bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transnational family networks and ethnic minority business development
Authors: Bagwell Susan
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to understand the role played by transnational family networks in ethnic minority business development.

Design/methodology/approach

The Vietnamese nail‐care sector is taken as a case study. The research involved interviews with ten owner‐managers and four key informants involved in this industry in London. The analysis draws on concepts of “strong” and “weak” network ties and “mixed embeddedness” to explain why the Vietnamese continue to enter such a competitive sector.

Findings

The results highlight the importance of transnational family networks within all aspects of the business and suggest that these links can sometimes provide a fertile source of new business ideas, but can equally limit innovation. The presence of innovative and well‐educated members within the entrepreneurs' “strong‐tie” network appeared to encourage more successful business development and diversification.

Research limitations/implications

The research challenges the traditional “strong/weak” ties thesis and suggests that, while it has some general value, in the context of groups from more collectivist societies and with family links overseas, it is necessary to take account of the human and social capital resources of the extended family rather than just those of the individual entrepreneur.

Practical implications

To maximise the potential of these links it suggests that business advisers need to undertake a comprehensive audit of entrepreneurs' networks and assist them in assessing how their family ties can best contribute to the development of the business.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on a new community (the Vietnamese), and a new sector of study (transnational family networks), both of which have received little attention in the entrepreneurship literature.
Cause's attributes influencing consumer's purchasing intention: empirical evidence from China
Authors: Hou Jundong , Du Lanying , Li Jianfeng
Published: October 2008

Purpose

One purpose of this paper is to examine several factors that potentially influence a consumer's purchasing decision to participate in cause‐related marketing (CRM) program in the Chinese context. The other is to empirically test the hypothesized relationship between cause's attributes and purchase intention in such environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a measure for exploring the cause's attributes influencing consumer's purchasing intention. Two groups of valid samples, respectively, with 178 and 376 respondents are collected through questionnaire survey. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) are employed to extract and test the key influential attributes on the basis of data of two samples respectively, and structural equation model is used to define the structure of influencing attributes and to measure the degree of impact for each attribute on the consumer's purchasing intention.

Findings

The results show that the degree of cause's participation for consumer, fit between the brand and the cause, cause importance, congruence between the firm's product and the cause, cause proximity play an important role in consumers’ attitudes toward the product and firm and their intentions to purchase the advertised product and participate in the CRM campaign, which suggests an opportunity for nonprofits to compete for these vital resources by nurturing and leveraging the antecedent factors and an opportunity for firms to select a cause partner.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is a convenience sample that is the main limitations of this research. The EFA and CFA is difficult to generalize to a larger audience, and there was a lack of experimental control for the questionnaire investigation, so the quality of questionnaire can not be ensured.

Practical implications

This research should help firms determine the best partners for strategic social alliances, and provide an advice on how to make them maximum participation, also should help current and potential consumers ascribe personality traits to nonprofit organizations and differentiate between nonprofits on the basis of the cause's attributes. At the same time, this paper provides several interesting areas for future research that will further aid marketing managers to develop a more effective CRM campaign to fit with goals of corporate, which adds some valuable insights or new ideas to develop essential theory.

Originality/value

This paper offers interesting insight into the development of CRM campaigns, and explores the five variables: the degree of cause's participation for consumer; fit between the brand and the cause; cause importance; congruence between the firm's product and the cause; cause proximity also should influence consumer's purchasing attitude, intention and decision behavior in the Chinese context.
Relationship between the personal values and shopping orientation of Chinese consumers
Authors: Tai Susan H.C.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

As the market of Greater China is becoming increasingly important for multinationals, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the personal values and shopping orientation of working adults in Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

The total sample of 454 included adult working Chinese from Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Factor analysis was performed to identify separately the shopping orientations and dimensions of the personal values of the subjects. ANOVA analysis was then used to examine the differences among the subjects in terms of their shopping orientation and personal values. Lastly, correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between dimensions of personal values and shopping orientations.

Findings

As expected, the results showed that Chinese consumers in Greater China shared similar personal values, but differences were found in their shopping orientation. Significant relationships were found between dimensions of personal values and the eight shopping orientations. Among the dimensions of personal values, self‐actualization played a major role in six of the eight shopping orientations, with shopping gender roles and economic shopping being the exceptions. Personalized shopping, advertised specials, and shopping for self‐satisfaction were found to be the three major shopping orientations that were closely related to personal values. Shopping gender roles and economic shopping were found to be unrelated to any personal values as they reflect individual short‐term goals rather than long‐term values.

Research limitations/implications

The Shanghai data were collected using judgment sampling as there are regulations that restrict the distribution of questionnaires in public streets in mainland China, whereas the Taipei and Hong Kong data were collected using random sampling. Different collection methods in the sampling process may have led to a problem regarding the representativeness of the sample.

Practical implications

Among the dimensions of personal values, self‐actualization played a major role in shopping orientation. The self‐actualization needs of consumers could be achieved through smart shopping and bargain hunting, but also through personalized shopping and shopping satisfaction. Because consumer shopping satisfaction is generally not high in Greater China, improvements could be made to enhance shopping satisfaction by providing a shopping environment that enables consumers to demonstrate their intellectual thinking and that meets their self‐actualization needs. Personalized shopping is also important for Chinese consumers who prefer closer personal relationships with salespersons.

Originality/value

Various studies have focused on the classification of the shopping orientations of consumers from different perspectives, but few studies have investigated the influence of personal values on shopping orientation, especially in the Greater China market.
Malaysian grocery shoppers’ behavioural response to stock‐outs
Authors: Miranda Mario J. , Jegasothy K.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

A better understanding of the response of shoppers in developing countries to inevitable product stock‐outs would help logisticians to put structures in place to reduce the disruption. The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences in orientations that characterize shoppers’ responses to stock‐outs in retailing environments by comparing an emerging economy, Malaysia, with a developed economy, Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

Randomly selected adult grocery shoppers across Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were surveyed to examine shoppers’ behavioural response to a most recent stock‐out of their preferred dairy item. This study followed the methodology and reporting framework adopted in an Australian study.

Findings

When responding to stock‐outs of their preferred grocery items, shopping lists serve as instruments that give archetypical Malaysian shoppers, unlike their Australian counterparts, a framework to adjust their budgets and seek alternatives within the store itself rather than venture to another store. Most Malaysian shoppers’ reactions to an out‐of‐stock situation, just as their Australian counterparts, appear to be underpinned by their household size. If their preferred item is not available, the frugal and observant among Malaysian shoppers, however, are not inclined as much as their Australian counterparts, to buy more of their alternative choice, even if these substitute items are discounted.

Research limitations/implications

Insight into Malaysian shoppers’ behavioural response to inadequate shelf life of perishable products, considering that they might feel impelled to act as per their shopping lists, would give members of the supply chain confidence to adopt inventory management policies that make a judicious balance between avoiding stock‐outs and ensuring stock availability with acceptable shelf life.

Practical implications

Malaysian frugal and observant shoppers when responding to stock‐outs of their preferred items might allow the opportunity to let a bargain pass on alternative brands or variants, because these shoppers, guided by their shopping lists, are possibly hamstrung, by budgetary constraints in not being able to make heavier purchase outlays and by likely storage constraints in their living accommodation. Retailers in Malaysia have a greater challenge than Australian retailers to dispose of stocks of grocery products that are fast approaching their expiry dates through discounting, because Malaysian shoppers may resist buying more than their immediate need.

Originality/value

Malaysian shoppers, inclined to carry memory scripts to assist them in their shopping efforts, are conditioned to stay within their planned budgets and when confronted with a stock‐out of their preferred item, are likely to resist buying anymore than what they had planned to buy.
Technology turbulence and environmental scanning in Thai food new product development
Authors: Ngamkroeckjoti Chittipa , Speece Mark
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of environmental scanning (ES) in the new product development (NPD) process among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Thai food processing industry. This study also shows that more extensive use of ES improves new product (NP) performance, and that perception of higher technology turbulence increases usage of ES.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a survey of 124 Thai SMEs through statistical package for the social sciences software shows that more extensive acquisition of ES information does improve NP performance.

Findings

Managers who perceive more technological turbulence do use ES more extensively. The technology strategy of the company does not have much impact on the use of ES. The results indicate that even SMEs can benefit from ES, a practice more commonly carried out by larger companies. Some SMEs seem to recognize that more turbulent environments require more extensive scanning.

Research limitations/implications

These results may not hold exactly this way in other industries where technology plays a much greater role. Also, the impact of technology strategy on ES usage would be much more apparent in more technology intensive industries. It is clear that industry context variables should be included in future research to more fully understand the role of ES and NPD outcomes, as well as the factors that encourage companies to use ES more extensively. In addition, the ES impact on NPD outcomes should be examined in conjunction with some of the other determinants of quality NPD process.

Originality/value

The major contributions of the study consist of how comprehensive use of ES makes a significant contribution to NP performance, the findings on the impact of technology strategy, technology turbulence upon ES and the impact of ES upon NPD.
Life‐style orientation of rural US and Canadian consumers
Authors: Harcar Talha , Kaynak Erdener
Published: October 2008

Purpose

In view of the existing void in the current international and cross‐national/cultural marketing literature, the purpose of this paper is to look into the similarities and differences of life‐style orientations prevalent among US and Canadian consumers. The AIO (Activities, Interest, and Opinions) and VALS (Values, Attitudes, and Life‐Styles) statements adapted from the current cross‐cultural marketing literature were utilized to determine different US and Canadian consumer market segments. The research tools and techniques used in this study help retail businesses as well as manufacturing companies of the two countries to develop and execute more effective target marketing strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were collected through self‐administered questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered in two different locations. First, in Brandon, Canada and second, in the rural part of south central Pennsylvania (York and Lancaster counties). Both regions are similar to each other, each having a flourishing agricultural industry and a significant number of companies in the service and manufacturing industries. The data were collected through a drop‐off and pick‐up method among a sample of 300 Canadian married or common‐law families and 400 in the USA.

Findings

The study results show that there are, indeed, differences among the consumers’ life‐styles in the two countries which were similar in demographics and as such may have been previously treated the same way by marketers, but in reality have very different lifestyles. Based on the survey findings, managerial and/or public policy implications are offered for orderly marketing decision‐making purposes.

Research limitations/implications

A study of total urban consumers may produce different life‐style profiles than the ones presented here. This study only examined North American consumer life‐styles within the framework of product group (form). Additional studies may look at consumer life‐styles by use of product brands and even product options.

Originality/value

This empirical research study presents cross‐cultural comparisons of life‐styles, value orientations of consumers in the purchase of a variety of goods and services in the similar environments of North America, namely rural areas of the USA and Canada.
The impact of consumer ethnocentrism and country of origin sub‐components for high involvement products on young Chinese consumers’ product assessments
Authors: Yim Wong Chui , Polonsky Michael J. , Garma Romana
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of country of origin (COO) sub‐components (i.e. design, assembly and parts), as well as the extent to which consumer ethnocentrism tendencies interact with these COO sub‐components for young Chinese consumers with regards to product quality assessments and purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experimental design was used to examine the effects of the three sub‐components of COO with two levels of sourcing location – Home (China) and Foreign (Germany), for two high involvement products (an automobile and a digital camera). Chinese students in China represented the sample of 272 respondents. MANOVA was used to examine the direct effects and interactions of the three COO components, as well as ethnocentrism, measured using the CETSCALE.

Findings

It was found that the three COO sub‐components did not influence young Chinese consumers’ evaluation of product quality or purchase intentions. In addition, consumers’ level of ethnocentrism also did not have a direct effect on perceived product quality or purchase intentions. There was only one statistically significant interaction effect between ethnocentrism and country of parts for one of the two products. As such, COO dimensions and young Chinese consumers’ ethnocentrism appears to have limited influence on their assessments of product quality or purchase intentions. This may occur because young Chinese consumers perceive that hybrid products are the norm for high involvement products in China as these products are all these consumers have experienced.

Originality/value

The findings of this research dispute the commonly held belief and evidence that sub‐components of COO have an impact on the perceptions of product quality and purchase intentions. Young Chinese consumers may be different to consumers from western countries because they have been extensively exposed to hybrid products. Given the size and growth potential of China, young Chinese are an important, under‐researched segment within the Chinese market.
Relational embeddedness, tertius iungens orientation and relationship quality in emerging markets
Authors: Singh Ramendra
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate in an emerging market (India), the impact of relational embeddedness of dyadic business relationships on relationship quality (RQ) and the moderating impact of tertius iungens orientation (TIO) on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 75 business managers from various industries in India was surveyed, and analysis was done using moderated multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The key finding of the study is that among the five different types of connection that a firm has (with competitors (C), value chain partners (V), internal (I), external (E) entities and auxiliary (A) connections), the A‐connections like those with banks, MR agencies, advertising agencies and other service providers, have the most favorable impact on relationship quality with firms’ customers, when its boundary personnel exhibit high TIO (bonding) towards their customer. However, the direct impact of A‐connection on RQ is negative, possibly due to the negative externalities such as sharing limited common resources. Other four connections were found to be insignificant.

Research limitations/implications

A major limitation of this study is sample size (75). Hence, the findings of this study may not be generalisable.

Practical implications

The findings of this study suggest that higher ability to bond disparate actors in network of business firm (TIO) have a strong and favorable impact on improving the RQ with its customers in embedded relationships.

Originality/value

The major contribution of the study is to explain the moderating role of TIO in the network embedded dyadic business relationships.
Service quality in maritime transport: conceptual model and empirical evidence
Authors: Thai Vinh V.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend knowledge on service quality and how it is defined and thus, managed, in the context of maritime transport by proposing and testing a new conceptual model of service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a sample of 197 shipping companies, port operators and freight forwarders/logistics service providers, employing the triangulation of both mail survey and in‐depth interview techniques. A total of 120 usable questionnaires were returned and 25 interviews conducted. Data were analysed using the SPSS 13.0 software and thematic analysis technique.

Findings

It was found that service quality in maritime transport is a six‐dimensional construct consisting of resources, outcomes, process, management, image, and social responsibility (ROPMIS), with each dimension measured by a number of explaining factors making up a total of 24 factors. Findings also revealed that factors involving the outcomes and process of service provision, as well as the management factors, which all focus on satisfying the customers, received high ranking. They also emphasised process and management‐related factors which involve the centre of all quality systems: the human element.

Research limitations/implications

As this is the first stage of a more comprehensive study, the model was tested only with service providers, and this is the major limitation. Future research direction is desired, e.g. conducting the study using the same instruments on customers and compare the gaps with this research.

Originality/value

The major contribution of this study is to fully operationalise service quality as a six‐dimensional construct in the context of maritime transport, and findings on the ranking of dimensions/factors involved in the model. Although this is the first model of service quality in maritime transport with specific quality factors, its generic dimensions could be generalised to other service sectors as well. The research also has great managerial implications as managers across maritime transport companies can use the tool to develop questionnaire for customer satisfaction survey, thus facilitating a universal benchmarking approach across the industry.
“16T”: toward a dynamic vendor evaluation model in integrated SCM processes
Authors: Pal Pralay , Kumar Bimal
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a “trait based approach” for vendor selection and evaluation for expensive procurements in large businesses through a simple and easy‐to‐use mathematical model using safety, quality, delivery and cost criteria. Design/methodology/approach – We use 16 traits addressing safety (S), quality (Q), delivery (D) and cost (C) areas for evaluating performance of a vendor on a linear 10 point scale. We start with evaluating each “supplier‐supply item” combination and compute gross averages for each of the SQDC areas and finally arrive at an “Overall Performance Index” for each supplier‐supply item combination. These indices form a “Vendor Performance Dashboard” for decision making. Findings – The case study shows that the proposed method is quick and easy to adopt, and provides a logical framework for vendor selection and management, based on performance in the four critical (SQDC) areas. Research limitations/implications – A lot of monotonous computations are required for the proposed vendor evaluation process. Hence, the scope for software development warrants further investigation. There is also a need to develop a process for weighting the different SQDC elements for application in different industry/market contexts. Originality/value – This paper presents a unique and simple approach for generating dashboard data for decisions regarding evaluation of vendors and distribution of sub‐contracts in a dynamic technology intensive market with practical examples. The proposed model for vendor selection and determination of order sizes is less dependent on complex algorithms and more practical and logically framed than existing models.
Supply chain management ethics: conceptual framework and illustration
Authors: Svensson Göran , Bååth Hans
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a conceptual framework of Supply Chain Management Ethics (SCM‐ethics).

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based upon a qualitative approach using a series of semi‐structured interviews. Multiple perspectives and respondents have been applied in the data collection process. The study is limited to the Swedish vehicle industry.

Findings

The empirical findings indicate that the corporate focus of SCM‐ethics is in part narrow in the Swedish vehicle industry. The partial focus may endanger the corporate ethical performance in the long run, while the immediate one may not be affected.

Research limitations/implications

The approach undertaken and thereof empirical limitations restrict the generality of findings. However, a structure of operationalisation of SCM‐ethics is introduced. It is based upon four orientations and nine areas of questions, all of which serve as a fundament for further research.

Practical implications

The article explores the common grounds, and provides initial insights into the complex and multifaceted field, of SCM‐ethics. It may be used for teaching, training and analytical purposes. It may also be used for further managerial exploration and replication of SCM‐ethics in business.

Originality/value

The principal contributions are a conceptual framework based upon four distinctive orientations and a set of summarized interview series in the context of SCM‐ethics, all of which may be of interest to both practitioners and scholars.
Performance outcomes and success factors of vendor managed inventory (VMI)
Authors: Claassen Marloes J.T. , van Weele Arjan J. , van Raaij Erik M.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to seek to investigate performance outcomes of vendor managed inventory (VMI) from a buyer's perspective and enablers for its successful application.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling through Partial Least Squares (PLS) is used to identify relationships between four enablers (information systems, information sharing, information quality, and relationship quality), perceived VMI success, and three outcomes (cost reductions, customer service, and supply chain control).

Findings

Buyer‐perceived VMI success is impacted by the quality of the buyer‐supplier relationship, the quality of the IT‐system and the intensity of information sharing, but not by the actual quality of the information shared. Furthermore, VMI leads to three performance outcomes: higher customer service levels, improved supply chain control and, to a lesser extent, cost reduction.

Research limitations/implications

Although theory stipulates a positive impact of high quality information on the success of VMI, this study shows that the effect of information quality is limited in practice.

Practical implications

The results of the survey show that purchasing managers who invest in the relationship with their suppliers and a good IT infrastructure are more likely to get better results from a VMI implementation. Furthermore, this paper shows that while most managers expect major cost reductions when implementing VMI, benefits primarily come from improved service levels.

Originality/value

The study provides empirical evidence of why VMI in practice does not achieve all the benefits claimed in theory.
Risk perception on logistics outsourcing of retail chains: model development and empirical verification in Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Ming‐Chih , Liao Chun‐Hua , Han Chia‐shing
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a qualitative risk model to empirically identify the important outsourcing risks of logistical functions using the data of Taiwanese retail chains.

Design/methodology/approach

Transaction cost theory (TCT) and resourced based view (RBV) were combined to develop risk events. Analytical hierarchy process was used for risk calibration. Valid data from 75 outsourcer chains and 41 in‐house chains were collected through a three‐stage survey. Outsourcers were further clustered by risk perception using Wards' and K‐mean clustering and examined by an ANOVA. Results of outsourcers and in‐house chains were compared using nonparametric Spearman rank correlation test.

Findings

The risk perception increases as the number of functions outsourced increases. Risks related to transaction costs and strategic resources were both significant. Of the three main risks identified, asset risk and competence risk are more serious concerns than relationship risk. The values of information risk and loss of control account for the bulk of asset risk, while those of poor competence leverage and poor competence in supporting customer service comprise competence risk. Finally, in terms of risk priority, in‐house chains showed no significant difference from outsourcers.

Research limitation/implication

Interrelationships between risk events were limited to avoid complication. Also, due to the sample limit, the risks calibrated may be more associated with outsourcing execution than outsourcing building/abandoning.

Practical implication

The risk structure developed herein can be used as a systematic checklist for outsourcing decision‐making. The qualitative results may provide specific indications for further risk analysis and future risk control.

Originality/value

The study fills a gap in the literature, where prior work has seldom used empirical research to compare how well TCT and the RBV predict logistics outsourcing risk, in particular for the distribution side of the supply chain.
Supply risk management in a small company perspective
Authors: Ellegaard Chris
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to determine if owners of small manufacturing companies manage supply risk in similar ways and identify the practices constituting this potential joint approach.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretive case based methodology was applied in this research. Interview data on the supply risk management practices of 11 SCOs (small company owners) were analysed.

Findings

The findings confirm that the 11 studied SCOs apply largely the same supply risk management practices, which can be characterised as defensive. The approach covers risk elimination practices such as knowledge protection and local sourcing as the major practices, combined with relational practices such as fairness, loyalty, and seeking out responsive, dependable, and like‐minded suppliers.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses exclusively on small manufacturing companies. Studies of other types of companies, such as trade or hi‐tech companies might reveal other practices.

Practical implications

The SCO supply risk management approach is optimised to simultaneously reduce supply risks and resource and time consumption. Especially the relational practices may be feasible alternatives and valuable to supply chain managers and purchasers. Local sourcing and knowledge protection are effective practices, but tend to work at the expense of supply chain opportunities.

Originality/value

No studies of small company supply risk management exist in the literature, despite the increased focus on supply risk management and small company purchasing/SCM. The study addresses this gap by offering insights into small company supply risk management practices.
Dynamic capabilities to match multiple product generations and market rhythm
Authors: Dacko Scott G. , Liu Ben S. , Sudharshan D. , Furrer Olivier
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide greater insights to managers seeking to time properly the launches of innovative new products (NPs) across multiple generations. This paper aims to address the rhythm matching problem by developing a typology and a conceptual framework of the interaction between a firm's technological readiness to launch NPs and a market's receptivity in influencing a firm's long‐term performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the new product development (NPD) and diffusion of innovation literatures, the paper develops a model explicitly to address the rhythm matching problem by highlighting the interaction between a firm's technological readiness to launch new products and a market's receptivity in influencing a firm's long‐term performance. The logic of this model may be described as follows: long‐term performance is a function of matching: products to customer needs, marketing mix dynamics to customer segments and buying behavior dynamics, and logistics, supply chain management, and inventory to market dynamics and financial efficiency; uncertainty in: knowledge of needs, market segments and their dynamics, and market dynamics is all a function of time, as is financial efficiency. Therefore, a firm's long‐term performance is a function of these matches over time.

Findings

Deriving from the proposed model and typology, it was found that in independent rhythm windows, the management focus is on a single generation and each successive generation can be planned independently. In market‐imposed windows, firms aim at adapting their own NP readiness rhythm to the market receptivity rhythm. In firm‐imposed windows, firms have the initiative to drive the market receptivity rhythm. In dynamically resultant windows, everything is more complicated because firms' NP readiness rhythm and market receptivity rhythm influence each other.

Originality/value

The model and typology developed in this paper are a breakthrough result of synthesizing various traditions of NPD and diffusion of innovation research. It is believed that the paper provides a rich conceptual framework drawing together extant research on the development and introduction of new products. The framework is intended both to explicitly inform managers of the importance of rhythm matching as well as to the factors that influence such matching. It is also intended to provide a lens with which further research can be directed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of resource utilization in NPD and the long‐term success of the firms.
Alliance governance and product innovation project decision making
Authors: Kok Robert A.W. , Creemers Paul A.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory study is explaining the effects of control and interdependence on decision making at the level of product innovation projects in dyadic strategic alliances.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on alliance research, strategic decision‐making research and product innovation literature a conceptual framework is developed using a multiple case research methodology.

Findings

The empirical case results indicate that decision‐making effectiveness in product innovation projects is dependent on the nature of the decision‐making process which, in turn, is affected by alliance governance structure characteristics.

Research limitation/implications

The case research results only gives an in‐depth understanding of the nature of the effects. A large‐scale quantitative study is needed to arrive at generalizations taking into account industry‐specific and firm‐specific factors.

Practical implications

Managers may want to take the effects on decision making into account when deciding on the alliance governance structure for a new product innovation project.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to earlier research first, by viewing product innovation as a joint activity for which not only one organization is responsible, and second, by relating alliance governance structure to decision making beyond the strategic management level at the level of product innovation projects.
The evolution of innovation management towards contextual innovation
Authors: Ortt J. Roland , van der Duin Patrick A.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

In recent decades, innovation management has changed. This article provides an overview of the changes that have taken place, focusing on innovation management in large companies, with the aim of explaining that innovation management has evolved toward a contextual approach, which it will explain and illustrate using two cases.

Design/methodology/approach

The basic approach in this article is to juxtapose a review of existing literature regarding trends in innovation management and research and development (R&D) management generations, and empirical data about actual approaches to innovation.

Findings

The idea that there is a single mainstream innovation approach does not match with the (successful) approaches companies have adopted. What is required is a contextual approach. However, research with regard to such an approach is fragmented. Decisions to adapt the innovation management approach to the newness of an innovation or the type of organization respectively have thus far been investigated separately.

Research limitations/implications

An integrated approach is needed to support the intuitive decisions managers make to tailor their innovation approach to the type of innovation, organization(s), industry and country/culture.

Originality/value

The practical and scientific value of this paper is that is describes an integrated approach to contextual innovation.
Measuring innovation culture in organizations
Authors: Dobni C. Brooke
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Academic and practitioner interest has focused on innovation as a method of competitive differentiation and as a way to create customer value. However, less attention has been devoted to developing a measure of innovation culture. The purpose of this paper is to develop an empirically‐based comprehensive instrument for measuring an organization's innovation culture.

Design/methodology

This paper describes a procedure which explicates the innovation culture construct, and proposes a multi‐item measure of innovation culture predicated on exploratory factor analysis. These descriptors were derived from extant literature, key informant interviews, and a survey of over 282 employees from the financial services industry.

Findings

Findings suggest that an innovation culture scale may best be represented through a structure that consists of seven factors identified as innovation propensity, organizational constituency, organizational learning, creativity and empowerment, market orientation, value orientation, and implementation context.

Practical implications

The seven‐factor model can be used both descriptively and diagnostically. Among other things, it presents a practical way to measure an organization's innovation culture, and could initially be used to establish a baseline level of innovation culture. From there, it could be used as a metric to chart the organization's efforts as it moves to engender innovation.

Originality/value

More effort should be devoted to developing measures to assess innovation culture specifically. This model presents an innovation culture construct that is complimentary to work that has preceded it. The findings combined with the suggestions provide an alternative perspective as a measure of innovation and extends a basic framework for further investigation.
Selecting promising business ideas for innovative IT services
Authors: Baier Melanie , Graefe Gernot , Roemer Ellen
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Much research has been dedicated to the screening of new product ideas. Far less is known, however, about how to select the most promising new service ideas. Moreover, the specific characteristics of business services are rarely taken into account. This paper aims to investigate this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an extensive literature review and on a case study in the business‐to‐business information technology industry, this paper therefore develops a screening method with which to assess and select new business service ideas.

Findings

The study surprisingly reveals that the customers' view is rarely included into the valuation of new service ideas in management practice, although customer involvement is largely claimed in the literature. The supposition is that customer involvement is seen as difficult and costly in practice.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an effective and manageable tool to assess new business service ideas that also allows for easy involvement of customers into the screening process.
A green profession? A global survey of RICS members and their engagement with the sustainability agenda
Authors: Dixon Tim , Colantonio Andrea , Shiers David , Reed Richard , Wilkinson Sara , Gallimore Paul
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This study seeks to provide a review of the background and context to the engagement of RICS members with the sustainability agenda, and to examine the extent to which the surveying profession uses relevant information, tools and techniques to achieve the key objectives of sustainable development (or sustainability).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses results from a major international online survey of 4,600 RICS respondent members, supported by 31 structured telephone interviews.

Findings

The results suggest that, although sustainability is highly relevant to RICS members' work, a lack of knowledge and expertise is making it more difficult for sustainability tools and other information to be used effectively.

Research limitations/implications

The survey is based on a substantial number of responses which are broadly representative of the global RICS population. A key implication is that “laggard” faculties include the disciplines of commercial property and valuation.

Practical implications

The research suggests that key stakeholders must work together to provide better information, guidance and education and training to “hardwire” the sustainability agenda across RICS faculties.

Originality/value

This is the first truly global survey of its kind and focuses particularly on those faculties that play a major role in property investment and finance (i.e. valuation and commercial property), comparing their position with that of other faculties in an international context.
Sustainability in property valuation: theory and practice
Authors: Lorenz David , Lützkendorf Thomas
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the rationale for integrating sustainability issues into property valuation theory and practice and to provide initial suggestions for valuers on how to account for sustainability issues within valuation reports.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors emphasise the key role of valuation professionals and of the valuation process itself in achieving a broader market penetration of sustainable construction. It is explained that, on the one hand, property valuation represents the major mechanism to align economic return with environmental and social performance of property assets, and thus to express and communicate the advantages and benefits of sustainable buildings. On the other hand, it is explained that gradual changes in market participants' perceptions in favour of sustainable buildings must be reflected within the property valuation and associated risk assessment process (otherwise valuers would produce misleading price estimates). The authors identify both the financial benefits and risk reduction potential of sustainable design as well as valuation input parameters that would allow these benefits to be reflected in property price estimates.

Findings

The authors show that the main reasons for immediately and rigorously integrating sustainability issues into property valuation are as follows: more sustainable patterns of behaviour are urgently necessary to sustain the viability of the Earth's ecosystems; a huge untapped market potential exists for sustainable property investment products and consulting services; sustainable buildings clearly outperform their conventional competitors in all relevant areas (i.e. environmentally, socially and financially); neglecting the benefits of sustainable design leads to distorted price estimates; and reflecting sustainability issues in property price estimates is already possible and the validity of this decision depends solely on the valuer's capability and sophistication to explain and justify his/her assumptions within the valuation report. However, it is also shown that efforts need to be undertaken to improve the description of property assets in transaction databases in order to provide the informational databases necessary to empirically underpin a valuer's decision to assign a “valuation bonus” to a sustainable building or a “valuation reduction” to an unsustainable/conventional one.

Originality/value

The paper postulates that valuation reports should be extended to include the following additional elements: a clear description of the availability of certain sustainability‐related property characteristics and attributes; a statement of the valuer's opinion about the benefits of these characteristics and attributes; and a statement of the valuer's opinion about the impact of these benefits and/or risks on property value.
The strategic significance of environmental sustainability by Australian‐listed property trusts
Authors: Newell Graeme
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Environmental sustainability has taken on increased importance in recent years with property companies. The purpose of this paper is to assess the strategies used by listed property trusts (LPTs) in Australia in delivering excellence and international best practice in environmental sustainability for commercial property.

Design/methodology/approach

Using content analysis, the annual reports, corporate responsibility and sustainability reports, and carbon disclosure reports for all LPTs in Australia are assessed. These public domain documents are used to identify the corporate strategies used by LPTs for implementing international best practice in environmental sustainability for the LPT commercial property portfolios.

Findings

The paper finds that Australian LPTs are seen to be strategically implementing a wide range of procedures regarding environmental sustainability. These contributions represent international best practice in environmental sustainability procedures, and include strategies at the corporate, portfolio and individual commercial property levels. These results confirm the strong leadership role of Australian LPTs in implementing international best practice in environmental sustainability in commercial property.

Originality/value

Previous research into sustainable commercial property has largely focused on the valuation implications with sustainability and the various sustainability rating tools. This paper rigorously assesses the strategic issues concerning implementing international best practice in environmentally sustainable commercial property; particularly highlighting the strong leadership role of LPTs in Australia in implementing these international best practices. Given the increasing significance of environmental sustainability and commercial property, this research enables more informed and practical investment decision making by property companies regarding the implementation of environmental sustainability procedures for their commercial property portfolios which are seen to be international best practice.