periods of time. This gives a unique perspective to critically study the changes in, and consequences of, the use of certain practices.
Does entrepreneurial university really exist in China?
Authors: Liu Ye
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the characteristics and evolution path of entrepreneurial university in China, through a case study of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) which has the reputation of “Chinese miniature of higher education” and in which entrepreneurial practice displays “Chinese characteristics”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper has originated from the ongoing thinking after completion of the author's Doctoral thesis. So, a large number of materials collected during the dissertation research will be used in this case, much of which are first‐hand, from investigations, site visits and interviews. As in the Doctoral thesis, a case study approach is also adopted in this paper.

Findings

Through the inspection of HUST, it has been found that its entrepreneurial practice is in full compliance with the criteria of the entrepreneurial university. To some extent, the theory of entrepreneurial university is being revised by the practice of HUST. However, there are some “Chinese characteristics” which should be given special attention, such as university‐run enterprises, government‐pulled triple helix, the tradition of government‐run universities and so on.

Originality/value

The paper will help the policy makers clarify the development situation of entrepreneurial university in China, which involves choosing the transformation paths and future directions, and to achieve a good way of building entrepreneurial university in accordance with China's national conditions. At the same time, it will promote international understanding of the entrepreneurial university in China.
How can innovation create the future in a catching‐up economy?
Authors: Huang Shufang
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This paper aims at discovering the opportunities and challenges for China's pharmaceutical industry (pharma) in technological, management and products innovation and thinking of the strategies for the industrial development based on thinking for high‐tech to create the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is primarily based on the literature review, data collection and interviews in varied research institutions, colleges as well as corporations. The literature review pays close attention to pharmaceutical industry and management. And the interviews took place in person, by telephone and via face‐to‐face conversations. By means of studying on the resulting data, this archive develops somewhat policy implications which can probably contribute to renew the competitiveness of China's pharmaceutical industry in innovation.

Findings

The critical shortages and the difficulties of China's pharmaceutical industry for development have been deeply discussed in this study, such as outdated healthcare system, controversial intellectual property regulation, and unconfident data system, which can handicap China's innovation.

Originality/value

This paper presents a systematic analysis of China's pharma, through addressing most key aspects, which is committed to driving incentives towards genuine innovation, and to sharing the potential competitive market. The findings of the dynamic health innovation system and the policy implications should be an original comprehensive understanding, all of which might be of interests to China's scholars, government officials and company practicing managers.