bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personal, household and business environmental determinants of entrepreneurship
Authors: Krasniqi Besnik A.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore personal, household and business environmental influences on entrepreneurship in Kosova.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a econometric investigation using a binary choice model based on a nationally representative labour force and household survey conducted by Riinvest Institute at the end of 2002.

Findings

The results suggest that males, those who live in urban areas, belonging to a larger family/household, have a higher likelihood of being involved in entrepreneurial activities, while a weak positive effect of age and no significant effect of marital status are found. Self‐employed were more likely to be found in sectors where start‐up and sunk costs are expected to be lower (such as services and trade), those sectors that experienced high growth (construction) and in the regions in which entrepreneurship is more developed. In contrast with previous studies, it is found that education received household remittances and the presence of an additional wage earner in a household have negative impact on entrepreneurial activities arising from country‐specific features.

Research limitations/implications

These empirical findings identified determinants influencing entrepreneurial activities providing basis for policy discussion aimed at entrepreneurship development in the country.

Originality/value

The paper complements rather scarce empirical evidence on determinants of entrepreneurship from a unique transition country. It highlights the role of some transition and country‐specific factors in entrepreneurial activity of the population, providing better insights in understanding entrepreneurial behaviour of people in general and in transition economies in particular.
Problem solving in small firms: an interpretive study
Authors: Giroux Isabelle
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to present the results of a recent interpretive study of 11 small Central Vancouver Island firms in British Columbia, Canada, which yield new interpretations of the nature of problem‐solving processes within the wider context of managerial capability as a critical contributor to small business survival.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach taken is positioned within an emergent body of research in the field of small business and entrepreneurship that applies an interpretive paradigm to uncover the complex facets of how individuals develop their capabilities and management practices with a particular emphasis on the small business owner‐manager. More specifically, the critical incident technique method, along with an approach to data analysis and coding that draws from grounded theory, is combined and applied as a qualitative research strategy to yield new understandings of problem solving in small firms.

Findings

Research findings reveal the intuitive, improvised and non‐linear nature of how problems are actually solved in the sample of small firms studied, in contrast with a number of well‐known theoretical research frameworks that propose well‐defined and delineated steps in the problem‐solving process.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample size and the methods chosen to conduct the research do not allow for the generalization of findings to all firms, yet do allow for the emergence of themes among the businesses that participated in the study. Research could be expanded by applying a similar research design to small firms in other regions of Canada to determine whether significant differences or similarities exist and to identify the implications for research in the area of problem solving in small firms.

Originality/value

The identification of problems as critical incidents represents a primary focus of the research and provides a more explanatory account of problem solving from the perspective of small firm owner‐managers involved in the process. The analysis of these highly subjective interpretations represents valuable research findings that provide a basis for the development of theory on problem solving in small firms.
Portfolio strategies using EVA, earnings ratio or book‐to‐market
Authors: Leong Kenneth , Pagani Marco , Zaima Janis K.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

Past studies have shown that investment strategy using two popular metrics, the earnings‐price ratio (EP) and book‐to‐market ratio (BM) enable investors to reap abnormal returns. More recent development of another ratio, economic value‐added‐to‐market value (EVAM) can be seen as a hybrid of EP and BM ratios. The purpose of this study is to examine whether portfolios created by utilizing the EVAM ratio will generate higher returns than portfolios formed with EP or BM ratios.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing the EVA data obtained from Stern Stewart & Co. and financial data from COMPUSTAT and center for research in security prices (CRSP), portfolios are created following the Fama and French portfolio formation methodology. The authors form separate portfolios using EP, BM or EVAM ratios where firms are ranked by a ratio in year t, then split into deciles. Then portfolios are constructed in year t + 1 for each decile and equally weighted portfolio returns are calculated. The cumulative ten‐year returns are compared between portfolios formed with EP, BM and EVAM ratios.

Findings

There are three interesting findings. One, the EP portfolios depict results that have long been documented. That is, value stock (low price‐to‐earnings ratio firms) and growth stocks (high price‐to‐earnings ratio) exhibit the highest returns. Two, the ten BM portfolio performances are not statistically different. Three, the EVAM ratios indicate that the negative EVAM (lowest decile) portfolio exhibit the highest return and the second highest return is generated by the highest EVAM portfolio. The general results of the thirty portfolios show that the highest EVAM ratio (EVAM10) performs the best. However, the pairwise mean differences between EP, BM and EVAM portfolios do not show statistical differences over the 1995–2004 period.

Originality/value

Although investment strategies using EP ratio and BM ratio have been thoroughly studied, investment strategy using EVAM ratio has not. Given that it has been documented that EVA is a better conceptual measure of value, portfolio managers or investors would be interested to know whether utilizing EVA for investment strategy would earn a higher return than strategies that use EP or BM ratios.
Boundary choices in the pulp and paper industry
Authors: Jantunen Ari , Sandström Jaana , Kuittinen Hanna
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the boundary choices of firms operating in the pulp and paper industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Explorative interviews were conducted with senior managers of pulp and paper companies, and comparative data on other industries were collected. The theoretical approach was based on extended transaction‐cost economics (TCE).

Findings

The results demonstrate that when company decision makers consider the governance choice for different activities, i.e. make or buy, the determinants implied in traditional TCE are not the only relevant factors. Transaction or management benefits are also important, and managers also take into account the long‐term effects of boundary choices. The determinants of governance choices depend on the nature and strategic importance of the activity in question: when it is a question of outsourcing marginal activities, for example, management costs and dynamic transaction benefits seem to be of most significance. On the other hand, transaction costs and dynamic management benefits have a major role in the definition of boundary choices related to core activities.

Research limitations/implications

This research paper is explorative. Further quantitative research would enhance the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates that the factors managers implicitly take into account when considering firm boundaries could be explicitly assessed through the application of extended transaction‐cost logic. This would help to make the decision making more structured and would highlight the relevant factors affecting these boundaries.

Originality/value

Traditional transaction‐cost theory has been criticised for neglecting value‐creation issues that may also be essential in terms of explaining the firm's boundary choices. This study brings not only transaction costs but also the benefits and dynamic aspects of these choices under scrutiny.
A case study for implementing a B2B collaborative information system: a textile case
Authors: Chang Tien‐Hsiang , Fu Hsin‐Pin , Li Shao‐Chang , Lee Hung‐Hsuan
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discover strategic implications and successful factors leading to the development of an attractive model for other firms to follow based on a typical case study.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used a case study methodology to examine the case of a business‐to‐business (B2B) collaborative information system based on the first textile company in Taiwan to implement a RosettaNet‐like for B2B process integration.

Findings

The results showed that some key success factors included: support and understanding from the entire team, simple process redesign, standard process development, government support, distinctive operation collaboration model, total support from top management, and an effective and experienced team.

Practical implications

Managerial implications are as follows: employ vertical process integration to quickly exchange data, establish a platform to share information, establish vendor‐managed inventory (VMI) to lower costs, and a cross‐organization centre to effectively operate the platform.

Originality/value

The complete information structure provided in this case, the distinctive collaborative and the proposed implementation models can all serve as a reference for other enterprises whose size, scope and information technology level are similar to the focal firm in this case.
Evaluation of advanced manufacturing technologies using Taguchi's loss functions
Authors: Ordoobadi Sharon
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a tool for decision makers to consider both tangible and intangible factors while making decisions regarding investment in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT).

Design/methodology/approach

Traditional financial approaches are often used for evaluation of advanced technologies. However, the difficulty arises when the result of financial techniques cannot provide a conclusive recommendation for a technology adoption. The current research is an attempt to address this issue by including factors that allow distinction between technology alternatives with similar financial results. This task is accomplished in a two step process. First, a process is developed for identifying all potential benefits associated with adoption of an AMT. These are the benefits that were not measurable for inclusion in the financial analysis. Second, a mechanism is developed for quantifying these benefits to be used for ranking of the technology alternatives. This task is done by soliciting decision maker's input on importance of the benefits, required benefit goals, and his/her perception of how well each technology meets the benefit goals. This information is then used in Taguchi's loss functions to assign ranks to technology alternatives.

Findings

Investing in new technologies is the only way for manufacturers to survive in today's competitive market. Thus, there is a need by these manufacturers to have access to a decision model that will help them with their investment decisions.

Practical implications

The procedure proposed here helps companies to rank the technology alternatives and identify the best technology for adoption.

Originality/value

The identification of intangible benefits associated with adoption of a new technology and use of Taguchi's loss function to quantify these benefits.
Supply chain technology adoption in Malaysian automotive suppliers
Authors: Kamariah Kamaruddin Nor , Mohamed Udin Zulkifli
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the relevance of technology adoption factors and to explore how it can influence suppliers of automotive manufacturers to adopt the supply chain technology (SCT) within their organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical survey of Malaysian's automotive supplier was conducted to study those factors and also their relationship to the types of technologies being adopted. Data were collected using mail questionnaires which were sent to suppliers of two leading national automotive manufacturers. Out of 122, a total of 73 respondents were used for the purpose of the study. The study tested three hypotheses in data analysis.

Findings

The results of the analysis confirm that three identified factors namely; organisational structure, organisational size and supply chain member pressure have a positive relationship with the SCT adoption. The analysis shows these three hypotheses have been supported and satisfied the identified gaps.

Research limitations/implications

Further research shall be carried out to explore and comprehend the impact of SCT adoption on organisational performance. In addition, future research should also investigate the impact of SCT adoption in other stages of the adoption process.

Practical implications

The proposed framework provides important insights into the key factors, which enable managers or supply chain practitioners to gain better understanding of these factors impacting SCT adoptions.

Originality/value

Up to now, there are neither detailed studies focusing on the identification of SCT adoption factors in Malaysia environment nor studies that try to look at the organisational adoption of a considerable number of SCT.
A neural network forecasting model for consumable parts in semiconductor manufacturing
Authors: Jou Yung‐Tsan , Wee Hui‐Ming , Chen Hsiao‐Ching , Hsieh Yao‐Hung , Wang Laurence
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create a usable life forecast model for consumable parts using neural network approach. It focuses on a consumable probe card used in the semiconductor wafer testing operation. Referring to the relevant resources and the semiconductor testing operation, a fundamental concept is built to develop a probe card management system.

Design/methodology/approach

A neural network analysis software package, Q‐net2000, is applied in this study. In this case, there is one hidden layer and the neural network learning rates and momentum are set to 0.1 and 0.7. Forecast the usable life by inputting the initial values of the neural network variables into a back‐propagation neural network.

Findings

In this system, the first thing is to collect the production, maintenance and repair data, and then analyze those data by using a neural network methodology to effectively forecast a probe card's usable life. Those data are integrated to derive an optimum timing of placing a probe card order using an inventory control technique. Finally, the actual production data of a company are used to verify the feasibility of this research.

Research limitations/implications

The results presented are based on a representative expendable probe card manufacturing process in the Taiwan industry, a range of alternative scenarios and changes to the process design can be investigated using the simulation model.

Practical implications

For the semiconductor industry, the research supports the introduction on lifecycle forecast technology for expendable probe card manufacturing process.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a neural network forecast analysis to solve the case company's current management problem of determining the life cycle of probe cards in an earlier time.
Determinants of public employees' performance: evidence from Ethiopian public organizations
Authors: Hailesilasie Gebregziabher
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the determinants of employees' performance in Ethiopian public organizations, by examining the determinant factors of motivation, ability and role perception in seven different public organizations that reengineered their business processes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary data collected from 100 respondents, individual performance, an ordered categorical variable, was regressed on motivation, ability, role perception and certain control variables. An ordered logistic regression model was employed in the research.

Findings

Results of the STATA routine indicate that, in Ethiopian public organizations, ability has no significant effect on employees' performance. On the other hand, motivation positively determines performance until some stage of experience, beyond which performance declines with experience. Similarly, role perception is found to be strongly positively related to the likelihood of good performance.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is required into the dynamic nature of employees' performance. Panel data econometric models might be used to explain the determinants of performance across time. Similarly, future empirical researches in the area in question will be helpful to consider space‐time differences in explaining determinants of employees' performance.

Originality/value

The paper looks into the determinant factors of Ethiopian public organization employees' performance. Currently, Ethiopian public organizations are undertaking Business Process Re‐engineering (BPR) and striving for the system of performance‐based pay. This research has policy implications in relation to designing an effective performance‐based pay system. On the other hand, the paper contributes to the empirical literature, providing a clearer picture of the determinants of public employees' performance.
Economic drivers of dwelling satisfaction
Authors: Frank Björn , Enkawa Takao
Published: February 2009

Purpose

Sociologists are discussing whether or not economic growth enhances subjective well‐being. To complement their research from a housing perspective, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether aggregate income enhances dwelling satisfaction over time. While cross‐sectional studies have only examined the direct influence of income on dwelling satisfaction, this paper suggests that there are additional influences mediated by other social indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data from Germany, correlation and regression analyses examine the impacts of aggregate income and other social indicators on dwelling satisfaction. Path analysis is used to test for the existence of mediated relationships.

Findings

The paper finds that aggregate income positively influences dwelling satisfaction. Environmental satisfaction, customer satisfaction and satisfaction with family relations also positively impact dwelling satisfaction and mediate influences of aggregate income. The mediated effects are stronger than the direct effect of aggregate income on dwelling satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The longitudinal availability of aggregate customer satisfaction data is still limited. Future research on dwelling satisfaction is encouraged to account for customer satisfaction and to reexamine the analyses of this study with future data.

Practical implications

Stimulating economic growth is a good strategy to improve dwelling satisfaction. Policies improving the environment, family support and shopping opportunities are also effective.

Originality/value

This paper is original in that it examines the impacts of economic growth and customer satisfaction on dwelling satisfaction. While the extant literature has only analysed direct effects of income on dwelling satisfaction, this study also accounts for mediated effects.
Exploring sales advertising in the housing market in Jordan
Authors: Al‐Homoud Majd , Al‐Oun Salem , Smadi Ayat , Al‐Hindawi Al‐Mutasem
Published: February 2009

Purpose

In the housing sector in Jordan, sales advertisings are rarely used, though they, potentially, increase profits and sales and expand development geographically. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of sales advertising in the emerging housing market in the city of Irbid, Jordan. The aim is to reveal the effect of the use of advertising on sales and production of housing, and the obstacles that developers may face when advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

The study elicited data through long, face‐to‐face interviews using semi‐structured and open‐ended questionnaires with 25 private sector developers. The data collected included companies' profiles; housing annual production; geographical location; sales and prices; and marketing and advertising.

Findings

The major finding of the study is that the use of sales advertising in the housing market in Irbid is low. The major advertising methods include public relations and word of mouth along with a limited use of newspaper and on‐site advertising. The obstacles developers face include lack of conviction, unawareness about advertising effect, lack of advertising professionals, lack of skills in advertisement designs and inability to afford it.

Research limitations/implications

Future research is needed to undertake statistical references through a comprehensive survey of a large sample of developers from different geographical areas around Jordan.

Practical implications

The study recommends finding means to encourage developers to use advertising and to introduce new media such as the internet.

Originality/value

As the first of its kind, the research pinpoints to developers the value of sales advertising, as marketing concepts, to attract buyers, increase sales and profit and to expand geographically around Jordan.
Judging a house by its cover
Authors: Rehm Michael
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantify leaky building stigma associated with monolithic claddings, explore how this stigma has likely been amplified by media coverage, estimate the number of affected properties and quantify the collective house price impact on homeowners of monolithic‐clad dwellings in the Auckland region.

Design/methodology/approach

Residential sales transaction data organised in two subgroups (single‐family houses and multi‐unit dwellings) from 1997 through 2006 are analysed using a series of annual hedonic pricing models to empirically test for the presence of stigma. This is coupled with a descriptive analysis of leaky building media coverage to understand how this coverage may be influencing the stigma.

Findings

The empirical results show that a leaky building stigma exists and is discounting prices of the Auckland Region's monolithic‐clad single family houses by 5 per cent and multi‐unit dwellings by 10 per cent. Approximately 37,500 monolithic‐clad dwellings have been built in the region since 1992 and their homeowners have suffered an estimated $1 billion reduction in property values due to leaky building stigma.

Research limitations/implications

Although leaky building stigma primarily relates to monolithic claddings, this stigma reflects elevated weathertightness risks associated with several Mediterranean‐style architectural features.

Practical implications

The study's findings can be directly applied to residential valuation practice and can assist the New Zealand government more accurately assess the full economic cost of the nation's leaky building problem.

Originality/value

This research provides an initial empirical study on stigma associated with leaky building syndrome. The findings offer direction to further research on other domestic and international housing markets that are experiencing similar stigma phenomenon.
Price bubbles in housing markets
Authors: Lind Hans
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the concept of bubble, what it means to explain a bubble and propose a list of bubble indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a literature review and some philosophical ideas to derive conclusions for the problems studied.

Findings

A price bubble should be defined only in relation to the development of prices: a dramatic increase immediately followed by a dramatic fall. The traditional definition in terms of prices not determined by fundamentals is problematic primarily because the concept “fundamentals” is vague. A bubble can never be explained by a single factor, but is the result of the interaction of a number of factors. The explanatory factors proposed are used to derive a set of indicators working as warning signals whether a dramatic increase in prices will be followed by a dramatic fall. The list developed covers, for example, interest costs in relation to household incomes, the elasticity of supply, price expectations and credit conditions.

Research limitations/implications

Both the explanatory framework and the list of indicators should be seen as preliminary and the starting point for further development through empirical testing.

Practical implications

A developed list of bubble indicators could be useful for a number of actors, e.g. banks and authorities responsible for monitoring financial stability.

Originality/value

The contribution is a clearer and more useful concept of bubble, a clearer separation of the question whether bubbles exist and how they should be explained. The proposed list of indicators goes far beyond earlier indicators.
The influence of submarkets on water view house price premiums in New Zealand
Authors: Filippova Olga
Published: February 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the impact of submarkets on water view premiums of residential properties and investigate the correlation between submarket view premium and socio‐economic status.

Design/methodology/approach

Over 53,000 residential sales transactions from 2004 to 2006 are analysed using the hedonic method. The Auckland region is divided into 17 submarkets with similar water view scarcities. The region is analysed along with each individual submarket in order to determine if significant differences in view premiums exist.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that the regionwide model chronically over‐ or under‐estimates view premiums, for example, the regionwide model estimates that a wide water view adds 18 per cent to a home's value while the same view amenity adds only 5 per cent in modest West Harbour but 54 per cent in posh Mission Bay.

Practical implications

The study's findings can be directly applied to residential valuation practice and in particular mass appraisal systems.

Originality/value

This research fills a gap in the body of knowledge relating to water view externalities by investigating the differing price impacts across submarkets.
The appraisal of equity investments by Nigerian investors
Authors: Tijjani B. , Fifield S.G.M. , Power D.M.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how investors and stockbrokers in Nigeria value shares and whether their approach to share valuation differs from that documented in other countries. In particular, the paper investigates whether the investors and stockbrokers use fundamental, technical and/or risk analysis differently to appraise investments. The information which investors and stockbrokers employ for share valuation purposes is also considered to see whether differences from developed market countries exist.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of semi‐structured interviews was conducted with eight stockbrokers and ten investors from Nigeria.

Findings

The main approach to share valuation employed by the Nigerian interviewees was fundamental analysis; investors and brokers forecast earnings for a company and multiplied this prediction by a P/E ratio to estimate the intrinsic worth of a share. This intrinsic value was then compared with the current share price to see if the equity was under‐ or over‐valued. Thus, Nigerian investors are similar to their counterparts in other countries in terms of the main approach to share valuation employed. Other company fundamentals considered in the valuation process included cash flows and dividend information. Technical and risk analyses were also undertaken to supplement any initial conclusions reached. Indeed, the findings suggest that there was a greater use of risk analysis by Nigerian investors in comparison to the results documented for other countries. Company financial statements and stockbroker reports were the main sources of information used by investors although qualitative information, such as that obtained from meetings with company executives, was also important. However, access to senior executives was not uniform across all interviewees.

Practical implications

Investors and stockbrokers in Nigeria behave in a similar fashion to their counterparts in developed countries. However, political risk assumes a greater prominence in the equity valuation process within Nigeria; a reduction in this risk might help Nigerian equity values to increase.

Originality/value

The paper reports the views of senior stockbrokers and investors in Nigeria. To date, most work in this area has focused on developed markets; the current paper considers the case for an emerging market which is important in Africa. This market plays an important role in furthering the economic aims of the Government via their privitisation programmes. In addition, the market is attracting the attention of foreign investors who wish to invest in Nigerian equities.
Anti‐money laundering efforts, stock market operations and good governance
Authors: Jayasuriya Dayanath
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to articulate why money laundering is a matter of concern for stock market operations. It examines how anti‐money laundering efforts contribute to good governance and, conversely, how good governance measures themselves help promote anti‐money laundering efforts.

Design/methodology/approach

This review examines issues and concerns from a theoretical perspective and, based on some of the governance problems that have led to the collapse of various corporations, it examines how good governance can make a difference.

Findings

The paper proves that good governance norms and practices can influence the further development and refinement of anti‐money laundering and terrorist financing regimes and their effective implementation. Likewise, compliance with anti‐money laundering and terrorist financing regimes can help create an environment conducive to the achievement of good governance norms and practices.

Research limitations/implications

Noting that very little empirical research has been done so far on the issue of money laundering in the context of stock market operations, the paper suggests that researchers should accord more attention to this subject.

Originality/value

The paper sheds light on an important area that has not been the subject of previous research studies and points to the importance of qualitative research in promoting a culture of stable and compliant capital markets.
Influence and power dynamics in client‐consultant teams
Authors: Nikolova Natalia , Devinney Timothy M.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to provide a clearer picture of the nature of power imbalance in client‐consultant teams, which has negative consequences for the development and implementation of consultants' recommendations, and to outline ways how to avoid such an imbalance in the first instance.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an empirical paper based on in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with clients and consultants from the strategic consulting sector in Australia.

Findings

Taking a differentiated look at the roles and responsibilities of members of client‐consultant teams, the authors propose that power within client‐consultant teams is multidimensional and the outcome of the interplay of its different forms is not predictable. It is further argued that a power balance is crucial for achieving better results from consulting projects.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are not generalizable, due to the small sample and the focus on strategic consulting. The results encourage further research in different types of consulting projects as well as studies based on observation of client‐consultant interactions.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the main points of concern for managers and consultants and provides some suggestions on how to achieve a balanced relationship.

Originality/value

This paper's major contribution is in providing deeper insight into a hitherto underexplored issue of client‐consultant interactions: the contested nature of power in client‐consultant teams and the reasons and outcomes of power imbalance.
Technology sourcing acquisitions
Authors: Ruckman Karen
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine what the effects of acquisition are on R&D patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tests whether the actual post‐acquisition R&D intensity of the combined firm deviated from the predicted R&D intensity, where the predicted amount is an asset‐weighted average of pre‐acquisition values.

Findings

The results indicate that the combination of technology sourcing and technological relatedness have strong predictive powers for determining changes in post‐acquisition R&D intensity. Technology sourcing acquisition of unrelated technologies results in an increase in post‐acquisition R&D intensity, as predicted. Acquirers in this situation may be using their acquisition as a platform for research expansion.

Research limitations/implications

The dataset used in this paper was restricted to public acquirers and targets for completeness of financial information. It would be useful to determine the extent to which a technology sourcing acquirer is predicted to enter into an acquisition and also whether technology sourcing can be used as a predictor for the ultimate target company out of a pool of potential targets.

Practical implications

The results can be used to inform managers on a strategic level when research strategy deviates from what the theory would predict. For example, if a company that did a technology sourcing acquisition of an unrelated product subsequently decreased R&D intensity, then rival pharmaceutical firms can ascertain that the acquired research was ultimately determined to be too risky or unviable.

Originality/value

The value in this paper is the unique measurement for technology sourcing.
Towards an integrated perspective of strategy
Authors: Enders Albrecht , König Andreas , Hungenberg Harald , Engelbertz Thomas
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual tool that would help managers to integrate the findings from strategy frameworks such as the value chain, the five forces or the VRIO framework by jointly analyzing the different levers of competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on the extant literature the paper develops a strategy framework that integrates the internal and external dimensions of strategy formulation. To illustrate a practical application of the value‐process framework, the paper presents a case study of a project at the German music corporation Sony BMG.

Findings

The value‐process framework serves managers as a conceptually unifying analysis tool that contributes to their understanding of the main levers that help to create a sustainable competitive advantage. The framework can be used to visually integrate isolated strategy frameworks by jointly analyzing the different levers of competitive advantage, and to develop consistent and integrated strategies that simultaneously take into account the internal and external perspectives of strategic decision making.

Originality/value

While the existing strategy literature is good at providing specific concepts and tools of strategy analysis, it rarely connects the different dimensions and points out their interdependencies. As a result, strategic analyses are often fragmented and isolated from their broader context. The value‐process framework aims to provide an overarching perspective that helps to integrate the different dimensions of strategy formulation.
An uncommon scholar
Authors: Nason Robert W.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the elements of the life of Professor Stanley C. Hollander (1919‐2004), a marketing scholar extraordinaire.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 28 marketing scholars who had been students, colleagues, and friends of Professor Hollander were asked to contribute to the author's personal knowledge of him. Selma Hollander (his wife) was interviewed. Stan Hollander's own written work was reviewed for insight into his characteristics.

Findings

A brief chronology of his life is provided as a framework within which his personal characteristics and relationships can be examined. The major contributors to his success as a person and scholar are first, the relationship with his wife, Selma; second, the characteristics of his intellect; and third, his fascination with the arts. The result was not only an uncommon scholar considered a giant in the field of marketing but also one who enabled many others through the sharing of his mind and his humor.

Originality/value

This work explores the man behind the body of scholarship and disciplinary development that is his legacy. He was an uncommon scholar.
A litotes of what you fancy: some thoughts on Stanley Hollander's writing style
Authors: Brown Stephen
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the writing style of Stanley C. Hollander, in order to better understand the power of his prose.

Design/methodology/approach

A line‐by‐line literary analysis of Hollander's publications, with a view to detecting his stylistic “signature” or “fingerprint”.

Findings

Four key elements are integral to Hollander's writing style – interrogatives, inventories, iconoclasm and irony. His single most characteristic literary device is litotes, a mode of ironic understatement.

Research limitations/implications

Literary analysis is inherently idiosyncratic and tends to reflect the perspective of the interpreter. Another analyst is sure to find different features in Hollander's corpus (though this is less a methodological shortcoming than a testament to the richness of Hollander's writings).

Originality/value

All academics are writers and, by better understanding the technique of a much admired stylist, everyone's publications can be improved.
General Book Store in Chicago, 1938‐1947: linking neighborhood to nation
Authors: Witkowski Terrence H.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

Through an account of the layout, operations, and four main product lines of a small Chicago bookstore between 1938 and 1947, the purpose of this paper is to show how a neighborhood retail establishment reacted to the sweeping events of the Great Depression and World War II.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based upon multiple primary data sources including store financial records, family photographs, representative artifacts and ephemera, oral history interviews, and period retailing literature.

Findings

Located in an area of Chicago heavily populated by Polish and Jewish immigrants and their children, General Book Store was a traditional mom and pop operation. The mix of its product lines – books and magazines, model kits, greeting cards, and camera supplies and photo‐finishing – evolved over time while always connecting customers to the national experience. The store afforded its owners a modest, but upwardly mobile middle‐class life style.

Originality/value

Although much has been written on large‐scale retailing, marketing historians have conducted very little research on small‐scale retailing in the USA. This study documents the intermingling of a business and a household economy and how the management of merchandise assortments and maintenance of customer relationships depended upon both owner interests and the opportunities and constraints presented by environmental forces.
Reflections on Stan Hollander: the early MSU years and CHARM
Authors: Lazer William
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into Stanley Hollander's early academic career at Michigan State University (MSU) and his role in founding the Conference on Historical Analysis and Research in Marketing (CHARM).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper includes personal reflections and historical narrative.

Findings

Hollander was a unique and valued member of the faculty at MSU and was instrumental in directing and shaping the CHARM and related activities.

Originality/value

This brief note complements other biographical material about Hollander by providing unique insights into his early academic career.
Lost and found
Authors: Bourassa Maureen A. , Murphy William H.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an historical review of Stanley C. Hollander's Sales Devices throughout the Ages, from 2500 BC to 1953 AD.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the historical review method, the paper examines a monograph with historical importance, summarizing the contents and analyzing it in the context of the author's life. With reference to outside sources, the paper seeks to improve understanding of the monograph within its historical context.

Findings

Sales Devices throughout the Ages provides a fascinating journey through 4,000 years of selling history. Analysis of the monograph and of its historical context reveals transformations in the legitimacy of selling, both within marketing and within society as a whole.

Originality/value

This monograph is one of Hollander's earliest works, and as a result, few library copies remain. We are not aware of any other reviews of this monograph, and are therefore pleased it is being brought to the fore in this special issue celebrating Hollander's life and work.
Contribution of functional variation in the IL13 gene to allergy, hay fever and asthma in the NSHD longitudinal 1946 birth cohort
Authors: Black S. , Teixeira A. S. , Loh A. X. W. , Vinall L. , Holloway J. W. , Hardy R. , Swallow D. M.
Published: February 2009

Background:  Genetic variants of the two adjacent genes, IL13 and IL4 have frequently been reported as being associated with susceptibility to atopy and asthma, both in adults and children, and some studies also suggest association with lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Methods:  In this study, we examined for the first time the effect of these variants in 2918 adults in a longitudinal birth cohort, the British National Survey of Health and Development, where there are extensive life style, developmental and environmental data. We examine two IL13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) IL13 rs20541 (R110Q) and rs1800925 (−1024C>T) and one IL4 SNP, rs2070874 (−33C>T) with likely function.

Results:  We show that IL13 rs20541 and rs1800925 are each significantly associated with self‐reported asthma and allergy, and that this association is not confounded by any of the known developmental and environmental risk factors for asthma and atopy, including in particular place of birth. IL13 rs20541 does however act as a confounder for the IL13 rs1800925 associations, meaning that there is no statistical support for rs1800925 having an independent effect. There is nevertheless evidence for interaction between smoking and rs1800925, with allergy as outcome. None of the SNPs showed association with measures of lung function, nor any interaction with the effect of smoking on lung function.

Conclusion:  In a longitudinal population cohort we have established a role for polymorphism of IL13 in determining susceptibility to both atopy and asthma.
Kpa (Penney), a New Antigen in the Kell Blood Group System
Authors: ALLEN Fred H. , LEWIS Sheila J.
Published: March 2009

The Kell blood group system has now been complicated by the finding of a new antigen, Penney (Kpa), and possibly two others (Kpb and Kpc). Kpa is found in about 2 per cent of Bostonians. It is of minor importance clinically because of its infrequency, but has considerable importance in blood typing tests for exclusion of paternity.

Un nouvel antigène appartenant au système Kell et désigné Penney (Kpa) a été découvert, et l'existence de deux autres antigènes (Kpb et Kpc) semble possible. Kpa se trouve chez environ 2% des habitants de Boston. Le nouvel antigène est, au point de vue clinique, d'intérêt médiocre à cause de sa rareté, mais il est important dans les tests sérologiques pour l'exclusion de la paternité

Ein neues, dem Kell‐System zugehöriges Blutgruppenantigen Penney (Kpa) wird beschrieben. Nebst K, k und Kpa enthält das Kell‐System wahrscheinlich noch zwei weitere Antigene, die vorlaufig als Kpb und Kpc bezeichnet wurden. Die Häufigkeit von Kpa beträgt in Boston 2 %. Angesichts der relativen Seltenheit dieses Antigens ist seine klinische Bedeutung gering. Bei Vaterschaftsuntersuchungen hingegen ist dieses Antigen unter Umständen von erheblicher Bedeutung.
A Case of Auto‐Immune Haemolytic Anaemia with a Very Remarkable Course
Authors: KISSMEYER‐NIELSEN F.
Published: March 2009

A very exceptional case of acute auto‐immune haemolytic anaemia is presented. The diagnosis was made accidentally and made it possible to perform investigations from the very beginning of the specific (anti‐D) auto‐immunization until every sign of this abnormality disappeared dramatically from one day to the next simultaneously with cortisone‐prednisone treatment.

Présentation d'un cas très exceptionnel d'anémie hémolytique aiguë par auto‐immunisation. Par un hasard remarquable, l'autoimmunisation, de spécificité anti‐D, fut découverte avant l'apparition de symptômes; le syndrome hémolytique qui s'ensuivit put être coupé d'un jour à l'autre par l'administration de cortisone et de prednisone.

Ein außergewöhnlicher Fall von autoantikörperbedinger erworbener hämolytischer Anämie wird beschrieben. Durch Zufall konnte die Anti‐D‐spezifische Autoimmunisierung kurz vor dem Krankheitsbeginn erfaßt werden. Es entwickelte sich ein schweres hämolytisches Zustandsbild, welches unter Cortison‐Prednison‐Behandlung im Verlaufe eines Tages überwunden wurde.
Haemolytic Transfusion Reaction Caused by Anti‐Lea
Authors: MERRILD‐HANSEN B. , MUNK‐ANDERSEN G.
Published: March 2009

The writers describe a case of haemolytic transfusion reaction with kidney lesion, caused most probably by an anti‐Lea antibody. The antibody had not developed as a result of immunization.

The antibody was active at 37° C., and could only be demonstrated with certainty by the indirect Coombs test.

Lea substance could not be demonstrated with certainty in the serum of the Le(a+) donor used, and his saliva contained less Lea substance than is usual in Le(a+) persons.

Les auteurs décrivent une réaction transfusionelle hémolytique avec lésion du rein, dunt la cause était en toute probabilité un anticorps anti‐Lea. Cet anticorps n'était pas le résultat d'une immunisation antérieure à la transfusion.

L'anticorps était actif à 37° et la seule technique capable de le mettre en évidence était le test de Coombs indirect.

Aucune substance Lea ne pouvait être démontree dans le plasma du donneur de sang Le(a+), et sa salive contenait moins de cette substance qu'on n'en trouve habituellement chez les personnes Le(a+).

Die Autoren beschreiben eine hiimolytische Transfusionsreaktion mit Nierenschädigung, welche sehr wahrscheinlich auf einer Lea‐Inkompatibilität beruhte. Bei dem im Empfängerserum enthaltenen Anti‐Lea‐Antikörper handelte es sich, da eine schwangerschafts‐ oder transfusionsbedingte Isoimmunisierung ausgeschlossen werden konnte, um einen irregulären natürlichen Antikörper. Dieser konnte nur im indirekten Coombstest mit Sicherheit nachgewiesen werden. Beim Spender, dessen Blut die Transfusionsreaktion ausgelöst hatte, konnte im Serum keine Lea‐Substanz nachgewiesen werden. Sein Speichel enthielt weniger Lea‐Substanz als derjenige von Lea‐Kontroll‐personen.