bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BRICOland brands: the rise of the new multinationals
Authors: Bell James
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate to business leaders in the developed world that many powerful brands are rising in the emerging economies; to indicate how those incumbents' branding approaches will need to adapt as a result.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses empirical findings, segmentation into three accessible categories of fast‐rising brands, and third‐party research on the multipolar world to show that the twenty‐first century's “powerhouse” brands are as likely to come from emerging markets such as China, Turkey, Qatar, South Africa, and Brazil as from the USA, Japan and Europe.

Findings

The paper states that the dominant brands of the twenty‐first century are far less likely to be household names like IBM and Coca‐Cola and much more likely to be brands that today are relatively unfamiliar in the West – names such as SABIC and Emaar and Ülker. The paper argues that the rise of these emerging‐market brands will change the way that business leaders in the developed world will have to shape their marketing strategies over the next decade. The paper quickly establishes the range and pace of growth of emerging‐market brands and points out that business leaders today must think beyond old notions of developing markets in the BRIC nations – Brazil, Russia, India, and China, to consider fast‐growing companies in the “O” (for “other”) economies of eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The paper places the so‐called “BRICOland” brands in three categories: Emerging Giants – the industrial and conglomerate brands that are largely growing through acquisition to become major global players; New Champions – the brands with domestic scale which are venturing beyond their borders, leveraging cost and scale advantages to offer compelling value; and Arabian Knights – the relatively new, outward‐looking brands powered by Arab sovereign wealth and characterized by magnitude of vision and rapidity of growth.

Practical implications

The paper's rich examples, together with its six‐step recommendations for managers of emerging brands, create a pressing case for careful planning by developing‐world executives now crafting their companies' global brand strategies.

Originality/value

This paper is aimed at business leaders of the emerging brands as well as “C‐suite” executives from the developed world who can benefit from clearly understanding how brand battles will intensify worldwide. The paper's greatest value lies in its many illustrations of brands that are rapidly rising to prominence outside their domestic markets.
Finance is everything: advice from turnaround managers
Authors: Kierulff Herbert , Petersen Henry L.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

There are many reasons why companies drift – or plunge – into financial disaster. Factors such as market share loss, excess debt, management problems, technology changes or credit fluctuations can all play roles. In fact, the number of risks facing corporate officers is enormous today and simply keeping abreast of it all is a colossal task. As a result, not all managers and firms can cope, often resulting in a turnaround situation. The purpose of this paper is to highlight what sets successful turnarounds apart from failures and the most frequent underlying causes of the problems faced by companies in turnaround situations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper makes use of previous literature and work with clients to identify a relevant top ten list of management practices for keeping companies out of trouble.

Findings

The academic and professional literature on turnarounds leaves many unanswered questions with respect to what sets successful turnarounds apart from failures. This paper describes ten basic lessons the authors have learned in turning around companies that managements can use to keep their companies healthy.

Originality/value

This paper sets the stage for identifying fundamental, but often overlooked, management practices that lead to financial crisis. Given the disparity in the literature on turnaround success‐rates, the authors suggest that this paper contributes to this literature and also provides unique and timely advice for practitioners.
Chief Synergy Officer
Authors: Jackson Stuart E.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Chief strategy officers (CSOs) or other executives in similar roles have a range of responsibilities in the organization, often including communicating corporate strategy to key stakeholders, promoting decision making that sustains change and engendering commitment to strategic plans. This paper aims to suggest that the CSO often adds the most value to the organization by identifying and helping to capture synergies from different products and services the company can provide. In essence, playing the role of chief synergy officer.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper a number of case examples of businesses that have been able to unlock new sources of value by changing the scope of how the company meets customer needs are considered. Example businesses cited in the paper include automated vending services, travel agency, financial services and social networking. The paper then draws lessons that can be applied broadly across any business seeking to increase efficiency and value by changing the scope of services offered.

Findings

Executives with responsibility for strategy should not assume that the role of increasing the firm's efficiency is only the job of those with operating responsibilities. CSOs can support this objective through business synergies that come from changing the scope of what the company does. Often this can come from expansion into new activities where overlapping functions (sales, contracting, sourcing, research and development, etc.) can be shared, thereby spreading indirect costs across multiple products, customer groups, channels or parts of a vertically integrated firm. The paper also provides a number of lessons for achieving this successfully.

Originality/value

Business managers that have responsibility for strategy should not think of themselves as only documenting and communicating strategic plans. Instead they should emphasize identifying ways to improve the efficiency and value of the firm by changing the scope of its activities, and capturing untapped synergies between functions and business lines
Obliterate knowledge management: everyone is a knowledge manager!
Authors: Kambil Ajit
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Knowledge assets are a critical basis of competition, but knowledge management (KM) often fails to deliver in effectively growing the value of these assets. This paper aims to lay out four shifts required to make knowledge management more effective.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper defines four shifts likely in the evolution of KM: “Knowledge Clouds” where knowledge assets within and outside the company become permeable and interconnected in a cloud computing environment; the use of social media and ratings to co‐create user generated ratings, taxonomies and collective organization of knowledge; integrating KM with learning and decision support so users are better empowered to learn, decide and do useful things with knowledge; and everybody becomes a knowledge manager and is clear about how the can contribute to the creation, projection, organization and use of knowledge of assets within and outside the walls of the company.

Findings

The paper presents clear reasons KM is vital to the future of business, but probably best obliterated now.

Originality/value

Much of the discussion on KM is centered on the firm. This paper pushes forth provocatively to suggest that the future of KM is best served by obliterating centralized KM to create a more social process where everyone is a knowledge manager.
Think the thinkable
Authors: Marren Patrick
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance of anticipation rather than prediction in business strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of an opinion column.

Findings

This column attempts to demonstrate that supplementing standard strategy with a right‐brain, inductive examination of the basic working assumptions of the organization is the best way to anticipate catastrophe.

Originality/value

The paper presents an historic perspective on catastrophe and change that may be unavailable elsewhere.
Is a “star” worth a thousand words?
Authors: Tsang Alex S.L. , Prendergast Gerard
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the interplay of valences (positive or negative) between review texts and ratings affects consumers' reactions to the reviews and the product being assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental design with hypothetical movie reviews was used to investigate how inconsistent text‐rating reviews affect people's intention to consume a particular product and their perceptions of the review itself.

Findings

It was found that text valences (positive or negative) significantly influence how subjects perceive the interestingness and trustworthiness of reviews. The texts also have an influence on the subjects' movie‐attendance intention compatible with their valence. In addition, a cross‐over interaction was found between texts and ratings that affects a review's trustworthiness.

Research limitations/implications

The study enriches understanding of consumer decision making when different formats of information about the same object are presented.

Practical implications

Marketers can benefit by incorporating review texts and rating valences to enhance the prediction accuracy of their products' sales performances. Review publishers can get a better understanding of how to present their reviews to enhance their perceived interestingness and trustworthiness.

Originality/value

Product reviews are commonly found in the mass media. These reviews use ratings as evaluative summaries of the texts. However, little research has been conducted regarding the communication effects that the ratings have in relation to the texts. The study seeks to fill this gap.
Can marketing practice keep up with Europe's ageing population?
Authors: Thompson Nicholas J. , Thompson Keith E.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw the attention of managers and academics to the extent of demographic changes now occurring in the European Union, specifically the ongoing change from a young consumer base to one in which most adult consumers are aged over 50. It seeks to explain the nature of the challenge and highlight the need for further research.

Design/methodology/approach

Both academic and practitioner sources are synthesised in order to identify and describe the issues, and explore the actions that could be taken to adapt to and profit from the changing demographic environment.

Findings

Current marketing practice evolved against the background of the post‐war baby boom, a demographic aberration which resulted in an exceptional era during which consumer markets were dominated by youth, and marketing practice by advertising and other promotional activity. The paper also argues that the subsequent ageing of the consumer base will require businesses to place more emphasis on the customer‐centric model of marketing generally espoused by management scientists.

Practical implications

The paper identifies a major shift in the demographic base of consumer markets, outlines the implications for marketing practice and proposes ways in which businesses can adapt.

Originality/value

The overwhelming majority of discussion on, and research into, the phenomenon of population ageing and its impact on markets originates from the USA, despite the fact that Europe faces a far greater challenge. The paper alerts both academics and practitioners to the nature and scale of the demographic change occurring in the European Union, discusses appropriate corporate responses and calls for further research into the neglected area of older consumers.
Differentiation and silver medal winner effects
Authors: Caruana Albert , Pitt Leyland F. , Berthon Pierre , Page Michael
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to consider business schools and to elicit whether, in seeking differentiation, rankings are more desirable than brand personality and whether silver medal winner effects exist in the perceptions of brand personalities.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature on reputation, identity, differentiation, brand personality and its measurement is reviewed. In seeking to determine the role of rankings and the presence of silver medal effects two survey data collections among business schools are conducted using the identified brand personality instrument.

Findings

Results highlight the importance of a distinctive differentiation positioning and show that reputation reflected in published rankings are able to provide counterfactuals that can influence consumer emotions and help establish preferences. Silver medal effects are found to play an important role.

Originality/value

These results emphasise the point that it is simply not enough to be ranked highly. What seems to be more critical is to be perceived as different. It appears that brand personality rather than reputation in terms of ranking is more strongly related to customers' expressed preferences. The results also illustrate the need to understand and deal with the challenge faced by marketing managers when silver medal effects are present.
Female role stereotypes in print advertising
Authors: Plakoyiannaki Emmanuella , Zotos Yorgos
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is three‐fold: to provide recent evidence in the UK on the frequency of appearance of female role portrayals in print advertisements; to compare female role stereotypes across magazine types; and to explore the interface between female role stereotypes and product categories.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative approach to content analysis was used in order to analyze advertising communication in print media. The sample consisted of n=3,830 advertisements published in ten high circulation UK magazines.

Findings

The study indicates that women in UK magazine advertisements are mainly portrayed in decorative roles; and that female role stereotypes vary significantly across magazine types. The findings also suggest that there is an association between product categories and female role stereotypes.

Practical implications

The study highlights the need for the advertising industry in the UK to adjust its communication practices to the changing role of women in society.

Originality/value

The study extends research in the area of female role stereotypes in print advertising by considering the frequency of female role portrayals across different magazine types; and investigating the association between product categories and female role stereotypes.
High quality and low cost: the lean service centre
Authors: Piercy Niall , Rich Nick
Published: November 2009

Purpose

There are two objectives of this paper: first, to examine the application of lean production improvement techniques to the pure‐service context; and, second, to evaluate the contribution of lean production techniques to services marketing improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

Three case companies from the UK financial services sector are tracked through the process of lean improvement. Analysis of management change of a common process within each company forms the basis of the investigation.

Findings

Research findings highlight that, through the adoption of lean service tools, service call centres can serve the traditionally competing priorities both of operational cost reduction and of increased customer service quality. The lean approach is validated in the service context and proposed as a valuable addition to traditional service marketing approaches to services improvement.

Practical implications

The techniques described are easily replicable by academics, practitioners and managers and can be applied to a wide range of service centres or service businesses. In the contemporary marketplace, the difficulty of delivering quality service at any costs suggests that there is a great opportunity for the business that can deliver better service at a reduced cost of operation.

Originality/value

Lean transformation in the manufacturing sector is well established. However, the use of lean improvement tools to improve the quality of service delivery within the service sector is relatively new, with limited understanding of approaches and benefits in the academic or managerial arenas. In addition, coverage of lean tools is still rare in the marketing literature.
Cross‐national segmentation
Authors: Bruning Edward R. , Hu Michael Y. , Hao Wei (Andrew)
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to propose an approach to international market segmentation that identifies meaningful cross‐national consumer segments, which focuses on airline passengers in the NAFTA market.

Design/methodology/approach

A conjoint analysis is used to evaluate consumers' preferences for six flight attributes: price, in‐flight service, number of stops before destination, on‐time performance, frequent flyer programme, and country of airline. A cluster analysis based on the relative importance scores of each of the six flights attributes then identifies five segments that prioritize similar product attributes within each country.

Findings

A representative sample of 4,787 airline passengers from the three countries reveal that price is the most important attribute for consumers from the USA and Canada, while on‐time performance is the most important attribute for Mexican consumers. A cluster analysis identifies five segments that prioritize similar product attributes within each country. It is also found that there are five cross‐national consumer segments in the NAFTA market that are homogeneous in terms of consumer preferences but heterogeneous in terms of relative group size and demographic variables.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on a purposive sample, which limits the ability to generalize to the whole population with any known degree of precision.

Practical implications

The research produces practical operational information on each segment that is translatable into strategy, specifically in terms of positioning, promotion, and targeting of the airline service.

Originality/value

The paper sheds light on the nature of cross‐national segmentation in the NAFTA air passengers market and the resulting cross‐national segmentation will be highly relevant for international marketing management.
Competence across Europe: highest common factor or lowest common denominator?
Authors: Winterton Jonathan
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore diversity in competence models across Europe and consider the extent to which there is sufficient common ground for a common European approach to underpin the European Qualifications Framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a literature review and interviews with policy makers.

Findings

Despite the central role of competence in policy initiatives, conceptual approaches to competence vary not only between but also within different member states. This diversity embodies not only language issues but also fundamental cultural differences in approaches to skill formation. Whether the models have sufficient common ground to permit a “best‐fit” European‐wide approach is open to question, although this is clearly an essential prerequisite for removing barriers to labour mobility. Despite initiatives like the European Qualifications Framework there is still no consensus for adopting a common competence model and policy discussions continue to reveal confusion.

Research limitations/implications

The focus on policy discussions at the European level may be a limitation, and readers should see this as the introductory scene setting to more detailed discussions in the following papers of important developments within member states. Beyond this, much is happening at the level of sectors and occupations that is the focus for practical implementation.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the urgent need to develop a coherent conceptual underpinning for competence descriptors in qualifications frameworks that will work as a best‐fit approach across Europe. Without this, occupational and inter‐sector mobility will be hindered.

Originality/value

The paper offers the most comprehensive assessment of European approaches to competence to date.
Compétence: conceptual approach and practice in France
Authors: Le Deist Françoise
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyse the conceptual approaches to competence and practice in competence management in France.

Design/methodology/approach

Extensive literature review, discussion with academic experts in the French competence network of AGRH and interviews concerning developments following the 2003 national agreement with officials of the major trade unions and employers' associations.

Findings

The conceptual approach to competence is formally comprehensive and incorporates key dimensions of the other dominant competence models. Extensive academic debate on competence does not appear to be mirrored in practice within establishments. Nevertheless, competence management has been given a major stimulus by recent legislation designed to promote lifelong learning and competence is at the centre of the reform of the training and qualifications systems.

Research limitations/implications

It is still too early to assess the extent of adoption of competence management overall in the economy but there is increasing evidence that the techniques are becoming diffused throughout the economy from leading edge cases, often larger enterprises, to smaller firms and establishments.

Practical implications

This paper provides valuable information for practitioners engaging with organisations in France.

Originality/value

This paper gives a summary of the state of the art of competence management in France.
Organising workplace learning: an inter‐organisational perspective
Authors: Svensson Lennart , Randle Hanne , Bennich Maria
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that both the supply‐based model and the demand‐based form of vocational education and training (VET) have their limitations and propose a “third way” in which reflective learning in the workplace is a central ingredient.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected from several studies of VET programmes in Sweden based on individual and group interviews, a survey and continuous participation in developmental work. The paper uses an interactive research approach in the research design.

Findings

The paper proposes a “third way” that tries to overcome the deficiencies of both the supply‐ and demand‐based strategies for VET by developing a more equal balance in the relationship between the education and workplace systems. Collaboration and partnership between education providers and progressive workplaces are core elements.

Research limitations/implications

The paper tries to connect activities and changes at the organisational, inter‐organisational and institutional levels of the VET system. It is argued that changes at different levels are strongly interconnected and necessary to an understanding of the prerequisites for workplace learning. These vertical relationships form the main focus of future research.

Practical implications

It is argued that changes in the VET system should be initiated using a “bottom up” approach, start at the local level, and include change at all levels. The “bottom up” approach should include a combined employer, employee and service‐user perspective. It requires that learning issues are solved in a partnership that represents both the supply side of education and the demand side of working life.

Originality/value

Inter‐organisational relations need to be based on equal, mutual and trustful relationships between the education and workplace systems in order to support a sustainable change process.
Competence and competency in the EQF and in European VET systems
Authors: Brockmann Michaela , Clarke Linda , Winch Christopher
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Though the notion of competence is common terminology in European VET policy at national and supra‐national level, understandings vary widely, both across countries and within. The particular conceptions of competence adopted in the EQF are themselves problematic and the framework allows for a variety of interpretations. The purpose of this paper is to clarify those applied in the EQF and the vocational education and qualifications systems of particular European countries and to contribute to the development of a transnational understanding of the term, one which is compatible with a rapidly changing labour market.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on evidence from work funded by the Nuffield Foundation entitled “Cross‐national Equivalence of Vocational Skills and Qualifications”, the paper explores the various conceptions of competence in the EQF and the national systems – in particular in the sectors of construction, ICT and health – of England, Germany, France and The Netherlands.

Findings

Interpretations are located on a continuum from the comprehensive occupational model traditionally found in many European countries to the task‐focused model of the English NVQ system.

Research limitations/implications

Much developmental work involving all stakeholders is necessary to arrive at a commonly agreed conception. A broad understanding of competence would relate to the potential of labour, itself determined through the occupational capacity embodied in the qualification.

Practical implications

Zones of Mutual Trust need to be based on transnational categories of VET.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in seeking to go beyond identifying differences by developing transnational categories and suggesting the nature of Zones of Mutual Trust for implementing the EQF.
Evolution of competence concept in Lithuania: from VET reform to development of National Qualifications System
Authors: Laužackas Rimantas , Tūtlys Vidmantas , Spūdytė Irma
Published: November 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the development of the concept of competence in Lithuania beginning from the period of transition from the Soviet planned economy and post‐totalitarian regime to the market economy and democratic society and ending with the designing and implementation of the National Qualifications System and Qualifications Framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of desktop research of scientific literature and analysis of documents related to competences and qualifications in Lithuania.

Findings

The understanding of competence in Lithuania varies between the official usage in the laws and policy documents, common usage in education institutions and the approaches of employers, and this differentiation of understanding is caused by complex reasons related to the development of education, world of work and society in the socio‐economic transformations. In the National Qualifications System and National Framework of Qualifications of Lithuania competences are understood to be a bridge between the system of activities and the system of education.

Research limitations/implications

The research involves mainly those concepts of competence that are originated by different social stakeholders and have influence on the processes of initial and continuing vocational training in Lithuania. All different scientific concepts of competence proposed by different scholars and circulating only in the scientific discourse have not been considered.

Practical implications

The article provides useful information for the policy makers and different stakeholders looking for information on the existing variety of the concepts of competences in Lithuania.

Originality/value

The paper provides a discourse that integrates the various complex conceptual and contextual issues related to the concept of competence.
Studies on the film characteristics of polyesteramide resins based on hydroxy ethyl fatty acid amide
Authors: Mistry Sukhen , Agarwal Devendra
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the synthesizing of polyesteramide (PEA) resins using an acid functional acrylic copolymer (ACR) and hydroxy ethyl fatty amide (HEFA) of dehydrated castor oil (DCO) and to study the effect of HEFA on the performance properties of the coating films of PEA resins.

Design/methodology/approach

The PEA resins are synthesised by using ACR (synthesised by using butyl methacrylate (BMA) and maleic anhydride (MA)), and HEFA. Different formulations are developed by using ACR and HEFA. The coatings are made using xylene/acetone as a solvent. These coatings are applied on mild steel panels and are cured at 110°C. Various mechanical, optical and chemical properties of the coating films are evaluated.

Findings

The study reveals that, HEFA of DCO is used successfully as a cross‐linking agent for the ACR to form the PEA resins. Incorporation of long chain fatty acid (C18) moieties of the fatty amide in the PEA resins backbone is thought to serve as flexibliser, which lead to improved mechanical and chemical properties of the films. The optimum results are obtained from composition three of copolymer A having (3:1) (ACR:HEFA) molar ratio.

Research limitations/implications

The PEA resins synthesised here are made up of ACR (synthesised by using BMA and MA), and HEFA of DCO. Besides, this ACRs can be synthesised from acrylic acid. In addition to this, one can also use HEFA synthesised from other oils.

Practical implications

This method provides a simple solution for the synthesis of PEA resins and resulting to their improved mechanical properties. The developed product is also an environment friendly product.

Originality/value

The method developed here for the synthesis of PEA resins form ACRs and HEFA is unique and can be used as an effective surface coating material. These studies will help to develop low volatile organic compounds product which could find numerous industrial applications in surface coatings for metal surfaces.
Effect of modifier and filler concentration on properties of epoxy‐red mud waste composite
Authors: Samanta Bidhan , Maity Tithi
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the concentration effect of liquid amine terminated poly (ethylene glycol) benzoate (ATPEGB) modifiers and red mud waste filler on mechanical and thermal properties of cured epoxy along with the optimum result of modified epoxy.

Design/methodology/approach

For effective toughening, different compositions are made by adding various concentration of ATPEGB to epoxy. The concentration of 2, 5 and 10 parts per 100 parts of epoxy resin of aluminium silicate‐based pristine red mud waste is incorporated into each modified epoxy matrix. These filled modified matrixes are cured with ambient temperature curing agent triethylene tetramine and are evaluated with respect to their impact, tensile and flexural strengths. The morphology is analysed by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. The thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis is also reported.

Findings

The modification of epoxy resin using ATPEGB and filler shows significant enhancement of mechanical strength over unmodified epoxy. The increase depends on concentration of the modifier and filler. The reason behind this is that in the initial stage of curing the ATPEGB are miscible with the epoxy and form a homogeneous solution. This good mixing promotes the chemical reaction and network formation. During the curing process, as the molecular weight increases, the component separates within the reaction medium to form a second dispersed phase.

Research limitations/implications

This paper discusses only ATPEGB synthesised by using poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) of 200, 400 and 600 and only one filler red mud waste. Besides these, by changing the molecular weight of PEG, other ATPEGB could be synthesised and the efficiency of modification of epoxy resin using these modifiers and other filler besides red mud waste could also be studied.

Originality/value

This paper regarding concentration effect of modifier and filler is novel and ATPEGB modified filled epoxy could be used in the fields of coating, casting, adhesives, potting and encapsulation of semiconductor devices.
Words not actions! The ideological role of sustainable development reporting
Authors: Milne Markus J. , Tregidga Helen , Walton Sara
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Through an analysis of corporate sustainable development reporting, this paper seeks to examine critically language use and other visual (re)presentations of sustainable development within the business context. It aims to provide a framework to interpret and tease out business representations of sustainable development. Such representations are argued to be constitutive of the way that business has come to “know” and “do” sustainable development and, therefore, to constrain and enable particular actions and developments.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a mix of synthesis, interpretive and discourse analysis to locate, interpret and critically analyse a corpus of written and presentational texts produced by a New Zealand business association and eight of its founding members' early triple bottom line reports.

Findings

The business association and its members' reports are shown to present a pragmatic and middle‐way discourse on business and the environment. Through the use of rhetorical claims to pragmatism and action, this discourse suggests that businesses are “doing” sustainability. But critical analysis and interpretation within a wider framework reveal a narrow, largely economic and instrumental approach to the natural environment.

Originality/value

This paper offers a diagrammatic synthesis of the contested “middle ground” of the sustainable development debate, and thereby provides a frame of reference for further interpretational work on organisations and sustainable development.
Social disclosure, legitimacy theory and the role of the state
Authors: Archel Pablo , Husillos Javier , Larrinaga Carlos , Spence Crawford
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The principal objective of this paper is to expand the scope of legitimacy theory (LT) through a detailed analysis of the links that exist between the legitimising strategies of firms and the characteristics of the political environment in which they are developed.

Designs/methodology/approach

A discourse analysis was performed on the social and environmental disclosure (SED) of a multinational in the automotive sector with an established presence in Spain, in the context of the relational dynamics between the firm/society/state. Different channels of information were compared to capture both the official discourse as represented in the annual reports of the multinational and the discourse of employees and the State as represented in the media.

Findings

The results of the research show that the firm under study used SED strategically to legitimise a new production process through the manipulation of social perceptions, and that this strategy was supported implicitly and explicitly through ideological alignment with the State.

Research limitations/implications

Despite a widely‐held assumption of a pluralist political context, the State is presented here as aligning itself with corporate management as opposed to the welfare concerns of employees. Thus, future research calling for regulation of SED should preface such calls with consideration of the orientation of the State.

Originality/value

In contrast with the dominant approach to LT that considers the relationship of the firm with its stakeholders, the present study widens the scope of LT to consider the interplay between firm legitimating strategies and state support for such strategies.
Auditing Santa
Authors: Dean Dianne
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the application of taxation legislation to a mythical character.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of humorous fiction.

Findings

The paper suggests that different understanding of concepts can produce unexpected results.

Research limitations/implications

Taxation legislation is difficult to apply to mythical characters.

Originality/value

The paper is a humorous story designed for Christmas reading.
The moderating role of barriers on the relationship between drivers to supply chain integration and firm performance
Authors: Glenn Richey R. , Chen Haozhe , Upreti Rahul , Fawcett Stanley E. , Adams Frank G.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Implementation of supply chain management techniques requires thorough integration of processes between supply chain partners in all functional areas, including sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution. Yet insufficient attention has been given to the means by which firms achieve high levels of integration. This study aims to examine moderators impacting supply chain integration barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

Supply chain integration drivers and moderating barriers to supply chain integration were identified by extensive search of the literature, and in‐depth interviews with supply chain managers. A survey was developed to measure levels of supply chain integration drivers, barriers to supply chain integration, and firm performance. The measures were validated using EFA, and the responses analyzed using multiple regression.

Findings

The study finds that firms with a desire to improve, operating in a challenging competitive environment typically experience high levels of performance. Further, barriers to supply chain integration can actually increase the firm's ability to achieve firm performance as the firm is required to make greater efforts to overcome those barriers and develop effective supply chain linkages.

Originality/value

This study answers a call for additional research into factors that enable and inhibit supply chain integration, and offers an empirical analysis of the moderating effect of supply chain integration barriers on the relationship between integration drivers and firm performance.
Mitigating environmental and density risk in global sourcing
Authors: Deane Jason K. , Craighead Christopher W. , Ragsdale Cliff T.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to provide a conceptual foundation to enhance the body of knowledge related to supplier selection in light of global supply chain disruptions and risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed tool is based on a multi‐criteria optimization framework, which will enable the user to gain a better understanding of how the consideration of each of these risk measures will affect the recommended solution/supply base. The model serves as a complement to existing supplier selection models by incorporating regional risks associated with potential suppliers' locations and density risks based on great circle distance measures.

Findings

The paper demonstrated the proposed model by using the great circle distance measure to calculate the density risk and two secondary data sources to capture environmental risk. One measure captures a variety of environmental issues such as political, legal, security, fiscal, labor, and regulatory issues. The other measure captures the historical effects of weather on dollar and human losses in each country of the world, which represents the potential for severe weather events and the country's ability to react to these events.

Research limitations/implications

Although the paper does not consider all possible risks, it augments prior research through the development of a decision support tool that offers supply risk mitigation when sourcing globally. Specifically, the tool allows for the analysis and mitigation of two key global risk measures, environmental risk and density risk, when selecting suppliers for mission‐critical parts. The model is able to support various sourcing strategies such as sole, multiple and cross sourcing and can be used in conjunction with other disruption mitigation strategies such as supply redundancy.

Practical implications

Global sourcing has provided significant performance enhancements, but has put firms in a vulnerable position relative to the potential devastating effects of supply disruptions. While supply managers are cognizant of the risks associated with global sourcing, limited knowledge and tools are available to allow them to mitigate these risks. Although it would need to be adapted to the nuances of company supply chains, it is believed that the tool provides value to managerial decision making relative to the sourcing of mission critical parts/products.

Originality/value

Prior work in this area has not adequately incorporated contemporary issues and risks in global sourcing. The paper augments prior research through the development of a multi‐objective decision support model for strategic supplier selection that is focused on two important contemporary factors: environmental risk and density risk. The proposed model captures important interdependent relationships between these two factors that have not been considered in prior selection models.
From human resources to human beings: managing people at work
Authors: Altman Yochanan
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the drawbacks of viewing an organization's employees as simply “resources”, rather than as individual human beings with their own rights, needs and aspirations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the author's personal viewpoint.

Findings

The paper urges organizations to acknowledge and celebrate each employee's individuality. It argues that the economic upheaval offers an opportunity to rethink the current stress is on specified, targeted outcomes.

Practical implications

The paper advances the view that such reforms will promote the competitive advantage of organizations.

Originality/value

The paper indicates why organizations should give real meaning to the slogan “our people are our most important asset”.
Policy to workforce plans – a guide to application
Authors: Deagle John
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how the NHS Workforce Review Team's induction to workforce planning course works with attendees on how to extract workforce implications from policy documents.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a structure for policy assessment, and describes some key lessons learned.

Findings

The paper contends that, although the documents can seem daunting at first, they may provide an important framework for strategic workforce planning. The danger of not doing this work is that the enabling workforce decisions, such as training and development, may not be made in time for suitable implementation of policy.

Practical implications

The paper argues that, while it is not always easy to link policy to workforce, it is definitely worth the effort.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the fact that the ability to access policy documents and apply their content to future planning is an essential tool in developing robust plans.
Cross‐country analysis of price levels and dispersion in online and offline environments: an empirical analysis in France and Germany
Authors: Ancarani Fabio , Jacob Frank , Jallat Frédéric
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to take into consideration the country effect in online and offline environments and compares price levels and dispersion online v. offline across the two largest Continental European markets, thus adding a new dimension in price comparisons and multichannel pricing strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an empirical analysis of data collected in one product category (CDs), our findings for France and Germany show that price levels ‐including shipping costs – are always higher online than offline in each country and price dispersion is persistent across markets. Calculating mean prices for the two countries, ANOVA tests reveal significant differences among the two sets of data. Using standard deviation as the measurement for price dispersion, Levene statistics reveal a higher degree of online price dispersion than offline and statistically significant differences between the two sample countries.

Findings

Even if our approach need to be extended to more product categories and more countries, our article may be interesting for practitioners, policy makers and managers. It clearly shows that the “frictionless capitalism and cost transparency hypothesis” has proven to be wrong most of the time even if many retailers still believe they must sacrifice the possibility of pricing up when they go on the internet. As demonstrated by our findings, retailers can take advantage of online relative indifference to price to capture some margin premium and enjoy excellent results.

Originality/value

Our results also demonstrate that, even if results show some similarities and common trends, differences among France and Germany still remain important. As a consequence, marketers should continue to approach the European marketplace with full awareness of its diversity.
An investigation into the initial barriers to internationalization
Authors: Hutchinson Karise , Fleck Emma , Lloyd‐Reason Lester
Published: November 2009

Purpose

This paper is the result of empirical research funded by The British Academy. The overall purpose of the study is to investigate the initial barriers to internationalization experienced and perceived by small retailers based in the UK and the role of government support in addressing such obstacles.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative, multiple case research design is adopted. This involves semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with the senior manager/decision‐maker in six retail SMEs based in the UK and the analysis of company documentation and information from a range of secondary sources.

Findings

The findings from the case study data highlight internal and external barriers to internationalization relating to management: lack of vision, fear of losing control, lack of knowledge; the company: transfer of retail concept overseas, lack of resources, lack of consolidation in domestic market; and the external environment: legislation, currency, cultural differences and logistics. The findings also highlight an overall negative experience and perception of government support in assisting smaller retailers to overcome these barriers and aid expansion outside the UK.

Originality/value

The findings of this study provide important insight into the perceived and actual barriers encountered by retail SMEs. On one hand, the focus on SMEs provides fresh evidence to the retail internationalization literature, which has focused primarily on the barriers faced by large multinational retailers. On the other hand, the context of this study, yields new insight into research conducted in the field of SME internationalization, which has to date ignored smaller firms in the retail industry. The findings of this study also allow for recommendations to be made to both owner‐managers and government organizations.