bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manufacturers' intention to extend the relationships with distributors
Authors: Ono Akinori , Kubo Tomokazu
Published: July 2009

Purpose

Today, it is becoming increasingly important for manufacturers to develop cooperative relationships with distributors and obtain customized distribution services. Previous research has suggested that, with specified assets, manufacturers might “hold up” distributors and that such a relationship would not be sustainable. In contrast, the purpose of this paper is to develop a causal model to explain why and how manufacturers intend to extend cooperative relationships with distributors.

Design/methodology/approach

To propose a causal model, two approaches – relationship marketing and transaction cost analysis – are examined. To complement the defects of the two approaches, a repeated game theoretic approach was applied in the causal model. The proposed model is empirically tested with 144 strategic business units of manufacturers and the structural equation modelling. Also, a case from the US and Japanese automobile industries is proffered to discuss the validity of the model.

Findings

The results of the empirical analysis show that asset specificity by distributors increases manufacturers' long‐term orientation, which increases manufacturers' intention to extend the relationship. It was also found that the intention to extend the relationship is reduced by distributors' opportunism. These findings are supported by a case study of the automobile industry in the USA and Japan.

Originality/value

While most previous relationship marketing literature has focused on social psychological constructs, the present paper introduces the viewpoints of a game theoretic approach. The paper proposes a causal model regarding the relationship among asset specificity, opportunism, long‐term orientation and intention to extend the relationship, which successfully explains why manufacturers do not hold up distributors with their specified assets.
Marketing relationships in Brazil: trends in value strategies and capabilities
Authors: Helena Puga Ribeiro Áurea , Brashear Thomas G. , Rafael Reis Monteiro Plinio , Faluba Damázio Luciana
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of value strategies among international and national firms in Brazil by exploring the trends in value strategies for use in future marketing relationships and the capabilities necessary to implement those value strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a Delphi technique to elicit the opinions and perceptions from a group of B2B marketing experts. An iterative data collection with 30 senior executives of national and foreign, mid‐ and large size firms in Brazil was used to explore the strategies firms use, the types of key capabilities, and the capabilities that drive performance.

Findings

The findings show that both national and international firms in Brazil expect to continue to use commodity strategies as their primary relational form, but move toward the higher value added strategies. Higher value added strategies are expected to account for 42 per cent of the respondent firms' relationships in the coming years. Firms rated “methods to identify and monitor” and “marketing intelligence” as the two most important capabilities for driving performance. An additional finding is the distinction between firms' self‐evaluations of capability competence and the capabilities that drive performance.

Practical implications

The study provides insight into the links between value strategies practiced and the marketing capabilities required to support those strategies.

Originality/value

The study provides practitioner insights into the practices and trends in the use of value‐driving and value‐creating strategies among firms in a big emerging market, Brazil.
C2CAD: a sustainable apparel design and production model
Authors: Jin Gam Hae , Cao Huantian , Farr Cheryl , Heine Lauren
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and implement a new sustainable apparel design and production model, cradle to cradle apparel design (C2CAD), that provides guidelines for apparel designers and manufacturers to solve some of the sustainability problems related to apparel production.

Design/methodology/approach

The C2CAD model was developed by integrating McDonough and Braungart's “cradle to cradle” model into existing apparel design and production models. Knitwear design and production was used to implement the C2CAD model as a proof of concept. The performance and cost of the C2CAD knitwear were evaluated.

Findings

The C2CAD model has four main steps: problem definition and research; sample making; solution development and collaboration; and production. Following the four steps and with an international collaboration similar to current apparel industry practices, “Four‐season sustainability” children's knitwear prototypes were developed. Produced with an acceptable manufacturing cost, the products have good mechanical and color fastness performance.

Practical implications

The C2CAD model provides practical guidelines for apparel designers and manufacturers and allows them to address all three pillars in sustainable development: economic development, social development, and environmental protection.

Originality/value

The C2CAD is the first apparel design and production model that emphasizes sustainability in addition to functional, expressive, and aesthetic considerations. The production process of “Four‐season sustainability” children's knitwear demonstrated the implementation of C2CAD model in sustainable apparel design and production.
Improvement of dentist gowns – new constraints and new risks
Authors: Schacher Marie , Haïkel Youssef , Berger Stéphane , Schacher Laurence , Adolphe Dominique C.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

For years, the main reason for using textiles in the health care sector was to protect the patient from the medical staff. Nowadays, the garment has to play another role and protect the wearer. For dentists, risks can come from saliva which is considered potentially infectious because it frequently contains blood. This paper aims to define dentist gown specifications according to the new situation, and to propose new garments providing safety protective function as well as comfort.

Design/methodology/approach

Enquiries, direct interviews as well as internet forums have been used to extract dentists' requirements taking into account their need of barrier and their comfort concerns. Studies of the spraying area on the gowns have been performed to define the location of the required protection. A study of the warmer zone of the garment via IR camera has been done. Two prototypes have then been constructed and tested.

Findings

Images of impacts of drops that could cause cross‐infection allow defining the zones which are to be specifically protected. Thermographic images provide maps of hot zones of the garment when worn in working conditions, and information is obtained of desired open space zones which have been designed to create preferential ventilation required for comfort improvement. A second prototype was designed to improve results of the first one.

Practical implications

Replacement of current dentists garment in routine situation.

Originality/value

Dentists' gowns used in dental care have not been studied and not been redesigned yet, whereas new dentists are facing new risks and eagerly looking for personal protective equipment providing safety protective function as well as comfort.
Effect of high‐speed sewing on the tensile properties of sewing threads at different stages of sewing
Authors: Midha Vinay Kumar , Kothari V.K. , Chatopadhyay R. , Mukhopadhyay A.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

In this paper, the contribution of dynamic loading, needle and fabric, and the bobbin thread interaction on the changes in the tensile properties of the needle thread are to be investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Tensile properties of the needle thread have been studied at four sewing stages, namely before being subjected to any loading, after dynamic loading, before bobbin thread interaction and after sewing.

Findings

It is observed that bobbin thread interaction plays a dominant role in the reduction of tensile properties except breaking elongation in cotton threads. Dynamic loading is mainly responsible for reduction in the breaking elongation of cotton threads. During sewing, there is an increase in initial modulus due to the dynamic loading, which is more in the case of cotton threads than polyester threads. However, the impact of dynamic loading on tenacity, breaking elongation and breaking energy is greater for coarser cotton thread. The contribution of bobbin thread interaction is more for fine threads as compared to coarse threads.

Practical implications

Since seam strength is dependent on the thread strength, a reduction in thread strength during sewing will lead to lower seam strength than expected. Therefore, in order to minimize the thread strength reduction, it is important to understand the contribution of different machine elements or processes during sewing. During high‐speed sewing, the dynamic and thermal loading are found to be the major causes of strength reduction of needle thread, which can go up to 30‐40 per cent. However, the extent of strength loss at different sewing stages is unknown.

Originality/value

The study will help in engineering sewing threads, designing of sewing machines and selection of process parameters for controlling loss of useful properties of sewing threads.
Selection of ERP suppliers using AHP tools in the clothing industry
Authors: Ünal Can , Güner Mücella G.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore selection of the best ERP suppliers in the clothing industry by using analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

Design/methodology/approach

AHP is used in order to achieve the paper's purpose; selection criteria are determined by managers and experts.

Findings

Three different enterprise resource planning (ERP) suppliers are investigated and best alternative is selected by using AHP. After the best alternative is selected, cost benefit analysis is calculated in order to define decisive result. All calculations are verified by performing the consistency test.

Research limitations/implications

Selection criteria and their evaluations can be changed depending on size of the clothing manufacturer and product type.

Originality/value

The results of the study will be helpful to clothing manufacturers which plan to implement an ERP system in their organizations. Furthermore, they can use AHP in other decision problems as well.
Parallel garment drape simulation of triangular mesh using GPU programming
Authors: Hwan Sul In
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the possibility of implementing parallel processing feature of graphic processor unit (GPU) in garment drape simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

Velocity‐Verlet method based on explicit integration is used to drape triangular table cloth meshes. Both drape simulation and collision detection engines are converted to GPU version. Simulation speeds of simple linear algebra and actual free fall table cloth simulation are compared with those of the central processing unit (CPU) version.

Findings

There is apparent calculation speed increase when the parallel computation of GPU is implemented. But the current GPUs have several limits for general purpose computation, so the original CPU version algorithm should be split and modified to be used in GPU.

Originality/value

This paper implemented GPU parallel processing technique in both drape simulation and collision detection. Voxel‐based method is used to find possible collision pairs. Triangular meshes, which are more difficult to implement than quadrilateral ones in GPU programming, are successfully implemented.
Critical success factors in the context of humanitarian aid supply chains
Authors: Pettit Stephen , Beresford Anthony
Published: July 2009

Purpose

Critical success factors (CSFs) have been widely used in the context of commercial supply chains. However, in the context of humanitarian aid (HA) this is a poorly addressed area and this paper therefore aims to set out the key areas for research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a conceptual discussion of CSFs as applied to the HA sector. A detailed literature review is undertaken to identify CSFs in a commercial context and to consider their applicability to the HA sector.

Findings

CSFs have not previously been identified for the HA sector, an issue addressed in this paper.

Research limitations/implications

The main constraint on this paper is that CSFs have not been previously considered in the literature as applied to HA. The relevance of CSFs will therefore need to be tested in the HA environment and qualitative research is needed to inform further work.

Practical implications

This paper informs the HA community of key areas of activity which have not been fully addressed and offers.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of supply chain management in an HA context.
Human resource management implications of terrorist threats to firms in the supply chain
Authors: Reade Carol
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between employee sensitivity to terrorism and employee attitudes in supply chain firms located in an environment with ongoing terrorist threat. Implications for human resource management in supply chain firms and future directions for research are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on questionnaire data collected from 898 managers in Sri Lanka. Included in the paper are manufacturing and service firms that constitute integral parts of global supply chains such as garment and textile firms, software solutions firms, and import‐export trading firms. Correlation analysis is used to examine the relationship between variables.

Findings

The results generally indicate a statistically significant negative relationship between employee sensitivity to terrorism and employee attitudes toward the organization, team, and job. Results vary by sector and industry, with a comparatively strong negative association between employee sensitivity to terrorism and employee attitudes in the service sector, particularly among employees in import‐export trading firms.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to examine the relationship between terrorism and employee work attitudes in supply chain firms. While the direct effects of terrorism on the supply chain have been well documented, such as disruption to the physical distribution of goods, much less is known about the indirect effects of terrorism on supply chain performance.
Customer service in emergency relief chains
Authors: Oloruntoba Richard , Gray Richard
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore, analyse and discuss the published concepts of “the customer” and “customer service” in the context of managing international emergency relief chains.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a literature‐based approach that extends concepts usually applied in a commercial context to the area of humanitarian aid and emergency relief chains in particular.

Findings

Based on the most common associations of the terms in the literature, the paper proposes adopting a customer and customer‐service perspective in managing international emergency relief chains. An understanding of the various perspectives of customers described in this paper provides a starting point in the development of emergency relief chains that can deliver customer service and satisfaction to all concerned.

Practical implications

As managers of emergency relief chains strive to improve the performance of their organizations and supply chains in a highly challenging environment, the paper provides a useful and enhanced understanding of the roles that the “customer” and “customer service” play in their operations strategies. Although it is sometimes assumed that all participants in emergency relief chains are highly co‐operative, this is often not the case. Therefore, the concept of “humanitarian competitive advantage” is also presented to enable a better practical focus for managers of emergency relief chains.

Originality/value

The paper is believed to be the first to apply the terms “customer” and “customer service” systematically in a humanitarian context and thereby propose a customer service perspective in emergency relief chains.
Identifying challenges in humanitarian logistics
Authors: Kovács Gyöngyi , Spens Karen
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges of humanitarian logisticians with respect to different types of disasters, phases of disaster relief and the type of humanitarian organization. A conceptual model is constructed that serves as a basis to identify these challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a country as a case, namely Ghana. Structured and unstructured data are collected in a workshop with humanitarian logisticians, and complemented with presentations of humanitarian logisticians, as they perceive their challenges. Disaster statistics and country profiles are used as secondary data.

Findings

The paper shows that some disasters defy a categorization between natural and man‐made causes. Challenges of humanitarian logisticians depend not only on the disaster at hand, but also on the local presence of their organization. The most emphasized challenge is the coordination of logistical activities. Challenges can be managed better if attributing them to different stakeholder environments.

Research limitations/implications

Applying stakeholder theory to logistics, this paper provides a greater understanding for the challenges of humanitarian logisticians.

Practical implications

A stakeholder categorization of the challenges of humanitarian logisticians helps to find potential collaboration partners as well as to mitigate these challenges.

Originality/value

Humanitarian logistics is a rather new field in logistics literature. What is more, there is a lack of empirical cases in the field. This paper proposes a conceptual model based on an actual empirical case.
Light is the best antidote
Authors: Geary Joy M.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the difficulties that non‐bank reporting entities have in establishing a best practice risk‐based approach to their anti money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CTF) controls.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the experience of the author in working with non‐bank reporting entities in Australia on their implementation of AML/CTF risk‐based programs to meet the requirements of new laws.

Findings

Non bank reporting entities struggle to find data to use in their risk assessments and thus cannot easily formulate a risk‐based approach that will effectively reduce the risk of money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) using their products and services.

Practical implications

Financial intelligence units and AML/CTF regulators need to make more information available in a timely fashion to assist regulated entities to improve their risk‐based approach through a better understanding of the ML/TF risks their business face.

Originality/value

The paper draws on the current experience of new regulated entities not previously exposed to AML/CTF requirements. Regulators implementing risk‐based regimes should consider the issues raised when measuring the likely success of these regimes.
United States v. Santos: the US Supreme Court rewrites the money laundering statute
Authors: Cassella Stefan D.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inform an international audience of the difficulties prosecutors in the USA have encountered in light of a decision of the US Supreme Court limiting the application of the federal anti‐money laundering statute to cases where a criminal enterprise generated profits.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper summarizes the law in the USA regarding money laundering prosecutions before the decision in the United States v. Santos, outlines the decision of the Supreme Court, and organizes the post‐Santos case law into categories setting forth the divergent views of what the decision means and how it is to be applied.

Findings

The case law in the USA regarding money laundering prosecutions is now quite unsettled. Courts have taken different views as to whether the government must now prove that the funds being laundered by or on behalf of a criminal represent the profits of the criminal enterprise as opposed to its gross receipts.

Research limitations/implications

The case law on this issue continues to develop at a rapid pace. It is necessary to cut off the research on this issue to complete the paper, but the reader should be aware that new cases are being issued in rapid order.

Practical implications

Prosecutors in the USA now face several obstacles in bringing money launderers to justice. Decisions in closed cases may be reopened as defendants argue that their convictions are obtained under an incorrect view of the law. Going forward, prosecutors are uncertain whether the government must prove that a criminal enterprise is profitable before they can obtain a conviction for money laundering.

Originality/value

Prior to Santos, it is assumed that it is an offense to launder the gross receipts of a crime or criminal scheme. Santos cases grave doubt on that assumption, holding that in at least some cases, the laundering offense will apply only where the financial transaction involves the net profits of an offense. This is an object lesson in the confusion that can result from inartful legislative drafting. It also provides a guide to the current state of the law and suggests how prosecutors in the USA are dealing with the problem pending any legislative correction.
How effective are suspicious transaction reporting systems?
Authors: Chaikin David
Published: July 2009

Purpose

A fundamental element of international anti‐money laundering (AML) systems is the requirement that financial institutions file suspicious transaction reports (STRs) with financial intelligence units. Although the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has established global standards, there is a range of national laws, practices and experiences with STR systems. The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of national STR systems, by using Switzerland as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary source documentation, complemented by observations at FATF meetings, are relied on to evaluate STR systems.

Findings

The FATF ratings of a country's compliance with international standards are objective, expert driven and consistent in application, but are limited as performance measures in that they ignore the costs of AML and STR measures. The effectiveness of the Swiss STR system is questionable because of serious under reporting of suspicious transactions. The Swiss STR system is efficient to the extent that there is a high usage of STRs and that large amounts of money are automatically frozen under the mandatory reporting obligation.

Research limitations/implications

Evaluation of national STR systems is limited because of a lack of reliable statistics on the extent of money laundering.

Practical implications

This paper is addressed to policy makers who are concerned with assessing the effectiveness of STR systems. Future research would deal with STR systems in developing countries and the role of STRs in uncovering the financing of terrorism.

Originality/value

Insider/outsider description of the FATF mutual evaluation process. Compilation and interpretation of statistical data on STR systems, as performance measures.
Discussion on the role of epistemic community in Russian AML regime
Authors: Subbotina Natalya
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to open a theoretical discussion on the preventive anti‐money laundering (AML) regime, both international and domestic in Russia, building theoretical assumptions on the role of epistemic community in the AML network in Russia.

Design/methodology/approach

The discussion is based on the analysis of the preventive pillar of the AML regime in Russia. Cognitive (or knowledge‐based) approach is used to study domestic AML regime and to reveal the main reason of the network deficiencies in Russia.

Findings

The paper argues that the representatives of banking community in Russia should play the role of epistemic community to foster better understanding of the context and purposes of the AML regime, thus, decreasing uncertainty, facilitating cooperation between the stakeholders, and eventually having a great influence on the quality of the AML regulations elaborated by the policy makers.

Research limitations/implications

The paper limits its scope to the study of money laundering (ML) prevention focusing on the financial institutions – banks – which play the most important role in Russian AML network.

Practical implications

The paper reveals the roles of the main actors of Russian AML regime play. The ineffectiveness of the regime could be eased by increasing communication and cooperation between the stakeholders. The formal compliance approach used by the regulator in the financial sector supervision has not been effective and should be reviewed with the shift to the reasonable judgment approach used by both supervisor and financial institutions to prevent ML in Russia.

Originality/value

Studies of the peculiarities of the AML legislation implementation in different countries is one of the helpful tools to measure the efficiency of the global AML regime.
Concealing and disguising criminal property
Authors: Bell Evan
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The language in respect of the money laundering offence of concealing or disguising criminal property is drawn from various international conventions. It is therefore surprising, given the number of jurisdictions, which have incorporated that language into their domestic legislation, that more foreign case law is not used to interpret and properly apply these offences. The purpose of this paper is to rectify that position.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses case law from the USA, where there are frequent money laundering prosecutions, to throw light on the underlying concepts of the concealing or disguising offence and to provide examples of activity which may amount to its commission.

Findings

The offence of concealing or disguising criminal property is drafted in broad terms. Many of the issues, which have been explored in the US jurisprudence are likely also to arise in criminal proceedings in the UK.

Originality/value

The paper examines a number of issues, which have not yet been explored by the UK courts. It looks at the approach of the US courts to the differentiation between the mere spending of criminal proceeds and the spending, which is the doing of an act for the purpose of concealing proceeds. It looks at whether concealment must be intended by the defendant's actions or whether it is sufficient if it is an outcome of his actions. It considers how effective any concealment must be and explores the different attributes of criminal proceeds, which may be concealed.
Small amounts for big bangs? Rethinking responses to “low cost” terrorism
Authors: Acharya Arabinda
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to challenge the “myth” that terrorism is cheap and that terrorists are extremely efficient in how they use their money.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper makes a critical assessment of the “costs” involved in terrorist attacks and addresses the debate about how this affects the overall strategy against terrorist financing.

Findings

This paper argues that costs of terrorism are many and not limited to what is spent on an actual attack. Owing to military and financial counter‐measures, terrorists appear to have lost overall operational efficiency; they are no longer capable of carrying out large‐scale and complex operations like the September 2001 attacks.

Originality/value

Small amounts involved in carrying out a terrorist attack have led to the perception that terrorism is cheap and terrorist attacks can be inexpensively implemented. This has undermined the global and national efforts to counter the financing of terrorism (CFT). This paper is an attempt to persuade the stakeholders in the CFT community that targeting terrorist financing has been and must remain one of the most important fronts in the war against terrorism.
Section 311 Patriot Act
Authors: Bosworth‐Davies Rowan
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an alternative opinion on the current debate on Iran and its place in the world, while seeking to avoid unnecessary dogma or propaganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a pure opinion paper and has not been designed as a methodological research paper.

Findings

The findings are entirely subjective and are the sole opinion of the author.

Practical implications

The practical implications are to stimulate a debate over the use of specific legal powers possessed by the USA, and the way in which they are used.

Originality/value

The paper is an entirely original piece of work by the author and its value or worth must be determined by the reader.
Innovation ecology as a precursor to entrepreneurial growth
Authors: Griffiths Mark D. , Gundry Lisa , Kickul Jill , Muñoz Fernandez Angeles
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the governmental, economic, and technological factors contributing to a country's innovation ecology that have an impact on sustainable economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates governmental, economic, and technological supports that comprise the innovation ecology of 34 nations using ordinary least squares, discriminant analysis, and mediated regression. It is proposed that the strength of a country's innovation ecology is associated with greater sustainable entrepreneurial growth opportunities. Innovation indicators and trend analyses were collected from Eurostat Yearbook 2007, Science and Technology, and Global Financial Data over the 1995‐2005 period.

Findings

The results reveal that while the influence of government and the economic environment encourage innovation ecology, having resources at the research and development levels, human capital, and early seed funding were key indicators of innovation. The greater the degree of research and development, the availability of a highly skilled labor force, and the amount of private and public venture capital funding, the more likely it is that a strong national innovation ecology will emerge leading to the creation of new business ideas and growth opportunities.

Originality/value

The results contribute to the understanding of the significant role of innovation investment for new business development and growth.
Capabilities in small high‐tech firms: a case of plural‐entrepreneurship
Authors: Burger‐Helmchen Thierry
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the issue of evaluating the innovative/entrepreneurial capabilities of small firms in high‐technology industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken is a literature review and case study.

Findings

The contribution of the paper is twofold: in the first part, it is tried to distinguish the different forms of entrepreneurship existing. This leads to determine a form of entrepreneurship, plural entrepreneurship, that is typical in high‐tech start‐ups. In the second part, it is then tried to evaluate the innovative/entrepreneurial capabilities of a firm in such a framework. This is based on a longitudinal case study of a high‐tech start‐up where we explore how different dimensions of entrepreneurship coexist and interplay to create a firm's innovative dynamics depending on its initial resources and those added during the firm's growth.

Originality/value

The paper is an original attempt to distinguish different notions of entrepreneurship including the notion of plural‐entrepreneurship and capabilities in a small enterprise.
Organizations that are international from inception
Authors: Svensson Göran , Payan Janice M.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the terminology used by various constellations of researchers concerning the formation of organizations that are international from inception, present conceptual and definitional attributes of the phenomena of interest, and propose common terminology, and conceptual framework to use in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review is undertaken that compares research terminology used by different streams of research and different constellations of researchers referring to a new organization that intends be international from the beginning of its creation.

Findings

Two principal findings may be stressed: there are constellations of labels used to describe essentially the same phenomena of organizations that are international at their inception, and there are constellations of researchers that use their own unique labels in this field. Provocatively, the authors question whether these findings are due to “academic protectionism” between the constellations or “academic myopia” (i.e. inability to appreciate the literature's terminology between constellations). It is proposed that the terms used in this field of research should be collapsed into another recent concept introduced and defined in literature, namely “early internationalizing firms.”

Research limitations/implications

A conceptual framework of “early internationalizing firms” is outlined. It suggests this concept is more beneficial and appropriate than the concepts using traditional terminology such as: “international new ventures” and “born globals.” It is argued that the “early internationalizing firms” concept is more descriptive of the actual phenomena and explicitly considers the crucial short timeframe involved in the process of internationalization of firms.

Practical implications

The label “early internationalizing firms” may be easier to communicate in practice than some of the current labels used in literature. It emphasizes the practical imperatives of simultaneous localization and globalization, and planning at several levels (i.e. operative, tactical, and strategic levels) in a short timeframe.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that “early internationalizing firms” is more descriptive of the phenomena of interest and should be used in the field. It contributes to the literature by presenting a broadened more useful framework in describing the phenomena of interest. In specific, it takes into account short timeframes and both the globalization and localization aspects of the phenomena.
Incentives to export for Australian export market ventures
Authors: Julian Craig C. , Yunus Ali M.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact that various incentives to export have on the export marketing performance of Australian export market ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an empirical investigation of firms involved in exporting to foreign countries from Australia. The sample of firms came from a wide cross section of industries. The list of firms comprising the sample is provided by a state government department.

Findings

The paper indicates that the export marketing performance of Australian export market ventures is positively influenced by the export incentive of the chance to diversify into new markets.

Research limitations/implications

From a methodological perspective, a potential concern may be that the measures are all self‐reported. Consequently, the relationships tested may be susceptible to the influence of common method variance.

Practical implications

The importance of diversifying into new markets is identified. Management should consider taking international expansion opportunities because a pre‐occupation with the domestic market can make local firms vulnerable to other growth‐oriented foreign firms and economies of scale via increased productive capacity can assist in reducing the costs of production thereby enabling firms to be more competitive in the global market as well as in the firm's own domestic market.

Originality/value

A major contribution of this paper is that it validates a measure for examining the different incentives to export. Furthermore, it examines the relationship between incentives to export and export marketing performance identifying the chance to diversify into new markets as the key predictor of export marketing performance.
Knowledge management in law firm business
Authors: Gottschalk Petter , Terje Karlsen Jan
Published: July 2009

Purpose

To support knowledge work by lawyers, law firms have implemented knowledge management systems. This paper aims to present a stage model for knowledge management technology (KMT) in law firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The four stages are lawyer‐to‐technology, lawyer‐to‐lawyer, lawyer‐to‐information and lawyer‐to‐application, respectively. An exploratory empirical study is carried out in law firms in Norway to determine their stage of KMT.

Findings

Most surveyed law firms are at the third stage of what‐they‐know systems with lawyer‐to‐information applications.

Research limitations/implications

The path of evolution through stages of growth connot not be verified with the collected survey data.

Originality/value

Law firms are undergoing significant changes. They are emerging as knowledge organizations in the legal knowledge business. Knowledge is their strategic resource that must be managed to achieve profitable growth. Since knowledge resides predominantly in the heads of individuals, recruitment and development of lawyers is critical for success in law firms.
Investigating the e‐CRM activities of Irish SMEs
Authors: Harrigan Paul , Ramsey Elaine , Ibbotson Patrick
Published: July 2009

Purpose

Relationship marketing principles have seldom been applied to the small‐ and medium‐sized enterprise (SME). The purpose of this paper is to develop what is a striking link by presenting empirical evidence on the role of internet technologies in the customer relationship management activities of Irish SMEs. More specifically, this is a comparative study investigating electronic‐customer relationship management (e‐CRM) in international and domestic firms. The nature and role of e‐CRM is assessed, the strategies behind e‐CRM delineated, and the ensuing benefits and challenges revealed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper has an exploratory outlook and a quantitative approach to data collection is adopted to facilitate broad classification in an under researched area. A self‐completion questionnaire is distributed to a sample of 1,445 SMEs. A response rate of 20 per cent is obtained, providing 286 usable responses. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed using SPSS.

Findings

The findings of this paper confirm that SMEs are implementing fundamental e‐CRM practices. Those firms serving international markets tend to place greater emphasis on e‐CRM and are reaping greater benefits. Benefits range from enhanced customer service, reduced business cost, increased sales, and improved profitability. Challenges are few, but centre on a preference for face‐to‐face relationships and a lack of government support.

Practical implications

It is hoped that this exploratory research has laid the foundation for further examination of e‐CRM in the SME context. Future research will add explanation through in‐depth qualitative methods, while the potential exists to replicate the study in other countries. The authors conclude that e‐CRM can and must move on to a more strategic and integrated level if SMEs in Ireland are to compete both locally and globally.

Originality/value

This paper has shed light on the marginalised subject of e‐CRM in SMEs. For SMEs operating in a peripheral economy such as Ireland, the benefits to be gained from e‐CRM are lucrative. SMEs viewing their market beyond national borders are using e‐CRM to achieve a range of business benefits. The quantitative methodology adopted has provided an exploratory, yet solid, insight into an important area for academics and practitioners.
Performance of microenterprises in Ghana: a resource‐based view
Authors: Masakure Oliver , Henson Spencer , Cranfield John
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the financial performance of microenterprises in Ghana by applying the resource‐based theory of the firm. Specifically, it is tested that if firm‐specific resources dominate sector and market‐wide effects in explaining microenterprise performance, as suggested by the resource‐based theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The relevant literature for both microenterprise performance and the resource‐based theory is reviewed. Data from the 1998/1999 Ghana Living Standards Survey are analysed using ordinary least squares, followed by robustness checks.

Findings

Factors embodied in firm‐specific resources jointly impact enterprise performance. However, sector/market factors also play a role, suggesting that the interaction between microenterprise, sector, and market factors helps explain enterprise performance.

Research limitations/implications

All the constructs of the resource‐based theory cannot be tested due to data limitations.

Originality/value

Small enterprises play a key role in promoting developing country growth, but no study has evaluated microenterprise performance using this particular data set and the resource‐based theory of the firm. Future research should focus on collecting data to further validate this theory.
To grow or not? Growing small service firms
Authors: Kirkwood Jodyanne
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether entrepreneurs realised their growth aspirations for their service sector businesses after five years. Growth in sales turnover and employee numbers is explored, as well as entrepreneurs' perspectives of how they achieved growth (or why they did not). There have been few examples of longitudinal research which compares entrepreneurs' growth aspirations with actual growth, and fewer still that focus on service businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

Twenty‐six entrepreneurs are interviewed in New Zealand in 2001 and re‐interviewed in 2006. Face‐to‐face interviews are used in the first instance, and the follow‐up interview is conducted by telephone.

Findings

Twenty‐one entrepreneurs aspired growth in terms of either sales or employees (most aspired growth in both). The majority achieved growth in sales through having a good reputation, attention to customer service, diversification and employing good staff. Fewer entrepreneurs achieved their aspired growth in employee numbers, due to difficulties in employing and managing staff, skill shortages and a tight labour market. Findings support prior research that show if an entrepreneur chooses to grow his or her business it is likely that growth will actually occur.

Research limitations/implications

This qualitative sample of 26 entrepreneurs is relatively small, but allows for an in‐depth look at the growth process. Implications for policy makers are presented.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper contribute to the growth aspirations' literature, and narrow the focus to service sector firms particularly. The qualitative approach also provides a new lens through which to understand more about the growth process from the entrepreneurs' perspective.
Schumpeterian versus Kirznerian entrepreneurship
Authors: Roininen Sari , Ylinenpää Håkan
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify how different modes of resource configuration, entry strategy and product/market characteristics affect new ventures' start‐up processes as well as outcomes in terms of firm growth and revenues.

Design/methodology/approach

Case studies of three academic spin‐offs and three non‐academic new ventures are employed as a base for analytical generalisation.

Findings

Non‐academic ventures and academic spin‐offs have different bases for their venture creation and follow different strategies to enter their specific markets. Academic spin‐offs are to a larger extent innovative, product‐oriented and enter their target markets employing a technology/science‐push strategy, which requires considerable resources and partner cooperation to manage. The non‐academic ventures, on the contrary, exploit emerging opportunities on the market through a market‐pull strategy relying mainly on offerings already known to the market and building on their own, in‐house resources.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should benefit from investigating factors and conditions affecting different ventures' start‐up process by utilizing qualitative, in‐depth approaches as well as quantitative approaches and a more robust database.

Practical implications

Venture creation processes are not uniform but dependent on situational and contextual factors. Overall, academic spin‐offs come forward as examples of Schumpeterian entrepreneurship characterised by exploration and innovation, while the more “Kirznerian” and non‐academic start‐ups primarily recognise and exploit upcoming market opportunities based on resources they control. The results highlight challenges for nascent entrepreneurs as well as for policy makers supporting new venture creation.

Originality/value

A comparison highlighting critical events, resource configurations and environmental conditions of different start‐up processes depending on the new ventures' origin.
A resource‐based view of micro‐firm management practice
Authors: Kelliher Felicity , Reinl Leana
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a resource‐based approach for exploring micro‐firm management practice, as informed by the relevant literature. Specifically, the paper analyses available literature and catalogues micro‐firm and managerial competence criteria in pursuit of managerial insights in this environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review precedes the conceptualisation of micro‐firm management practice.

Findings

Literary findings suggest that, considering micro‐firms' internal resource constraints, minimal environmental power, and owner‐centred culture, it is vital for these organisations to embed their valuable resource in their core business strategy, to ensure survival in the longer term. Furthermore, there is an assumption that knowledge must be used optimally within the micro‐firm by developing the analytical and critical skills of individuals, groups and the entire organisation so as to sustain and grow these firms' competitive advantage. Having identified and catalogued a range of factors that impact micro‐firms, the authors propose a “resource taxonomy of micro‐firm management practice”, which establishes factor interaction and the interrelationships between each resource in this environment. The purpose of this taxonomy is to assist in the analysis of management practices in the micro‐firm milieu.

Research limitations/implications

The authors go on to discuss taxonomy implications for micro‐firm training policy and propose further exploration of micro‐firm management practice and resource‐based research in this environment.

Originality/value

Academic research, which focuses specifically on the micro‐firm, has historically been rare, despite multiple calls to study these firms in their own right. By proffering a “resource taxonomy of micro‐firm management practice”, the authors seek to inform this neglected research area.