bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competitiveness and connectivity in design innovation: a study of Norwegian furniture industry
Authors: Qiu Xinlu , Cano-Kollmann Marcelo , Mudambi Ram
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how firms achieve competitiveness by implementing design-driven innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a detailed longitudinal analysis of the design innovation underpinning the Norwegian furniture industry. Using a data set spanning 40 years (1976-2015) of design patents by both Norwegian firms and inventors, the authors map the coinventor connectivity of the design-innovation clusters of Norway, both within the country and with foreign locations.

Findings

Using network analysis, the authors find that most of the rise of co-inventor connectivity within Norwegian furniture industry’s design innovation is occurring within the country. More surprisingly, the leading firms and star inventors are less likely to collaborate internationally, i.e. they are characterized by greater innovative “lock-in”.

Research limitations/implications

The exploration of all the potential reasons for the “lock-in” in design innovation of the Norwegian furniture industry is beyond the scope of this paper. A particularly interesting avenue for future research would be to compare the coinventor connectivity of traditional sectors like furniture with more high technology sectors within Norway.

Originality/value

By assessing a detailed and historical context of the evolution of Norwegian furniture industry, the paper provides a fairly comprehensive study of design innovation as a source of firms’ competitiveness, which has been rarely explored. The authors suggest that innovative “lock-in” may be more likely to arise in the traditional sectors of an economy and the forces may be particularly strong for those firms and individuals that have the highest domestic connectedness and status.
Identification of plastic anisotropy using spherical indentation on different anisotropic yield criterions
Authors: Zhan Xuepeng , Wu Jianjun , Wang Mingzhi , Hui Yu , Wu Hongfei , Shang Qi , Guo Ruichao
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to first apply more advanced anisotropic yield criterions as Yld91 and Yld2004 to spherical indentation simulations, and investigate plastic anisotropy identified from indentation simulations following different yield criterions (Hill48, Yld91, Yld2004) to discover laws. It also aims to compare the difference in plastic anisotropy identified from indentation on three yield criterions and evaluate the applicability of plastic anisotropy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses indentation simulations on different yield criterions to identify plastic anisotropy. First, the trust-region techniques based on the nonlinear least-squares method are used to determine anisotropy coefficients of Yld91 and Yld2004. Then, Yld91 and Yld2004 are implemented into ABAQUS software using user-defined material (UMAT) subroutines with the proposed universal structure. Finally, through considering comprehensively the key factors, the locations of the optimal data acquisition points in indentation simulations on different yield criterions are determined. And, the identified stress–strain curves are compared with experimental data.

Findings

This paper discovers that indentation on Yld2004 is able to fully identify difference in equivalent plastic strain between 0° and 90° directions when indentation depth ht is relatively smaller. And, this research demonstrates conclusively that plastic anisotropy identified from indentation on Yld2004 and Yld91 is more applicable at larger strains than that on Hill48, and that on Yld2004 is more applicable than that on Yld91, overall. In addition, the method on the determination of the locations of the optimal data acquisition points is demonstrated to be also valid for anisotropic material.

Originality/value

This paper first investigates plastic anisotropic properties and laws identified from indentation simulations following more advanced anisotropic yield criterions and provides reference for later research.
A shortcut algorithm for solving long-term conjugate heat transfer problems based on quasi-steady flow
Authors: Dong Sujun , Meng Fanchao , Guo Dechun , Kang Hongling
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The time of tightly coupled transient calculation and the accuracy of conventional loosely coupled algorithm make it difficult to meet the engineering design requirements for long-term conjugate heat transfer (CHT) problems. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new loosely coupled algorithm with sufficient accuracy and less calculation time on the basis of the quasi-steady flow field. Through this algorithm, it will be possible to reduce the update frequency of the flow field and devise a strategy by which to reasonably determine the update steps.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the new algorithm updates the flow field by solving the steady governing equations in the fluid region and by calculating the transient temperature distribution until the next update of the fluid flow, by means of solving the transient energy equations in the entire computational domain. The authors propose a strategy by which to determine the update step, by using the engineering empirical formula of the Nusselt number, on the basis of the changes of the inlet and outlet boundary conditions.

Findings

Taking a duct heated by an inner forced air flow heating process as an example, the comparison results for the tightly coupled transient calculation by Fluent software shows that the new algorithm is able to significantly reduce the calculation time of the transient temperature distribution with reasonable accuracy. For example, the respective computing times are reduced to 22.8 and 40 per cent, while the duct wall temperature deviations are 7 and 5 per cent, using the two flow update time steps of 100 and 50 s on the variable inlet-flow rate conditions.

Originality/value

The new algorithm outlined in this paper further improves the calculated performance and meets the engineering design requirements for long-term CHT problems.
Portfolio selection with fuzzy synthetic evaluation and genetic algorithm
Authors: Nayebpur Hamid , Nazem Bokaei Mohsen
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new technique to portfolio selection using a genetic algorithm (GA) and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE). Portfolio selection is a multi-objective/criteria decision-making problem in financial management.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach solves the problem in two stages. In the first stage, by using a GA and FSE, the weight of criteria will be calculated. Euclidean distance between the computed overall performance evaluation and the surveyed overall performance evaluation is used to determine the weight of criteria. In the second stage, by using a GA and FSE, portfolios will be prioritized. A multi-objective GA is used to determine return and risk in the efficient frontier. A decision making approach is based on FSE to select the best portfolio from among the solutions obtained by a multi objective GA.

Findings

The main advantage of the proposed approach is to help an investor to find a portfolio which has best performance, and portfolio selection does not rely on expert knowledge.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in it using a new approach to determine the weight of criteria and portfolio selection. It surveys firms’ performance in the stock market, based on which the weight of criteria will be determined and portfolios will be prioritized.
Laser-range-finder localization based fuzzy control for mobile robots
Authors: Sun Chung-Hsun , Huang Sheng-Kai , Chen Hsuan , Ye Cheng-Wei , Wang Yin-Tien , Wang Wen-June
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Based on laser-range-finder (LRF) sensing, the control design of location and orientation stabilization for the mobile robot is investigated. However, the practical limitation of the LRF sensing is usually ignored in the control design, which leads to incorrect localization and unexpected control results. The purpose of this study is to design the fuzzy controller subject to the practical limitation on the LRF-based localization for a differentially driven wheeled mobile robot.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the Takagi–Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model is derived from the polar kinematic model of a differentially driven mobile robot. Then, the fuzzy controller is designed to the derived T-S fuzzy kinematic model in accordance with the Lyapunov stabilization theorem. The derived Lyapunov stabilization conditions for the fuzzy control design are expressed as the linear matrix inequality (LMI) form and effectively solved by LMI tools. The practical limitation on the LRF-based localization is also expressed as the LMI form and simultaneously solved with the control design.

Finding

The location and posture stabilization experiments are carried out on a mobile robot with LRF-based localization to prove the effectiveness of the proposed T-S fuzzy model-based control design. Furthermore, the ground truth experiment evaluates the accuracy of LRF-based localization.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is to develop the fuzzy control law for a differentially driven wheeled mobile robot under the practical limitation on LRF-based localization. The proposed control design can be applied to other robots with practical limitations on the sensors.
Simulation of dispersed phase evolution for immiscible polymer blends in injection molding
Authors: Chen Dan , Liu Fen , Zhang Yi , Zhang Yun , Zhou Huamin
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The numerical simulation of dispersed-phase evolution in injection molding process of polymer blends is of great significance in both adjusting material microstructure and improving performances of the final products. This paper aims to present a numerical strategy for the simulation of dispersed-phase evolution for immiscible polymer blends in injection molding.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the dispersed-phase modeling is discussed in detail. Then the Maffettone–Minale model, affine deformation model, breakup model and coalescence statistical model are chosen for the dispersed-phase evolution. A general coupled model of microscopic morphological evolution and macroscopic flow field is constructed. Besides, a stable finite element simulation strategy based on pressure-stabilizing/Petrov–Galerkin/streamline-upwind/Petrov–Galerkin method is adopted for both scales.

Findings

Finally, the simulation results are compared and evaluated with the experimental data, suggesting the reliability of the presented numerical strategy.

Originality/value

The coupled modeling of dispersed-phase and complex flow field during injection molding and the tracing and simulation of droplet evolution during the whole process can be achieved.
On the time-splitting Fourier spectral method for the coupled Klein-Gordon-Schrödinger equations in the quantum field theory
Authors: Saha Ray S.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the time-splitting Fourier spectral (TSFS) method to solve the fractional coupled Klein–Gordon–Schrödinger (K-G-S) equations. A time-splitting spectral approach is applied for discretizing the Schrödinger-like equation and along with that, a pseudospectral discretization has been accurately utilized for the temporal derivatives in the Klein–Gordon-like equation. Furthermore, the time-splitting scheme is proved to be unconditionally stable. Numerical experiments guarantee high accuracy of the TSFS scheme for the K-G-S equations. Here, the derivative of fractional order is taken in the Riesz sense.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus of this paper is to study the Riesz fractional coupled K-G-S equations using the TSFS method. This method is dependent on evaluating the solution to the given problem in small steps, and treating the nonlinear and linear steps separately. The nonlinear step is made in the time domain, while the linear step is made in the frequency domain, which necessitates the use of Fourier transform back and forth. It is a very effective, powerful and efficient method to solve the nonlinear differential equations, as in previous works (Bao et al., 2002; Bao and Yang, 2007; Muslu and Erbay, 2003; Borluk et al., 2007), the initial and boundary-value problem is decomposed into linear and nonlinear subproblems. Summarizing the technique of the TSFS method, it can be stated that first the Schrödinger-like equation is solved in two splitting steps. Then, the Klein–Gordon-like equation is solved by discretizing the spatial derivatives by means of the pseudospectral method.

Findings

The utilized method is found to be very efficient and accurate. Moreover, the time-splitting spectral scheme is found to be unconditionally stable. By means of thorough study, it is found that the spectral method is time-reversible, is gauge-invariant and also conserves the total charge. Moreover, the results have been graphically presented to exhibit the accuracy of the proposed methods. Apart from that, the numerical solutions have been also compared with the exact solutions. Numerical experiments establish that the proposed technique manifests high accuracy and efficiency.

Originality/value

To the authors’ best knowledge, the Riesz fractional coupled K-G-S equations have been for the first time solved by using the TSFS method.
Market development through integrating value chains – a case of Patanjali Food and Herbal Park
Authors: Sengar Anita , Sharma Vinay , Agrawal Rajat
Published: August 2017

Subject area

Market development.

Study level/applicability

This case is intended to be used in strategic management, operations management for both undergraduate and graduate courses. It can also be used for value innovation and market development.

Case overview

This case focuses on market development by Patanjali, a fast-growing organization crossing US$1bn of sales in five years of time span and declaring a target of doubling this figure in the financial year 2016-2017 (to reach US$1,500m). The prime focus of Patanjali is the health food segment based on herbal and Ayurveda science through the use of organically grown agricultural produce by integrating the associated value chains while radically benefitting all the stakeholders in a two-way process as suppliers as well as buyers/consumers. The fundamental context of the case is associated with the value chain development in terms of value addition on the basis of the organizational and leadership values in all the elements of the value chain of Patanjali products starting from suppliers to customers. The case emphasizes the role of the Patanjali Food & Herbal park in the value chain. Patanjali Food & Herbal Park is constantly striving for nation building more than profit accumulation. They have created a sustainable business benefiting all the stakeholders. The backbone of the Patanjali Food & Herbal Park lies in robust backward linkage and forward linkage. The context of the case presents an account of how the values based integration of the value chain is a strategic advantage and safeguards an organization from business environment threats.

Expected learning outcomes

The context of the case presents an account of how values based integration of the value chain is a strategic advantage and safeguard an organization from business environment threats. The case has a deep-rooted theoretical association with models like Porter’s Five Forces model on the one hand and also exemplifies how an organization can use blue ocean strategy through value-based value innovation. The context of the Black Swan perspective also emerges in the narration.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
MHD heat transfer and entropy generation in inclined trapezoidal cavity filled with nanofluid
Authors: Milani Shirvan Kamel , Mirzakhanlari Soroush , Öztop Hakan F. , Mamourian Mojtaba , Al-Salem Khaled
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to define 2D numerical study and a sensitivity analysis of natural convection heat transfer and entropy generation of Al2O3-water nanofluid in a trapezoidal cavity, with considering of the presence of a constant axial magnetic field.

Design/methodology/approach

The effects of the three effective parameters, the Rayleigh number, Hartmann number (Ha) and also inclination angle on the heat transfer performance and entropy generation, are investigated using a finite volume approach. The sensitivity analysis of the effective parameters is done utilizing the response surface methodology.

Findings

The results obtained showed that the mean Nusselt number and total entropy generation increase with the Rayleigh number. Also, increasing the inclination angle reduces the mean Nusselt number (regardless of the magnetic field). In addition, it is found that the mean Nusselt number increases until Ha = 10 and then decreases by increasing of Ha number, regardless of the inclination angle. The sensitivity of the mean Nusselt number to the Ha number and inclination angle α is negative. It is concluded that to maximize the mean Nusselt number and minimize the entropy generation, simultaneously, the Ha and inclination angle must be 50° and 0°, respectively.

Originality/value

There is no published research in the literature about sensitivity analysis of magneto-hydrodynamic heat transfer and entropy generation in inclined trapezoidal cavity filled with nanofluid.
Two wave mode higher-order modified KdV equations
Authors: Wazwaz Abdul-Majid
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is concerned with developing two-mode higher-order modified Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equations. The study shows that multiple soliton solutions exist for essential conditions related to the nonlinearity and dispersion parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed technique for constructing a two-wave model, as presented in this work, has been shown to be very efficient. The employed approach formally derives the essential conditions for soliton solutions to exist.

Findings

The examined two-wave model features interesting results in propagation of waves and fluid flow.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents a new and efficient algorithm for constructing and studying two-wave-mode higher-order modified KdV equations.

Practical implications

A two-wave model was constructed for higher-order modified KdV equations. The essential conditions for multiple soliton solutions to exist were derived.

Social implications

The work shows the distinct features of the standard equation and the newly developed equation.

Originality/value

The work is original and this is the first time for two-wave-mode higher-order modified KdV equations to be constructed and studied.
Job resourcefulness, work engagement and prosocial service behaviors in the hospitality industry
Authors: Cheng Jui-Chang , Chen Chien-Yu
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Prosocial service behaviors play a major role in the hospitality industry. However, few studies have examined how job resourcefulness affects prosocial service behaviors. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between job resourcefulness and prosocial service behaviors as well as clarify the mediating effect of work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed to collect data from 282 frontline service employees in Taiwan’s hotel industry. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the hypotheses of this research.

Findings

The results indicate that job resourcefulness is positively related to role-prescribed service behaviors, extra-role service behaviors and cooperation. Furthermore, work engagement mediates the relationship between job resourcefulness and prosocial service behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

The design of cross-sectional research restricts inference to the findings of cause–effect relationships. Also, the design of this study could not rule out the effect of common method variance, as all the data used in the study were acquired using the same questionnaire.

Originality/value

The current study contributes to the hospitality management research by investigating the link between job resourcefulness and prosocial service behaviors, and elaborating the partially mediating role of work engagement in this relationship.
Presenteeism of hotel employees: interaction effects of empowerment and hardiness
Authors: Chia Yew Ming , Chu Mackayla J.T.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the two-way interaction effects of empowerment and hardiness on the presenteeism of hotel employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 358 hotel employees in Sabah, East Malaysia, via a questionnaire survey and analyzed using multiplicative regression analysis.

Findings

The results confirm the presence of a two-way interaction effect between empowerment and hardiness on the presenteeism of hotel employees at a significance level of 0.01. Further analysis indicates that the higher the level of hardiness, the greater is its negative effect on the relationship between empowerment and the presenteeism of hotel employees.

Research limitations/implications

The survey was cross-sectional and causal relationships among the variables cannot be inferred. The results were gathered from selected hotels and should not be generalized to all hotel employees in Sabah, East Malaysia.

Practical implications

The findings challenge the assumption of a positive association between empowerment and presenteeism and demonstrate that different levels of hardiness can influence this relationship. When empowering employees, management staff should also consider the provision of resilience-related training programs for less hardy employees. This would enable such employees to handle their presenteeism behavior arising from the increased level of empowerment.

Originality/value

This study provides the first empirical evidence of a two-way interaction effect of predictors on the presenteeism of hotel employees and could serve to influence mainstream journals in the presenteeism literature. Researchers could apply the analytical approach to examine future studies relating to higher-order effects of predictors on the presenteeism of hotel employees.
The tradeoff between fit perceptions across recruitment stages by new job seekers
Authors: Yen Chih-Lun (Alan)
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the tradeoff between person-job (PJ) fit and person-organization (PO) fit by new job seekers across different recruitment stages and the influence on their job choice decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

A time-lapse research design was adopted with data from a survey over a two-year period of college students majoring in hospitality and tourism management at different recruitment stages (i.e. generating applications, maintaining applicant status and making a job choice).

Findings

The results suggest that PJ fit has a stronger influence on job choice decisions than PO fit, and both fit perceptions are consistent across recruitment stages. However, the difference between the two fit perceptions may be affected by direct interactions with recruiters at career fairs and interviews.

Practical implications

When recruiters start interacting with job seekers during the initial stage of the recruitment process, the recruiters are more likely to receive a favorable job choice decision from these potential applicants. Additionally, recruiters should create a positive perception of hiring companies and jobs through career fairs or other face-to-face communications to keep job seekers interested and maintain their applicant status throughout the recruitment stages.

Originality/value

This paper explores important factors that influence job seekers’ job choice decisions throughout the recruitment process with three main stages, which provides a more holistic overview of the transition of job seekers’ fit perceptions of the job and the organization. It also provides empirical support for current understanding of recruitment issues in the hospitality industry.
Using implementation tools to design and conduct quality improvement projects for faster and more effective improvement
Authors: Ovretveit John , Mittman Brian , Rubenstein Lisa , Ganz David A.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enable improvers to use recent knowledge from implementation science to carry out improvement changes more effectively. It also highlights the importance of converting research findings into practical tools and guidance for improvers so as to make research easier to apply in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides an illustration of how a quality improvement (QI) team project can make use of recent findings from implementation research so as to make their improvement changes more effective and sustainable. The guidance is based on a review and synthesis of improvement and implementation methods.

Findings

The paper illustrates how research can help a quality project team in the phases of problem definition and preparation, in design and planning, in implementation, and in sustaining and spreading a QI. Examples of the use of different ideas and methods are cited where they exist.

Research limitations/implications

The example is illustrative and there is little limited experimental evidence of whether using all the steps and tools in the one approach proposed do enable a quality team to be more effective. Evidence supporting individual guidance proposals is cited where it exists.

Practical implications

If the steps proposed and illustrated in the paper were followed, it is possible that quality projects could avoid waste by ensuring the conditions they need for success are in place, and sustain and spread improvement changes more effectively.

Social implications

More patients could benefit more quickly from more effective implementation of proven interventions.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to describe how improvement and implementation science can be combined in a tangible way that practical improvers can use in their projects. It shows how QI project teams can take advantage of recent advances in improvement and implementation science to make their work more effective and sustainable.
Ranking the strategies for Indian medical tourism sector through the integration of SWOT analysis and TOPSIS method
Authors: Ajmera Puneeta
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Organizations have to evaluate their internal and external environments in this highly competitive world. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis is a very useful technique which analyzes the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organization for taking strategic decisions and it also provides a foundation for the formulation of strategies. But the drawback of SWOT analysis is that it does not quantify the importance of individual factors affecting the organization and the individual factors are described in brief without weighing them. Because of this reason, SWOT analysis can be integrated with any multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) technique like the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), analytical hierarchy process, etc., to evaluate the best alternative among the available strategic alternatives. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, SWOT analysis is integrated with a multicriteria decision-making technique called TOPSIS to rank different strategies for Indian medical tourism in order of priority.

Findings

SO strategy (providing best facilitation and care to the medical tourists at par to developed countries) is the best strategy which matches with the four elements of S, W, O and T of SWOT matrix and 35 strategic indicators.

Practical implications

This paper proposes a solution based on a combined SWOT analysis and TOPSIS approach to help the organizations to evaluate and select strategies.

Originality/value

Creating a new technology or administering a new strategy always has some degree of resistance by employees. To minimize resistance, the author has used TOPSIS as it involves group thinking, requiring every manager of the organization to analyze and evaluate different alternatives and average measure of each parameter in final decision matrix.
3D-FEM computation and experimental study of eddy currents for characterization of surface cracks
Authors: Harzallah Salaheddine , Chabaat Mohamed
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach for computing by measuring and testing related 3D Eddy currents. In the process, a magnetic vector is formulated from the theoretical setup and obtained results from relevant applications are checked for the consistency of the theory. Besides, cracks detection as well as its propagation is studied through the two parameters: SIF and J-integral. A simulation by a numerical approach using finite-element discretization of 3D governing equations is employed to detect damaged zones and cracks. This approach has been used in the aircraft industry to control cracks. Besides, it makes it possible to highlight the defects of parts while preserving the integrity of the controlled products. Obtained results are compared and agreed with those of other researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

Finite-element discretization of 3D for solving problem in eddy current testing is presented in this paper. The main idea is the introduction of categorization for the shape reconstruction using the non-destructive testing by 3D-EC. The results are presented for a simple eddy current problem using the finite-element method as an experimental support.

Findings

In this research work, results of the various cases of simulation have been obtained. From these results of various boxes of simulation, one can conclude that the calculation of the impedance in only one point is not enough to confirm the presence or the absence of a defect for materials. Then, this confirmation leads us to the calculation of the impedance along the plate. The detection of an external defect requires the energy of the sensor by high frequencies .The position of defect (internal, in the middle, external) has a large effect on the impedance. The use of this sensor type in industrial application is frequent because of its precision (minimal error) and its low costs. The major disadvantage of this type of sensor lies in the fact that it is unable to detect a defect.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to detect cracks in materials and eventually to study their propagation.
Analyzing organizational performance of family and non-family businesses using the HPO framework
Authors: Sultan Suhail , de Waal André , Goedegebuure Robert
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Many businesses in the world are family-owned. A family-owned business differs from other types of businesses in several ways, because it is composed of both a family and a business. A recurring question in management research has been: which type of business performs better, the family-owned or the non-family owned? An alternative question which in this respect can also be asked, in the light of the high-performance organization (HPO) theory which has become popular these past years, is: which type of business is more likely to become and stay high performing, the family-owned or the non-family owned? To try to answer these questions, many studies have been done in which the performance of family firms was compared with firms that have no family ties, but these studies gave mixed results and conflicting opinions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

It seems evident that a new research approach is needed. A way forward is to use the HPO concept which looks at the factors important for an organization to become an HPO. Thus, the research question which this study attempts to answer is: are there differences in performance between family and non-family businesses, and if so, can these be traced back to differences in the way these businesses deal with the factors of high performance? The research used the HPO questionnaire and interviews to collect data at Palestine family and non-family owned businesses.

Findings

The research shows that Palestine non-family businesses significantly outperform family-owned businesses. Family businesses thus seem “a living paradox.” Balancing family interest and business interest often requires a compromise between family and business goals. It seems that Palestinian family businesses focus more on family interest by putting the goal of survival and “keeping the business in the family” above (short-term) financial goals. Family businesses might also feel more that the company’s money is the family money, and as a result their investment and expenses strategies are more conservative thus missing possible economic investment opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

The study results add to the current debate in the literature about which type of business performs better, and at the same time they add knowledge because if there are differences these might be explained by the factors of high performance. In this vein, the study results also contribute to the literature on high performance, as the HPO framework has not been used before for this type of comparative research.

Originality/value

The study results have practical value because they yield knowledge about the ways to organize a business so it can achieve high organizational results which is of great value to managers attempting to make their organizations perform better.
A QoS-sensitive model for e-commerce customer behavior
Authors: Ghavamipoor Hoda , Hashemi Golpayegani S. Alireza , Shahpasand Maryam
Published: August 2017

Purpose

In this paper, a Quality of Service-sensitive customer behavior model graph (QoS-CBMG) is proposed for use in service quality adaptation in e-commerce systems. Success in achieving customer satisfaction and maximizing profit in e-commerce is highly dependent on the QoS provided. However, providing high-level QoS for all customers in all Web sessions is often deemed costly and inefficient. Therefore, a QoS-sensitive model for formulating QoS-aware offers to customers is required. The paper aims to respond to this necessity.

Design/methodology/approach

Process mining is adopted as the knowledge extraction technique for developing a QoS-CBMG. If it is assumed that user navigation on a website is a process, then clickstreams during one user’s navigations can be considered process steps.

Findings

The application of both QoS-CBMG (the new model) and CBMG (the classic version) to the same real data set demonstrated that the proposed method outperforms CBMG due to its reduction of average absolute error in the measurement scale. This finding also verifies the assumption that customer behavior is sensitive to the level of QoS.

Research limitations/implications

From a theoretical viewpoint, the obtained QoS-CBMG facilitates the adaption in e-commerce systems, which leads to conduct the user to the desired behavior by tuning QoS levels in different Web sessions in a dynamic manner. This implication is due to the fact that QoS-CBMG can predict the upcoming clickstream of the customer at different QoS levels.

Practical implications

Using the proposed model for the adaptation of service quality in e-commerce websites not only results in the efficient management of the provider’s resources but also encourages customer purchases from the website and increases profitability. It is noteworthy that with the advent of cloud computing, e-commerce websites are enabled to provide various levels of QoS for their customers by supplying their basic services (e.g. infrastructure, platform) through cloud platforms.

Originality/value

According to the best of our knowledge, no previous model has taken into account the QoS dimension for customer behavior modeling. The main contribution of this paper is to propose a CBMG that is sensitive to the QoS provided to customers during their navigation to formulate QoS-aware offers to them.
Developing, validating, and testing a model of reflective leadership
Authors: Egleston David , Castelli Patricia Ann , Marx Thomas George
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop, validate, and test the impacts of reflective leadership (RL) on organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an empirical study based on over 700 survey responses from business leaders around the world. An instrument was developed to validate the model, and the statistical significance of its impacts on organizational performance was tested.

Findings

The findings show that a model of RL consisting of three leadership practices, creating an open and safe work environment, defining purpose, and challenging assumptions had significant impacts on organizational performance, accounted for 16.5 percent of the variance in the accomplishment of organizational goals; 13.9 percent of the variance in sales; and 14.7 percent of the variance in profits.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitations are the biases that might be introduced with survey data. There are numerous implications for future research in terms of exploring additional RL practices, their impacts on additional and objective measures of performance, and in exploring the effects of moderating and mediating variables on the impacts of RL on performance.

Practical implications

The results show that RL is an effective management tool practitioners can employ to improve organizational performance.

Originality/value

A number of studies have broadly suggested that RL improves organizational performance, but this study empirically tests the impacts of a clearly defined, validated model of leadership on specific measures of performance.
Corporate governance changes around bankruptcy
Authors: Olsen Brett C. , Tamm Chris
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Periods of financial distress represent an episode during the firm’s life that requires an effective governance structure in the interests of shareholders. Changes in corporate governance structure are examined as firms approach and emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The purpose of this paper is to posit that firms alter their governance toward a more effective framework during restructuring, leading to emergence as a better performing firm.

Design/methodology/approach

The data set includes large firms that filed for bankruptcy between 1998 and 2013. Financial and governance characteristics prior to filing are compared to traits following emergence. The likelihood of emerging from bankruptcy is tested based on governance characteristics prior to filing and the change in these characteristics during bankruptcy.

Findings

The results show that firms use the bankruptcy process to significantly change their governance characteristics. These changes include smaller boards, greater board independence, unitary boards, the separation of the CEO and chairman positions, and changes in the ownership structure. Despite these changes, performance following emergence does not improve, and the changes in governance structure do not alter the likelihood that the firm will emerge.

Originality/value

This study, unlike previous studies, takes a broad look at governance characteristics for firms before and after bankruptcy. The findings imply that “better” governance, as defined in the literature, is not necessarily the pathway to better performance as many posit. The factors that influence the likelihood of emerging from bankruptcy and post-emergence performance require further study.
The internationalization of a family business group
Authors: Della Piana Bice , Vecchi Alessandra
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide some illustrative evidence to understand the distinctive forms of governance implemented by a well-established family business group (FBG) and to highlight the relative importance given to the different dimensions of socio-emotional wealth (SEW) during the internationalization process.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on multi-level and longitudinal data, the research provides in-depth insights into how the affiliated firms are linked to the focal firm, how the founding family in a large FBG organizes the top leadership roles spanning multiple countries and whether the inter-organizational and inter-personal networks changes over time and which are the most important items representing the SEW dimensions.

Findings

From the findings, it emerges that family ownership, family leadership and the presence of trusted people as pivotal actors in the FBG’s internationalization process.

Originality/value

The originality of the research stems from its contribution because despite providing illustrative evidence based on a single case-study, the findings offer additional insights over the importance of and the instrumental role played by SEW preservation as a perspective to explain FBGs’ internationalization.
The boundary conditions of gender diversity in top teams
Authors: Delgado-Márquez Luisa , de Castro Julio , Justo Rachida
Published: August 2017

Purpose

In this study, the authors aim to extend previous research and examine the phenomenon of gender diversity on firm performance in the context that of community-based enterprises (CBEs). The study builds on gender role theory and analyzes three factors that affect the relationship between gender diversity and firm performance: the overall percentage of women in the business, the level of participative decision-making and top management team (TMT) compensation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study were obtained from the Solidarity Economy Enterprise Database. The Brazilian Government created the database to gather information regarding the status of the Solidarity Economy in the country.

Findings

The authors argue and find support for the idea that gender diversity in TMT positively influences firm performance. However, there is a point where higher presence of women in the business starts to be detrimental for firm performance. That is, the authors find that there is a curvilinear relationship between gender diversity in TMT and firm performance. Moreover, they found strong empirical evidence for the influence of compensation in strengthening the effect of gender diversity on firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

The great potential that this study offers applied to the CBEs relies on the fact that these businesses are naturally oriented toward equality, so understanding how the unbalance in gender diversity may affect the firm performance could help us to understand if there is a disconnection between the theory and the practice in terms of how women are positioned.

Practical implications

The paper has important implications for corporate boards and policy-makers, suggesting the importance of increasing the number of women in boards of directors to benefit from the diversity in value, perspectives, background and skills they bring to TMTs. This study focuses on an under-researched context in terms of TMTs – CBEs.

Social implications

This work shows that gender diversity in top on boards of CBE’s is positive which is aligned to the orientation toward equality that these businesses have. However, at the same time even although having more women is positive for financial performance, there is a saturation point from when the influences starts to be detrimental.

Originality/value

The authors consider that this study raises areas for further consideration in efforts to understand what are the boundary conditions of gender diversity in top teams.
E-government system evaluation
Authors: Althonayan Mona , Althonayan Abraham
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are complex and comprehensive software designed to integrate business processes and functions. Despite the difficulties and risk, the adoption of ERP systems is expanding rapidly. Universities make large investments in information systems and expect positive impacts. However, universities are facing serious challenges in implementing new technology. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the impact of ERP systems on higher education (HE) from the perspective of stakeholders’ performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This research paper conducted a case study of an ERP system in a Saudi university to explore the impact of ERP system on the performance of the system’s stakeholders among the university’s employees.

Findings

The system quality factors (flexibility, compatibility, availability of right data, availability of currency, ease of use and timeliness) were found to affect performance positively, as were service quality factors (tangibility, reliability, responsiveness and assurance). This research further found that factors from pre-implementation, implementation and post-implementation phases had a direct effect on stakeholders’ performance.

Research limitations/implications

Future research would be useful during the maturity phase to include all stakeholders in several Saudi universities. In addition, more research can be beneficial to test the applicability of the impact of the ERP system on stakeholders’ performance in other public sector organisations and in the private sector.

Practical implications

The results suggest that organisations in general and HE institutions in particular should focus on the early stages and the implementation phase if they wish to achieve high standards of stakeholder performance.

Originality/value

This research makes a novel contribution by attempting to evaluate the impact of service quality on stakeholder performance in the ERP environment. The contribution uses service quality as a dimension consisting of four factors – reliability, assurance, tangibility and responsiveness. All four factors were found to be significant on ERP stakeholders’ performance.
Service ecosystems, markets and business networks
Authors: Holmqvist Jonas , Diaz Ruiz Carlos
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Recent research demonstrates how firms strive to shape their business environment and level the playing field in their favor. To explain this phenomenon, business scholars use competing notions: markets, business networks and service ecosystems. The purpose of this paper is to identify and address a potential problem, in that these notions overlap to a considerable extent, as scholars tend to draw from and contribute to academic silos.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors approach the issue of potential overlaps in the current literature on markets, business networks and service ecosystems through a literature review of each of these three concepts, with special attention to both their overlaps and differences.

Findings

The authors’ review of the extant literature allows the authors to concur with Ballantyne et al. (2011) that contemporary service research shows a tendency to create, adopt and overuse labels. This situation has given rise to what the authors term “academic silos” in which even closely related research stream tend to become isolated, and the authors posit that a more holistic view would be beneficial.

Originality/value

The authors offer two main contributions to the existing literature. The first contribution is mainly theoretical, aimed at business research, and consists of providing a review and understanding of the partly competing, partly complimentary concepts of markets, business networks and service ecosystems, in which the authors’ further address service ecosystems based on both a service-dominant logic and a service logic understanding. The second contribution is more managerial, arguing for the need of the successful business research to consider the desired end result of contributing to successful business practices.