bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green organizational identity: sources and consequence
Authors: Chen Yu‐Shan
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This study aims to develop an original framework of green organizational identity to explore the positive effects of environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership on green competitive advantage through the partial mediator – green organizational identity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes an original concept – green organizational identity – to develop an integral framework to enhance green competitive advantage. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is applied to verify the research framework.

Findings

The results showed that environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership are positively associated with green organizational identity and green competitive advantage. Green organizational identity had a partial mediation effect on the positive relationships between two antecedents – environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership – and green competitive advantage. Companies should enhance their environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership to raise their green organizational identity and further to increase their green competitive advantage. Furthermore, this study found that environmental organizational culture, environmental leadership, green organizational identity, and green competitive advantage of medium and small enterprises (SMEs) were all significantly less than those of large enterprises in the manufacturing industry in Taiwan.

Practical implications

It is imperative for SMEs to enhance their environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership to strengthen their green organizational identity and further to improve their green competitive advantage.

Originality/value

This study applies the theory of organizational identity to propose a novel concept – green organizational identity – and develops an integral conceptual model to explore its managerial implications, antecedents, and consequence.
Storytelling in reputation management: the case of Nashua Mobile South Africa
Authors: Mittins Merlyn , Abratt Russell , Christie Peter
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine how and to what extent corporate reputational elements are reflected in organizational storytelling in a telecommunications company. In addition, it seeks to establish the importance of employees as part of reputation building.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a case approach, this paper examines storytelling in a branch of a well‐known South African telecommunications service provider, Nashua Mobile. The staff went through in‐depth interviews.

Findings

Many different stories were told about Nashua and other organisations to illustrate an idea or concept. There was a mixture of negative and positive, funny and serious stories that, although contrary, are the sum of the personality, culture, image or heritage of Nashua. The emphasis of the values that the stories revealed determined the more important cultural beliefs. This does have an influence on the firm's identity, corporate brand and reputation.

Practical implications

The more stories are shared, the more in‐tune with employees' needs, ideas, behaviour and concerns management can be. Management can only benefit by a process where staff collaborate and share their views. It is an important tool that should be used for organizational communication.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers that links storytelling to corporate reputation. It recognises the key role employees play in building and influencing the reputation of an organisation.
Differences in knowledge acquisition mechanisms between IJVs with Western vs Japanese parents
Authors: Il Park Byung
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The main objective of this study is as follows: while “knowledge acquisition in international joint ventures (IJVs)” has been widely in the limelight, the question of whether learning mechanisms in IJVs with Western vs Japanese parents are different has not yet been answered. In order to fill the current gap in the literature, this research seeks to answer the question by focusing on the absorptive capacity perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were obtained by survey. A total of 1,207 questionnaires were posted to the CEOs of IJVs in Korea and 288 were returned, 42 of which were unusable, thus giving a response rate of 20.38 percent.

Findings

By using OLS regressions, two key findings are reported. First, the importance of absorptive capacity of IJVs in order to acquire foreign technology from parent firms is confirmed. Second, the results indicate that IJVs with Japanese multinational firms do not show different patterns of technology acquisition compared with IJVs with Western firms. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the learning mechanisms facilitating technology acquisition in IJVs is not highly influenced by foreign origins.

Originality/value

To reiterate, “knowledge acquisition in IJVs” has been widely in the limelight. However, no one has empirically analyzed the distinctions in learning mechanisms in IJVs with Western vs Japanese parents. This research contributes to the current literature by confirming the minimal substantial difference between them.
Inter‐firm market orientation as antecedent of knowledge transfer, innovation and value creation in networks
Authors: Cambra‐Fierro Jesús , Florin Juan , Perez Lourdes , Whitelock Jeryl
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a framework for clarifying and extending the concept of inter‐firm market orientation (IMO) and to complement the relatively small body of literature related to this concept.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual framework is informed by empirical research based on a longitudinal multi‐case study.

Findings

This research identifies a nexus linking IMO with value creation in inter‐firm partnerships. The findings also suggest that IMO has an impact on companies' performance in terms of knowledge transfer, innovation and market access.

Research limitations/implications

IMO contributes to value creation processes in the context of strategic networks.

Originality/value

A discussion of these findings, together with implications for practice and proposals for further research, is provided.
Looking for the value of mission statements: a meta‐analysis of 20 years of research
Authors: Desmidt Sebastian , Prinzie Anita , Decramer Adelien
Published: March 2011

Purpose

After two decades of research, the effect of a mission statement on an organization's performance is still unclear. In order to address these shortcomings, a research project via the setting‐up of this paper seeks to identify all empirical studies addressing the mission statement‐financial performance relation, analyze how the mission statement‐financial performance relation is operationalized, and aggregate the findings of the identified studies by means of a meta‐analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review procedure was developed to identify all relevant articles and meta‐analytic procedures were used to calculate the effect size of the selected studies.

Findings

The study results indicate a small positive relation between mission statements and measures of financial organizational performance. However, additional analyses indicated that interstudy differences in measures significantly influenced the estimates (population effect sizes of the created subsamples ranged from 0.0808 to 0.4100).

Research limitations/implications

These contradictive findings stress the importance and impact of operationalization decisions in mission statement‐performance research, and provide paths for future practice‐oriented research.

Originality/value

This study is the first to assess the performance impact of one of the most popular management instruments, namely mission statements, by means of meta‐analytical techniques and, to evaluate the moderation effect of operationalization decisions on the cited relationship. Furthermore, by aggregating research on the mission statement‐performance relationship, a knowledge base was devised which provides normative advice on the characteristics of a “good” mission statement.
Human resource management and corporate entrepreneurship
Authors: Montoro‐Sánchez Ángeles , Ribeiro Soriano Domingo
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to introduce the special issue on “Human resource management and corporate entrepreneurship”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discuses the articles in the special issue, which investigate the relationships between human resource management and entrepreneurship from different points of view, approaches and employing different empirical contexts.

Findings

The papers highlight different human resource management factors of entrepreneurial behaviour and their influence on corporate entrepreneurship. Results from different empirical contexts as small and medium‐size firms, case studies, joint ventures, in the USA, China, and Spain, among others, make important contributions to the previous literature.

Originality/value

The paper discusses the intersection and association between human resource management and corporate entrepreneurship. Human resources play an essential role in so far as they can encourage or hinder corporate entrepreneurship.
Human resource management in entrepreneurial firms: a literature review
Authors: Dabić Marina , Ortiz‐De‐Urbina‐Criado Marta , Romero‐Martínez Ana M.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to review the literature on human resource management (HRM) in entrepreneurial firms. Given the importance of human resource management for entrepreneurship, the purpose of this paper is to determine how far this line of research has progressed and what areas are still pending study.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper has a three‐part structure. First, the paper describes the published works. Second, it examines the topics dealt with in the literature. Third, the review identifies the limitations of the literature and outlines future lines of research for this field.

Findings

Most papers that deal with HRM and entrepreneurship together are empirical and have been published since 2000. Comprehensive and rigorous theoretical models that relate both areas do not exist.

Originality/value

The paper helps scholars orient their research in human resource management in entrepreneurial firms by providing them with a better understanding of the direction in which the field is going and what gaps remain.
Entrepreneurial success and human resources
Authors: Peris Bonet Fernando , Rueda Armengot Carlos , Ángel Galindo Martín Miguel
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to determine factors that have an influence on human resource management and entrepreneurial success in the context of European innovative small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A primary test questionnaire was tested with 50 Spanish entrepreneurs. The feedback from this study was used to improve the survey for a final test. Multivariate regression analysis was used to differentiate the factors that allow the explanation of the variables to be studied and factors that, a priori, seem to be the most relevant in explaining entrepreneurial success.

Findings

The study allows the determination of what factors make the European entrepreneur successful on his or her business.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations are the sample used in the study and the magnitude used to analyse entrepreneurial success. Future research on the topic of the paper can develop and qualify the variables used.

Originality/value

European innovative small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are analysed from countries belonging to the European Union to determine the factors that have an influence on human resource management and entrepreneurial success. The results of the paper serve as a tool to develop a model to predict relevant factors of entrepreneurial activity and which have implications for development policy makers and for entrepreneurs.
Utilitarianism or romanticism: the effect of rewards on employees' innovative behaviour
Authors: Zhou Yu , Zhang Yingying , Montoro‐Sánchez Ángeles
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to empirically explore the relationship between human resource rewards management and innovative behaviours, particularly between the utilitarianism and romanticism reward approaches and employee creativity in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a quantitative approach. After analysing construct validity and reliability, the study empirically tests its hypotheses by performing a multi‐regression analysis with a sample of 216 individuals.

Findings

The study reaches three main conclusions. First, tangible extrinsic rewards affect the innovative behaviour of employees in an “inverse‐U” shape. Second, intrinsic motivations have a substantially positive impact on the innovative behaviour of employees. And third, extrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivations have positive interaction effects on individual creativity at the workplace.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the theoretical battle between the utilitarianism and the romanticism perspective of human resource reward approaches toward employees' creativity. Based on examination of the main effects of monetary incentives and intrinsic reward practices respectively, the study highlights a complementary view to explore a positive interaction between the two reward configurations, and to exploit a total reward system for facilitating individual innovative behaviours.
From top management to entrepreneurship: women's next move?
Authors: Knörr Helena
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide better understanding of women's career advancement to top management and their future aspirations to become entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is qualitative research hermeneutic phenomenology.

Findings

Women's career experiences predisposed them to find an alternate route, entrepreneurship, despite having achieved top management.

Research limitations/implications

Understanding factors that successfully contribute to the development of women entrepreneurs from a career development perspective is a critical endeavor for any type of organization. This qualitative research is limited to US for‐profit organizations.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is that it provides a unique way to look at the career development for women from those who reached top management and their motivations to become entrepreneurs.
The role of entrepreneurs in transferring knowledge through human resource management and joint venture
Authors: del Mar Benavides‐Espinosa María , Roig‐Dobón Salvador
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The transfer of knowledge is a source of competitive advantage, and in particular, transfer between organisations through cooperation between firms via a joint venture. This paper aims to discuss some of the issues

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses were contrasted via a structural equation model using a sample of 74 firms, 51 of which were Spanish and 23 from the rest of the world, which had recently cooperated.

Findings

The authors address the question of the positive influence of employees on knowledge transfer. They do not influence the process. Second, the authors propose the influence of intermediate management on knowledge transfer. These managers play a very relevant role. However, with regard to the influence proposed of high‐level managers, the authors find that they do not play a relevant role as this type of process.

Research limitations/implications

The authors carried out an in‐depth review of the literature that reveals that few studies either theoretically or empirically address this question. They begin with the idea that organisational knowledge is the basis of business today. Not all organisations have all the knowledge they need to carry out their strategies.

Originality/value

The role of HR is an essential element in order to be able to carry out interorganisational transfer. The authors consider how the degree of involvement of resources positively influences knowledge transfer. It is important to develop adequate HR policies for fomenting transfer, especially motivating staff by fostering the development and exploitation of knowledge transfer.
How entrepreneurial actions transform customer capital through time
Authors: Wensley Anthony K.P. , Gabriel Cegarra‐Navarro Juan , Cepeda‐Carrión Gabriel , Genaro Leal Millán Antonio
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Today, in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs must take a more strategic perspective that is evidenced by the need to scan the enterprise to discover how they might improve customer relations as well as promote improved entrepreneurial actions. The paper aims to focus on this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the impact of the existence of an “open‐minded context” in an organisation at time (T) on actions that concern the challenging of entrepreneurial actions at time (T+1). It also examines the relationship between explorative and exploitation processes and customer relations. These relationships are examined through an empirical investigation of data obtained from 107 SMEs from the Spanish telecommunications industry, using partial least squares (PLS).

Findings

The results indicate that the effects of an “open‐minded context” at time (T) on customer relations at time (T+1) are mediated through the existence of explorative and exploitation knowledge processes at time (T+1).

Research limitations/implications

Practices which may be based on explicit knowledge or on tacit knowledge in the form of processes and routines need to be challenged prior to the adoption of new knowledge by the organisation. In such situations, it will be necessary to modify or even delete some knowledge in order to ensure that employees have access to the up‐to‐date explorative and exploitative knowledge processes necessary to maintain or enhance customer relations.

Practical implications

In situations where organisations and their members face rapidly changing environments it is necessary to challenge the entrepreneurial actions which have been derived from the founding entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The paper examines how the nature and existence of an open‐mindedness context is linked to the nature and existence of knowledge exploration and exploitation processes enacted by the workforce of an organisation.
Improving the performance review process
Authors: Farris Jennifer A. , van Aken Eileen M. , Letens Geert , Chearksul Pimsinee , Coleman Garry
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and illustrate an application of a structured approach to assess and improve an organization's performance measurement review process.

Design/methodology/approach

This approach was implemented within an ongoing action research project in a large telecommunications organization. Assessment elements were defined based on literature review, and the assessment approach was designed based on performance excellence frameworks such as Baldrige and EFQM. Data collection included interviews, observations, and document review, and an external assessment team was used.

Findings

The approach can be used to generate useful and actionable feedback for leadership to increase the effectiveness of the performance measurement review process and can also be used as a reference framework for establishing an effective performance review process initially.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive yet detailed methodology for assessing the performance review process. This methodology is more targeted in scope than measurement system assessment tools emerging in the literature. Practitioners can gain specific feedback to improve the performance review process. Researchers benefit by having a more standard, structured approach for collecting and codifying detailed observations and artifacts when studying the performance review process.
Journal ranking analyses of operations management research
Authors: Petersen Charles G. , Aase Gerald R. , Heiser Daniel R.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Several published studies have ranked journals based on perceived quality according to operations management (OM) researchers. The purpose of this paper is to examine the ranking of journals for OM research using meta analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The study begins by using a meta‐analysis approach to combine results of five recent OM journal ranking studies. A new citation analysis using OM research articles published in International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Journal of Operations Management, and Production and Operations Management between 1999 and 2005 is presented.

Findings

Results of the meta‐analysis and the citation analysis have many similarities, but there are some striking differences suggesting the evolution of OM research away from operations research and engineering. The results also illustrate the diversity of OM research ranging from analytical modeling to empirical studies influenced by other business disciplines and the behavioral sciences.

Originality/value

This is the first time meta‐analysis has been used to examine the ranking of journals for OM research. This research also provides a current citation analysis of the OM field for the first time in over a decade. While the results of these two analyses show some similarities with many of the same journals, there are some marked differences that may support the notion of an evolving OM field.
An institutional theory perspective on Six Sigma adoption
Authors: Braunscheidel Michael J. , Hamister James W. , Suresh Nallan C. , Star Harold
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is, first, to utilize institutional theory to assess motivation for the adoption of Six Sigma. Second, to examine the role of an organization's innovation implementation climate and the fit between the innovation considered and the values of the organization's members on the implementation of Six Sigma. Third, to study the impact that the adoption and implementation of Six Sigma has on organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Methods advocated in case study research were employed in the conduct of seven case studies. The research protocol consisted of identifying organizations in a variety of manufacturing industries, and conducting focused interviews with a minimum of three respondents in each company in order to improve validity.

Findings

This paper suggests that institutional theory proves to be an effective means by which to examine the adoption of Six Sigma. In addition, support for innovation implementation model suggested by Klein and Sorra is found. Each of the studied firms reported performance improvements as a result of the adoption and implementation of Six Sigma.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to a better understanding of Six Sigma adoption, implementation, and implementation effectiveness of Six Sigma by exploring how it is applied in different manufacturing contexts.
Sustainable procurement in the public sector: an international comparative study
Authors: Brammer Stephen , Walker Helen
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Public bodies are being encouraged to procure sustainably, to reduce their social and environmental footprint and in order to stimulate sustainability in the private sector. However, little is known about how public sector organisations internationally are responding to this encouragement or of the conditions that are most conducive to sustainable procurement (SP). The purpose of this paper is to address these gaps in our knowledge so as to inform policy development at the government and organisational levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors report the findings of a survey of SP practices within a sample of over 280 public procurement practitioners from 20 countries and with collective responsibility for expenditure totalling $45bn p.a.

Findings

The authors' analysis shows that some SP practices are evident in public sector procurement practice and that the extent and nature of SP practices varies significantly across regions. In addition, the authors highlight the main facilitators of, and barriers to, engagement with SP and investigate their importance for engagement with particular dimensions of SP.

Research limitations/implications

Survey respondents are volunteers and may to some degree be more interested in, or engaged with, SP than other public sector organisations. The analysis is cross‐sectional and therefore provides only a snapshot of SP practice in the public sector organisations studied.

Practical implications

The paper identifies how policy and practice in SP vary across regions, providing practical insights into whether and how government policies are being implemented around the world.

Originality/value

The paper provides the first systematic and comprehensive insight into how public bodies are implementing SP internationally and of the major situational factors that are shaping engagement with SP. The authors evaluate the current effectiveness of policy initiatives regarding SP and highlight the organisational catalysts and inhibitors of greater involvement in SP.
The use and abuse of storytelling in organizations
Authors: Carr Adrian N. , Cheryl Ann Cheryl Ann
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the manner in which storytelling has become an increasingly common part of management development, and to highlight some of the use and abuse of storytelling as a management development tool.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an initial warning about the way storytelling is being used, particularly by management and leadership coaches, questioning whether the term “storytelling” is an appropriate term to use for what is occurring. The notion of “storyselling” is introduced in such a context and, in so doing, stimulates critical reflection about storytelling. A summary of key ideas of other papers is also presented to assist the reader in better understanding the broader trajectories contained in the papers as a whole.

Findings

Many are now starting to question practical guidance that is emerging from organization and management literature. Multiple paradigms have yielded not complementary perspectives on management problems, but less than unambiguous voices and guidance. Storytelling has become increasingly popular because it fills a void left by the current state of the organization and management literature. The practical guidance that “preaches” how an approach worked for others in similar situations makes storytelling a big business. Often wrapped up in the rhetoric of management and leadership coaching, storytelling becomes a core educative tool – a tool that this paper, and volume, suggests needs to be carefully examined.

Originality/value

The paper, and the volume as a whole, represents an opportunity for readers to join with the authors in a reflexive consideration of storytelling. The paper and volume also represent a cautionary note to those who rely upon what is dubbed “storytelling” as a core educative tool.
Power and the tale: coaching as storyselling
Authors: Reissner Stefanie C. , Du Toit Angélique
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to propose, discuss and evaluate a four‐stage model of storyselling and its accompanying power dynamics, which are at the heart of coaching in organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is informed by a social constructionist view of coaching.

Findings

The conceptualisation of the coaching process as a series of storyselling activities highlights the power of storytelling to facilitate management development through coaching on the one hand and the potential for manipulation and abuse on the other.

Research limitations/implications

The application of storytelling in organisational coaching as well as the darker and manipulative side of storyselling in the coaching process and relationships should inform future research into these important phenomena.

Practical implications

An analysis of the complex nature of the dynamics of coaching and the multi‐layered nature of the relationship between coach, organisation and coachee will be of benefit to practising coaches, purchasers and recipients of coaching as well as researchers interested in coaching.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in the exploration of the relatively new concept of storyselling and accompanying power dynamics in an organisational coaching context.
Narrating around
Authors: Rudolf Céline Basten Florence Maria
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The learning history is designed to describe the coming about of best practices, with their reproduction in mind. This paper seeks to discuss the implications of this instrument and presents a modified version.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a so‐called discursive learning history to zoom in on the interaction between a convergent, official, organisational narrative on the one hand, and people acting according to their own stories on the other.

Findings

Narrative structures help to create an inner logic that helps people to make sense of their organisation. An example is the battlefield metaphor identified in an academic business school.

Research implications

It is not easy to create a comprehensive whole out of a multitude of small, often ill‐aligned contributions. To tackle this problem, the author adjusts the method of the learning history for it to allow analysis of discursive practices.

Practical implications

With this instrument, managers can identify patterns in the complexity of their organisations and understand what seems irrational at first sight.

Social implications

In organisations there is a continuous tendency to create one line into this complexity. This can be disciplining and therewith can provoke all kinds of undesired behaviours.

Originality/value

It is often assumed that one can learn from history. Looking at the past and reconstructing what happened during a significant event seems an ideal way to create the coherent plot one feels comfortable with and learn from for the future. A discursive learning history shows there is more to organisations then meets the eye.
Unravelling sutured stories: coaching NHS managers out from under the quilt
Authors: Conroy Mervyn
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to show how storytelling and MacIntyre's virtue ethics theoretical schema can inform a new approach to management development and coaching. It also highlights the potentially collusive nature of a coaching relationship where there is an absence of broader research‐based input.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach has three stages: first, to sample what it means to lead reform implementation through managers' stories; second, to view those stories as passing on or coaching others in the virtues of the institution; third, to suggest an alternative approach to coaching which includes deepening managers' understanding about conflicting moral traditions, ideologies and discourses that often feature in their stories of change.

Findings

The capability to find a way through multiple and conflicting change initiatives appears to be enhanced when managers gain a deeper understanding of the antecedents of the different ideologies at play. It is argued that without the research input and stimulus to understand what is behind change policy, coaching could be submitting to disciplinary power (Foucault, 1980) where both coach and coachee are implicated in a collusive perpetuation of what Žižek calls a “narrative quilting of heterogeneous material into a unified ideological field”.

Originality/value

One suggested avenue for management development and coaching would be to build further on MacIntyre's notion that it is sometimes only through conflict that we learn what our ends and purposes are, with the question, “Of what [wider] conflicts is [my conflict] the scene?” (adapted from MacIntyre).
Interactive media: image storytelling
Authors: van Boeschoten Robert
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the influence of the technology on storytelling in an organisational setting. How do we tell each other stories in projects with digital images, and how can we convince others in this project about our way of looking at things? Images represent stories and in this context are collages of pictures and words based on digital technology. To be convincing as a storyteller requires people to be in touch with themselves through this technology, as if their imagination is the ground for the whole project.

Design/methodology/approach

From contemporary literature, different notions can be found that explore the impact of digital technology on work processes. Based on this literature, notions around storytelling and project work are related to change in the organisation. The question for the author in this case is about imagination as a form of storytelling. Are people still in touch with the project through the representation by techno images, or are they hallucinating about their own prospects, projecting a future over which they have little control?

Findings

The practices of interactive media organisations are studied as part of identifying storytelling based on images.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is based on literature studies and its findings need to be explored in a real‐life setting.

Practical implications

The consequences of technical images to storytelling can be used to widen the impact of storytelling as research discipline.

Originality/value

The application of Flusser's theory in the field of organisation studies opens up possibilities for exploring imagination in a philosophical/technological way.
Inside outside leadership development: coaching and storytellingpotential
Authors: Cheryl Ann Cheryl Ann , Carr Adrian N.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

In this paper, the authors act as leadership development coaches who show that how a story is constructed, reconstructed and circulated in and through organizations make stories themselves active “players” in creating relationships. In turn, these relationships create leadership development opportunities. The authors also explain why some people need tolistento the whole story before they can draw conclusions about its parts, about why some people do not care about others', stories and about why some storytellers do not care about the characters in the story. The combination of these characteristics gives a more detailed view of storyselling that, necessarily, works with storytelling as tools used in coaching for leadership development. The purpose of the paper is to describe further the origins of storytelling and storyselling and their relationship to leadership development coaching, and to demonstrate how the movement of a story told and sold create leadership development opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is informed by a psychodynamic understanding of organizations and examines a case study to illustrate the theoretical views that are advanced.

Findings

The employment of sociograms is found to be a useful way to chart and understand the relational dynamics of stories as quasi‐objects and their fragile and ephemeral nature. The authors find that stories can be usefully considered as both quasi and transitional objects.

Research limitations/implications

Psychodynamic theory informs the process of storytelling and storyselling. The implied art of storytelling and storyselling derived from research analysis are the catalysts for understanding why and how researchers put forward their findings and conclusions in scientific study.

Practical implications

The pracademic approach evident in this paper makes theory more accessible and useable in the field of practice. One branch of psychodynamics informs storytelling theory as it applies to the practice of coaching for leadership development.

Originality/value

The paper's originality lies in the development ofpotential timeand the application of this concept in the creation of leadership development opportunities and leadership development coaching.
Marketing perspectives of logistics service providers
Authors: Bourlakis Michael , Melewar T.C.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce the special issue on the marketing perspectives of logistics service providers and the relevant papers. The paper also aims to introduce the concept of outsourcing in general and logistics outsourcing in particular that is directly relevant to the genesis of third‐party logistics firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper largely based on analysis and discussion of the relevant literature.

Findings

The paper suggests possible avenues for future research in terms of this special issue and illustrates the contribution of the selected papers to the current literature.

Research limitations/implications

This is a conceptual paper that offers a plethora of suggestions for future research. Subsequently, the empirical testing of these suggestions is urgently required.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in examining a topic that has attracted limited attention by marketing scholars so far. The selected papers illustrate the possibilities for further original research in that area.
The interface between retailers and logistics service providers in the online market
Authors: Xing Yuan , Grant David B. , McKinnon Alan C. , Fernie John
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The growth in online shopping has presented challenges for physical distribution service quality (PDSQ) provided by retailers, including both multi‐channel and pure players, and logistics service providers (LSPs). Issues emerging from a consumer survey regarding electronic physical distribution service quality (e‐PDSQ) informed this paper's research, which aims to consider this phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The research study employed qualitative interviews with retailers, logistics service providers and experts to consider the consumer survey findings and discuss the current market situation and suggestions for improvement.

Findings

Interviewees confirmed that pure players offer better e‐PDSQ than multi‐channel retailers as well as important constructs of availability, time, condition and returns regarding this phenomenon, but also raised issues of relationships between retailers and LSPs and costs regarding service trade‐offs.

Research limitations/implications

The research undertaken was exploratory and will require further and wider testing in other contexts and geographical areas to assure external validity.

Practical implications

The findings have strategic importance for online retailers and LSPs to achieve competitive advantage and offer superior customer service.

Originality/value

This paper extends earlier, limited work on e‐PDSQ and considers retailer and LSP points of view concerning previous research into consumer expectations and perceptions of e‐PDSQ.
Supply chain commitment and business process integration
Authors: Asif Salam Mohammad
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Despite intense research interest in supply chain management (SCM) over two decades, there is still uncertainty as to what SCM is and how behavioural determinants have an impact on it. The purpose of this study is to explore the linkages between the behavioural and marketing determinants of SCM and their impact on commitment and process integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of descriptive research leading into causal research, using survey data and testing relationships with Structural Equation Modelling.

Findings

The study found that there are significant behavioural dimensions in SCM and identified the impact of those dimensions on supply chain commitment and process integration. One noticeable finding of this study was the nature of supply chain commitment within Confucian culture.

Research limitations/implications

Data for the study were drawn from one single industry, so the findings are indicative but not representative of all supply chains. Also, the results cannot be generalised to other countries and industries. However, this study acts as a starting‐point to understand how behavioural and marketing determinants may impact supply chain commitment and business process integration. A series of future studies may follow this study to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nature, structures and strategies of supply chain commitment in Confucian culture.

Practical implications

This study will enable supply chain managers to understand the role of behavioural and marketing factors in managing supply chains. The root of Confucian culture lies in Asia, and Asia is an integral part of global supply chains. An understanding of Confucian dynamics will enable practitioners to manage these supply chains efficiently.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to an understanding of the behavioural/soft determinants in managing supply chains, particularly in Asia. This study also highlights the role of Confucian dynamism in shaping supply chain commitment. Both these areas had previously been under‐researched.
A conceptualisation of supplier‐perceived value
Authors: Songailiene Egle , Winklhofer Heidi , McKechnie Sally
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a more comprehensive conceptualisation of supplier perceived value (SPV) in business relationships for B2B services.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted amongst logistics firms in Lithuania, which are members of the Lithuanian National Road Carriers' Association (Linava). Data were derived from 13 interviews with senior managers.

Findings

SPV is proposed to be a higher order construct consisting of three value dimensions capturing the financial, strategic, and co‐creating value of a customer relationship, which in turn are determined by customer and relationship capabilities and competencies.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed conceptualisation of SPV is based on generic literature and interview data derived from the haulage industry. While the key dimensions of the SPV are sufficiently generic to apply to complex B2B services in general, some aspects (e.g. proxies) might be specific to the context of this study.

Practical implications

The conceptual model of SPV can be employed by both service suppliers and customers. Service suppliers could utilise it as a tool to prioritise or segment customers, as well as for tailoring service packages to a customer's SPV profile. From the customer's perspective, the model provides a diagnostic tool to assess how important a customer is to a service provider and the level of commitment a customer can expect from a supplier. The study provides insights into the Lithuanian road haulage industry, which is of strategic importance for supply chains linking Western Europe with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries and other Asian markets.

Originality/value

This paper redresses the imbalance in attention paid to value perceptions from the supplier side of the dyad compared with those of the customer. Unlike previous research, it stresses the importance of co‐creation value as a critical dimension of supplier‐perceived value of a customer relationship, in addition to financial and strategic value dimensions. It emphasises the interplay between knowledge, social and operational capabilities to co‐create value.
Selecting logistics providers in Thailand: a shippers' perspective
Authors: Banomyong Ruth , Supatn Nucharee
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to identify key attributes of freight logistics service quality and to examine how these attributes impact shippers' selection of third‐party logistics service providers (3PLs). The knowledge and understanding of these attributes can be of great value to 3PLs when developing marketing strategies to attract and retain clients.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was carried out to identify the main attributes of freight logistics service quality. In‐depth interviews were subsequently undertaken to validate and refine the freight logistics service attributes. A questionnaire was then developed and a survey conducted. Logistics regression analyses were performed to examine the impact of freight logistics service attributes on shippers' decision to select 3PLs.

Findings

A total of 24 freight logistics service attributes were identified and categorised based on the SERVQUAL model into six dimensions: reliability, assurance, tangibility, empathy, responsiveness, and cost. Freight logistics service quality was found to impact shippers' selection of 3PLs significantly. In the assessment of the impact of each individual service attribute it was observed that accuracy of documents; EDI and E‐commerce services; customer relationship management; customer care; updated freight rates; and consolidation provision significantly influenced how shippers selected 3PLs.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of the study is limited to international freight logistics services, while other logistics services, such as inventory management or warehouse management, were not included. The context of the study is related to Thailand and the provision of international freight service in the country.

Practical implications

An understanding of key attributes based on key freight logistics service quality can help 3PLs in developing marketing strategies that provide services that are considered to be critically important to their customers.

Originality/value

The purpose of the study is to define key freight logistics service quality attributes and their respective impact on shippers' decision‐making process when choosing a 3PL.
Measuring the competitiveness of container ports: logisticians' perspectives
Authors: Yeo Gi‐Tae , Roe Michael , Dinwoodie John
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to measuring container port competitiveness, a key but neglected element of channel management in a complex and dynamic logistics environment underpinned by commercial confidence and trust in European supply chains fed with goods from container ports in Northeast Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a fuzzy methodology to measure port competitiveness based on the expert judgements of logisticians. It applies a trapezoidal fuzzy number to measure their perceptions. The method accepts a linguistic expression of their judgements of five of the world's top six container ports in terms of container through‐puts, including Hong Kong, Busan, Shanghai, Kaohsuing, Shenzhen. Qindao ranked 16th and Tokyo ranked 20th were also analyzed.

Findings

Hong Kong achieved the highest score on port service but on hinterland conditions Shanghai scored highest and Busan the lowest. Hong Kong topped the ratings on the availability factor and the convenience factor, but scored the lowest on logistics cost.

Originality/value

This research reports the factors which influence container port competitiveness in Northeast Asia and provides a structure for measuring them. The approach offers a unique insight for stakeholders and logisticians seeking to develop more effective channel management strategies.