bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the management of knowledge for competitive advantage
Authors: Silvi Riccardo , Cuganesan Suresh
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and apply a framework that examines the effectiveness and efficiency of managing knowledge in organizations for competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Reviews knowledge management and strategic cost management literatures to identify key elements that determine and facilitate the enhancement of competitive advantage. Develops a cost‐knowledge management (CKM) framework that integrates these elements and enables the analysis of how knowledge utilization in organizational activities can be made more effective and efficient.

Findings

The CKM framework is usefully applied to a sample of four Italian firms operating in the mechanical industry. Both the results of applying the CKM framework and the insights that are generated are discussed.

Practical implications

The CKM framework allows organizations to analyze the activities performed in terms of cost structure and cost drivers, value created, and knowledge utilized, the latter in terms of knowledge specificity and type. The framework can also be used to highlight specific areas of effectiveness improvements in terms of identifying which activities should be leveraged and how knowledge can be better mobilized. In addition, the framework enables an assessment of the non value added but required and waste elements of organizational activities and the specific drivers of costs in these activities, thereby enabling an identification of efficiency improvement opportunities.

Originality/value

This paper integrates strategic cost management and knowledge management perspectives to examine how organizations can usefully analyze and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of managing knowledge for competitive advantage. Thus far, this integration has not occurred in either literatures.
Organizational capital as competitive advantage of the firm
Authors: Martín‐de‐Castro Gregorio , Emilio Navas‐López José , López‐Sáez Pedro , Alama‐Salazar Elsa
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The elements that constitute the organizational capital or capital of the firm, namely its culture, structure, organizational learning, can be a source of competitive advantage. This paper is an attempt to assess organizational capital from the resource‐based view.

Design/methodology/approach

From an extensive literature review, an assessment framework for intellectual capital is developed.

Findings

By means of this framework organizational capital can be depicted as a set of: valuable assets; difficult to imitate; to replace; to transfer; with a prolonged life expectancy; and with a feasible rent appropriation.

Originality/value

Building of such an evaluation framework allows further research about other components of the intellectual capital of the firm, bridging the literatures focused on the resource‐based view and on intangible assets or intellectual capital.
The application of usability concepts in the built environment
Authors: Alexander Keith
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is report to on the exploratory research into the application of usability concepts to the built environment conducted by a task group of the International Council for Building Research and Documentation (CIB TG51).

Design/methodology/approach

The objectives of the research were achieved through a series of case studies and associated workshops designed to identify and evaluate the ways in which stakeholders in projects were involved in decision making about building use and the methods and tools they used.

Findings

The research enabled a number of broad conclusions about the nature of usability as a concept and its application to the built environment and challenged the basis of conventional approaches to briefing and post‐occupancy evaluation.

Research limitations/implications

The exploratory nature of the work clarified the research questions that need to be addressed in future work and raised a number of key conceptual, theoretical and methodological questions which will be explored in a further round of case studies.

Practical implications

The industrial partners, who were directly involved in the project, shared knowledge of user experience in the workplace and benefited from an independent review of the cases as a vehicle for discussing best practice. This enabled participants to receive feedback from leading‐edge organisations and provided new knowledge for action.

Originality/value

The paper sets out a novel approach to understanding user experience in the built environment and introduces examples from organisations that responding to the challenge of designing and managing buildings from a user perspective.
Earnings opacity internationally and elements of social, economic and accounting order
Authors: Riahi‐Belkaoui Ahmed , AlNajjar Fouad K.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and test the determinates of earnings opacity internationally. The determinates are hypothesized to be the elements of social, economic and accounting order in each of the 34 countries of the study.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 34 countries’ data was collected and data estimation and several statistical and correlations were performed.

Findings

Earnings opacity internationally is negatively related to the levels of economic freedom and quality of life, and positively related to rule of law, economic growth and level of corruption. Further, the findings are surprising that the level of disclosure, the number of auditors per 100,000 inhabitants and the adoption of international accounting standards (as elements of the accounting order) are not significantly related to earnings opacity internationally. It is the social and economic climate rather than the technical accounting climate that is at the core of the lack of accounting quality in general and earnings opacity in particular.

Originality/value

Elements of accounting order do not seem to affect earnings opacity as much as social and economic characteristics. It is the economic and the social context rather than the technical that explicates better the level of accounting quality in general and the level of earnings opacity in particular in a given country. Earnings opacity is higher as a result of higher rule of law, economic growth and level of corruption, and lower as result of higher level of economic freedom and quality of life.
Further evidence on the information content of economic value added
Authors: Palliam Ralph
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test assertions that economic value added (EVA) is more highly associated with stock returns and firm values than accrual earnings, and evaluates which components of EVA, contribute to these associations.

Design/methodology/approach

Thirty three non‐EVA users and 75 EVA users were selected at random. Variables used in this study were revenues, profits, assets, stockholders’ equity, market value, earnings per share, total return to investors, and percentage cost reduction over time. Data were collected on several metrics.

Findings

The study suggest that the common and widely accepted metrics used by analysts and calculated for EVA users are not necessarily superior to that of non‐EVA users. The evidence support that EVA is somewhat invalid, unreliable, and questionable.

Research limitations/implications

The first limitation deals with the measurement of capital invested in assets. The second limitation was the use of an accounting definition of the return on equity. The operating income was not cleansed of any expenses which are really capital expenses (in the sense that they create future value). The operating income was adjusted if any cosmetic effects were identified. The third limitation is the determination of cost of capital (estimate). Discounted cash flow valuation assumes that cost of capital is calculated using market values of debt and equity.

Practical implications

This study raises serious doubts about the capacity of EVA to deliver superior metrics. EVA users may be placing themselves at unnecessary risks and costs. Study shows that EVA is not a satisfactory descriptor of the real world and, therefore, it should be used with caution by management consultants, practitioners, and investors.

Originality/value

The movement in stock prices reflects something other than EVA.
Artificial neural network vs linear discriminant analysis in credit ratings forecast
Authors: Kumar Kuldeep , Bhattacharya Sukanto
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to perform a comparative study of prediction performances of an artificial neutral network (ANN) model against a linear prediction model like a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) with regards to forecasting corporate credit ratings from financial statement data.

Design/methodology/approach

The ANN model used in the study is a fully connected back‐propagation model with three layers of neurons. The paper uses a comparative approach whereby two prediction models – one based on ANN and the other based on LDA are developed using identically partitioned data set.

Findings

The study found that the ANN model comprehensively outperformed the LDA model in both training and test partitions of the data set. While the LDA model may have been hindered by omitted variables; this actually lends further credence to the ANN model showing that the latter is more robust in dealing with missing data.

Research limitations/implications

A possible drawback in the model implementation probably lies in the selection of the various accounting ratios. Perhaps future replications of this study should look more carefully at choosing the ratios after duly addressing the problems of collinearity and duplications more rigorously.

Practical implications

The findings of this study imply that since ANN models can better deal with complex data sets and do not require restraining assumptions like linearity and normality, it may be overall a better approach in corporate credit rating forecasts that uses large financial data sets.

Originality/value

This study brings out the effectiveness of non‐linear pattern learning models as compared to linear ones in forecasts of financial solvency. This goes on to further highlight the practical importance of the new breed of computational tools available to techno‐savvy financial analysts and also to the providers of corporate credit.
Constant growth model of the firm: theoretical analysis of the balanced scorecard
Authors: Laitinen Erkki K.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a simple microeconomic model of the firm to give theoretical foundations for the balanced scorecard concept (BSC).

Design/methodology/approach

The model consists of demand, production, and objective functions integrated into a resource allocation model. Costs, sales volume, and sales revenue grow at constant rates. Strategy is depicted by a weighted objective function of profit and net sales. Output variables are classified according to the four perspectives of BSC.

Findings

The effects of the parameters, especially growth and strategy, on the importance of the perspectives and on performance measures, are shown.

Research limitations/implications

Many results are based on assumptions of a constant growth; and of constant demand and production functions. Empirical research is welcome to give evidence on demand and production elasticities, the shifts of strategy, their effects on performance measurement; and tension between profit and revenue maximization.

Practical implications

BSC should be elastic to respond to shifts of strategy towards revenue maximization. When a shift is happened, the focus in BSC should be transferred towards customer relationship management and development and learning; and the time‐series of performance measures should be interpreted cautiously. Even for a constant strategy, the time‐series of non‐financial and financial measures may give a contradicting signal.

Originality/value

This research paper introduces a new growth model of the firm useful in the theoretical analysis of BSC. It can be applied to assess the importance of the four perspectives of BSC, trade‐offs between them, and relationships between non‐financial and financial measures.
Researching trust relations in health care
Authors: Calnan Michael , Rowe Rosemary
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to provide a rationale for examining trust in health care.

Design/methodology/approach

Conducts a review of the literature of trust relations in health care that highlighted that most empirical research has addressed threats to patient‐provider relationships and trust in health care systems from the patient's perspective, but studies in the organisational literature suggests that trust relations in the workforce, between providers and between providers and managers, may also influence patient‐provider relationships and levels of trust.

Findings

Suggests that trust is not primarily dispositional or an individual attribute or psychological state, but is constructed from a set of inter‐personal behaviors or from a shared identity. These behaviors are underpinned by sets of institutional rules, laws and customs.

Research limitations/implications

This introductory paper has presented some evidence from an international, comparative study but there is the need for further, more detailed investigation into why trust relations may vary in different health care systems.

Originality/value

This introductory paper provides a rationale for examining trust in health care and a context for the different elements of trust.
Conceptualisations of trust in the organisational literature
Authors: Connell N.A.D. , Mannion R.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper evaluates the non‐healthcare organisational literature on conceptualisations of trust. The aim of the paper is to review this diverse literature, and to reflect on the potential insights it might offer healthcare researchers, policy makers and managers.

Design/methodology/approach

A number of the key concepts that contribute to contrasting definitions of trust in the organisational literature are identified.

Findings

The paper highlights the heterogeneity of trust as an organisational concept. Aspects of trust that relate more specifically to non‐healthcare settings are shown to have some potential relevance for healthcare. Five aspects of trust, considered to have particular significance to the changing face of the NHS, appear to offer scope for further exploration in healthcare settings.

Practical implications

The NHS continues to face changes to its organisational structures, both planned and unplanned. Healthcare providers will need to be alert to intra‐ and inter‐organisational relationships, of which trust issues will form an inevitable part. Whilst it might be argued that the lessons offered by conceptualisations of trust within wider organisational settings have limitations, the paper demonstrates sufficient areas of overlap to encourage cross‐fertilisation of ideas.

Originality/value

The paper draws together previous research on a topic of increasing relevance to healthcare researchers, which has exercised management researchers for at least three decades. The paper acts as a guide to future research and practice.
Public trust in health care: a performance indicator?
Authors: van der Schee Evelien , Groenewegen Peter P. , Friele Roland D.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

If public trust in health care is to be used as a performance indicator for health care systems, its measurement has to be sensitive to changes in the health care system. For this purpose, this study has monitored public trust in health care in The Netherlands over an eight‐year period, from 1997 to 2004. The study expected to find a decrease in public trust, with a low point in 2002.

Design/methodology/approach

Since 1997, public trust in health care was measured through postal questionnaires to the “health care consumer panel”. This panel consists of approximately 1,500 households and forms a representative sample of the Dutch population.

Findings

Trust in health care and trust in hospitals did not show any significant trend. Trust in medical specialists displayed an upward trend. Trust in future health care, trust in five out of six dimensions of health care and trust in general practitioners actually did show a decrease. However, only for trust in macro level policies and trust in professional expertise this trend continued. For the remaining trust objects, after 1999 or 2000, an upward trend set in.

Research implications/limitations

No support was found for our overall assumption. Explanations for the fact that trust did increase after 1999 or 2000 are difficult to find. On the basis of these findings the study questions whether the measure of public trust is sensitive enough to provide information on the performance of the health care system.

Originality/value

The aim of this research is to study public trust in health care on its abilities to be used as a performance indicator for health care systems.
Trust relations in health care: an agenda for future research
Authors: Calnan Michael , Rowe Rosemary , Entwistle Vikki
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to draw together suggestions for future research from the papers and from the discussion that took place at the workshop.

Design/methodology/approach

The suggestions are summarised under four broad themes.

Findings

At an international workshop on trust organised by the UK MRC Health Services Research Collaboration there was broad agreement that trust was still a salient issue in diverse health care contexts. The workshop proceedings identified a number of important questions for empirical research and several key conceptual, theoretical and methodological questions relating to trust that need to be addressed in support of or alongside this. The collection of papers in this volume starts to address some of these questions.

Originality/value

Considers trust relations in health care from patient, clinical, organisational and policy perspectives.
Introducing new interventional procedures within a District General Hospital, linking with the process for implementing NICE guidance
Authors: Freedman D.B. , Swanson E.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to provide healthcare organisations with an example of how the implementation of new interventional procedures and NICE guidance can be improved by adopting a synergistic approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper shows that following the introduction of the Interventional Procedure Programme (NICE) and the issue of Department of Health advice in 2003, it was considered that the hospital's process for implementing new interventional procedures should be revised and would be more effectively managed by integrating with the well established process for implementing NICE guidance. The strategy for implementing NICE guidance and the new interventional procedure ratification process at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust are outlined and describe individual and corporate roles and responsibilities that promote local ownership.

Findings

The paper provides information on how the Trust incorporated the national perspective into a local model, which ensures a well‐coordinated multidisciplinary approach to introducing innovative clinical practice safely.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates a useful tool that may be adapted by other healthcare organisations and clinical governance professionals responsible for implementing new interventional procedures into local practice. The role of the Interventional Procedure Governance Committee in supporting the application, review, ratification and monitoring processes is explained.

Originality/value

The paper identifies a practical approach, ensuring that practice follows recommendations within guidance already published by NICE or are reported to the Interventional Procedure Programme if the procedure is not already included within the work programme.
Re‐audit of NICE guidance for treatment of ADHD children with methylphenidate
Authors: Banerjee Somnath , Venables Sue
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper was to show that in October 2000 NICE issued guidance on the use of methylphenidate for ADHD in children. Agreed standards based on NICE guidance were finalised in May 2002 in East Kent. Authors conducted a multidisciplinary multisite audit across East Kent in 2001/2002. The audit demonstrated that practices met some of the standards but deficiencies were identified. There was also variation in practice across the region. A time bound action plan was agreed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper aims to re‐audit the use of methylphenidate in children with ADHD and complete the audit cycle loop.

Findings

The paper finds a retrospective case notes review of children diagnosed with ADHD between 1 January and 30 June 2004 and subsequently started on short/long acting methylphenidate.

Research limitations/implications

The paper shows that a total of 58 notes were audited. Re‐audit showed an increase in the use of Conners' rating scales to 91 vs 66 percent in the previous audit. More children had their pulse and blood pressure recorded before start of medication (84 vs 51 percent). GPs, schools and parents received written information respectively in 93 vs 89 percent, 71 vs 60 percent, and 69 vs 64 percent cases at start of methylphenidate and in 69 vs 75 percent, 57 vs 53 percent, and 59 vs 57 percent cases about the most recent visit. There has been no significant change in the shared care with GPs (3 vs 4 percent). “Trial‐off” medication was considered in 82 vs 16 percent in the previous audit.

Originality/value

This paper showed improvements in some areas identified in the previous audit. Professionals still need to communicate more with those involved with the child, as this was an issue highlighted through carer involvement. Shared care arrangements with GPs continue to be an issue and work is ongoing. A new time limited action plan is being developed. There are now regular multidisciplinary ADHD team meetings and much less variation in practice across the region as a direct result of this audit.
Learning from regulatory interventions in healthcare
Authors: Benson L.A. , Boyd A. , Walshe K.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to present the findings from research commissioned by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI), which set out to examine the impact of CHI's clinical governance reviews on NHS trusts in England.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper, giving a stratified random sample of 30 NHS trusts, was taken from a set of 75 trusts reviewed by CHI during a period from 2001 to 2003. Documents from these trusts' reviews were analysed. A postal questionnaire was sent to key stakeholders with an involvement or direct interest in each trust's review. Semi‐ structured telephone interviews were held with five to six people from each of four trusts selected as case studies.

Findings

In this paper the clinical governance review process was characterized by wide variability in methods, application and effects, in the initial CHI visit and report, and the subsequent NHS trust action plan and SHA progress review. The recommendations made by reviews for change in an NHS trust were often of a nature or expressed in terms, which made measuring their subsequent implementation and impact problematic. CHI recommendations concentrated on management and support processes rather than on direct patient care and outcomes. Trusts were generally willing to accept and then enact CHI review recommendations.

Practical implications

The paper concluded that a more focused and controlled review process would support greater change and improvement. There was evidence to suggest that this kind of regulatory intervention can have largely positive impacts on the organisational performance of NHS trusts, although these positive effects were mainly indirectly related to the delivery of patient care and health improvement. Any future review or inspection processes should place a greater focus upon patient outcomes if such reviews are to demonstrate their value in making a contribution to improving health.

Originality/value

The paper shows that, internationally, there have been few empirical studies analysing the work of health care regulators and their impact on the organisations they regulate. While the work of CHI has been examined by others, this study is the first empirical and largely quantitative analysis of CHI's regulatory regime and its impact within the English NHS. The article is also published at a time when there is much debate about regulatory functions and forms for health and social care.
Examining the evidence for breast self examination recommendations
Authors: Varghese Saji S. , Wilson Diane B. , Penberthy Lynne T. , Smith Wally R.
Published: September 2006

Purpose– The purpose of the paper is to examine the evidence behind breast self examination recommendations.Design/methodology/approach– In this paper the recommendations of various professional and specialty organizations are reviewed along with an analysis of the randomized controlled trials that provided data for these recommendations. Methodological issues regarding these trials and the conclusions that can be drawn are evaluated and presented here.Findings– The paper finds that the current evidence is not sufficient to make recommendations to western women for or against breast self‐examination.Practical implications– The paper implies that breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women in the USA.Originality/value– The paper shows that, while mammography and clinical breast examination remain the standard of care in screening for breast cancer, much controversy has surrounded recommendations for breast self‐examination in breast cancer screening.
Ever consider a supply chain as a “community of practice”? Embracing a learning perspective to build supply chain integration
Authors: Sense Andrew J. , Clements Michael D.J.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This article introduces a conceptual view of supply chains from a situated learning and “community of practice” perspective. This non‐conventional “soft systems” view places an emphasis on the social and practical dimensions of learning within a context as a means to improve supply chain integration and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is conceptual and introduces a learning theory that offers practical relevance to practitioners in the supply chain field.

Findings

The findings presented in this paper are conceptual. However, the perspective offered draws upon recent successful research into the dynamics of situated learning activity in a project team environment.

Practical implications

By embracing this humanistic and social learning perspective, practitioners have opportunities to initiate a “community of practice” condition in which they systematically focus on and collaboratively develop their learning skills and their supply chain interactions and integration.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is to invite the reader to consider supply chain scenarios as “situated learning opportunities involving communities of practice” which, if appropriately engaged, can contribute towards learning and innovation and the development of inter‐organizational integration along a supply chain.
The boundary spanner's role in organizational learning: unleashing untapped potential
Authors: Loon Hoe Siu
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The organizational behavior and management literature has devoted a lot attention on processes and technology in organizational learning. There has been little work to examine the role of boundary spanners in organizational learning. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of boundary spanners in enhancing organizational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The existing boundary spanning literature was reviewed and the salient points on their role in organizational learning discussed.

Practical implications

The paper offers a view on tapping the hidden potential of boundary spanners in organizations in order to enhance the organization's learning capacity form the external environment. Practicing manager would then be able to design knowledge processes to better support these boundary spanners that in turn promotes organizational learning.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the existing organizational learning literature by introducing the role of boundary spanners in organizational learning.
A declaration on learning: how do you respond?
Authors: Cunningham Ian
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The paper is aims to promote both dialogue and action around learning in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The basis of the paper is in the collective experience of the 13 authors who produced the Declaration.

Findings

The paper argues for the central importance of learning for all organizations.

Research limitations/implications

The research for the paper is in the collective writings of the 13 authors.

Practical implications

The practical implications of the ideas promoted can be considerable. Very few organizations practise what is suggested in the paper.

Originality/value

The paper is of value to anyone working in organizations, not just learning and development professionals. It can be the basis for developing organizational learning strategies.
Present and future of building performance assessment tools
Authors: Sinou Maria , Kyvelou Stella
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The assessment of building performance in terms of environmental impact and overall sustainability approach is carried out by several methods, different in terms of structure, application and parameters involved. A review of the most frequently used tools available at the moment is presented and a comparison of the tools in terms of general characteristics and environmental parameters is undertaken. Moreover, suggestions are made with regards to a future, easy to use, sustainable building Mediterranean assessment tool.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods are investigated in terms general parameters such as their applicability and also in terms of their primary environmental issues of concern involved. A comparative analysis is undertaken.

Findings

The investigation showed that none of the methods seem to incorporate all the parameters involved. Especially, the economic and social factors as well as comfort, which are all significant parameters directly involved to sustainability, are assessed only by half of the tools presented. The focus of the methods seems to be on issues regarding energy, landscape‐site, resources and quality of indoor environment.

Practical implications

The paper encourages the development of a more complete tool, which will include as many parameters as possible and would be applicable at a macro‐regional scale (e.g. the Mediterranean region).

Originality/value

The paper can be used as the starting point for future research as well as a reference paper.
The request of sustainability and architecture as cultural paradigm
Authors: Chiotinis Nikitas
Published: September 2006

Purpose

“Sustainability” presupposes first and foremost a change in human attitude. It summons contemporary societies to take measures for the sake of future societies. It requires that each individual develops historical conscience, that each human being views himself or herself at least as a participator in his/her history, and that he/she differentiates his/her current life priorities. The latter, however, is associated with the philosophic foundation of societies, and the truth is that the philosophic institution of neoteric times that we experience at present seems to exclude such a possibility.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual discussion is the approach.

Findings

Man should review once more his existence as an integral part of a spatial and chronological whole which transcends time and space in the so‐called contemporary “physical” life, and moreover, to regain awareness of the fact that he constitutes a catalytic factor in the creation of history or that he himself is the creator of (his) history. Furthermore, societies should reset collective goals as regards the spatial and chronological, i.e. historic, expansion of their scope and impact, as a requirement for this novel (novel in the context of our neoteric era) meaning of life. We believe that we are at the threshold of such a cultural change.

Originality/value

In the actual continuation, renaissance, recreation of history – where undoubtedly the demands of sustainability will be regarded a self‐evident priority – it is only natural that the practice of managing and designing space, as well as architectural practice itself, which will determine in the future the image of the urban environment and consequently thought itself, partake, and in particular, by playing a pivotal role.
Comparative statics and optimal portfolios
Authors: Fernand Nguema Jean
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Following Hadar and Seo, the paper aims to determine, in the case of a portfolio with three assets, the condition of preservation of comparative statics results under which a change in risk increases the optimal value of the decision variables for all risk‐averse investors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the first‐ and second‐order conditions, the paper examines a theoretical approach of a particular portfolio problem in two stages. The first step considers the case of dependence between assets where the second extends previous results in the case of dependence between assets.

Findings

It is found that even in the case of portfolio with two risky assets and one risk less asset that an FDS or an MPC deterioration that affects either the distribution will increase the weight of this asset in the optimal fund for all decision makers whose preferences exhibit decreasing absolute risk aversion.

Originality/value

The paper extends the previous study in the case of dependence between assets and examines portfolio with more than two assets.
Cellular manufacturing versus a hybrid system: a comparative study
Authors: Zolfaghari Saeed , Lopez Roa Erika V.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To compare the performance of a new hybrid manufacturing system (HMS) with a conventional cellular manufacturing system (CMS). The hybrid system is a combination of the cellular manufacturing and job shop.

Design/methodology/approach

A hypothetical manufacturing facility with eight machines and 20 parts is used as a case. Simulation models are developed for two manufacturing systems. A multi‐factor comparison is carried out to test the performance of the systems under different scenarios.

Findings

It was found that group scheduling rules (GSR) and the manufacturing system design factors have significant impact on the performance of the system. In particular, the hybrid system shows its best performance when the MSSPT GSR is applied, whereas the cellular system is superior when DDSI is implemented. The results also demonstrate that, by adding non‐family parts to the production schedule of the HMS, significant benefits in the performance measures can be attained.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusion cannot be generalized, as the result is dependent upon the input data and the size of the problem.

Practical implications

The application may be limited to certain industry sectors. Further studies may be needed to identify the appropriate industry.

Originality/value

While the majority of the literature focuses on either a job shop or a pure CMS, this paper has a distinctive approach that allows the combined use of both systems. This could be a useful transitional approach from one system to the other.
Strategic performance measurement and the use of capital subsidies
Authors: Tzelepis Dimitris , Skuras Dimitris
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to show that capital subsidies are used as instruments of long‐term corporate strategy. Previous research indicates that capital subsidies do not improve firm performance, as this is reflected by measures of productivity growth or by financial measures of profitability and improved capital structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper shows that a large, publicly available database of firms in the Greek food and beverages, covering a significant time span, is used to evaluate the effects of capital subsidies on strategic performance. Strategic performance is reflected by three novel indicators capturing a firm's orientation towards market power and leadership.

Findings

The paper finds that capital subsidies have a positive impact on firms' long‐term strategic orientations such as the firms' net market growth and the optimal scale of operation. The provision of capital subsidies assists firms to overcome the cost disadvantages coming from operation at a sub‐optimal scale of output and fixed capital, and increase their net market share.

Research limitations/implications

The paper shows that more measures of long‐term strategic corporate performance should be employed in order to provide more research evidence that is required to detail the exact impacts of capital subsidies on corporate strategy.

Practical implications

The paper shows that the capital subsidies have an impact on strategic performance and thus their provision should be the outcome of careful design from the point of view of both the individual manager and the policy authorities.

Originality/value

In this paper three new indicators of a firm's strategic orientation are employed and provide the first empirical evidence of the impacts of capital subsidies on corporate strategy.
Critical management studies (not) in The Netherlands
Authors: Letiche Hugo
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore what “critical” could mean in “critical management studies” (CMS) in the current (Dutch) regime of re‐commodification.

Design/methodology/approach

Conflicts that typify the context, within which “criticalness” does or does not emerge, are examined. The specific circumstance of “criticalness” in organizational studies within the Dutch political and intellectual circumstance is appraised.

Findings

The critical management studies of experimentation (“essai”) can respond to de‐solidarization and the need for ethical democratic governance; but it can also lead to philosophizing without contextual engagement.

Practical implications

CMS has to be judged for what it tries and how it engages with its context and not the cleverness of its ideas.

Originality/value

CMS is examined not idealistically but in terms of current social and intellectual conditions
Organizational studies: (not‐) smothering each other as a behavioural strategy
Authors: Maas Alexander J.J.A.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that relationships between academics and professionals can gain in organizational studies by prioritizing practical wisdom, which also benefits teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore practical corollaries of Flyvbjerg's claim that social scientists are better equipped than natural scientists to produce phronesis or practical wisdom.

Findings

Practical wisdom emerges when social scientists interact with professionals. In (relational) practice, Organizational Science scientists and practitioners develop local knowledge that cannot be taught a priori but which develops bottom up and emerges from practice. Scientists and practitioners converse, exchange interpretations and perspectives, in specific contexts. Interaction and communication with OS practitioners seems for OS professionals to be a necessary human condition to develop phronesis.

Practical implications

Explores implications of Flyvberg's method to critically study discourse among OS scientists and between them and OS practitioners. Examine how discourse changes on the basis of an example of phronesis.

Originality/value

To provide a practical contribution to the theory/practice debate.
Existential management
Authors: Bolle Eric
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify what the philosophy of Martin Heidegger (1889‐1976) can contribute to the training of managers.

Design/methodology/approach

After a short introduction focussing on philosophy and management, Heidegger's potential contribution to managers will be addressed via Safranski's book Martin Heidegger: Between Good and Evil.

Findings

It is often said that change in organizations is hard or even impossible to achieve because people are afraid of change. Safranski however shows how Heidegger considers anxiety as a gateway to change. I propose to read Heidegger's Being and Time as a handbook on management skills.

Originality/value

In terms of philosophy and management an unexpected juxtaposition is made and interpreted.
Strategic planning of regional development in higher education
Authors: Kettunen Juha
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This study seeks to show how higher education institutions can plan regional strategies to increase their external impact on the environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The balanced scorecard approach is used to provide a general framework to communicate the strategy.

Findings

The approach is useful in accomplishing the strategic themes and objectives.

Practical implications

The study presents an example of how higher educational institutions are able to plan their joint regional strategy.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the knowledge and practice of strategic planning in the network of educational institutions. The findings of this study are useful to administrators of educational institutions aiming to plan a regional strategy and improve the external impact of institutions.
Leadership prototypes: a Russian perspective
Authors: Elkaterina Omeltchenka Alla , Armitage Andrew
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The aim of this research is to study leadership prototypes of Russian employees, which are dependent on their gender, organizational position and age.

Design/methodology/approach

As a research method a cross‐sectional survey was employed where 223 employees of Russian middle‐sized company were interviewed. Instruments included a questionnaire containing 21 leadership dimensions adopted from the global leadership and organisational behaviour effectiveness (GLOBE) Research Program Project, together with three factual questions. Respondents had to rate it using seven‐point Likert Scale.

Findings

The research findings revealed that leadership prototypes of Russian employees differ depending on gender, organisational position and age. All three factors influence the leadership prototype simultaneously. Female managers value leaders who are more humane‐orientated, open and being capable of solving conflicts, whereas male managers are more willing to exercise power and authority in their positions. The younger employees are less concerned for others, which may be a result of major cultural changes in the society. Operational level employees, middle and senior managers.

Originality/value

So far, this is the first research of its type on Russian leadership, as the GLOBE program, one of the most prominent studies on cross‐cultured leadership, considered only middle managers regardless of age or gender.
Visual images: a technique to surface conceptions of research and researchers
Authors: Bryans Patricia , Mavin Sharon
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This article presents pictorial representation as an innovative and challenging technique for exploring how new and experienced researchers see research and researchers. Pictorial representation provides a means of exploring the various factors that may influence, limit or inhibit researchers in their practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Three groups were engaged in creating pictorial representations of either “research” or “researchers”. Groups of new doctorate in Business Administration students, second year PhD students and a network of women academic staff from two UK university business schools described their drawings to their group and engaged in general discussion of the issues raised.

Findings

Drawing and discussing pictures allows emotional and unconscious aspects of engaging in research to surface, helping drawers put into words what may be difficult to voice. Such images enrich and enliven the difficult area of research methods teaching and their personal nature helps to “acknowledge the individual in the researcher”.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is based on research with a small number of participants. It focuses on the use of the visual image technique, rather than detailed analysis of the images generated.

Practical implications

We offer the technique to teachers of research methods who can use it to make research methods more interesting and relevant to their students.

Originality/value

The paper outlines an innovative approach to teaching research methods which engages students in discussion about the nature of research, the skills and qualities needed to become effective researchers and assists them to begin the difficult but essential process of reflexivity.
A conceptual metric for managing collaborative networks
Authors: Parung Joniarto , Bititci Umit S.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to provide a model that could be used to define success in a collaborative network by measuring: partners' contribution, partners' involvement (shown in the health of the relationship between partners), and partners' outcome.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of this research consists of three stages: review, constructing and testing. Review stage comprised of a critical review of the literature in order to understand the characteristics of collaborative network organisations and the reasons behind the failures in collaborative networks. Construction stage resulted in development of a conceptual metric for managing collaborative networks. Testing stage tested the model through case study in a collaborative networks organisation.

Findings

The model shows three kinds of measurements that might influence the success of collaborative networks. The contribution measurement uses Analytical Hierarchy Process approach to measure partners' contribution. Likert scale is also applied to measure the health of the relationships based on key performance indicators of relationship attributes. Analytical with mathematical approach is employed to measure the partners' outcome of the collaborative network.

Research limitations/implications

The model is developed based on analytic strategy and need to be chained to present reality in a particular case(s). This paper presents application of the model into a single collaborative network. The fact that this collaboration has been engaged for more than a year in order to develop a particular product, but it was difficult to identify all outcomes precisely. Further research is required with larger sample sizes and with longer time in collaboration to confirm and enhance the conclusions of this paper.

Practical implications

The model provides a practical way of assessing three network's measurements with respect to their objectives. It also provides a useful mechanism for facilitating a discussion between partners in a network.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by developing a methodology for measuring partners' contribution, involvement and outcome in the collaborative network as a system within IDEF0 functional modelling. The paper presents a novel metric for measuring contribution, health and outcome of a collaborative network.