bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supply chain integration and performance: a review of the evidence
Authors: Fabbe‐Costes Nathalie , Jahre Marianne
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse papers studying the link between supply chain integration (SCI) and performance, and to discuss reported empirical evidence relating to this fundamental question for logistics and supply chain management.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic analysis of 38 papers published in nine important journals in logistics, supply chain and operations management during the period 2000‐2006 is offered. Using a multidimensional framework to sort and classify selected papers, structured results are provided for the purpose of contributing to discussion of the topic.

Findings

More SCI does not always improve performance. Definitions and measures of SCI and performance are diverse to the extent that a conclusion such as “the more (SCI) the better (the performance) cannot be drawn”. On the contrary more empirical research, with use of clear definitions and good measures, are needed. The conclusions drawn from the analytical literature review provide a basis from which further research can be developed, both in respect of research approaches, definitions of main concepts and the choice of theoretical basis.

Research limitations/implications

Additional journals could be included. The framework could be more detailed. More details on SCI and performance measures, as well as the items used in the papers, could be provided and discussed.

Practical implications

Results encourage researchers and practitioners to be more cautious concerning SCI and its impact on performance and to have a more conscious and differentiated view of SCI.

Originality/value

Through a rigorous analysis of prevailing research, the paper questions a common assumption in business logistics and SCM. Propositions for further research are suggested.
A conceptual model for evaluating the financial impact of supply chain management technology investments
Authors: Blankley Alan
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature concerning supply chain management technology (SCMT) and financial performance, and to present a model for evaluating the financial performance benefits of investments in supply chain management technologies. The literature review and the associated model also lead to a discussion of opportunities for future research in the area.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop the model, a comprehensive review of the literature investigating the financial performance benefits of SCMT and other closely‐related information technologies, such as inter‐organizational systems, was performed. Findings from the reviewed studies were assimilated and used as the basis for the proposed model and for recommended avenues of future research.

Findings

The literature reviewed suggested that financial performance improvements from SCMT investments are derived from improvements in knowledge‐intensive capabilities, which lead to improvements in operational capabilities, leading, in turn, to first‐ and second‐order benefits. The ability to realize benefits is also influenced by a firm's position within the supply chain and exogenous economic forces.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the knowledge of how financial gains are realized as the result of investments in SCMT, and provides context within which future research efforts can be placed. Future research opportunities are also discussed.
A review of the transportation mode choice and carrier selection literature
Authors: Meixell Mary J. , Norbis Mario
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to categorize transportation choice research (mode choice and carrier selection) leading to insight on themes in the literature and directions for future research

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed transportation choice research categorization framework is based on a comprehensive literature review of the peer‐reviewed journal papers published over the past 20 years, supplemented with a review of practitioner articles to identify current challenges in the logistics field. The academic papers are analyzed in terms of research purpose/question, methodology, findings, and challenges addressed.

Findings

The review reveals that several important themes are under‐represented in the transportation choice literature: environmental and energy use concerns; security in the supply chain; supply chain integration; international growth; and the role of the internet and emerging information technologies. This review also found that simulation, case study, and interview methodologies are under‐represented, and that normative modeling research is only lightly represented in this research.

Originality/value

The contributions of this research are three‐fold: the development of a classification scheme for transportation choice research, a structured review that provides a guide to earlier research on the subject of transportation choice, and the identification of research issues for future investigation.
A review of inventory management research in major logistics journals
Authors: Williams Brent D. , Tokar Travis
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of inventory management articles published in major logistics outlets, identify themes from the literature and provide future direction for inventory management research to be published in logistics journals.

Design/methodology/approach

Articles published in major logistics articles, beginning in 1976, which contribute to the inventory management literature are reviewed and cataloged. The articles are segmented based on major themes extracted from the literature as well as key assumptions made by the particular inventory management model.

Findings

Two major themes are found to emerge from logistics research focused on inventory management. First, logistics researchers have focused considerable attention on integrating traditional logistics decisions, such as transportation and warehousing, with inventory management decisions, using traditional inventory control models. Second, logistics researchers have more recently focused on examining inventory management through collaborative models.

Originality/value

This paper catalogs the inventory management articles published in the major logistics journals, facilitates the awareness and appreciation of such work, and stands to guide future inventory management research by highlighting gaps and unexplored topics in the extant literature.
An analysis of logistics pedagogical literature
Authors: Gravier Michael J. , Theodore Farris M.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

There presently is no comprehensive review which systematizes and summarizes the burgeoning body of logistics educational literature. The purpose of this paper is to provide a guide for both educators and practitioners to assess the history, current status, and future trends in logistics education in order to nurture advancement in logistics education.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws its conclusions based upon a literature review and categorizes the evolution of logistics education into three areas: defining curriculum, developing content and skills taught, and refining teaching methods.

Findings

Logistics education continues to benefit from strong ties to industry. Additionally, four principle macro‐environmental factors were discovered that impact the current status of logistics education: an increase in the number of logistics educational programs, limited supply of logistics‐trained faculty, changes to content requirements, and a changing teaching environment. Future research directions from the published literature are summarized.

Research limitations/implications

As current logistics programs continue to evolve and the number of logistics and supply chain management programs continue to increase in response to industry demand, this comprehensive review of the logistics literature may help serve as a benchmark for past and current practices in logistics education.

Practical implications

The early partnership between industry and education set the stage to help guide educators to evolve logistics education to address practitioner needs. Increased interest in logistics education and changing environmental factors suggest the need for continued collaboration to further logistics education.

Originality/value

The literature demonstrates successful dynamic behavior in response to dynamic industries. It highlights factors which may drive further evolution of logistics education and proposes areas impacted.
Supply chain security: an overview and research agenda
Authors: Williams Zachary , Lueg Jason E. , LeMay Stephen A.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Supply chain security (SCS), as a component of an organization's overall supply chain risk management strategy, has become a critical factor for businesses and government agencies since September 11, 2001, yet little empirical research supports policy or practice for the field. Therefore, this paper develops and presents a categorization of SCS based on existing research. This categorization of supply chain literature can help academics and practitioners to better understand SCS and also helps to identify a research agenda. Setting a research agenda for SCS will help academic and practitioner research focus on critical issues surrounding SCS.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers thoroughly reviewed the literature on SCS, including academic publications, white papers, and practitioner periodicals. The literature was then categorized according to the approach to SCS and the practical implications of this categorization are presented. In addition, this categorization was used to identify research gaps.

Findings

This analysis found that SCS needs more attention from the academic community. Like earlier assessments of this literature, this analysis found it to be mainly normative, with little research based on primary data. This paper categorizes the literature into four approaches to SCS: intraorganizational, interorganizational, a combination of intraorganizational and interorganizational, and ignore. This study develops a focused agenda for future, primary, empirical research on SCS.

Research limitations/implications

The sources of data for this literature review are secondary. The review sets a research agenda and calls for future empirical testing.

Practical implications

Practitioners will benefit from the framework presented here by better understanding approaches to SCS. This comprehensive review discusses the characteristics of SCS in great depth. As other researchers follow the research agenda, practitioners will benefit from the empirical findings and theory building.

Originality/value

This paper summarizes the literature on SCS to date, a topic that has grown in importance, yet received little attention from academics. This is the first comprehensive literature review of SCS. It includes a categorization of four possible approaches to SCS. It also distinguishes SCS from supply chain risk, while also recognizing their relationship. It identifies key issues in SCS research and calls for future research.
An empirical study of the uptake of performance measurement by Internet retailers
Authors: Gunawan G. , Ellis‐Chadwick F. , King M.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to identify levels of uptake of performance measurement by small and medium‐sized retail companies selling goods online, and to determine key factors, which could explain any variation in use of performance indicators. The study is designed to explore these issues by this type of retailer as currently understanding is fairly limited.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative mail questionnaire was used to survey UK retailers selling goods online. The questionnaire examined the uptake of performance measurement in conjunction with the business profile of each of the 252 responding companies.

Findings

The results show great variation in levels and extent of uptake of performance measurement by online retailers in the UK. Company profile variables: size and operating format help to account for the variation in the number of indicators measured.

Research limitations/implications

The sample frame has some limitations insofar as the study only focused on small and medium‐sized retailers in the UK selling tangible goods. Future research could be extended to include larger and pan‐European retailers selling both tangible and intangible goods. Furthermore, the data collection was cross‐sectional and, whilst this approach was important at this stage in order to provide a picture of how performance measurement is being applied at a given point in time, a longitudinal study would enable greater analysis of strategic impact of performance measurement.

Practical implications

Currently, retailers' performance measurement activities mainly focus on gathering data using financial and Website functionality indicators. From a strategic planning perspective, this could suggest that retailers are adopting a short‐term pragmatic approach towards retailing online. The implications are that performance measurement is being used as a means to ensure that Internet retailing is not having a detrimental effect on business performance rather than driving longer‐term strategy development.

Originality/value

The principal contributions of this paper are that it has provided insight into the current status of performance measurement amongst UK Internet retailers and has identified a useful checklist of performance indicators which retailers can apply to gain a comprehensive view of business performance online.
Use and gratification in e‐consumers
Authors: Huang Echo
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual model based on technology acceptance with extended antecedent variables (entertainment and irritation) to examine the impact of use and gratification on e‐consumers' acceptance of B2C Websites.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a total of 238 EMBA and undergraduate students from three different Taiwan universities. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the conceptual model in terms of overall fit, explanatory powers and causal links.

Findings

The analytical results showed that entertainment gratification, irritation surfing experience (mass medium), perceived usefulness and ease of Web use (information systems) are important predictors of e‐consumers' use intention. The integrated model was then assessed for variance in explanatory power regarding consumer attitude and intention toward B2C Websites.

Practical implications

Intention to use the Web is the predictor of actual use, purchase and information‐seeking behaviors in e‐consumers. Creating entertaining content and reducing distracting processes can enhance acceptance of B2C Websites.

Originality/value

A theoretical model incorporating U&G constructs into a technology acceptance model was used to investigate e‐consumer behavior in Taiwan. Although ease of use and usefulness are perceived as important issues in traditional IS environments, U&G provides managers with a different perspective.
Effects of self‐service technology on customer value and customer readiness
Authors: Ho Shu‐Hsun , Ko Ying‐Yin
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether self‐service technology (SST) can enhance customer value (CV) and customer readiness (CR). In addition, it is proposed to inspect the effects of CV and CR in customers' continued use of Internet banking.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was used with a sample of 771 respondents. Structural equation models (SEM) were used to examine 11 hypotheses in the theoretical framework.

Findings

SST characteristics (i.e. ease of use, usefulness, costs saved, and self‐control) demonstrated positive effects on CV and CR. CR is positively related to CV. Furthermore, customers are willing to use Internet banking when CV and CR are high.

Research limitations/implications

The study examines the factors contributing to positive effects on customers' continued use of Internet banking. Further research is recommended to investigate the effects of negative factors, such as risk and complexity. In addition, the same methods should be used to reproduce the survey in other industries to support generalizability.

Practical implications

Managers should reinforce SST in order to increase CV and CR, which would influence customers' willingness to continue using Internet banking.

Originality/value

Unlike previous research, the study focuses on consumers' continued use of Internet banking as opposed to initial use. It concentrates on customer retention rather than customer acquisition. It is the first study to conclude that CV and CR significantly affect continued use of SST.
Power and passion: remoulded teamwork in a plastics factory
Authors: Shawn Creed Andrew , Zutshi Ambika , Swanson Donald James
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document the progress made in a specified period and the experience of managers and staff in sustaining the high performance team approach in a plastics factory.

Design/methodology/approach

Single‐case analysis was conducted on data collected through semi‐structured interviews and site observations made with two managers and one team of six in a multinational plastics manufacturer (Visy) headquartered in Australia.

Findings

Based on the authors' experiences and literature review a successful high performance team requires clear targets and efficiency standards, communication, rules of behaviour, continual input of facts and feedback, and last but not least – recognition of successes.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on observations and interviews conducted in one part of a multinational organization in Australia. No follow‐up interviews could be undertaken to track the progress.

Originality/value

No other similar study had been undertaken in this organisation documenting the experiences of a quality improvement team and its interactions with managers. The findings have practical implications for industrial and other kinds of organisations engaged in implementing quality improvements through enhanced teamwork.
Do teams grow up one stage at a time?
Authors: Ito Jack K. , Brotheridge Céleste M.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the stages of group development are path‐dependent or whether a stage can have a direct influence beyond an adjacent stage; to test a model that distinguishes between task and process characteristics; and to examine the validity of the Group Development Assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 204 public servants responded to questionnaires pertaining to their respective teams. Their responses to the Group Development Assessment were analyzed through the use of confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling.

Findings

This study found that, in general, teams follow a predictable pattern of growth (i.e. they grow up one stage at a time), but their ability to grow is influenced by how well they addressed previous challenges. Path dependency was partly supported since the prior stage was generally the strongest predictor of the subsequent stage. The findings on path dependency are consistent with pendular models since changes in an earlier stage can have significant effects on later stages. Support was found for the separation of tasks and process behaviors. The Group Development Assessment was reasonably reliable, and its items generally classified into their corresponding stages.

Research limitations/implications

The finding that, at a given moment, a variable such as dependency has a strong independent relationship with interdependence is consistent with a short time lag. However, a longitudinal study is needed to assess such lags.

Practical implications

As a group meets the challenges of a stage and moves forward, the assumptions or the foundations laid before need to be supported; otherwise the group may regress.

Originality/value

The study tests a group development model and offers recommendations for group interventions.
Can team effectiveness be predicted?
Authors: Meredith Ross T. , Jones Erick C. , Adams Stephanie G.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose and support a model to predict the effectiveness of teams.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature provides a wide variety of variables or constructs to measure the effectiveness of a team. The article proposes a mathematical model to predict the effectiveness of a team. A priori comparisons are used to develop a mathematical model of the optimum team.

Findings

The study expands on the theory of team effectiveness and demonstrates that a theoretically developed empirical model can predict team effectiveness quantitatively. A mathematical model was developed as an empirical function of performance, behavior, attitude, team member style and corporate culture.

Research limitations/implications

There has been little effort to standardize the measurable variables of team effectiveness. Additionally, the means to evaluate the individual's influence on team effectiveness has not been documented in relation to the effectiveness of the team. This paper uses a specific set of constructs, which might be the optimum set of variables to measure performance, behavior, and attitude.

Practical implications

By considering the model suggested here, managers will be able to select individual team members to enhance team performance.

Originality/value

Few models have been proposed to predict the effectiveness of a team based on team member selection. This model provides anyone selecting team members with a model to use when choosing among technically qualified candidates.
Strategic importance of team integration issues in product development processes to improve manufacturability
Authors: Smith Alan D. , Felix Offodile O.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide practitioners of management with a sense of how collaborative team integration processes were required in order to be reasonably successful in attaining the required manufacturability goals. It aims to accomplish this by investigating: the role of team collaborative efforts in high‐technology projects associated with comparing aggressiveness towards and actual achievement on meeting time targets and manufacturing costs; the moderating effects of project‐team autonomy and control issues; and management involvement and top management support activities.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the applied literature on collaborative team integration processes of manufacturers and direct suppliers of the smart card and automatic identification and data capture (AIDC)‐related industry in the USA was conducted. Only project managers and/or their designees were asked to complete the survey. The results of two mailings netted a total of 180 usable questionnaires out of an original sampling frame of 311 (response rate of appropriately 58 percent, with some missing data on a number of variables).

Findings

The paper finds that especially the variables of product acceleration, technological uncertainty, complexity, and product newness are traditionally outside the immediate control of the firm's project managers. The team integration variables, as measured by the factor scores of top management. manufacturing involvement, collaborative working environment, and supplier influence, offered the most explained variance in the present study.

Practical implications

By understanding the variety of team performance and integration constructs in high technology‐intensive and manufacturing environments, management may be able to take the steps to become more sensitive to the roles of not isolating team members and being able to relinquish control at the appropriate times in order to enhance manufacturability.

Originality/value

The rapid pace of internet products and web‐enabled services, especially in the high‐technology manufacturing industries, presents new strategic management issues to be addressed in project management. Understanding the many issues associated with project team management and integration within new‐product development/new‐product manufacturability processes may ultimately decrease the cost and promote timely introduction of beneficial commercial developments, if properly managed.
International opportunity exploitation behaviour reported by “types” of firms relating to exporting experience
Authors: Westhead Paul
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to identify four “types” of private small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) with regard to their “state” along the exporting experience spectrum.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study explores survey information from a historic comparative static longitudinal database. Survey information was gathered in 1990/1991 from a stratified random sample of 621 manufacturing, construction and services businesses located in 12 contrasting environments in Great Britain. Surviving firms were re‐interviewed in 1997. The propensity to export was monitored at two points in real time. Information relating to actual behaviour rather than solely attitudes was gathered.

Findings

Strategic obstacles to exporting were not more likely to be cited by respondents in “disinterested exporter” rather than “disappointed exporter” firms. Also, a reactive exporting strategy was not more likely to be cited by respondents in “export capable” rather then “committed exporter” firms. Several statistically significant differences were detected with regard to the profiles of non‐exporting “disinterested exporter” and “disappointed exporter” firms, and exporting “export capable” and “committed exporter” firms.

Practical implications

Assuming an interventionist stance, this study suggests that practitioners need to consider the exporting experience profiles of SMEs. Practitioners seeking to increase the pool of exporting SMEs in local communities need to address an array of barriers, and not solely strategic barriers.

Originality/value

Guided by insights from traditional internationalization theory and international entrepreneurship theory, two hypotheses were derived relating to obstacles impeding export activity, and reasons cited for exporting. Evidence from a comparative statistic longitudinal base relating to firms scattered throughout Great Britain was explored. Multivariate logistic regression analysis detected differences with reference to firm export “type”.
Family firms' risk perception: empirical evidence on the internationalization process
Authors: Claver Enrique , Rienda Laura , Quer Diego
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper has as its aim to research the factors affecting the risk perceived by family firm executives in relation to international activity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the factors which can modify risk perception, placing special emphasis on those arising from the coincidence of ownership and management in family businesses.

Findings

Focus on the international commitment assumed by family firms and using a sample of 92 Spanish family companies, this paper shows that risk perception decreases with the presence of the first generation and the size of these organisations. Additionally, it has been found that the risk perceived is higher when the firm advances in its international commitment level.

Practical implications

If family firms know the factors which can affect the risk perceived about international activity, they will stand a better chance to handle them properly with a view to move forward in their internationalisation process.

Originality/value

An effort is made in this paper to deal with the risk perception associated with international activity in family firms, an issue treated in a small number of research works so far.
Does prior start‐up experience matter for entrepreneurs' learning?
Authors: Politis Diamanto
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to present a study of the role of prior start‐up experience as a source of learning in the entrepreneurial process. Three learning outcomes are examined with respect to a comparison between habitual and novice entrepreneurs: skills for coping with liabilities of newness, preference for effectual reasoning, and attitudes towards failure.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an empirical study based on statistical analysis conducted on a sample of 231 Swedish entrepreneurs that have started a new independent firm in 2004.

Findings

The findings suggest that habitual and novice entrepreneurs differ significantly with regard to several interesting aspects of the hypothesized dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

The findings provide a better understanding of start‐up experience as a source of learning and its effects on the skills, preferences and attitudes of habitual entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

Previous research has suggested that prior start‐up experience is an important source of entrepreneurial learning, but has not put much effort into explaining how this particular type of experience influences various learning outcomes on an individual level. The present study advances these suggestions by showing how prior start‐up experience influences entrepreneurs' skills for coping with liabilities of newness, effectual reasoning and attitudes towards failures. Moreover, the study contributes to existing literature and research on entrepreneurial learning by developing explorative measures of individual learning outcomes that have been highlighted as influenced by prior experience in recent entrepreneurship research.
Firm size and environmental scanning pursuits across organizational life cycle stages
Authors: Lester Donald L. , Parnell John A.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to present the results of an exploratory study of the organizational life cycle. Rather than approaching the construct from a small‐ or large‐ firm perspective, a model appropriate for all organizations is employed.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to 107 practicing managers to determine life cycle stage of their organizations and environmental scanning pursuits.

Findings

The study revealed that small firms are not only found in the first two life cycle stages – existence and survival – but also in the decline stage. In addition, support was not found for environmental scanning patterns previously postulated in the literature.

Practical implications

Managers of SMEs who wish to grow their organizations must understand the Gestalt changes necessary for successful progression to a large organization.

Originality/value

One life cycle model is appropriate for all organizations and can be utilized as a transition guide for strategic managers who recognize that their decisions are the real determinants of life cycle stage.
Small business e‐commerce development in Sweden – an empirical survey
Authors: Torsten Eriksson Lars , Hultman Jens , Naldi Lucia
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore small business e‐commerce development and usage of the emerging ICT‐infrastructure for e‐commerce in Sweden. For more than a decade firms in countries with appropriate infrastructures in place have generally been able to exploit internet technologies for business purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the results from a telephone survey on Swedish small businesses. The 160 firms surveyed were independent manufacturing firms in Sweden with a number of employees ranging from ten to 50 and a turnover not surpassing €10 million. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS.

Findings

The paper presents empirical data on e‐commerce development among small businesses in Sweden. The study shows that a significant share of the studied firms have adopted internet technologies, but also that more than 70 per cent of the small businesses in the study have more than five years of experience of e‐commerce. The study finds that small businesses in Sweden show remarkably high levels of e‐commerce adoption. The study shows strong penetration of web site and e‐mail use among small businesses in Sweden, but also that advanced applications are still not broadly applied.

Originality/value

Statistics presented by the OECD have recurrently shown that the Scandinavian countries are in the lead as regards building an ICT infrastructure. Sweden's leading position in ICT has been confirmed by several studies. Because of scarce resources and lack of knowledge, small businesses are generally known to be lagging in terms of ICT use. This study empirically explores small business e‐commerce development in Sweden and contributes to the stream of research aiming at benchmarking e‐commerce development.
US Federal Government entrepreneurship: new enterprise structures
Authors: Kropp Fredric , Zolin Roxanne
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to guide the formation and to determine the structure of new governmental entrepreneurial ventures based on the nature of the public goods and the need for an entrepreneurial orientation.

Design/methodology/research

This paper is conceptual and is based on reviews of appropriate organizational structure and entrepreneurship, cases studies, and the authors' experiences.

Findings

Public or quasi‐public entities may need to change their organizational structure in order to act more entrepreneurially and to be more effective in accomplishing their missions. Propositions are raised to guide the development of new public or private enterprises and provide the basis for future research.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is conceptual and needs to be tested empirically. Though other levels of government and countries were included, a major focus is on the US federal government.

Originality/value

This is the first published research on the topic of new enterprise government structures based on the nature of the goods and the requisite entrepreneurial orientation. It will help governmental and quasi‐governmental organizations in developing efficient and effective organizational structures.
Business development success in SMEs: a case study approach
Authors: Forsman Helena
Published: August 2008

Purpose

There are not many answers to the question of how the development projects launched to improve business performance in SMEs have succeeded. This study focuses on business development success in SMEs. The main objective is to structure and model the success dimensions that contribute to and can be used in evaluating the business development success in SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilises multiple case study methodology, following the replication approach. The empirical evidence is based on data from four SMEs that have implemented a business development project. Two of the projects were perceived as successful and the other two as unsuccessful.

Findings

This study builds a framework for a business development project success in a SME context. In the SME context the business development project success seems to be dependent on several interrelated dimensions. Success in one area leads to success in other areas, and so creates an upward success spiral. Failure in one area seems to lead to failure in other areas, too, thus creating a downward failure spiral.

Practical implications

The results provide a basis for benchmarking one's business and evaluate how well one's own firm meets the success dimensions and its focus areas.

Originality/value

The framework for success dimensions has been developed providing a systematic way to analyse the business development project and its impact on the performing company. A setting for analysing the project success from different time perspectives in a SME context has been produced.
Underpricing of European property companies and the IPO cycle: a note
Authors: Freybote Theo , Rottke Nico , Schiereck Dirk
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence for the ongoing significant underpricing of European property IPOs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides recent evidence on underpricing for a comprehensive data set of 105 IPOs of European property companies. It starts with an overview of evidence and explanations for the underpricing of property IPOs and evidence for the cyclical nature of IPO activity. It then goes on to describe the methodology and data collection process. The results on initial returns are summarised.

Findings

The paper finds that the current IPO market for property shares has been shown to be hot according to common definitions. Additionally, it is safe to say that the hot property securities market has caused to some extent a hot IPO market with property indices averaging 10.69 per cent during the 100 days prior to the IPO compared to 4.65 per cent for the general equity market indices. However, the recovery in Western European property markets and lack of quality property stock in Eastern European countries has created a large financing need for property companies which can be met by going public. Thus, supply side aspects are more likely than market‐timing characteristics to be the major driver behind the current hot IPO market.

Originality/value

The paper provides evidence for an ongoing significant underpricing of European property IPOs and offers an explanation for why it is appropriate to classify the property stock market as a hot market.
UML for the conceptual web
Authors: Madalli Devika P. , Suman Aparajita
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose the use of unified modelling language (UML) based ontologies to develop a faceted model to facilitate semantic browsing and searching in digital libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to understand the way information gets logically organised in the human mind in terms of mutually defined concepts. Ontologies will be used to model the semantic structure of individual information sources using the faceted classification schema of Dr S.R. Ranganathan, though with improvisation to accommodate new concepts relating to digital resources.

Findings

UML can be the best option for knowledge representation if the target system is a digital library where the required type of reasoning about ontologies is more in terms of answering specific and specialised questions. Here, ontologies can be used to facilitate a distributed information retrieval system.

Originality/value

The proposed model will not only facilitate semantic searching using UML concept maps but will also enable domain experts, even those with little coding expertise, to build ontologies for their resources while submitting their documents to the digital library.
The pros and cons of computing the h‐index using Scopus
Authors: Jacsó Péter
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the pros and cons of computing the h‐index using Scopus.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at the content features and the software capabilities of Scopus from the perspective of computing a reasonable h‐index for scholars.

Findings

Although there are limitations in the content, and even in the mostly excellent, swift, powerful and innovative software of Scopus, it can produce a much more reliable and reproducible h‐index – at least for relatively junior researchers – than Google Scholar.

Originality/value

The paper adds insight into computing the h‐index using Scopus.
An assessment of air pollution impact for an Indian highway project
Authors: Basu Debolina , Srivastava R.K. , Vaishya R.C.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to demonstrate a geographic information system (GIS) based study on environmental impact assessment (EIA), due to air pollution, for a highway project.

Design/methodology/approach

An approach has been designed to explore the scope for the combination of EIA and GIS in development for the proposed Allahabad Bypass Project. The air quality in the study area has been quantified in terms of the air pollution index (API). GIS has been exploited to obtain the spatial information for the prediction of air pollution impact at different suburban and rural areas adjacent to the stretch of bypass.

Findings

The study has enabled the researchers to understand the variation in air quality along the total stretch of the bypass keeping in view the “with” and “without” project scenarios. The results obtained from the study show considerable increase in air pollution levels from baseline to the projected period of 20 years, due to gradual increase in vehicular traffic along the highway.

Originality/value

The information presented in this paper serves as an example to quantify the negative impacts of countryside air quality associated with highway projects. The approach utilized the spatial evaluation of air pollution and helps to provide a critical insight to the problem, which is not apparent while carrying out such an exercise in the traditional manner.

Practical implications

Hopefully, this study will encourage the highway planners in India to make a wider application of the technique for an indepth assessment of environmental impacts.
Economic instruments and the conservation of biodiversity
Authors: Ayoo Collins
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and examine the problem of biodiversity loss and to explain its underlying causes and the possibilities of using economic instruments to conserve it.

Design/methodology/approach

The research in this paper was undertaken through a review of the literature and an analysis of data on the trends of various measures of biodiversity worldwide.

Findings

The loss of biodiversity is occurring worldwide at a rapid rate that has the potential to significantly undermine the prospects for sustainable development. Although the main proximate cause of biodiversity loss is land conversion, the fundamental causes are rooted in economic, institutional, and social factors and include market failures and the lack of property rights.

Practical implications

This paper presents arguments in support of using economic instruments to conserve biodiversity and explains the conditions under which the use of these instruments is likely to be most successful.

Originality/value

This paper illuminates the economic, social and institutional factors that underlie the rapid loss of biodiversity and outlines some ways in which economic instruments can be used to stem the loss of biodiversity.
A remote sensing based monitoring system for discrimination between climate and human‐induced vegetation change in Central Asia
Authors: Propastin P.A. , Kappas M. , Muratova N.R.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate the importance of taking into account precipitation and the vegetation response to it when trying to analyse changes of vegetation cover in drylands with high inter‐annual rainfall variability.

Design/methodology/approach

Linear regression models were used to determine trends in NDVI and precipitation and their interrelations for each pixel. Trends in NDVI that were entirely supported by precipitation trends were considered to impose climate‐induced vegetation change. Trends in NDVI that were not explained by trends in precipitation were considered to mark human‐induced vegetation change. Modelling results were validated by test of statistical significance and by comparison with the data from higher resolution satellites and fieldtrips to key test sites.

Findings

More than 26 percent of all vegetated area in Central Asia experienced significant changes during 1981‐2000. Rainfall has been proved to enforce most of these changes (21 percent of the entire vegetated area). The trends in vegetation activity driven by anthropogenic factor are much scarcer and occupy about 5.75 percent of the studied area.

Practical implications

Planners, decision makers and other interest groups can use the findings of the study for assessment and monitoring land performance/land degradation over dry regions.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates the importance of taking into account precipitation and the vegetation response to it when trying to analyse changes of vegetation cover in drylands with high inter‐annual rainfall variability.
Assessing informal waste recycling in Kanpur City, India
Authors: Zia H. , Devadas V. , Shukla S.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the socio‐economic and environmental implications of the informal sector engaged in waste recycling in the city of Kanpur, with special emphasis on the lives of lowest group of people, i.e. waste‐pickers, and to discuss various possible scenarios to integrate them with the formal sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved field survey of secondary material markets, followed by the administration of questionnaires to 40 respondents belonging to various segments of the informal sector. The questionnaires were designed to elicit information on the socio‐economic characteristics of the respondents. The study was conducted in 2004.

Findings

The study has attempted to delve into the socio‐economic conditions of the waste and dump‐pickers, the lowest segment of the informal recycling sector. The study of the status of existing alliances of formal‐informal sector and the community shows that there is a lot of scope for improvement in the management of solid waste and the condition of the informal waste‐recycling sector. Stronger alliances have the potential to improve the services as well as the socio‐economic condition of the informal waste‐recycling sector.

Research limitations/implications

A very small sample size was selected for this study in the absence of any prior database pertaining to the size, socio‐economic conditions of the informal waste‐recycling sector.

Originality/value

The paper attempts to understand the important role played by the informal sector engaged in waste recycling. This work is original, as no such analysis has been carried out in the study area. This study could be further extended.
ISO 14001 and sustainability at universities: a Mexican case study
Authors: Taddei‐Bringas Jorge L. , Esquer‐Peralta Javier , Platt‐Carrillo Alberto
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to show some relevant issues about how the framework of the ISO 14001‐based EMS contributes to the transition of higher education institutes (HEIs) towards a sustainable university.

Design/methodology/approach

The triangulation methodology is used to compare a literature review with the experiences in some universities that have worked with the ISO 14001 framework, and also with the obtained results from a case study in regards to the implementation of such a system in the University of Sonora.

Findings

The EMS structure has to be adapted to the academic structure; the substantive functions (teaching, research, and outreach) have to be considered; the intangibles (consciousness, involvement, student participation, among others) are very important; and the elaboration of a model proposal in order to make the proper adaptations from to the ISO 14001 scheme is suggested. As a result, the increment of its contribution in the way of the higher education institutions towards sustainability is expected.

Originality/value

The paper shows how the scheme, ISO 14001, can help to promote and raise awareness of the university community towards sustainability.