bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking the current dominant approach to business school strategy
Authors: Salem Khalifa Azaddin
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The aim of the paper is twofold: to question the current use of the extant competitive strategy frameworks imported from the context of the business firm; and to call for innovative frameworks that are more faithful to the nature, purpose, and needs of business schools.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review is undertaken in the field of business school competitive strategy. This literature is then evaluated to see how sensitive it is to the specific context of the business school. Inferences are then drawn and the paper is structured to make the case for the need to rethink the current approach to business school strategy.

Findings

The application of the current dominant approach in the competitive strategy literature, which prioritizes value capture over value creation, is questionable in the context of business school strategy. There are deep and multiple differences between business firms and business schools. These differences call for shifting the focus toward value creation and emphasizing the social mission of business schools.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focuses only on undergraduate education. Extending the argument to include other activities of business schools requires further research.

Practical implications

Business school strategy researchers and practitioners are encouraged to alter their current approach to be less occupied with competition and more concerned with value creation for students, stakeholders, and society at large.

Originality/value

The paper represents an early call for strategists and researchers to rethink their current dominant approach of applying the extant business strategy literature to business schools. It makes the case for the necessity of taking into account the deep and multiple differences between business firms and business schools.
Internationalization of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises: a multi case study
Authors: Amal Mohamed , Rocha Freitag Filho Alexandre
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the internationalization of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). More specifically, it is to test the effects of entrepreneurship and networking relationship on the internationalization pattern of SMEs from an emerging economy, Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was designed to be qualitative, using a sample of three companies from the manufacturing industries, with significant involvement in foreign markets.

Findings

The study has shown that the importance of entrepreneurs and network relationship are important factors for the understanding of the internationalization's pattern of SMEs. Furthermore, the performance of internationalization depends largely on the ability of companies to relate innovative and proactive international behavior to learning's process through the maintenance of national and international networking.

Originality/value

Most empirical studies have been concentrated to evaluate and address this phenomenon of SMEs internationalization based on the experiences of developed countries. Although there is a growing interest on the internationalization of SMEs in less developed countries, they are still very limited empirical studies in this field. This research intends to fill this gap in two manners. First, in terms of focusing more specifically on the internationalization of the case of companies from a developing country, using a qualitative multi case analysis. Second, using a framework, which relates entrepreneurship and networking and how they affect the internationalization's strategy of SMEs.
Leadership as engagement, leadership as system development
Authors: Buenar Puplampu Bill
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper uses data about the challenges and difficulties confronting organisations and leaders to advance a dualized meaning of corporate leadership in the context of a developing country. The purpose is to describe a leadership frame that is locally contextualised, thereby bringing conceptualisation and thought closer to action, reified reality and applicability.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was designed as a series of three studies starting from an applied/interventionist standpoint. The first study used data from applied diagnostic interventions, the second used qualitative interviews and the third used open‐ended questionnaires. Data were collected from 25 Ghanaian organisations and 29 corporate executives.

Findings

Drawing on a range of everyday issues such as poor attention to customers, pressure from stakeholders (such as political overlords) and leaders' “love” for perks, the paper develops a notion of leadership as “engagement” and as “system development”.

Research limitations/implications

The data are exploratory and the sample size may be considered small.

Originality/value

The paper discusses implications for leadership research and leader development in a developing country like Ghana.
Healthy schools and colleges: what works, what is needed, and why? Part II
Authors: Marks Ray
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this editorial is to provide an overview and brief commentary concerning the present contributions to this third special issue on “Healthy schools and colleges”.

Design/methodology/approach

Authors working in the field of school or college health education were invited to submit their work to Health Education for purposes of review by their peers. After undergoing the traditional peer review process, five submissions that fulfilled the basic criteria relevant to this issue were selected for publication.

Findings

While reasonably diverse, these five contributions all confirm that, while the evidence base as well as the support for using the school as a venue to promote health are increasing, multiple considerations as well as approaches are required in order to successfully implement health‐oriented programs in the school and/or college setting. In addition to careful planning, and allocation of resources, in line with the first part of this 2010 series, all authors concur that multiple rather than single strategies are needed at all phases of program planning and implementation if sustainable efficacious programs are sought. Key strategies include having a socio‐ecological perspective, adequate teacher training, effective partnerships, policy support, and parental “buy‐in”.

Originality/value

While more research is needed, the ideas embedded in this special issue can assist stakeholders who wish to develop or improve the sustainability of school‐ and college‐based health promotion programs. The data specifically provide some direction about what is needed to do collectively to foster the health of the young people in the context of the health‐promoting school or college.
Understanding the factors that characterise school‐community partnerships
Authors: Thomas Melinda , Rowe Fiona , Harris Neil
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that characterise effective school‐community partnerships that support the sustainability of school health initiatives applied within a health‐promoting schools approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used an explanatory case study approach of five secondary schools participating in a health‐promoting school programme, “The Logan Healthy Schools Project” in Logan, South‐East Queensland, Australia to investigate how school‐community partnerships support the sustainability of school health initiatives. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 16 deputy principals, school staff members, and community‐based partners, along with observations and a documentary analysis of Logan Healthy School Project activities. A thematic analysis was conducted on the data.

Findings

The factors that characterise effective school‐community partnerships that support the sustainability of school health initiatives include: a focus on building relationships between school and community partners, complementary capacities of school personnel and service providers, commonality of intent and shared goals between both parties, and competence of practice, primarily of the community service provider. These four factors were consistent at the school operational level and strategic programme co‐ordination level of the Logan Healthy Schools Project, yet varied in importance across the initiation, growth, and maturity of the school‐community partnerships.

Originality/value

The study adds to the limited body of knowledge that surrounds effective school‐community partnerships and how the features of these partnerships contribute to the sustainability of school health initiatives. The study highlights the importance of initiating, growing, and maintaining school‐community partnerships and provides insight into the factors that should be considered when planning and developing school health promotion initiatives.
Evolution of the perception of smoking by children in Guernsey
Authors: Amey Vidya
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gauge how the perception of smoking by children has evolved since the last primary schools survey in Guernsey in 2007 and to investigate whether there is an increase in the percentage of smoke‐free homes since the last survey.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 377 Year 6 (aged 10‐11 years) primary school students were surveyed through an online questionnaire made up of 58 questions and based on the health attitudes of children. The statistics arising from this survey were compared with those obtained in a similar survey in 2007.

Findings

Year 2007, 2009 (respectively): Total=(575, 377); girls (48 per cent, 55 per cent) never smoked (94 per cent, 97 per cent); will not smoke when older (83 per cent, 82 per cent); have a smoke‐free house (60 per cent, 64 per cent); get information about smoking through Guernsey Adolescent Smokefree Project (GASP) (92 per cent, 90 per cent); have never been offered cannabis (91 per cent, 97 per cent).

Originality/value

The results of this survey forced a list of actions to be taken by GASP to ensure that the young people of the island would continue to receive smoke‐free education.
The implementation of social, personal and health education in Irish schools
Authors: Nic Gabhainn Saoirse , O'Higgins Siobhan , Barry Margaret
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is mandated in all Irish schools. This study aims to illuminate the perceived value and quality of SPHE and to document facilitators of successful implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was taken, where 713 pupils, 968 parents and 49 teachers and other staff across a stratified random sample of 12 schools completed questionnaires and participated in interviews and focus groups. Data were integrated at the school level and subsequently across schools.

Findings

Stakeholders generally agreed on the worth of SPHE. However, its perceived value relative to other areas of the curriculum varied by school context. Facilitators for successful implementation included training for teachers, inclusion of SPHE in school planning and evaluation processes, and organisational support for SPHE via timetabling and resource management within schools.

Research limitations/implications

Case studies were useful for investigating implementation at school level, but replication with more schools, across contexts, is warranted. Parental knowledge was limited and response rates from parents were in general low.

Practical implications

During planning, implementation and evaluation it appears to be crucial to recognise and respond meaningfully to existing contexts within schools. Given the methodologies of SPHE, the delivery of innovation across the whole school curriculum could be led and supported by more fully embracing this compulsory development.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates the value of exploring implementation at school level through the involvement of a range of educational stakeholders. It documents crucial success factors for schools and health educators, particularly in the context of the introduction of compulsory health education.
Implementing a social‐ecological model of health in Wales
Authors: Rothwell Heather , Shepherd Michael , Murphy Simon , Burgess Stephen , Townsend Nick , Pimm Claire
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the implementation of the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes (WNHSS) at national, local and school levels, using a systems approach drawing on the Ottawa Charter.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a single‐case study using data from a documentary analysis, interviews with Healthy Schools Co‐ordinators (n=23) and stakeholder (n∼93) discussion of interim findings at three regional workshops.

Findings

There was almost universal adherence to a national framework based on Ottawa Charter principles. Substantial progress had been made with advocacy and mediation, although the framework provided less specific guidance regarding enablement. All‐Wales training for co‐ordinators, the commitment of co‐ordinators to working across administrative and professional boundaries, and support from local education and health partnerships, were important determinants of healthy school schemes' growth and efficiency. Primary schools were more successful than secondary schools in embedding health‐related changes.

Research limitations/implications

Although findings are largely based on indirect evidence, the use of a social‐ecological model of evaluation provided valuable insights into implementation processes at multiple levels. Findings suggest that strong national support benefits programme development and dissemination and should include effective monitoring of local performance. The national strategic environment was influential at all levels of programme implementation. Priorities for further research include application of the social‐ecological model and organisational theory to investigate indicators of sustainability and influences on inequalities in health in school health promotion programmes.

Originality/value

The review illustrates the importance of evaluating health promotion programmes at multiple levels using a systems approach.
Developing trainee school teachers' expertise as health promoters
Authors: Speller Viv , Byrne Jenny , Dewhirst Sue , Almond Palo , Mohebati Lisa , Norman Melanie , Polack Sarah , Memon Anjum , Grace Marcus , Margetts Barrie , Roderick Paul
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the outcome of an education and public health collaboration investigating the impact of adapted training to enhance teachers' potential role to promote child health and wellbeing.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in three phases: a survey of the health education content in universities in initial teacher training courses; a longitudinal survey at the commencement and completion of courses to capture trainees' knowledge, skills and attitudes towards health and their role in health promotion; and mapping curriculum content against qualified teacher standards and public health competencies.

Findings

Training about health varies largely between institutions. Trainees' knowledge levels remained low after training; ranked importance of key health topics – nutrition, alcohol, smoking, – decreased significantly; a majority thought that teachers and schools play an important role in health promotion, but significant increases were also noted in the minority who thought health promotion is not part of their remit (Phase 2).

Originality/value

To the best of one's knowledge, similar work has not so far been reported. While teachers are in a prime position to influence child health, trainees require knowledge and skills to realise their public health potential.
How to cement a diversity policy
Authors: Hafid Ballafkih Abdel
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Highlights common pitfalls managers face when introducing diversity policies.

Design/methodology/approach

Examines some questions that have to be answered and steps that have to be taken before thoroughgoing diversity policies can be developed.

Findings

Urges organizations to acknowledge that diversity policies include more than selecting employees. Argues that senior people in an organization tend to concentrate on physical characteristics such as black or white, young or old, man or woman, gay or straight, and the one important aspect often forgotten is accepting that someone may think and act differently. Advances the view that it is precisely this difference in thinking and acting that increases the chance of innovation, although it is also seems to clash with socialization.

Practical implications

Argues that organizations need to rethink their current values, processes and procedures before implementing diversity policies. Contends that organizations that really strive to achieve a diverse workforce often fail to acknowledge – let alone profit from – the diversity that “deviant” employees bring.

Social implications

Reveals how to bring about identifiable changes in behavior in employees and organizations as a whole.

Originality/value

Demonstrates why an organization will not truly be made more diverse if diversity policy is restricted to a benevolent director or setting a target figure; it requires a broad foundation whereby the willingness to change norms and values and processes and procedures is a condition, and human‐resource managers should lead the way in this effort.
Leading through uncertain times – dance in the rain
Authors: Curson Judy , Parnell Heather
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Explores the challenges faced in leading organizations through times of uncertainty and how a positive approach can result in expansion.

Design/methodology/approach

Examines how a positive and open approach to a lengthy period of uncertainty preceding takeover resulted in significant growth and expansion and lower‐than‐expected staff turnover. Considers the significance of stable leadership, the importance of looking after and continuing to develop staff, and how expanding the horizons of both the organization and staff can grow the business. Looks at the importance of open and constant communication at all levels, and the value of team‐building activities in maintaining staff morale.

Findings

Reveals that staff value honesty and transparency in times of uncertainty and respond positively to leadership stability and a strong lead to continue to look forward and expand both the business and their personal horizons through taking on new and exciting challenges.

Practical implications

Shows how an active response to uncertainty and change can provide the impetus for business expansion and continued staff development at a time when these would more naturally be expected to remain static or contract.

Social implications

Emphasizes that, in times of difficulty or uncertainty, it is essential that staff continue to feel valued as individuals and team members.

Originality/value

Argues strongly that leaders must rise to the challenge when guiding an organization through uncertain times, resisting the temptation to “sit out the storm.”
Interview with Michael Armstrong, co‐author of Evidence Based Reward Management
Authors: by Juliet Norton Interview
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an interview with Michael Armstrong, joint Managing Partner of e‐reward and former Chief Examiner of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer.

Findings

In this interview, Michael discusses his new publication, Evidence Based Reward Management, which provides HR professionals with the means of measuring how the reward and pay of employees contribute directly to the performance of organizations.

Practical implications

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

Originality/value

It is important to ensure that everything done to develop and improve reward practices is evidence‐based. If organizations do not try to collect and analyze the evidence required to measure reward effectiveness they are not in a position to identify where improvements are required and do not have the information required to decide on the nature of such improvements.
Exploring asymmetrical information transmission processes in online auctions
Authors: Wu Jyh‐Jeng , Huei Wang Shan
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether sellers can create extra profit through information premiums. Phenomena surrounding asymmetrical information transmission among buyers is also explored..

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses three experimental designs to manipulate asymmetrical information acquisition among buyers (including insiders and outsiders) by exploring the related effects in online auctions. Questionnaires are used to collect the final willing‐to‐pay auction prices for buyers in each situation. The analyses are performed with SPSS software, using paired t‐tests and ANCOVA analysis.

Findings

Information premiums between insiders and outsiders are significantly different under diverse manipulative factors. ANCOVA shows a significant relationship in information traits, information acquisition costs, brand signals and information premiums among buyers.

Research limitations/implications

The paper employs a highly‐involved design and only considers one product category: MP3 players; other types of products are not included.

Practical implications

The results show that sellers can create extra profit through information traits, information acquired cost, and brand signals; results are from the asymmetrical information transmission process among buyers.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first that attempts to explore the asymmetrical information transmission process and effects among buyers in online auctions.
Factors affecting consumer behaviors in online buy‐it‐now auctions
Authors: Xu Bo , Lin Zhangxi , Shao Bingjia
Published: October 2010

Purpose

As a type of electronic commerce, online C2C markets have experienced a rapid growth in both sales volume and user numbers. Buy‐it‐now (BIN) auction is a mechanism to facilitate online auctions, and is adopted by the major online C2C marketplaces. This study aims to investigate consumers' purchase and adoption of risk relief service in BIN auctions in the online C2C market from the perspective of perceived risk.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model is developed based on relevant theory. Data are collected from American and Chinese consumers through a web‐based experiment system that simulates the transaction process on online C2C markets. The proposed hypotheses are tested with logistic and multiple linear regressions.

Findings

The results show that buyer's purchase behavior and usage of risk relief service for a transaction in BIN auctions are determined by the perceived risk, which is influenced by the buyer's risk attitude, seller online reputation, and the product price and type.

Practical implications

This study provides an in‐depth understanding of consumers' behaviors on online C2C markets at transaction level, and makes implications for online marketplace operation and business strategy making.

Originality/value

The primary value of this paper lies in providing a better understanding of consumers' behaviors on online C2C market, and investigating the factors that influence the consumers' purchase and adoption of risk relief service in online BIN auctions from the perceived risk perspective.
Understanding the role of electronic trading and inter‐organisational cooperation and coordination
Authors: Fearon Colm , Ballantine Joan , Philip George
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between cooperation and inter‐organisational coordination in the supply chain. There is much literature debate over the nature of electronic trading enabled cooperation and coordination in the supply chain. The paper examines the major concepts associated with inter‐organisational cooperation in social network literature such as collaboration and partnership and how this is affected by changing forms of coordination (market and hierarchy) governance.

Design/methodology/approach

Seminal literatures about how electronic market and hierarchy coordination mechanisms have changed over time are examined. While some evidence from interviewing companies is used in conjunction with literature to inform discuss the workings of a matrix framework, the discussion remains essentially conceptual.

Findings

A conceptual cooperation and coordination matrix outlines four quadrant forms of cooperation relative to evolving electronic markets and hierarchy coordination contexts, namely; “collaboration”, “partnership”, “dominance” and “autonomous”. The matrix depicts and describes subtle differences in these forms of cooperation. Collaboration involves a low degree of vertical integration and a high number of trading partners transacting on short‐term contracts. Partnering involves a higher degree of inter‐firm linkage with fewer stable partners on a medium to long‐term basis. Dominance is characterised as a traditional form of hierarchical inter‐firm linkage with a high degree of vertical integration. The autonomous organisation specialises in the production and delivery of major super brands which in the case of information based products can be sold directly to the customer.

Originality/value

The contribution is a discussion analysis and new matrix framework depicting forms of cooperation relative to market and hierarchy coordination contexts in the supply chain. This is useful for understanding theoretical interplay between different forms of inter‐firm cooperation and complex supply chain inter‐dependencies that utilise information technology.
Tentative steps towards interaction
Authors: Jackson Nigel , Lilleker Darren G.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This study seeks to discover whether the existence of Web 2.0 applications introduced a more interactive approach to British parties and candidates’ use of the Internet during the 2009 European Parliament elections.

Design/methodology/approach

Research data were based on content analysis of the web sites of British candidates and parties during the 2009 European Parliament elections. The conceptual framework assesses whether there is evidence of a monologic versus dialogic approach, and normalisation versus equalisation between parties.

Findings

The paper finds that parties were not using Web 2.0 as a strategic device. The party list system meant that parties were twice as likely as candidates to use Web 2.0 applications and, overall, there is weak evidence of a third way of ebb and flow. Continuing the experience of previous elections there is evidence of a predominantly monologic approach; however, the debate is no longer simply between normalisation versus equalisation, a more sophisticated approach suggests a third way, where political campaigning has been altered. While the overall levels of interactivity and dialogue are not high, there is some evidence of the development of a Web 1.5 sphere offering more interaction, but within a controlled environment. This study notes that ideology is a factor, where it is the right wing parties which are most likely to adopt interactivity.

Originality/value

Previous literature on elections in general, and the European Parliament elections specifically, suggest that in the UK the Internet is primarily used for monologic communication and supporting the normalisation thesis. This study suggests, within an era of Web 2.0, a slight refinement to this interpretation.
The long‐run Fisher effect in developing economies
Authors: Ahmad Shabbir
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to test the validity of Fisher effect for four South Asian and two oil‐producing countries, namely India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

The autoregressive distributed lag‐bound testing approach is used which is capable of testing the long‐run relationship irrespective of whether the underlying series are individually I(0) or I(1).

Findings

The estimation results indicate the presence of weak form of Fisher effect in India, Pakistan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, while the hypothesis of the existence of Fisher effect is not supported for Bangladesh and mixed results are found for Sri Lanka.

Practical implications

The results help monetary authorities to formulate better monetary policy, besides many other far reaching macroeconomic implications for each economy.

Originality/value

The use of a variety of interest rates and the use of a relatively new technique in Fisher effect is tested in developing economies.
Business history and conflicting entrepreneurial culture as explanatory factors of success and failure of FDI in Chinese economy
Authors: Salavrakos Ioannis‐Dionysios
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate if the inflow of foreign direct investment to China is not a new phenomenon but one which is directly associated to the country's economic history.

Design/methodology/approach

The question is approached by studying the current FDI inflows and comparing them with those of the past.

Findings

It is found that FDI inflows to China are not a new phenomenon. In the pre‐communist China, Western multinationals had been extremely active surprisingly in the same geographical locations. Thus, the current FDI inflow is a repetition of the past.

Research limitations/implications

The research was based on secondary data, already published in the international academic literature. However, the implications of the paper are associated with economic behaviour. It seems that today's investors have similar if not identical criteria with those of the past.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is to explain FDI inflows not as the outcome of traditional theoretical schemata (ownership, location, internalisation, market power approach, internationalization, etc.) but using the element of economic history and the repeated economic behaviour. Cultural parameters are also addressed.
Volatility transmission: what do Asia‐Pacific markets expect?
Authors: Shamiri Ahmed , Isa Zaidi
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the international information transmission of return and volatility spillovers from US and Japan markets to Asia‐Pacific markets using daily stock market return data covering the period (1991‐2004).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper considers a volatility spillover model by applying a bivariate Baba, Engle, Kraft and Kroner‐Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedastic model, for each of the Asia‐Pacific countries against the Japan and the USA using daily returns for the period (1991‐2004). Splitting the sample into two non‐overlapping sub‐samples, the paper investigates whether the efforts for more economic, monetary and financial integration have fundamentally altered the sources and intensity of volatility spillovers to the individual stock market.

Findings

In the majority of the markets under scrutiny, we provide evidence of direct volatility spillovers, running mainly from the Japanese and US markets and pointing to more rapid information transmission during the recent years. First, the volatility of the Asia‐Pacific markets is becoming influenced more by the US market for the recent years. Second, for international investors to get profits from the returns of Asia‐Pacific securities, it is necessary to pay attention to the US market directly. Third, Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong are among the most Asia‐Pacific markets vulnerable to shocks from US investors due to the large ratio of portfolio holding. However, implementing global hedging strategies on Asia‐Pacific markets requires the information concerning the Japanese volatility behaviour.

Originality/value

This paper should be of interest to a broad practitioners and academics including those interested in modelling volatility for financial market risk management.
Financial liberalization, financial development and growth linkages in Sub‐Saharan African countries
Authors: Ahmed Abdullahi D.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the recent development in unit root tests and cointegration as applied to panel data and dynamic time series, to estimate the relationship between financial liberalization, financial development and growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper assesses the dynamics of the relationship between financial development, financial liberalization and growth using the latest dynamic panel data framework and time series analyses comprising up to 15 Sub‐Saharan African countries with annual observations over the period of 1976‐2005. The research uses various measures of, or proxies for, financial intermediary development, including ratio of private sector credit and share of domestic credit to income.

Findings

The results obtained from a heterogenous panel investigation and time series methodology such as Granger causality, indicate a long‐run equilibrium relationship between financial development and economic growth. This is consistent with the view that financial development can act as an “engine of growth” and plays a crucial role in the process of economic development. However, there is little evidence to support the hypothesis that financial liberalization directly “leads” growth.

Originality/value

Group mean panel fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and country‐by‐country time series investigations show evidence of causality running from financial development to growth. The analysis yielded limited evidence of financial liberalization Granger‐causing economic growth. However, this is not to say that financial liberalization does not promote growth, as it could do so indirectly through fostering financial development.
Lead bank quality and adverse rating announcements
Authors: Hsu Wei‐Huei , Mamun Abdullah , Rose Lawrence C.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine whether the market values the monitoring activity undertaken by a quality bank in the presence of a credit rating agency. Specifically, the question is asked whether the quality of a lead lending bank influences a market reaction to adverse rating announcements concerning its borrowers.

Design/methodology/approach

The event study methodology and various bank quality proxies (size, growth rate in assets, profitability, capital ratio, bank's credit rating, and ownership) are used to examine the market reaction when a borrower's bank loan rating is placed with negative implication or is downgraded.

Findings

Firms which are certified and monitored by high‐quality banks are less susceptible to negative market reactions when adverse rating announcements are made.

Originality/value

The findings indicate high‐quality lending banks sustain investors' confidence in their borrowers in the face of deteriorating news. The paper argues that investors and borrowers value monitoring from a high‐quality bank, which is an implication of a bank having access to private information about its borrowers.
Obstacles to successful management of projects and decision and tips for coping with them
Authors: Shetach Ana
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to classify the full scope of hazards in the way to effective project‐ and decision‐management in teams, and to present team leaders with a practical set of guidelines for coping with those obstacles, towards successful achievements.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a classification of the full spectrum of possible factors responsible for mishaps, faults and failures which regularly tend to occur within managerial and organizational activities at all levels. It goes on to present a set of two tools that, jointly applied, can provide managers with the necessary control to lead more team processes and projects towards successful terminations: the “revised decision square model” and the “capi” model.

Findings

The paper provides evidence in the form of quotes from testimonies of managers who have adopted the proposed strategy for their every‐day use within their teams.

Practical implications

The paper offers a practical step‐by‐step set of guidelines to lead managers towards a relatively high level of control in the management of effective and efficient team decision making and implementation processes, ensuring their route towards successful achievements.

Originality/value

Limited attention has been given in the literature to the studying of practical and applicable managerial techniques to successful decision‐implementation in teams. This paper focuses on this neglected domain, proposing a solution, in the form of an integrative strategy.
Critical success factors for developmental team projects
Authors: Dexter Barbara
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore a leadership development intervention activity to solve an organisational problem and seeks to identify critical success factors for the design and delivery of such activities.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study employing a mixed‐method approach within an action research methodology. The participants were a student group of 19, plus the teaching team and client‐training adviser. The project used questionnaires for identifying and ranking critical success factors and focus groups to explore transferability and other issues. These were supplemented by e‐mail and telephone communications.

Findings

The critical success factors involved people, task, process, and location and facilities dimensions. Most were deemed transferable, but with certain warnings about key factors.

Research limitations/implications

This is a small‐scale study and issues of transferability of findings are acknowledged. Contextual details are presented to reduce the effect of the limitation.

Practical implications

The findings are of high practical value for leadership development and for organisations seeking new ways of addressing organisational challenges using internal staff.

Originality/value

The paper has value in its practical and theoretical contribution. The identification of critical success factors for such intervention activities is new and the opportunity for application adds further value to the work.
Self‐managed teams in the auto components industry
Authors: Luis Alves Pais Celso
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The overall purpose of this paper is to explain theoretically the autonomy phenomenon of teams working within the auto manufacturing context and its implications for the technical and social aspects of group work.

Design/methodology/approach

Three auto component companies were studied. The procedures of a qualitative methodology were followed, adopting naturalistic observation techniques of work teams, and unstructured and semi‐structured interviews conducted with operators, supervisors and middle managers. To analyse and interpret the qualitative data obtained, the grounded theory technique was used.

Findings

In this paper 33 concepts were obtained, which resulted from the constant comparative method applied to data. The relationships between those concepts allowed the construction of a theoretical model that is settled in the “bridge” concept. This “bridge” is a metaphor that translates the process which binds operational work group goals to the needs of external clients. This process is supported by social aspects – team decision making, participation, mutual helpfulness, and social and emotional relationships, and by technical aspects – operations and information. The bridge has four pillars that are critical to the effective functioning of self‐directed teams: team facilitation, hierarchical relationships established within the teams, quality of manufactured components, and productivity achieved.

Research limitations/implications

The present investigation was carried out in a specific industry, which does not allow for the generalization of the model to other industries. Furthermore, it may be questioned whether the same results be obtained if the operators of the teams observed were interviewed, not individually, but in a group situation. Other kinds of research design and other industries organized on the basis of autonomous work groups must be studied, applying the grounded theory technique, in order to compare diverse theoretical models.

Practical implications

The organization of the industrial automotive production based on self‐directed teams, which know the needs of external customers and to whom a high level of participation in operational decisions was given, can generate a substantial increase of working groups' efficiency and an increase in job satisfaction.

Originality/value

The study of teams in the automotive components industry – in a southern country of Europe – and the consequent elaboration of a specific theoretical model draws attention to the need for social research that takes into account the fact that realities are constructed by the actors who interact in a certain context. No theoretical model can ever encompass the reality of all contexts.
The demographic antecedents and performance consequences of the social‐network structure in work teams
Authors: Henttonen Kaisa , Janhonen Minna , Johanson Jan‐Erik , Puumalainen Kaisu
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Businesses are increasingly using teams as their fundamental organisational unit. This paper aims to explore the impact of demographic antecedents and the social‐network structure, measured in terms of task‐related advice‐network density, centralisation and fragmentation, on work‐team performance. The paper seeks to examine: the impact of the social‐network structure (dense, fragmented or centralised) on work‐team performance and the origins of the social structure. It also tests whether team diversity (in terms of variety with regard to gender and separation with regard to age and education) has an impact on team performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted on 76 work teams (499 employees) representing 48 different organisations.

Findings

With regard to the first question, density was positively related to team performance. The impact of advice‐network fragmentation was also positive, and this is in line with the results of other studies focusing on teams conducting standard tasks. In addressing the second question the paper explored whether diversity as variety (age) and diversity as separation (age and education) had an effect on the work team's social‐network structure. Age and education had no effect, but gender diversity was related negatively to density and positively to fragmentation. It was also related negatively to team performance.

Originality/value

The contribution of this research is twofold in that it explores social‐structure effects on team performance and examines the possible antecedents of the team's social structure. The results of the investigation strengthen the rationale behind integrating the literature on social‐network analysis and teams.
Interactive and collaborative behaviour of software product‐development teams
Authors: Reghunath Pushpa Randhir , Mathew Mary
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a study of interactive and collaborative behaviours of software product development teams across horizontal, geographical and value chain boundaries. The objective is to understand the influence of boundary on these behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a questionnaire‐based study of 63 software product‐development teams.

Findings

The study shows, that interactive behaviour is used more by teams as compared to collaborative behaviour while developing software products. The interactive behaviour is not influenced by the boundary crossed, while collaborative behaviour is influenced by the boundaries crossed.

Originality/value

The study is relevant for practitioners and researchers. Collaboration is considered important for product development, but the study shows that it is not used extensively. Researchers can look into why low level of collaborative behaviour has been exhibited.
Attitudes towards factors influencing team performance
Authors: Savelsbergh Chantal M.J.H. , van der Heijden Beatrice I.J.M. , Poell Rob F.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish how teams view the relative importance of team learning behaviors in comparison with other predictors of team performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to 30 team members, 19 team leaders, and 21 supervisors of 22 teams from eight Dutch organizations, Respondents were asked to indicate which criteria they applied to evaluate team performance, and which factors they deemed the most important ones in distinguishing between high and poorly performing teams.

Findings

The most frequently applied criteria to measure team performance were satisfying quality requirements, reaching the target goals, and customer satisfaction. Respondents evaluated team leadership, goal clarity, and team learning behaviors as main factors influencing team performance. Attitudes of team members, team leaders, and supervisors differed in some respects.

Research limitations/implications

The study uses a cross‐sectional approach and a relatively small sample size. Further research using larger samples should focus on determining differences in subjective and objective performance ratings across tasks and across team types. Multi‐wave designs can provide more specific information about the stability of the variables and their over‐time relationships.

Practical implications

This paper can help to raise awareness of differences in attitudes towards team performance criteria among team members, team leaders, and supervisors; as well as increase their ability to determine the value of factors contributing to team performance enhancement.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights into the attitudes of team stakeholders towards team performance rating criteria and influencing factors. These can have substantial impact on intended and actual behaviors within the team.
Performance and standardization of Australian, Japanese and US firms
Authors: Kustin Richard Alan
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Globalization has fostered greater interest in all aspects of standardization theory including the 4Ps of the marketing mix or program and process marketing. The purpose of this paper is to probe the question: “Is there a benefit to the firm's strategy of marketing standardization that correlates positively to the firm's profit?”.

Design/methodology/approach

Multinational firms from Australia, Japan and the USA operating in a global environment were studied in order to correlate marketing standardization to profit performance. Several methods of analysis were used including regression and analysis of variance measures.

Findings

The results indicate there is increasing support for a strategy of standardizing marketing mix components and contributing to a firm's profit performance.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the current literature by providing further empirical research correlating marketing mix standardization to profit.