bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the realization method of workflow engine in enterprise information management
Authors: Qiu Xiaoping , Shi Gangqiao , Song Changlin , Xu Yang
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss in detail a feasible realization method of workflow engine for enterprise information management on the basis of database technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Under the guidance of workflow management coalition (WfMC), the data model of the workflow engine is first presented based on the given process model, in which the attributes of process, activity and its relationships with role, application, workflow relation data and transfer condition are marked out. Then the basic control principles of the workflow engine are designed based on the necessary tables of process instances and activity instances, in which the control method of process instance and activity instance are discussed in detail including the creation, startup, management or status evolvement of the instance.

Findings

In the research, the workflow engine is successfully programmed as this realization method on the development platform of SQL server 2000 and Visual Studio 2005 and the results show the effectiveness of the workflow engine for inventory information management.

Originality/value

The paper gives a feasible realization method for business process management in enterprises using the advanced workflow technology, which can assign flexibility to the information management and improve the whole performance of an enterprise while facing changing market requirements.
Performance measurement system implementation using Balanced Scorecard and statistical methods
Authors: Valmohammadi Changiz , Servati Azadeh
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to design and implement a performance management system using third‐generation Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and statistical methods in an Iranian black carbon producer (Company A) to achieve its main strategy and vision; and second, to compare and evaluate some strategic measures of the company against those of a leading company in this industry in Iran (Company B) and those of a Thai company (Company C) to identify any possible gaps, so that the management of Company A can move toward filling such gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

The strategic objectives of the company as well as the measures of each perspective of the BSC were determined. In addition to studying all related documents of the company and conducting interviews, two self‐administered questionnaires were designed and distributed amongst a total of 24 managers or experts in the company. Statistical methods were used to select strategic objectives and measures.

Findings

This paper illustrates how the use of a combined approach of statistical methods and BSC could help organisations to design and implement a sound performance measurement system. Also the result of the comparison with the two companies previously mentioned revealed that the case company is lagging in most of the measures, necessitating the execution of necessary initiatives on these measures to fill the existing gaps.

Practical implications

The paper establishes the basis for integrating and using statistical methods for selection of strategic objectives and measures of BSC and paving the way for implementation of a performance management system, particularly the third‐generation BSC.

Originality/value

This study integrates statistical methods and third‐generation BSC techniques to design and implement a performance measurement system in an Iranian black carbon production company.
Enterprise network maintaining mobility – architectural model of services delivery
Authors: Kryvinska Natalia , Strauss Christine , Collini‐Nocker Bernhard , Zinterhof Peter
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Global commerce demands flexibility in when and how work gets done, as modern businesses increasingly require real‐time responses to partners and customers. With low costs, companies look to mobility as a way to speed responsiveness and increase the personalization of customer service offerings. Mobility is a key element of networking allowing enterprises to unlock their business process from fixed points. A unified approach to enterprise mobility delivers integrated wired/wireless networking, mobile extensions to unified communications, geographic, and end‐point independent network access and location services as major architectural components. As a consequence, this paper aims to focus on a converged architecture that spans wired and wireless networks to enable a seamless delivery of integrated services across the enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper builds a framework to facilitate a continuous delivery of voice services. It also examines an architecture that traverses wireless local area network and local area network. And, proposes a mathematical model of the services delivery in order to analyze network behavior as a response to the new services introducing.

Findings

The authors constructed a service scenario framework and also put forward an analytical model of the services delivery for analyzing network behavior response for the inclusion of new services. They also evaluated a network infrastructure, services, and applications, including the prospective converged services, as well as the technology for the transition to future services.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the development of seamless services delivery model for providing enhanced business services to the enterprise customers along with the ability to migrate more tightly.
A chance‐constrained data envelopment analysis approach for strategy selection
Authors: Farzipoor Saen Reza , Azadi Majid
Published: July 2011

Purpose

To select the best strategies in the presence of both deterministic and non‐deterministic data in uncertain environments, without relying on weight assignment by decision makers, this paper aims to propose an innovative approach, which is based on mathematical programming called chance‐constrained data envelopment analysis (CCDEA).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes an innovative approach called CCDEA for strategy selection.

Findings

In summary, the approach presented in this paper has some distinctive contributions: the proposed model does not demand weights from maker; DEA analysis obtains the optimal weights for all inputs and outputs of each decision‐making unit without relying on the subjective judgment of decision makers; the proposed model considers multiple criteria for strategy selection; the paper makes a sufficient contribution to the practice of operations research. This paper is the first study which applies CCDEA for evaluating the strategies in uncertain environments; and the paper introduces a method for strategy selection in the presence of stochastic data.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper is the first application of CCDEA to deal with strategy selection.
Suriya Coffins: traditions become market opportunities
Authors: Walsh John
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate the manner in which a traditional ceremony with a high emotional content is being transformed into a capitalist market industry through a case study of the Thai company Suriya Coffins.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study involves a critical analysis of secondary data together with ethnographic observation of Buddhist funerals in Thailand.

Findings

Suriya Coffins has achieved a degree of market success by providing a basic package of services that can be supplemented by additional services on a network model. However, there have to date been certain constraints to growth.

Research limitations/implications

The paper considers one single model in a single location in Thailand and so results cannot be taken to be widely generalisable.

Practical implications

Urbanization attenuates the link between people and traditional village communities and this opens spaces for commercial corporations to operate.

Social implications

Globalization means increasing amounts of the sphere of traditional culture enter the world of commerce and this can lead to a certain degree of alienation.

Originality/value

Few if any studies of the funeral industry in Thailand have been undertaken from a business perspective. The link between tradition and commercialism is generally underresearched.
China's emerging software industry
Authors: McManus John
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a point of view on the challenges China faces competing in a twenty‐first century software industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken was desk research and conversations with other academics and industry experts.

Findings

The paper suggests that China needs to overcome weaknesses in managerial and technical skills and focus on international markets where it is positive strengths.

Practical implications

India provides some important and practical lessons for China's emerging software industry including those Chinese firms looking to increase their export revenues and presence around the globe.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight into the issues and challenges faced by the Chinese software industry looking to expand within a global economy. The paper may also prove useful to those researchers interested in emerging economies.
Consumption behavior of Chinese urban residents during economic transition
Authors: Jin Xiaotong , Deng Shengliang , Alon Ilan
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the consumption behavior of Chinese residents during economic transition. It explores whether Western theories of consumption are applicable to the Chinese situation, and then tests the hypothesis based on Chinese traditional culture and dynamic nature of system change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for an empirical‐based approach. A regression model was used to analyze annual consumption data from 1986 to 2008 in China.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights and suggests that under the influence of Chinese traditional culture and dynamic change of the Chinese economic system, Chinese urban residents exhibit a special consumption pattern of an intermittent and cyclical nature.

Research limitations/implications

The paper concludes that in order to make the consumption stimulation policy in China more effective, it is necessary to establish a series of measures such as establishing a sound social welfare system as well as narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, which will substantially increase the buying power of the less‐privileged groups and thus will increase the overall spending in the society. Although the econometric model used in this paper is adequate, a different approach like time series econometrics may give us additional insights. Researchers are encouraged to test the hypothesis further by employing other methodologies. Second, due to the lack of its own theories in the emerging market, this study remains exploratory.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study the special consumption behavior of Chinese urban residents during the economic transition.
CSR disclosures and its determinants: evidence from Malaysian government link companies
Authors: Hawani Wan Abd Rahman Nor , Mohamed Zain Mustaffa , Hanim Yaakop Yahaya Al‐Haj Norashfah
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The main aim of this study is to assess the level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure of 44 government‐linked companies (GLCs) listed on Bursa Malaysia and to ascertain the relationship of certain company characteristics; namely size, age, profitability and leverage on the total CSR disclosure from the year 2005 to 2006.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis is deployed to determine CSR disclosure. A disclosure index consisting of 16 items was developed based on four general themes: human resource, marketplace, community and environment to assess the disclosure level. The relationship between company characteristics and total disclosure was examined using multiple linear regression analysis.

Findings

The major finding of this study is that the theme of disclosure has shifted from human resource to marketplace. This is followed by human resource, community and, finally, environment. Ironically, companies are not only disclosing good news, but also bad/negative news. This study provides further evidence that is, to a certain extent, some GLCs have influenced other companies' practices to disclose CSR information. Company size was found to be positively significant associated with the total disclosure. The remaining variables were found to be insignificant in explaining the total disclosure.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that looks into CSR activities, extent, themes and the determinants of CSR disclosure in the annual reports of Malaysian GLCs. The Malaysian Government, Bursa Saham, Security Commission and other relevant parties could take heed of the findings to further improve CSR awareness, practices and disclosures and quality in GLC.
Research on corporate social responsibility and disclosure in Portugal
Authors: Castelo Branco Manuel , Delgado Catarina
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This descriptive paper seeks to explore the role of Portuguese academics within corporate social responsibility and disclosure (CSR&D) research. It aims to give some insight into the nature and the extent of research on CSR&D being undertaken by Portuguese authors.

Design/methodology/approach

This review specifically targeted international journals to see how much Portuguese research had penetrated the international business, management and accounting (BMA) academic discourse. The research that is reported in this paper is based on an electronic search of the online databases which include journals in these areas. The paper reviews journal articles published in BMA journals over the period 1998 to 2008.

Findings

The paper reaches several conclusions: the volume of published research in international journals is still very low; most papers focus on CSR; research is overwhelmingly empirical in orientation; and most papers focus on Portugal. Hence, there is great scope for expanding the amount of research on CSR&D in Portugal, as well as improving the diversity of its content and its geographical coverage.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is not expected to be a complete study, but rather a stimulus for future research. It is intended to provide a basis for comparison with further studies on CSR&D research in Portugal with studies from other geographical areas.

Originality/value

The paper provides the first survey on CSR&D research in Portugal. It also provides the first opportunity to reflect on the current state of these still emerging academic fields.
Corporate social responsibility, firm value and financial performance in Brazil
Authors: Lima Crisóstomo Vicente , de Souza Freire Fátima , Cortes de Vasconcellos Felipe
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance, taking into account firm value and financial accounting performance, in an emerging market – Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis was conducted to extract data from two different sources, one relative to CSR data and another that provided financial data. CSR indexes and financial performance measures were calculated to allow the estimation of regression analysis conducted to examine the relationship between CSR and performance.

Findings

The results indicate that CSR is value destroying in Brazil since a significant negative correlation between CSR and firm value was found. Additionally, a neutral relationship characterises the mutual effect between CSR and financial accounting performance.

Originality/value

The study has examined the relationship between CSR and firm performance in a country where, as in most other non‐developed markets, such a relationship has not been an object of research. Besides, the use of a three dimensional measure of CSR, mainly considering research undertaken in an emerging market, as a valuable contribution may be observed.
Corporate social responsibility organizational identification and motivation
Authors: Mozes Michal , Josman Zvi , Yaniv Eyal
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagement on employee motivation, job satisfaction and organizational identification as well as employee citizenship in voluntary community activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Employees (n=224) of a major airline carrier participated in the study based on a 54‐item questionnaire, containing four different sets of items related to volunteering, motivation, job satisfaction and organizational identification. The employee sample consisted of two sub‐samples drawn randomly from the company pool of employees, differentiating between active participants in the company's CSR programs (APs) and non participants (NAPs).

Findings

Significant differences were found between APs and NAPs on organizational identification and motivation, but not for job satisfaction. In addition, positive significant correlations between organizational identification, volunteering, job satisfaction, and motivation were obtained. These results are interpreted within the broader context that ties social identity theory (SIT) and organizational identification increase.

Practical implications

The paper contributes to the understanding of the interrelations between CSR and other organizational behavior constructs. Practitioners can learn from this study how to increase job satisfaction and organizational identification. Both are extremely important for an organization's sustainability.

Originality/value

This is a first attempt to investigate the relationship between CSR, organizational identification and motivation, comparing two groups from the same organization. The paper discusses the questions: “Are there potential gains at the intra‐organizational level in terms of enhanced motivation and organizational attitudes on the part of employees?” and “Does volunteering or active participation in CSR yield greater benefits for involved employees in terms of their motivation, job satisfaction and identification?”.
Normative stakeholder theory in relation to ethics of care
Authors: Oruc Ilke , Sarikaya Muammer
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This study aims at presenting a normative approach in adaptation of the ethics of care approach and stakeholder theory. Therefore, it seeks to present a point‐of‐view regarding the related issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focuses on a theory‐based integration process, since it is designed on a normative basis and the current studies dealing with “ethic of care theory” still have some problems in practical terms.

Findings

It is observed that ethics of care and stakeholder theory are getting more and more interrelated due to established networks and available common points. As a subfield of feminist ethic, ethics of care can be used to clarify moral principles lying behind these relationships. From another point of view, the discussion regarding the feminization of business enterprises focuses on the idea that such discussions involving the principles lying behind feminist ethics can provide an advantage for the companies in terms of competition. In addition, ethics of care is expected to contribute to stakeholder theory to a great extent.

Research limitations/implications

The related literature includes a rather limited number of studies conducted on this research topic. The available research explains some relationships on a normative basis. Therefore, the current study is expected to contribute to the expansion of such research in the field.

Practical implications

Despite the presence of studies in the field, there is still a limitation in putting the findings of studies into practice. Since the country where the current study is conducted still suffers from ambiguities regarding the definitions of concepts and it is very difficult to find business enterprises appreciating feminist values, although they are taught to adopt philanthropy applications, the study is limited to a normative point‐of‐view regarding the issues.

Originality/value

The scope of the study is expected to contribute to a great extent to the integration of feminist ethic and stakeholder theory. Similarly, it will encourage further studies on the issue.
Examining ethics and materialism with purchase of counterfeits
Authors: Kozar Joy M. , Marcketti Sara B.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to measure undergraduate students' ethical and materialistic values, and the correlation of these variables with the purchase of counterfeit apparel products.

Design/methodology/approach

Students (n=741) were surveyed via an online method. Instrument items from the Muncy‐Vitell consumer ethics scale and the values‐oriented materialism scale ascertained students' values of ethics and materialism. Previous purchasing behavior of counterfeit apparel goods was also assessed.

Findings

A significant relationship between materialism and ethics was found. Those participants who reported to be more ethical in their decision making were those that held less materialistic values. Ethics and materialism were also significantly related to the purchase behavior of counterfeit apparel goods. Consumers holding stronger ethical values and who were less materialistic were less likely to report purchasing counterfeit apparel products.

Practical implications

Findings are useful in understanding the values orientation of consumers who purchase counterfeit apparel goods. Segmenting consumer groups of varying ethical beliefs and materialistic tendencies and targeting them through appropriate marketing messages could be successful in encouraging greater socially responsible purchase behavior.

Originality/value

Since purchasing counterfeit products is specifically a consumption activity related to brand prestige and image, it seems plausible that a relationship between an individual's materialistic values and purchase behavior of counterfeit apparel goods could exist. Moreover, given previous findings that more materialistic consumers also tend to be less ethically‐minded, exploring the relationship between consumers' ethical perceptions and their purchase behavior of counterfeit products is useful.
A new direction for CSR: the shortcomings of previous CSR models and the rationale for a new model
Authors: Claydon Jane
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to take the reader on a journey through the development of CSR since it first emerged in the 1940s, through to contemporary models of CSR.

Design/methodology/approach

By drawing on existing CSR literature the achievements and gaps of CSR are demonstrated. The literature review focuses on a small selection of important CSR models, referencing the most iconic from the last few decades.

Findings

Existing CSR models are critiqued as being insufficient in providing an adequate understanding of CSR. It is asserted that a more efficient model of CSR is required and a new model of CSR is proposed, which is more relevant to and reflective of the present day business environment. The model of “consumer‐driven corporate responsibility” (CDCR) is founded on the notion that consumer demand for CSR is both the most likely and the most effective driver for the implementation of CSR in a company.

Research limitations/implications

As CSR is rapidly evolving, undoubtedly models will be created after this paper was written, that, for this reason, are out of the scope of this review.

Practical implications

This paper provides an alternative, more comprehensive and more effective model of CSR, useful as a tool for academics and business leaders alike.

Originality/value

As the model of CDCR focuses on the conditions under which companies are most likely to adopt CSR from both a descriptive and normative perspective, it is proposed as being a more suitable approach to CSR.
The Potential for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico: Some Reflections
Authors: Hodges Caroline
Published: July 2011

This article offers some brief reflections on the relationship between culture and the potential development within the field of Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico. Thoughts expressed are necessarily subjective and set within the wider context of organisational communication and community relations in Mexico City. The focus is on the significance of open communication, participation and closer relationships with the Other.
Sustainable management in the Argentinean companies: concepts and degree of implementation
Authors: Florencia Peretti Maria
Published: July 2011

Starting from the concepts that Administration Theory has been incorporating during the last decade as regards sustainable management and social responsibility, this work presents a study of the state of the art as for the knowledge and application of these contributions to the Argentinean companies. The above mentioned concepts include those related to the management and the valuation of variables which are traditionally not measurable and they appear as the main obstacle when implementing these new theories. The used methodology included the analysis of secondary sources as well as interviews with key informants, and it allowed to conclude that the Argentinean companies are still a long way behind as for sustainability management. Even though Argentine businessmen appear to be very interested about the knowledge of these new concepts, there is neither a full assimilation of them, nor an integral implementation by the organizations, specially the SMEs which are even further behind than the large companies that operate in the national territory. The main contribution of this article is that it identifies a series of key aspects on the current situation of the Argentinean companies as for sustainability, highlighting failures as the lack of measurement and communication of the sustainable actions. Thus the article proposes some guidelines of orientation for future empirical investigations guided to deepen into this problematic, besides establishing a complete conceptual framework on the subject matter.
Public Policies and Social Private Investment in Contemporary Brazil
Authors: Nunes Costa Maria Alice
Published: July 2011

This article has as objective to present the relation between the current phenomenon of the corporate social responsibility and its relation with the State in the promotion of social policies. We have as example, some cases in Brazil, where the State starts to encourage companies to make social private investment. This is a new way of public administration that praises the co‐responsibility and corporate solidarity with the social development of the country.
Banks and Social Responsibility: Incorporating Social Practice in Organizational Structures
Authors: Cruvinel Ferreira Ventura Elvira
Published: July 2011

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the dissemination of structural arrangements relating to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement within the field of banking organizations in Brazil. The paper is part of the research results to understand the dynamics of institutionalizing CSR, which is understood as a movement of capitalism displacement. The structural arrangements under study are: the specific areas created to address the CSR topic, social balance sheet and links on CSR in organizational websites ‐ considered as “tests” to include organizations in the movement. It was found that there is an isomorphic movement in the field where the major banks take the tests, having the arrangements ‐ and soon the large banks joined the movement, adopting different stances. Wholesale banks, however, have still to do the same thing, which ratifies the process as a search for legitimacy, the core argument of the theory.
Late entrant over‐the‐counter and Rx market entry strategies
Authors: Cavusgil Erin , Seyda Deligonul Z. , Calantone Roger
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore market dynamics and strategic issues that contribute to a late entrant's success in achieving market leadership in the prescription (Rx) and over‐the‐counter (OTC) markets. In the Rx market, consumers must receive physicians' approval before purchasing the product. In the OTC market, consumers make the final drug choice.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on sales (both Rx and OTC) and direct‐to‐consumer advertising expenditures for nine gastrointestinal drug products were obtained covering a 17‐year period. Ordinary least squares regression was employed.

Findings

The findings show that late‐market entrants, despite existing challenges, can become market leaders. This applies to both the Rx and OTC markets, via varying mechanisms.

Originality/value

This study is unique in demonstrating the differential mechanism in achieving market success for late entrants in the Rx and OTC markets.
Factors influencing scope and acceptability of E‐detailing as a pharmaceutical marketing communication tool in emerging economies like India
Authors: Banerjee Saikat , Dash Sampada Kumar
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to unearth the factors influencing the scope and acceptability of E‐detailing concepts recently started by domestic as well as multinational companies in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The objective is to capture views of pharmaceutical company personnel about E‐detailing to understand factors influencing acceptance and execution of E‐detailing as a marketing communication tool. This study is based on primary data collected from the Delhi/NCR area of India. To analyze the data, an attempt is made to identify latent factors that influence various measurable characteristics. Gonzalez and Bello's approach is used in factor analyzing the responses to identify prominent influencing factors behind the adoption of E‐detailing by pharmaceutical companies.

Findings

As viewed by the company personnel, managerial readiness, operational capabilities, audience acceptance and market accessibility are the most important factors responsible for proper acceptability of E‐detailing program. Other motivators are convenience mode of communication, brand acceptance in the market, a deep relationship development with target physicians. This has a positive impact on the profit curve of the companies.

Practical implications

Results from this study will help pharmaceutical companies operating in India to understand factors influencing scope and acceptability of E‐detailing as an important marketing communication tool. Pharmaceutical companies may chart their strategic communication roadmap in line with the same.

Originality/value

In this paper, we have identified factors responsible for acceptance and execution of E‐detailing as a pharmaceutical marketing communication tool. These factors may be tested in different countries and intensity may be analyzed beyond country boundaries.
Compact fluorescent lamps and electricity consumption trend in residential buildings in Ilorin, Nigeria
Authors: Sule Bolaji F. , Ajao Kajogbola R. , Ajimotokan Habeeb A. , Garba Mohammed K.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the electricity consumption trend in residential buildings using incandescent lamps and retrofitting with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were administered to capture the necessary data from three randomly selected residential estates in Ilorin, Nigeria. In total, 8,840 sampled incandescent lamps were retrofitted with CFLs. The electric energy in kilowatt hour (kWh) consumed prior to replacement for three months was compared with kWh consumption after retrofitting and analyzed employing t‐tests.

Findings

The three‐month average electricity consumption of ten households for the University of Ilorin GRA quarters and Lower Niger River Basin staff quarters pre‐ and post‐installation were 20,259 and 13,010 kWh, and 46,891 and 29,588 kWh, respectively. Results show that there were significant differences between the observed and tabulated values for the pre‐ and post‐installation of CFLs, respectively, at 5 per cent confidence level. About 40 per cent reduction in electricity consumption was achieved through deployment of CFLs in the residential households.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates how retrofitting of incandescent lamps with CFLs can bring about possible reduction in electricity consumption in residential households in Nigeria.
Henry B. Plant (1819‐1899): Florida's west coast entrepreneur
Authors: Ford Robert C. , Petersen Peter B.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as vital for economies to grow and survive in an increasingly competitive world. Studying the critical success factors of entrepreneurial activity is and will continue to be a primary scholarly interest. Factors that have been identified in current times as critical to the success of entrepreneurs can even be seen in the actions of an entrepreneur in nineteenth‐century America. This paper seeks to use historical evidence about the career of Henry B. Plant to illustrate the application of those key factors and to expand knowledge of customer networks in entrepreneurial success.

Design/methodology/approach

The recent Kauffman study of successful entrepreneurs identifies 12 characteristics that are associated with their success. Clustered into three groupings in descending order of importance they are: work experience and previous success, management team, and luck; professional and personal networks, university education, and availability of venture capital funding; geographic location, advice from investors, alumni networks, and state and/or regional assistance. Consequently, this article examines the career of Henry B. Plant to provide additional historical evidence for the Kauffman study's classification of critical characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. Moreover, it illustrates the value of strong ties in a customers network as a valued resource for entrepreneurs.

Findings

Henry B. Plant was an entrepreneurial pioneer and a visionary leader. Singlehandedly, he made Tampa, Florida by building the railroad to it. His strategy of opening up the state with an integrated rail and ship system necessitated thinking through the interconnections of different modes of transportation, tying together schedules, and making it possible to move people and goods from New York to Havana. By examining Henry B. Plant examples of how he used key success factors, similar to those in Kauffman's study, to create and develop his entrepreneurial efforts can be found. Moreover, his ability to create strong ties with his customer network created a valuable and unique resource in his entrepreneurial success.

Originality/value

While many studies of entrepreneurs focus on the twentieth and twenty‐first centuries, an example from the nineteenth century remains of value in understanding the key drivers of entrepreneurial success. This is particularly true for Plant who showed that by carefully creating and maintaining strong ties with a customer network he could provide his enterprise with a valuable and unique resource that was a major contributor to his success as an entrepreneur.
Ideology or economics: government banking in New Zealand
Authors: Cardow Andrew , Tripe David , Wilson William
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to argue that in the short history of New Zealand banking, political experimentation, based at first upon socialist ideology of the 1940s led to the nationalisation of The Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), followed by a period of neo‐liberalism in the 1980s and early 1990s in which the bank was privatised. It further argues that the establishment of Kiwibank Ltd in New Zealand at the dawn of the twenty‐first century was a return to the political ideology of the 1940s.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the nationalisation and subsequent privatisation of the BNZ and draws a parallel between the perceived banking environment as it existed in New Zealand in the twentieth century and as it existed at the establishment of Kiwibank. By way of context setting it also discusses the political environment as it relates to the nationalisation of the Bank of England.

Findings

The paper finds that in New Zealand, political experimentation, not commercial pragmatism, was the underlying motivating factor for the state's involvement in banking.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the pool of knowledge regarding the political motivations behind nationalisation and state ownership of banking assets. The article is of interest to economic and political historians as well as those who study New Zealand political party history. Future policy makers could do well to reflect upon the motivations for state ownership of banking assets by asking if their decisions are driven by ideology or economics.
NGO transformation: institutional entrepreneurship in Indian microfinance
Authors: Sarma Sushanta
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Institutional theory is inspired by the problem of how different organizations operating in different environment have similar structures. The similarity is catalyzed by isomorphic forces, active within a given organizational field. Despite the force of isomorphic process, there is emergence of new organizations in through institutional entrepreneurs. The emergence of NBFCs through transformation of NGOs within the given context of Indian microfinance sector creates a space for examining the institutional entrepreneurship. The paper studies the institutional entrepreneurs of Indian microfinance, and attempts to make some proposition on institutional entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

It brings out the commonalities among the institutional entrepreneurs, and how they have rationalized their actions within the given context. The paper aims to extend the current understanding of institutional entrepreneurship to the emerging field of Indian microfinance.

Findings

The institutional entrepreneurs were at the periphery of not‐for‐profit sector before transformation. The leaderships of institutional entrepreneurship are well‐networked, and have better access to resources. The institutional entrepreneurs have rationalized their action, by aligning their interest with that of other influential stakeholders. The new form is legitimized through patronizing practices like credit rating by professional agencies etc.

Research limitations

The study is based on secondary literature and the studies on all the selected organizations are not necessarily value‐neutral, and hence there are possibilities of interpreting the process of institutional entrepreneurship in an inadequate way.

Originality/value

There are very few works on microfinance from the institutional theory's perspective, and this may be a fresh attempt to look at the process of transformation of NGO‐MFIs from the lenses of institutional entrepreneurship.
International transfer of employee‐oriented CSR practices by multinational SMEs
Authors: Johan de Jong Dirk
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Starting from the question whether the globalisation process leads to a social “race to the bottom”, this paper aims to highlight the international transfer of socially responsible, employee‐oriented practices by multinational small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) as a possible way to counter such a trend.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a literature review, an exploratory framework – building on three perspectives – is proposed about the conditions in which employee‐oriented corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects long‐term firm performance positively. First, the stakeholder view on CSR entails that employees can be considered as legitimate stakeholders of the firm justifying introduction of employee‐oriented CSR. Second, the human resource management perspective matters as employee‐oriented CSR materialises in human resource management policies and practices that increase employee commitment. Finally, as regulative, normative and cognitive institutions differ across countries, the institutionalist perspective is relevant to understand diverging demands on content and form of employee‐oriented CSR practices.

Findings

It is argued that owner‐managers of (multinational) SMEs, who view their employees as legitimate stakeholders of the firm, will introduce employee‐oriented CSR out of their sense of moral responsibility towards their employees. This sense of moral responsibility is conditional on achieving sustainable mutual value creation as a result of employee‐oriented CSR. Finally, transfer of employee‐oriented CSR to foreign subsidiaries is positively mediated by the level of owner‐managers' institutional entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies addressing the position of employees as internal stakeholders of small and medium‐sized enterprises in an international context. It signals the relevance of institutional differences across countries to entrepreneurs who wish to improve long‐term firm performance through employee‐oriented CSR.
Supply chain sustainability: a relationship management approach
Authors: Ki Fiona Cheung Yan , Rowlinson Steve
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine, by means of case studies, the mechanisms by which relationships can be managed and by which communication and cooperation can be enhanced in sustainable supply chains. The research was predicated on the contention that the development of a sustainable supply chain depends, in part, on the transfer of knowledge and capabilities from the larger players in the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted a triangulated approach in which quantitative data were collected by questionnaire, interviews were conducted to explore and enrich the quantitative data and case studies were undertaken in order to illustrate and validate the findings. Handy's view of organisational culture, Allen and Meyer's concepts of organisational commitment and Van de Ven and Ferry's measures of organisational structuring have been combined into a model to test and explain how collaborative mechanisms can affect supply chain sustainability.

Findings

It has been shown that the degree of match and mismatch between organisational culture and structure has an impact on staff's commitment level. A sustainable supply chain depends on convergence – that is the match between organisational structuring, organisation culture and organisation commitment.

Research limitations/implications

The study is a proof of concept and three case studies have been used to illustrate the nature of the model developed. Further testing and refinement of the model in practice should be the next step in this research.

Practical implications

The concept of relationship management needs to filter down to all levels in the supply chain if participants are to retain commitment and buy‐in to the relationship. A sustainable supply chain requires proactive relationship management and the development of an appropriate organisational culture, and trust. By legitimising individuals' expectations of the type of culture which is appropriate to their company and empowering employees to address mismatches that may occur, a situation can be created whereby the collaborating organisations develop their competences symbiotically and so facilitate a sustainable supply chain.

Originality/value

The culture/commitment/structure model developed from three separate strands of management thought has proved to be a powerful tool for analysing collaboration in supply chains and explaining how and why some supply chains are sustainable, and others are not.
Gender differences in entrepreneurial networks: adding an alter perspective
Authors: Klyver Kim
Published: July 2011

Purpose

By adding an alter perspective to the traditional ego perspective on gender differences in entrepreneurial networks, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether involvement of family members who are not partners and exchange of emotional support is associated not only with the gender of the entrepreneurs but also the gender of entrepreneurs' alters.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on homophily theory, relational theory and social support theory, three hypotheses are developed and tested on a representative sample of Danish entrepreneurs and their alters. A hierarchical logistic regression approach is applied.

Findings

It is found that female focal entrepreneurs are more likely to involve female and family members who are not partners. Furthermore, it was found that female focal entrepreneurs would more likely involve female family members while male focal entrepreneurs would more likely involve male family members. And finally, it was found that females and males are equally likely to receive emotional support while females are more likely to provide it.

Research limitations/implications

An important lesson from this study is that both focal actors and alters have an essential role in the entrepreneurial act and that females and males perform different roles and functions as both the focal entrepreneurs and as alters.

Originality/value

This study is unique in the sense that it adds an alter perspective to the traditional ego perspective on entrepreneurial networks.
Employment discrimination law exposures for international employers
Authors: Posthuma Richard A. , Roehling Mark V. , Campion Michael A.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use a risk management perspective to identify the risks of employment discrimination law liability for multinational employers.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 101 US Federal Court cases that involved multinational employers operating both inside and outside of the USA were content coded and then used to identify factors that predict the frequency that foreign employers operating inside the USA – and US employers operating outside the USA – were subject to lawsuits under US employment discrimination laws.

Findings

This study found that employment lawsuits based on sex discrimination against females was the most significant risk exposure. Employers whose home country was from a Western culture were at comparatively greater risk for charges of both age and religious discrimination. Employers whose home country was from an Asian culture were at comparatively greater risk for charges of both race and national origin discrimination.

Research limitations/implications

This study demonstrates the viability and usefulness of a risk management framework for examination of issues related to law and management.

Practical implications

This study enables the identification of risk factors that multinational employers can use to strategically target their loss prevention efforts in order to more effectively and efficiently avoid or reduce potential liability for employment discrimination.

Social implications

The risk factors identified in this study can help employers to take efforts to reduce employment discrimination in their multinational operations, thereby reducing the frequency and likelihood that such discrimination may occur.

Originality/value

This is the first study to use a risk management framework to empirically identify employment law risk exposures for multinational employers.