bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding managerial effectiveness: a Chinese perspective
Authors: Wang Jia
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This study seeks to examine the managerial behavior of Chinese managers, as observed by their superiors, subordinates, and peers in a state‐owned enterprise in China. Specifically, this study aims to explore two questions. First, what managerial behaviors are perceived as being effective in the Chinese state‐owned enterprise? Second, what managerial behaviors are perceived as being least effective or ineffective in the Chinese state‐owned enterprise?

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using critical incident (CI) interview techniques. From 35 managers of one large state‐owned telecommunication company in Western China, 230 usable CIs were collected. In total, 31 themes were identified from the thematic analysis, of which 14 related to effective managerial behaviors and 17 related to ineffective behaviors.

Findings

An effective Chinese manager is perceived as being supportive, caring, fair, engaging, self‐disciplined, unselfish, responsible, and knowledgeable. While findings of the study highlight the continuing influence of the traditional Chinese culture on the perceived effectiveness of managerial behaviors, they also suggest a clear shift from traditional values that emphasize authoritarian management to Western values that encourage participative management.

Research limitations/implications

While the small sample may limit the generalizability of the study, findings expand the current knowledge base of Chinese management and can be useful for further empirical testing.

Practical implications

This study provides some parameters for benchmarking and evaluating Chinese managerial practices. The identified indicators of effective and ineffective managerial behaviors can be incorporated into the development of a Chinese management competency model or instrument, and a more targeted management development intervention.

Originality/value

This study taps an under‐explored research territory – China, and is one of the first attempts at identifying effective managerial behavior indicators of Chinese managers using the CI technique. By adopting an inductive approach this study provides rich qualitative data that can be useful for developing an indigenous tool appropriate in the Chinese context.
Formal and integrated strategies for competence development in SMEs
Authors: Kock Henrik , Ellström Per‐Erik
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of the relationships among the workplace as a learning environment, strategies for competence development used by SMEs and learning outcomes. Specifically, there is a focus on a distinction between formal and integrated strategies for competence development, the conditions under which these strategies are likely to be used, and their effects in terms of individual learning outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based mainly on questionnaire data collected through a survey of 14 SMEs that had received support from the European Social Fund's Objective 3 programme. In addition, data collected through interviews and analyses of documents were used.

Findings

The results indicate interactions between the strategy of competence development used by the firms (formal vs integrated) and the type of learning environment in the workplace (constraining vs enabling). The use of an integrated strategy in an enabling learning environment was the most successful combination in terms of learning outcomes, while the use of an integrated strategy in a constraining learning environment was the least successful combination.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need to elaborate the theoretical and empirical basis of the distinction between formal and integrated strategies for competence development, and to study the effects of the two types of strategy, not only for individual learning outcomes, but also for effects at an organisational level.

Practical implications

HRD practitioners need to question a traditional reliance on formal training, as the presented results indicate the importance of using competence development strategies that are based on an integration of formal and informal learning.

Originality/value

The study indicates that the effects of competence development efforts are likely to be a function not only, nor primarily, of the training methods and strategies that are used, but also of the characteristics of the learning environment of the workplace.
Smoke and mirrors and performance management
Authors: Dereli Cynthia
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to initiate debate about the tension between ideologies being played out in local government, as illustrated by the case of the empowerment agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers a range of evidence from: academic research; government documents; personal perspectives from the author's experience as an elected member in local government; and semi‐structured interviews with a number of senior managers in local authorities in England.

Findings

The paper suggests that the development of performance management frameworks for community engagement has been a means to shift the agenda away from democratic representation to a governance agenda around empowerment. This now includes giving a role to the voluntary sector both as the voice of the people and as providers of public services. It is argued that this illustrates a tension between ideologies at work behind the facade of performance management in local government.

Research limitations/implications

The paper can only sample both the extensive range of government output on the community agenda and the academic work in this area over the last few years. Nor is it examining a finished product, as the government is setting up more agencies to develop the work further. The implications of this paper are that there is a need for future academic work to relate accountability and democracy locally to new public management and its connection to the global ideology of neoliberalism.

Originality/value

Paralleling recent work in critical management studies, the paper links the consideration of local/national issues of democratic representation, community engagement and the role of the voluntary sector to the impact of the global ideological framework of neoliberalism.
The customer experience: a road‐map for improvement
Authors: Johnston Robert , Kong Xiangyu
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to respond to the call to help organisations to systematically engineer their customer experiences. Its objective is to investigate how organisations actually go about designing and improving their customer experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of four organisations were chosen for this exploratory study; one business‐to‐business company, one business‐to‐consumer company, one utility, and one public sector organisation. This longitudinal study over a period of four years collected data from participant observation, discussions, internal reports and from secondary data.

Findings

Despite the differences between the four organisations they appear to have taken, independently, the same approach to bring about improvements to their customer experiences. This paper proposes a ten‐stage “road‐map” to improvement which develops the existing models.

Research limitations/implications

Main limitations were that the in‐depth, longitudinal study covered just four organisations and from a mix of sectors. Additional work is needed to further test the findings in more organisations.

Practical implications

This study identifies the critical importance of mindset change in the design of customer experience improvement programmes and the ways in which customers can be directly engaged in the design and improvement process. Importantly, it provides a road‐map that organisations can use as a base for improving their customer experiences. It also suggests that it is useful to have clear objectives in three areas: customer; staff; and cost‐efficiency; and use them to assess the benefits of improving the customer experience.

Originality/value

The study organises the current literature on the customer experience, distinguishes between “service” and “experience”, and provides a research‐based road‐map for improving the customer experience.
E‐service attributes available on men's and women's apparel web sites
Authors: Kim Minjeong , Kim Jung‐Hwan , Lennon Sharron J.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether service attributes available on women's apparel web sites differ from those available on men's apparel web sites in relation to the nine dimensions of E‐A‐S‐QUAL (E‐S‐QUAL for apparel).

Design/methodology/approach

Using three separate sources, 97 women's and 97 men's apparel web sites were selected, which constituted a variety of apparel retail web sites that are a fair representation of available US retail apparel web sites. ANOVAs and chi‐square analysis were performed.

Findings

The results of content analysis suggest that differences exist between women's and men's apparel web sites in providing online services that improve e‐service quality in such a way that women's web sites provided more service attributes that improve e‐service quality than men's web sites.

Practical implications

The results of content analysis suggest that the distribution or availability of almost half the e‐service attributes analyzed significantly differed between women's and men's apparel web sites. For the further growth of men's apparel shopping via the internet, e‐retailers of men's apparel need to provide e‐services at a more sophisticated level.

Originality/value

This study provides valuable information to both men's and women's apparel e‐retailers to understand their current performance in delivering e‐service and areas for improvement.
Antecedents and effects of engaged frontline employees
Authors: Slåtten Terje , Mehmetoglu Mehmet
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine factors related to employee engagement in frontline jobs in service firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was developed and tested on a survey in which 279 hospitality frontline employees participated.

Findings

The findings show that employee engagement is closely linked to employees' innovative behaviour. Accordingly, the study clearly reveals the value of having an engaged frontline workforce. Moreover, the results show that perceptions of role benefit, job autonomy, and strategic attention were all significantly related to greater employee engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This study limits its examination to the antecedents and effects of employee engagement for two types of service organizations.

Practical implications

The study has demonstrated the importance for managers of having an engaged workforce. In particular, it is important for managers to notice that engagement is a major driver to innovative behaviour. Consequently, one general and key practical implication from this study is the importance for mangers to measure regularly the engagement of their workforce.

Originality/value

This paper enhances one's knowledge of factors linked to employee engagement.
Dear Mr Chocolate
Authors: Zarantonello Lia , Luomala Harri T.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to advance theory‐building in the area of food consumption research, by exploring how consumers experience chocolate consumption in different contexts and by viewing these inductive findings in the light of the relevant existing body of knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study is conducted on a non‐student sample of Italian consumers. The qualitative diary research technique is used as it is particularly suitable to capturing sensations, feelings, thoughts, and behaviours related to various chocolate consumption contexts. Content analytical and interpretive principles are followed in the production of the study findings.

Findings

Chocolate generates rich and complex consumption experiences as a function of various contextual forces. Seven main contextual chocolate consumption categories are identified: context of physiological need, context of sensorial gratification, context of memories and nostalgia, context of escapism, context of materialism, context of chocoholism, and context of interpersonal and self‐gifts. On the basis of these chocolate consumption categories and ideas from past consumer behaviour research, four more general contextualized chocolate consumption experience types are extracted: chocolate consumption experience as medicine, as mind manoeuvring, as regression and as ritual enhancement.

Originality/value

Past research has not explored how different chocolate consumption contexts shape and define these experiences, even though contextual variation in food consumption experiences is recognized as important. The nuances of chocolate consumption in various contexts are explored to the unprecedented depth, a conceptually novel typology of contextualized chocolate consumption experiences is presented, the field of application of self‐congruity theory is expanded and the profiles of chocolate consumer segments identified by past research are enriched.
Safeguarding reputation through strategic, integrated and situational crisis communication management
Authors: Thiessen Ansgar , Ingenhoff Diana
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the often missing theoretical foundation of crisis communication from an integrated perspective on the micro, meso and macro level. Based on the theory of structuration, a systematic, integrative framework is developed for safeguarding organizational legitimization and multidimensional reputation through communication during crisis situations which is applicable both for profit and non‐profit organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Gidden's theory of structuration was chosen as a basis to develop the integrative model of crisis communication that proposes a communicative impact on reputation on a situative level of message strategies (micro level), an organizational level (meso level) and a societal level (macro level). A well‐organized crisis communication management on all of these levels is seen as the key communicative driver to safeguard long‐term organizational reputation.

Findings

The paper shows that successful crisis communication management must be conceptualized and addressed on distinctive levels of complexity. While on a message level (situative crisis communication) it creates meaning, crisis communication must be seen as management task on an organizational level (integrative crisis communication). However, in order to fully safeguard reputation in the long term and trustworthiness in the short term, crisis communication has also a societal component when addressing moral standards and norms (strategic crisis communication).

Research limitations/implications

The paper is a conceptual contribution which build the basis of a follow‐up empirical, experimental study where the proposed model is successfully tested.

Practical implications

For PR managers, this paper gives reasons to conceptualize crisis communication management, not only on a message strategy level, but also to take into consideration the organizational and societal levels.

Originality/value

The paper stands in line with the theoretical discourse of organizational crisis communication. So far, few approaches conceptualize organizational crisis communication thoroughly on an integrated level of different perspectives so that the paper provides an important input, pushing the discussion forward.
Does communicating corporate parent brand heritage help spin‐off stock performance?
Authors: Bhat Subodh , Burg Camilla Jane
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether communicating a corporate parent brand's heritage in the form of the name, slogan or other reference helps a corporate spin‐off increase its post‐divestiture stock market value.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected stock market valuation data on spin‐offs in the USA during the period 1992‐2004 both on the spin‐off date and a year from that date and compared the change in the spin‐off's stock market valuation to a change in a broad stock market index, the S&P 500.

Findings

It was found that a spin‐off did not outperform a broad market index over the one year after divestiture. Second, spin‐offs that relied on parent brand heritage did not outperform those that did so. Third, using a parent brand's name, a more direct reference to parent brand heritage, did not result in higher spin‐off valuation than using other parent identifiers such as tag lines or slogans.

Research limitations/implications

A major implication of the findings is that shareholders and investors may not be considering a corporate parent's brand equity in evaluating the investment value of a spin‐off, in stark contrast to repeated findings of the importance of a parent brand's equity in a consumer's evaluation of a brand extension.

Practical implications

The results suggest that corporate managers need not be concerned with communicating parent brand associations to investors at the time of a spin‐off, at least for the purpose of boosting its future stock valuation.

Originality/value

This paper analyses the importance of corporate brand equity in investors' evaluation of spin‐offs, the first extension of traditional branding research into the domain of investors and the use of effects like stock valuation.
Intellectual capital disclosure media in Portugal
Authors: Castelo Branco Manuel , Delgado Catarina , Sousa Cristina , Sá Manuel
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the internet and annual reports as media of intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) and analyse its determinants.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines ICD on the internet in 2009 and compares the internet and 2008 annual reports as disclosure media using content analysis. Non‐parametric statistical methods are used to analyse some factors which influence disclosure.

Findings

Portuguese companies attribute greater importance to the internet. The analysis showed that size is significant in explaining ICD only in the case of annual reports. The results also indicated that industrial affiliation is only partially a factor explaining ICD.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is small. There may be content analysis issues associated with subjectivity in the coding process and the use of a limited content analysis method.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the scarce research on ICD by Portuguese companies by providing new empirical data. This paper is one of the first to investigate ICD both in annual reports and on the internet.
Design‐for‐reliability implementation in microelectronics packaging development
Authors: Yang Liyu , Niu Rui , Xie Jinsong , Qian Bin , Song Baishi , Rong Qingan , Bernstein Joseph
Published: January 2011

Purpose

In today's electronic package development cycle, activities are managed by multiple participants in the supply chain, which might have different quality and reliability impacts to the end product. As a result, the reliability risk is much higher for companies who do not have insight into and/or control over the products received. The purpose of this paper is to show how design‐for‐reliability (DFR) approaches will come into play to manage the risk.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, DFR approaches for package development will be discussed from the perspective of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). DFR practices through the package development cycle will be described based on key development modules. A case study for flip chip ball gris array package development using an advanced Cu/Low‐k silicon technology will be presented. Key measures to help control the quality and improve the reliability will be presented.

Findings

The proposed methodology significantly improves component and package reliability through the engagement in design, manufacturing, assessment and system evaluation.

Originality/value

The paper discusses the research results and the proposed DFR methodology will be helpful for fabless design houses, electronics manufacturing service (EMS) partners in the supply chain, and OEMs to manage the reliability of the products.
The effect of low temperature thermal annealing on the properties of organic light‐emitting device
Authors: Zhang Chun‐lin , Zhang Yong , Wang Fang‐cong , Wei Ying , Jia Xiao‐yun , Liu Su
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of on device performance by selectively annealing ITO substrates and TPD:PVK layers of the OLED at different temperatures with a certain annealing time.

Design/methodology/approach

Thermal annealing was carried out on the ITO anode at different temperatures (150, 350, 500°C) with a constant time (100 min); but also before the deposition of the tris(8‐hydroxyquinolato) aluminum (Alq3) layer, at the same time, thermal treatment was carried out on the hole transporting layers (TPD:PVK layers) at different temperatures (70, 90, 110°C), and the annealing time was 30 min. We fabricated a novel device with the structure of Al/LiF/Alq3/TPD:PVK/NiO/ITO/Glass, and tested the sheet resistance, SEM and XRD of ITO anode after annealing, at the same we also tested the I‐V, L‐V and current efficiency characteristics of OLED.

Findings

When the TPD:PVK layers were annealed at 90°C with 30 min annealing time and ITO substrates were annealed at 350°C with a constant annealing time (100 min), we find that the OLED shows obvious performance improvement, which is attributable to the fact that annealing reduces defects and improves the interface structures of organics and organic/ITO interface. On the other hand, an annealing TPD:PVK layers would slow and even impede the transport of holes, and finally leads to more balanced electron and hole injection processes.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the annealing method can be used to prepare high‐performance organic light‐emitting device.
Organizational politics in new product development project selection
Authors: Weissenberger‐Eibl Marion A. , Teufel Benjamin
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Firms engaged in new product development (NPD) have to achieve a balanced portfolio of NPD projects. Despite the large number of models purporting to support portfolio optimization, most of them do not take into account political bias in project selection decisions. This paper aims to analyze approaches of organizational politics to NPD project selection and their implications for NPD portfolio management and future research.

Design/methodology/approach

A review is made of the current literature at the intersection between organizational politics and NPD project selection. With regard to the underlying assumptions of organizational politics, similarities, differences, practical implications, and research perspectives are identified.

Findings

From the paper, insights could be gained into explaining the effects of organizational politics on NPD project selection. However, the differences in assumptions that can be generally observed in organizational politics are also reflected in the studies analyzed. Future research could benefit from integrating different political and methodological perspectives.

Practical implications

In order to reach a balanced NPD portfolio, the potentially dysfunctional biases which characterize political processes from idea generation to project selection should be addressed. A concept of NPD portfolio management is proposed which considers the management of power and politics.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to a more comprehensive overview of political approaches of NPD project selection and serves as a sound basis for future research. The relevance and implications of politics for NPD portfolio management are demonstrated.
Firm‐level performance impact of IS support for product innovation
Authors: Zhang Michael J.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to assess the bottom‐line (profitability) impact of information systems support for product innovation at the firm level, based on the current resource‐based view of the competitive role of information systems (IS). The paper also explores the role of firm‐specific information and knowledge that complement IS support for product innovation in moderating the performance impact of the IS support.

Design/methodology/approach

Both survey and archival data were used to assess the profitability impact of IS support for product innovation. Data tapping IS support for product innovation and firm‐specific, complementary information and knowledge were collected from a survey of senior IS executives from 760 large companies operating in different industries in the United States. The profitability data were obtained from the Research Insight database. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

Providing IS support for product innovation alone did not improve profitability as measured by return on sales and return on assets. Only when complemented by firm‐specific information and knowledge would IS support for product innovation lead to profitability gains. Research limitations/implications – the use of cross‐sectional data collected from single informants and the coarse scales to measure the key variables may limit the usefulness of the research findings.

Practical implications

It is not sufficient for a firm to simply focus on selecting or designing IS that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its product development process. Rather, the firm and its managers need to pay equal attention to the deployment of firm‐specific information and knowledge resources which would not only facilitate the use and implementation of IS for production innovation, but also make such IS less susceptible to imitation by competitors.

Originality/value

This article provides further evidence for the positive influence of IS‐based product innovation on the bottom‐line performance of firms and uses the resource‐based view of the strategic impact of IS to identify one condition under which such influence may occur. Unlike prior research that gauges the performance effects of IS support for product innovation at the project or department level, this research generates evidence for profitability gains accruing from IS support at the firm level.
Resource fit in inter‐firm partnership: intellectual capital perspective
Authors: Peng Tzu‐Ju Ann
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Previous studies on strategic alliance and network have not paid sufficient attention to resource fit based on intellectual capital perspective. This study aims at understanding the input resources and transformation in a dyadic inter‐firm partnership, given different types of value logics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a multiple case study approach by in‐depth interviews in three inter‐firm cooperative cases, which represent three different types of value‐creating logics – value chain, value shop, and value network. This study applies the intellectual capital navigator (ICN) to analyze the resource transformation among human capital, organizational capital, relational capital, physical capital, and monetary capital that was produced by two sides in three inter‐firm partnerships.

Findings

The results show that: given value chain logic, while the inter‐firm partnership emphasizes standardization, efficiency and economy of scale, resource fit in physical, monetary, and organizational capital forms the basis of value creation; given value shop logic, while the inter‐firm partnership emphasizes problem solution and economy of scope, resource fit in human and organizational capital forms the basis of value creation; and, given value network logic, while the inter‐firm partnership emphasizes network economic behavior, resource fit in human, organizational, and relational capital forms the basis of value creation.

Research limitations/implications

Taking the unit of analysis at dyad level, this study demonstrates the detailed resources contributed by the focal company and its partners based on different value logics.

Practical implications

This study extends the use of the intellectual capital approach for analyzing the resource fit in the inter‐firm context.

Originality/value

Theoretically, this study contributes as a starting‐point for analyzing the resource input and transformation in the inter‐organizational context by using an intellectual capital approach. Practically, this study contributes to more practical references so as to reveal, given different types of value‐creating logic, how two partnering companies can manage and deploy their intellectual capital and traditional resources in order to fit in the inter‐firm cooperation.
Using 360 degree peer review to validate self‐reporting in human capital measurement
Authors: Massingham Peter , Nguyet Que Nguyen Thi , Massingham Rada
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the subjectivity inherent in existing methods of human capital value measurement (HCVM) by proposing a 360‐degree peer review as a method of validating self‐reporting in HCVM surveys.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study is based on a survey of a section of the Royal Australian Navy. The sample was 118 respondents, who were mainly engineering and technical workers, and included both civilian and uniform.

Findings

The research may be summarised in three main findings. First, it confirms previous research demonstrating that correlations between self‐ and other‐ratings tend to be low. However, while previous research has found that self‐rating tends to be higher than other‐rating, it was found to be the opposite: other‐rating was higher than self‐rating. Second, personality is discounted as an influencing variable in self‐rating of knowledge. Third, there are patterns in the size of the discrepancy by knowledge dimension (i.e. employee capability, employee sustainability) that allow generalisation about the adjustment necessary to find an accurate self‐other rating of knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on a single case study and are therefore an exercise in theory development rather than theory testing.

Practical implications

The 360‐degree peer review rating of knowledge has considerable application. First, use the outcomes in the way 360‐degree feedback has been traditionally used; i.e. identifying training needs assessment, job analysis, performance appraisal, or managerial and leadership development. Second, use it for performance appraisal – given the method's capacity to identify issues at a very finite level: e.g. are you building effective relationships with customers? Third, identify knowledge gaps, at a strategic level, for recruitment and development targets. Finally, in terms of financial decisions investors might be able to compare knowledge scores by organization.

Originality/value

Traditionally, researchers and practitioners have used other‐ratings as a tool for identifying training and development needs. In this paper, other‐ratings have been introduced as a method for validating self‐rating in the measurement of knowledge. The objective was to address one of the weaknesses in existing methods – subjectivity. The solution to this problem was to use three data points – self‐reporting, 360‐degree peer review, and personality ratings – to validate the measurement of individuals’ human capital. This triangulation method aims to introduce objectivity to survey methods, making it a value measurement rather than value assessment.
The overlapping of national IC and innovation systems
Authors: Hervas‐Oliver Jose‐Luis , Rojas Ronald , Martins Blanca‐Maria , Cervelló‐Royo Roberto
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to present a focus for identifying the convergence between the theory of the intellectual capital of nations and that of the National Systems of Innovation from the literature of innovation systems, with the aim of providing a more robust theoretical framework to explore the drivers of intangibles and the policies which foster competitiveness through the development of the national intellectual capital platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

Selecting 28 indicators which best fit the analyzed theoretic principles and taking into account the member countries of the European Union as a sample (15) with the data taken from the IMD, a simple analysis of the seven‐year (2000‐2006) window was carried out to compare the intangibles pointed out in the two aforementioned perspectives.

Findings

The homogeneity of the results using models of measurement of intellectual capital of countries with those obtained through the models of the National Systems of Innovation prove the considerable convergence between these two theoretic fields, validating the hypotheses proposed in the study.

Research limitations/implications

The system provided is not an exhaustive use of all the available measures and countries. A more comprehensive practical application on more countries and indicators would be necessary to validate the model.

Practical implications

The study has implications for the business, politicians and academia. The study opens new lines of research in the sense that it advocates a theoretical approximation and the integration of the abundant literature on the National Systems of Innovation as basic drivers to explain the intangibles at a macro level, their management and politics related to the maintaining and renewal of said assets of intellectual capital.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, so far no study analyzing this convergence has been designed or published. This paper extends and adds robustness to the national IC measurement model to help policymakers and scholars.
The impact of intellectual capital on firms' market value and financial performance
Authors: Maditinos Dimitrios , Chatzoudes Dimitrios , Tsairidis Charalampos , Theriou Georgios
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Intellectual capital (IC) shows a significant growing acceptance as a worthy topic of academic investigation and practical implication. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of IC on firms' market value and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data were drawn from a panel consisting of 96 Greek companies listed in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), from four different economic sectors, observed over the three‐year period of 2006 to 2008. Various regression models were examined in order to test the hypotheses included in the proposed conceptual framework.

Findings

Results failed to support most of the hypotheses; only concluding that there is a statistically significant relationship between human capital efficiency and financial performance. Despite the fact that IC is increasingly recognised as an important strategic asset for sustainable corporate competitive advantage, the results of the present study give rise to various arguments, criticism and further research on the subject.

Research limitations/implications

The lack of available data for the appropriate analysis, the investigation of four sectors of economic activity and the relatively narrow three‐year period for data collection are the main limitations of the present study.

Practical implications

Results proved that, in the Greek business context, the development of human resources seems to be one of the most significant factors of economic success. Focusing on human capital should, therefore, be at the centre of the companies' attention.

Originality/value

The present study combines previous methodologies in order to investigate certain causal relationships considering the IC of Greek listed companies. The value of the paper is the empirical investigation of these relationships in the context of the Greek economy and the enrichment of the literature with another paper that follows the value‐added intellectual coefficient methodology for the measurement of IC.
Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Budapest: changing entrepreneurial effects and forms
Authors: Wong Loong , Primecz Henriett
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore the migration dynamics that have characterized Chinese immigration in Budapest and the migrants' understanding of their own position in relation to the Chinese diaspora. The paper also aims to discuss the interaction of the local economy and resources of the Chinese migrants to form viable network communities.

Design/methodology/approach

The ideas of market embeddedness and the critical role of market opportunities are critically evaluated in the context of local practices. The paper seeks to show that the “new” entrepreneur is an active and creative social actor able to utilize, mobilize and control resources in different countries to achieve business opportunities and growth for him/herself.

Findings

It is shown that globalization has spawned “new” transnational spaces and enabled migrant Chinese entrepreneurs to thrive and grow their businesses. This is a new trend and clearly suggests that a qualitatively different migration trajectory is evolving; and theoretically, analysts of globalization and entrepreneurial development have to better account for the different trajectories of entrepreneurial forms.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that this “new” migrant entrepreneurship trend is qualitatively different and marks a “new” development and it is a consequence of economic globalization and the transnationalization of business and economic activities.
Relationships, cooperation and development in a Brazilian industrial cluster
Authors: Oprime Pedro C. , Martins Tristão Hélcio , Lopes Pimenta Márcio
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The objective of this study is to analyse and propose alternatives to the lack of integration and cooperation of industrial firms in a Brazilian cluster of the jewelry sector. The relationships between the functional factors and the surrounding factors of the cluster are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on a face‐to‐face survey that established relationships between the internal factor/variables of the companies, the cluster and the external environment's factor/variables.

Findings

It was found that integration and cooperation are essential for the development of a cluster since it stimulates the use of local resources. High levels of clusters' inter‐firm integration may represent high levels of operational efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations related to generalizations, but it can be said that the statistical tools applied to characterize the companies' subgroups in a cluster proved valid. In view of this, further research on other local productive systems is suggested in order to strengthen the propositions making use of the same tools described in this study.

Practical implications

The findings indicate the need for strategic actions by the companies in order to seize opportunities to promote local innovation.

Originality/value

The paper indicates an enterprise's classification according to the characteristics of the company's competitive strategy.
A project manager's optimism and stress management and IT project success
Authors: Smith D.C. , Bruyns M. , Evans S.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine how the soft competencies of an information technology (IT) project manager, specifically optimism and stress, can affect project success.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was exploratory. Experienced IT project managers were requested to relate a “structured” story regarding a significant, personal experience relating to optimism or stress and how this affected the project outcome. In total, eight stories were captured on the optimism theme and five on stress. Themes from these stories were identified.

Findings

Qualitative analysis of the stories identified several project managers' optimism themes that strongly influenced IT project success. In addition, it was concluded that IT project success was both positively and negatively influenced by stress. To improve their chances of project success, it was concluded that IT project managers should have a positive but realistic degree of optimism based on a well‐accepted project plan. Whilst the project team should expect and embrace stress during the project, this should be carefully managed.

Originality/value

Six important project management practical activities were deduced from the analysis which could assist project managers and their teams to better handle optimism and stress. These activities, when applied effectively, could lead to improved project outcomes.
Not all demand oil shocks are alike: disentangling demand oil shocks in the crude oil market
Authors: Li Zhuo , Zhao Hui
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to re‐examine the structural origins of international crude oil price fluctuation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper establishes a structural vector autoregression model based on the generalized supply and demand analysis of crude oil price fluctuation and performance the structural decomposition of price shocks with impulse response analysis of those factors.

Findings

It is found that four kinds of structural shocks derived from the generalized supply and demand analysis are the essential determinants of crude oil prices fluctuation. On one hand, similar to Kilian's results, the supply side shocks – both the exogenous geopolitical ones and other oil supply shocks have little influence. Whereas, the demand side shocks – both the aggregate demand shock and the oil market specific demand shock have prominent effects. On the other hand, with the expanded sample range, it is found that the dynamic characteristic of the impulse response of oil price to demand side factors is not only incompatible with the basic economic theory, but also clashes with Kilian's statement based upon his research. It is conjured that the incompatibility comes from the ignorance of the finer decomposition of demand side factors. To decompose those demand side factors further, the US dollar liquidity was added into the model. The results show that the impact of US dollar liquidity on the fluctuation of oil prices cannot be ignored. The argument that ascribes the soaring international crude oil price to China's economic growth lacks theoretical and empirical evidence.

Originality/value

The paper contributes marginally to the research on the structural origins of international crude oil price fluctuation and sheds light on the possibility of finer decomposition of demand side oil shocks.
Testing geographic and economic distance of agglomeration economies
Authors: Hong Junjie
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test geographic and economic distance of industrial agglomeration.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a recent census database in China, we estimate the production function of Chinese firms, focusing on the impact of agglomeration economies.

Findings

The estimation results provide strong evidence that agglomeration effects decline with increasing geographic and economic distance.

Originality/value

Previous studies examine agglomeration effects at certain geographic and industrial level, but largely ignore that agglomeration benefit may be different at different levels of geography and industry. This paper contributes to the literature by examining the geographic and economic distance of agglomeration economies, and shows a clear pattern on geographic and industrial scope of agglomeration economies.
Dividends and tunneling: evidence from family firms in China
Authors: Xu'nan Feng
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the motive of family‐controlled firms to pay cash dividends in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Using some econometrical models, the paper designs and conducts a series of empirical research on cash dividends behavior, thus acquiring credible empirical data.

Findings

Using a sample of 204 family firms, the motive of family‐controlled firms to pay cash dividends was investigated. Dividend ratio was found to decrease with the separation of ultimate ownership and control right; this may reflect the tunneling motive of the family owners. Different from others, it was also found that high‐growth firms pay more dividends and that the family doing so may want to build a high reputation for the friendly treatment of minority investors for future financing.

Practical implications

The paper discusses investor protection matters in China.

Originality/value

The paper' findings provide policy implications for corporate governance reform and capital market development in China.
A new topical formulation enhances relative diclofenac bioavailability in healthy male subjects
Authors: Brunner Martin , Davies David , Martin Wolfgang , Leuratti Chiara , Lackner Edith , Müller Markus
Published: January 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Therapy with topical non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relies on the ability of the active drug to penetrate the skin in sufficiently high amounts to exert a clinical effect, which is linked to the specific galenic properties of the formulation.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• This phase 1 study characterizes the transdermal penetration and plasma exposure of different dose levels with galenic differences of a novel topical diclofenac formulation under development and indicates greater diclofenac penetration through the skin when compared with a commercially available formulation.

AIMS To evaluate the relative plasma and tissue availability of diclofenac after repeated topical administration of a novel diclofenac acid‐based delivery system under development (DCF100C).

METHODS This was a single‐centre, open‐label, three‐period, crossover clinical trial of five discrete diclofenac formulations. Test preparations comprised two concentrations (1.0% and 2.5%) of DCF100C, with and without menthol and eucalyptus oil (total daily doses of 5 mg and 12.5 mg). Voltaren® Emulgel® gel (1.0%) was the commercially available comparator (total daily dose of 40 mg). Topical application was performed onto the thigh of 20 male healthy subjects for 3 days. Applying a Youden square design, each drug was evaluated in 12 subjects, with each subject receiving three test preparations. Blood sampling and in vivo microdialysis in subcutaneous adipose and skeletal muscle tissues were performed for 10 h after additional final doses on the morning of day 4.

RESULTS All four DCF100C formulations demonstrated a three‐ to fivefold, dose‐dependent increase in systemic diclofenac availability compared with Voltaren® Emulgel® and were approximately 30–40 times more effective at facilitating diclofenac penetration through the skin, taking different dose levels into account. Tissue concentrations were low and highly variable. The 2.5% DCF100C formulation without sensory excipients reached the highest tissue concentrations. AUC(0,10 h) was 2.71 times greater than for Voltaren® Emulgel® (90% CI 99.27, 737.46%). Mild erythema at the application site was the most frequent adverse event associated with DCF100C. There were no local symptoms after treatment with the reference formulation.

CONCLUSION DCF100C formulations were safe and facilitated greater diclofenac penetration through the skin compared with the commercial comparator. DCF100C represents a promising alternative to oral and topical diclofenac treatments that warrants further development.