bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking the development of successful knowledge cities: an advanced framework
Authors: Ergazakis Emmanouil , Ergazakis Kostas , Metaxiotis Kostas , Charalabidis Yannis
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present how the topics of knowledge‐based development (KBD) and especially of knowledge cities (KCs) have attracted the interest of many researchers and practitioners during recent years. In a previous research work of the authors, a set of hypotheses for the design, development and operation of successful KCs are proposed and validated through the analytical study of KCs cases in support of these hypotheses, resulting in a related framework. However, the rapid changes in the field render it necessary today to re‐examine the elements which had led to the formulation of the framework, so as to update it.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology followed so as to update the framework is based on the examination of the already identified KCs and the inclusion of five additional KCs cases. For the new set of KCs, the authors examine at which degree each case supports the hypotheses. Modifications in the set of hypotheses are proposed. The hypotheses that continue to be valid are considered as dominant, thus leading to the updated framework.

Findings

Among the main findings is that all cities previously examined continue to actively support their KBD, through a series of strategies and appropriate actions. The majority of the hypotheses continue to be valid, while three of them need to slightly change so as to adapt to prevailing current conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this paper can be of value for researchers seeking to develop specific customized methodologies for the development of KCs.

Originality/value

The main added‐value elements of this paper can be considered the re‐examination of the current status of a series of successful KCs on the one side and the update of the framework for the design, development and operation of KCs on the other side.
Planning for knowledge‐based urban development: global perspectives
Authors: Yigitcanlar Tan
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to investigate the engineering of creative urban regions through knowledge‐based urban development. In recent years city administrators realised the importance of engineering and orchestrating knowledge city formation through visioning and planning for economic, socio‐cultural and physical development. For that purpose a new development paradigm of “knowledge‐based urban development” is formed, and quickly finds implementation ground in many parts of the globe.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the literature and examines global best practice experiences in order to determine how cities are engineering their creative urban regions so as to establish a base for knowledge city formation.

Findings

The paper sheds light on the different development approaches for creative urban regions, and concludes with recommendations for urban administrations planning for knowledge‐based development of creative urban regions.

Originality/value

The paper provides invaluable insights and discussion on the vital role of planning for knowledge‐based urban development of creative urban regions.
Generation and transfer of knowledge in IT‐related SMEs
Authors: Zapata Cantú Laura , Rialp Criado Josep , Rialp Criado Alex
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the generation and transfer of knowledge in information technology‐related small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a survey of 105 employees from 30 organizations in Barcelona, Spain, the authors use a structural equation approach to validate the conceptual model.

Findings

Personal motivation and the opportunity to learn from other employees are critical to generate knowledge. The attitudes and abilities of those who take part in the transfer process are also relevant, and this is especially true in cases when knowledge is highly tacit. Personal development is one example of knowledge‐based organizational and social development.

Practical implications

The results point to the importance of the roles of managers and employees as bearers of initiative, voluntary effort and commitment. At the same time, they suggest that the firm's strategic planning process should include the knowledge to be transferred.

Originality/value

Two phases of knowledge management are studied, generation and transfer in IT‐related SMEs, and this study demonstrates how these processes are relevant.
Overcoming cultural barriers for innovation and knowledge sharing
Authors: Rivera‐Vazquez Juan C. , Ortiz‐Fournier Lillian V. , Rogelio Flores Felix
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the cultural barriers that set back knowledge production and sharing in organizations of the Municipality of Caguas at the Commonwealth of the Puerto Rico in order to find effective ways to overcome them. The purpose is to explore how the enterprise promotes efficiency among employees and how they develop a suitable environment for knowledge production and sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative research consists of in‐depth interviews, carried out to management personnel, and questionnaires submitted to the employees. Two hypotheses are developed and tested using the results obtained from four organizations, public and private.

Findings

The interview responses show that at the managerial level both private and public agencies have overcome the identified barriers that set back the knowledge sharing, while from the questionnaires it is found at the employee level that several cultural barriers such as organizational environment, emotional intelligence and managers' commitment are still present.

Research limitations/implications

Although limited by the small sample of critical actors, this study includes international and regional organizations that serve the Municipality of Caguas. The results may set a basis to develop a methodology to analyze the presence or absence of cultural barriers in other organizations, and municipalities of Puerto Rico.

Originality/value

This investigation may be used to develop standard procedures to cope with culture differences when establishing a suitable environment for knowledge production and sharing among employees.
Intellectual property rights and knowledge sharing across countries
Authors: Ben Chou P. , Passerini Katia
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to integrate the empirical and game theoretical approaches to address the strategic interactions among countries in choosing their optimal levels of intellectual property rights (IPRs), and to identify how these countries can reach an efficient and equitable equilibrium.

Design/methodology/approach

Because countries' decisions on which IPR standards and protections to implement are interrelated, the authors apply game theory to characterize the scenarios before and after the 1994 Agreement on Trade‐related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) involving developed and developing countries.

Findings

The model shows that the pre‐TRIPS equilibrium is comprised of high‐income (H‐I) developed countries which choose a strong IPR protection while the middle‐income (M‐I) and low‐income (L‐I) developing countries choose a weak IPR standard. For countries to move from such an equilibrium to the uniformly strong IPR regime under TRIPS, it is necessary for the H‐I countries to compensate L‐I and M‐I countries that do not have the sufficient conditions to attract knowledge/technology transfer. This compensation covers IPR protection implementation costs and increased royalties for patents.

Research limitations/implications

The model proposed in this study is not complex. In reality, the payoff functions can have more variables and parameters, which, however, may also complicate the model and lower its generalizability.

Originality/value

The study explains that it is difficult for countries to reach an efficient and equitable equilibrium without the subsidies and side‐payments from the developed countries to the developing countries. It builds an important bridge between the game theoretical approach and the empirical studies of TRIPS, which can be further enriched and tested. It acknowledges that it is more likely for stronger IPR standards (as in TRIPS) to be implemented than an open source approach.
Strengthening human capital for knowledge economy needs: an Indian perspective
Authors: Batra Surinder
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the initiatives being taken in India in recent years to revitalize the national education and skill development systems from the perspectives of a knowledge economy. These initiatives include strengthening of the higher and technical education system of the country and bringing about a paradigm shift in the national skill development system through the plans of action contained in the on‐going Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007‐2012). The new policy frameworks for education and skill development developed by respective Government Ministries are also to be examined from the point of view of their efficacy in moving India up the ladder of knowledge economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The critical review is based on an assessment of India's current status on well‐known Knowledge Economy Indices, providing a conceptual understanding of the requirements from the country's education and skill development systems, and the emerging needs for making measurable progress on issues related to education and skill development. The approach is literature‐survey based.

Findings

The paper, while underscoring the emphasis given by the Government in bringing about major changes through mission‐mode activities in both education and skill development systems, highlights possible gaps and mismatches in various initiatives taken up by different agencies, resulting in continuing issues and challenges in India's path towards moving up the ladder of knowledge economy.

Originality/value

The paper gives a fresh look at several initiatives which have been continually taken up by the Government in the past, from the prism of a knowledge economy.
Modeling the development toward the knowledge economy: a national capability approach
Authors: Dang Duc , Umemoto Katsuhiro
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to model the national development of the knowledge economy and argue its policy implications.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is a deductive research approach. First, the paper examines fundamental epistemological assumptions of the literature on the knowledge economy to identify major views on the knowledge economy. Second, it synthesizes relevant studies of the knowledge economy to develop key concepts to be used in the theoretical model of the knowledge economy.

Findings

The paper argues that among three views of the knowledge economy (i.e., knowledge‐as‐asset, knowledge‐as‐relation, and knowledge‐as‐capability views), the knowledge‐as‐capability view is the most appropriate to explain the knowledge economy. However, this view is still evolving to explain the knowledge economy. Only a few studies have discussed national capabilities, but they omitted many points of capability as an aspect of knowledge. Although many studies have discussed organizational capabilities and provided some insight, these ideas are not directly applicable at the national level.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that to develop a knowledge economy a national government should be concerned about the balanced development of the whole system of the economy, while paying due attention to knowledge‐related activities.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a theoretical model of the knowledge economy, using original concepts of three types of national basic capability, i.e., epistemic capability, economic capability, and institutional capability and national developmental capability as the meta‐capability of leveraging, orchestrating, and restructuring those basic capabilities.
Analyzing price transmission in agri‐food supply chains: an overview
Authors: Aramyan Lusine H. , Kuiper Marijke
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present a conceptual overview of the price transmissions within agri‐food supply chains. Analyzing price transmission in agri‐food supply chains is essential since imperfect price transition may result in market power. This is an important issue that needs attention, given that the structure of agri‐food retail in Europe, USA and Canada is experiencing rapid change towards retail power.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual overview draws on a review of different approaches in analyzing transmission of prices through an agri‐food supply chain based on supply chain analysis and price transmission studies.

Findings

Three key challenges are identified in analyzing price transmission in agri‐food supply chains: structure of the supply chain; factors affecting price transmission; and supply response.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel concept in analyzing price transmission in agri‐food supply chains using price transmission literature and bi‐directional flows of information and products in agri‐food supply chains
Performance plumbing: installing performance management systems to deliver lasting value
Authors: Meekings Alan , Povey Simon , Neely Andy
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of performance plumbing, arguing that too often performance management systems in organisations are not correctly installed. Without the appropriate plumbing, performance management systems do not drive organisational change and improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the consultancy experiences of two of the authors, as well as the research of the third. Specific case examples are provided throughout the paper to illustrate the points being made.

Findings

The paper argues that the key elements of a plumbed‐in performance management system are: performance architecture; performance insights; performance focus; and performance action. Taken together, these four elements provide the necessary plumbing to enable performance management systems to deliver real value.

Research limitations/implications

The paper draws on the experience of the authors, rather than a formally designed piece of research. The ideas presented in the paper would therefore benefit from further investigation and testing.

Originality/value

The paper will be valuable to scholars and practitioners interested in ensuring that performance management systems deliver lasting value.
Customer‐focus, competitor‐focus and marketing performance
Authors: Gladson Nwokah N.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of customer focus and competitor focus on marketing performance of food and beverages organizations in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted an exploratory design‐ six measures of marketing performance is used to capture the customer‐focus and competitive‐focus of food and beverages organizations in Nigeria. Data were collected from key informants using a research instrument. Returned instruments were analyzed using regression analysis through the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.

Findings

The paper validated the existing instruments for measuring customer focus, competitor focus and marketing performance. The paper also finds a strong positive relationship between the three constructs.

Practical implications

Two major implications are identified in this paper, one to scholars on the investigation of the link between customer focus, competitor focus and marketing performance in two different organizations. The second is for managers to be aware of the need for effective assessment of marketing performance measure in line with customer focus and competitor focus. This will no doubt help to provide knowledge and understanding of the reason for and consequences of any particular marketing decision.

Originality/value

The paper significantly refines the body of knowledge concerning the impact of customer focus, competitor focus and marketing performance in the Nigerian context.
Working on high performance in Asia: the case of Nabil Bank
Authors: de Waal André , Frijns Miriam
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to identify the factors that determine the continuous success of a high performance organization (HPO) in Asia and to apply these at a case company. In the past few decades organizations all over the world have been searching for the elements that constitute continuous organizational success. Fuelled by bestsellers such as In Search of Excellence and Good to Great, managers have implemented many different improvement concepts, often with mixed results.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of a previous meta analysis into high performance which identified 35 characteristics of an HPO, a case company in Nepal was studied to identify the practices this organization applied to become and stay one of the best financial services organizations in Nepal.

Findings

The results of the study show that it is possible to identify factors that determine continuous organizational success in Asia, and that managers can be offered a framework that adds focus to improvement. An important part of an HPO in Asia turns out to be the performance management system.

Research implications/limitations

The HPO approach detailed and applied in this article can be used to identify the high performance status of other Asian companies.

Originality/value

Because the research described in this paper looks at so many aspects – it encompasses not only structural, but also the behavioural aspects of management – it provides a unique insight into what makes a great Asian organization tick. The research results provide the foundation for an action agenda listing the improvement efforts organisations in Nepal have to undertake to make the transition to HPO.
The intellectual capital impact on Polish construction companies during the transformation period
Authors: Buszko Andrzej , Mroziewski Marian
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The different models have been used in recent intellectual capital (IC) studies to understand better the outcome of company intangible asset components. The purpose of this paper is to develop and apply the index of IC of construction companies in relation to the growth of their net profit.

Design/methodology/approach

Evaluation of the relationship between an IC index and company net profit employs a scoring method of evaluation of individual components of IC, which include human capital, investment capital, process capital, relations capital and management styles. The correlation method, based on rank correlation index, has been used to calculate the strength and character of the relationships.

Findings

A quantitative method of evaluation of qualitative components of IC has been developed as well as a way of finding a relationship between the quality of IC and the growth of net profit earned by a company. The obtained findings support the hypothesis: the higher the value of IC, the greater the net profit growth.

Research limitations/implications

The paper covers the procedure of measuring IC, determination of its effect on company results and creating IC in the context of long‐term competitiveness.

Practical implications

The method can be applied by construction companies in order to determine the value of intellectual assets and to assess how they influence profit growth.

Originality/value

The solutions presented in the paper provide an approach to qualitative assessment of intellectual assets, in the strategic and universal aspect.
Business transformation through empowerment and the implications for management control systems
Authors: Herbert Ian
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of employee empowerment, and the implications for management control systems (MCS), as the style of management changes from a hierarchical, top‐down, style to a more lateral, bottom‐up, orientation, in which workers assume greater responsibility for situated decision‐making and self‐monitoring.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal, multiple method, case study explores how empowerment is both understood and applied by management and workers. Simons “Levers of Control” framework is employed as a sensitising device to understand the implications for MCS.

Findings

The transformation strategy is largely successful in changing the long‐standing, bureaucratic, public‐sector culture, to a more devolved style in which challenge and participation is encouraged, although actual adoption patterns are uneven and developments are not always linear. By the end of the study period, there is a move back towards centralised control but, significantly, the study is able to confirm Simons' argument that the use of an appropriate mix of levers in a “loose‐tight” manner can still promote empowered working.

Research limitations/implications

The field work consists of a single case, albeit this is a large company with a number of autonomous units and, over time, each developed its own style of management control. At times, it is difficult to establish clear linkages between the empowerment initiative, operational management, actual performance and the MCS due to numerous contextual factors, hence the longitudinal nature of the project.

Originality/value

Whilst practitioner literature has made copious exhortations to empower workers, there is little empirical work on the practical application of empowerment, or the implications for MCS in the longer term. This paper finds that empowerment can, despite some academic reservations, have an honest purpose and indeed outlive its otherwise faddish tendencies.
Information technology as knowledge management enabler in product development
Authors: Revilla Elena , Rodríguez‐Prado Beatriz , Prieto Isabel
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on one of the most recognized knowledge management enablers, information technology (IT), and explores how IT influences on knowledge base capabilities in product development – specifically knowledge exploitation and exploration.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed hypotheses are empirically tested through the analysis of 80 product developments, and valid and reliable measures for each variable are developed. The research methodology uses a two‐step approach.

Findings

The study shows that product development processes can be categorized within three IT configurations: balanced IT configuration, convergent‐based IT configuration and divergent‐based IT configuration. These results show that differences in IT configurations in product development may lead to differences in terms of knowledge exploitation and show the advantages of the balanced IT configuration that combines both dimensions of IT.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size is not large and the scope of this study is limited to firms located in the Madrid area, Spain. The measurement effort represents an advance for research but, nonetheless, they measure facts that are neither fully nor easily measurable. All data were collected from the same respondent, using the same perceptual measurement technique.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that product development managers would be advised to consider knowledge based goals when selecting their IT tools. It also highlights that product development efforts should not involve an excluding trade‐off between the convergent and the divergent dimensions of IT (whereby one is at the expense of the other), but a balance of both dimensions.

Originality/value

The paper differs from previous research in a number of important ways. First, it focuses on benefits to product development. Second, it measures the impact of IT on knowledge base capabilities. Third, it focuses on the configuration of IT and an evaluation of how different configurations impact on different types of knowledge based capabilities.
The role of top management team's information technology (IT) infrastructure view on new product development
Authors: Durmuşoğlu Serdar S.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper it to investigate how sophistication of top management view on information technology (IT) infrastructure influences the firm's IT infrastructure capability and the effect of IT infrastructure capability on new product development (NPD) process outcomes such as cost, cycle time, and quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from research‐based and knowledge‐based theories, a conceptual model on how IT infrastructure influences NPD process efficiency is developed.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that sophistication of top management view on IT Infrastructure enhances NPD process through its effect on IT infrastructure capability. IT infrastructure capability enhances the NPD process efficiency by reducing the cycle time and cost of NPD projects and improving the NPD process quality.

Practical implications

It is useful for practitioners to know that by adopting an enabling IT infrastructure view, managers can create IT infrastructure capabilities that could improve their NPD processes significantly.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should conduct empirical analysis of this paper's propositions and could examine what moderates the relationship between the sophistication of the top management's view on the firm's IT infrastructure and IT infrastructure capability. Scholars could also include firm performance as the final outcome of the influence of IT infrastructure view when testing the proposed model empirically.

Originality/value

Recent research pointed out that IT enabled the development of efficient new processes. This paper extends this argument by conceptually investigating how IT infrastructure enhances NPD process of a firm.
Benchmarking third‐party logistics providers using data envelopment analysis: an update
Authors: Min Hokey , Joo Seong‐Jong
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the comparative strengths and weaknesses of leading third‐party logistics providers (3PLs) in the USA with respect to their financial efficiencies during the period of 2005‐2007. It also intends to identify various factors that significantly affect the financial efficiency of the 3PLs over time and propose ways to improve the competitiveness of 3PLs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes data envelopment analysis to measure the financial efficiency of 12 leading 3PLs in the USA, relative to their key competitors. In particular, this paper develops the Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (CCR) model that is designed to derive weights without being fixed in advance. It also employes the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) model to mitigate the impact of 3PL sizes on the 3PLs' financial efficiency.

Findings

The rapid expansion of the business scope can undermine the financial efficiency of 3PLs due to huge start‐up investments. In particular, business expansion through mergers and acquisitions can hurt the financial efficiency of 3PLs due to restructuring and re‐branding costs. The non‐asset based 3PLs have the less financial burden than their asset‐based counterparts due to their limited investment in assets. But, the asset‐based 3PLs such as J.B. Hunt can still overcome such a burden by streamlining their logistics services and focusing on their niche areas.

Research limitations/implications

This paper primarily uses financial measures as the major output. Thus, it can be extended to include some non‐financial measures. Owing to the difficulty in finding some secondary data sources about the 3PL industry, only 12 leading 3PLs are compared to each other with respect to their relative financial efficiency.

Practical implications

This paper provides several practical guidelines as to how 3PLs can cope with increasing competition, cost pressures, and changing business environments and what the future holds for the maturing 3PL industry.

Originality/value

This paper reveals the current weaknesses of the leading 3PLs and identifies challenges and opportunities for the 3PL market in the USA. In addition, it helps 3PLs formulate the future survival and growth strategies by providing the detailed picture of where they stand in terms of competitiveness. In so doing, this paper identifies important sources of 3PLs' financial inefficiencies, while uncovering the secret behind the improvement of their financial efficiencies.
Benchmarking firms' operational performance according to their use of internet‐based interorganizational systems
Authors: Hadaya Pierre
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Drawing on the concepts of benchmarking and of fit as profile deviation, the purpose of this paper is to identify the critical dimensions of usage of internet based interorganizational systems (IOISs) of the best performing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical evidence is gathered through an electronic survey conducted with 228 manufacturers in the computer and electronic product manufacturing sector.

Findings

Data collected demonstrates that: volume of use and depth of use are the two critical dimensions of internet based IOISs usage on the supplier side; volume of use, level of integration, diversity of types and depth of use are the four critical dimensions of internet based IOISs usage on the customer side; and a deviation from these patterns of internet based IOISs usage should result in poorer operational performance. Statistical analyses also show the relative importance of each of the critical dimensions of internet based IOISs usage on both the supplier and customer sides of the supply chain.

Practical implications

The paper findings indicate that manufacturers in the computer and electronic product manufacturing sector should not approach their supply chain management and eBusiness strategies from a single business network perspective; rather, they must take into account the specificities of their downstream supply chain to implement an internet based IOIS strategy that will satisfy the diversified needs of their customer base.

Originality/value

This paper is the only one to date that draws on both a benchmarking approach and contingency theory to assess the impact of internet based IOISs usage on a firm's operational performance.
Benchmarking road freight transport
Authors: McKinnon Alan C.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical review of the first ten years of the UK Government's “transport key performance indicator (KPI)” programme which benchmarks the efficiency of road freight operations.

Design/methodology/approach

Documentation on nine benchmarking surveys is reviewed and combined with direct experience of programme's implementation to assess the general approach, the synchronised auditing procedure used, the choice of KPIs and resulting benefits to stakeholders.

Findings

The programme illustrates how a benchmarking programme can become an instrument of government policy heightening awareness of best practice in freight transport and potential efficiency gains. It has been shown, across various industry supply chains, that similar distribution operations can have markedly different energy intensity. The programme has, nevertheless, been deficient in several respects. Too little attention has been given to the inter‐relationship with other logistical activities, the causes of observed differences in efficiency and subsequent changes in company behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

Most of the benchmarking exercises have lacked follow‐up surveys to enquire about the costs and benefits of company participation. Such surveys should become an integral part of future transport KPI projects.

Practical implications

The UK Government has pioneered this form of transport benchmarking. Other governments and organisations can learn from its experience, particularly in dealing with the practical problems of recruiting companies, balancing government and industry requirements and ensuring consistency.

Originality/value

The government‐sponsored programme of freight transport benchmarking reviewed in this paper is unique. This is the first attempt to summarise its achievements and findings since its launch in 1997.
Supply chain performance measurement framework for small and medium scale enterprises
Authors: Thakkar Jitesh , Kanda Arun , Deshmukh S.G.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated supply chain performance measurement framework for the case of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) using set of qualitative and quantitative insights gained during the case study research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops the supply chain performance measurement framework using the facts revealed through case study analysis, secondary data specific to various SME clusters in India and detailed contemporary studies reported on supply chain management in SMEs. It integrates the salient features of balanced scorecard (BSC) and supply chain operation reference (SCOR) model to deliver a comprehensive performance measurement framework for SMEs.

Findings

This paper reports set of performance indicators for the supply chain processes like “source,” “make,” and “deliver” in SMEs. It also relates the measures with various supply chain cycles like “procurement,” “manufacturing,” “replenishment,” and “customer order.” As a result, paper delivers an integrated performance measurement framework for supply chain evaluation and planning in SMEs. It also outlines the detailed guideline for the implementation and use of the framework.

Practical implications

This paper is expected that the developed framework: will help SME managers to improve the visibility of their supply chain amongst interacting partners; and will help SME firms to explain the basis of their decisions to the other supply chain partners and specifically, origingal equipment manufacturer organizations where less bargaining power exist.

Originality/value

This paper integrates the spirit of two well‐known contributions in the field of performance measurement namely BSC and SCOR. The proposed framework is deduced using the findings of real life case study research and hence establishes an adequate platform for its application. It would help the managers or decision makers in SMEs to gain a systematic insight into their supply chain problems and hence undertake the necessary improvements.
REITs, the stock market and economic activity
Authors: Laopodis Nikiforos
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the linkages among real estate investment trusts (REITs), the stock market, and real economic activity for the USA for the 1971‐2007 period. In view of the fact that when the economy performs well the equity and REIT markets also do well, it is easy to see why one needs to examine the dynamic interactions among these magnitudes and understand the implications of market movements or policy changes on the returns of REIT.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical investigation is conducted via the vector autoregressive (VAR) methodology coupled with Granger causality and cointegration analyses. VAR analysis permits inferences to be drawn about how a particular variable, say, the stock market, helps to explain a REIT's return and to see how a shock from the same variable affects that return. In other words, the magnitudes which are more relevant in explaining the REIT return can be deduced so as to determine the driving forces behind the return. Finally, some robustness tests are performed and some other relative magnitudes are experimented with so as to have a more comprehensive picture of the dynamic interactions among the three variables.

Findings

First, the equity and the mortgage REIT categories display essentially similar patterns with their interactions with the general stock market and/or industrial production movements. Specifically, in the case of the equity REIT, it is revealed that a reciprocal linkage between the two exists, whereas for the mortgage REIT a uni‐directional one run from the REIT to the stock market. Second, when substituting the general stock market returns with two sub index returns (the small‐ and the mid‐cap excess returns) it is found that the two REIT categories are more closely related to a sub index than the general stock market index. Overall, significant short‐run interactions are seen among the three magnitudes since the 1970s.

Originality/value

The results are important for investors and policymakers. For investors, the finding of the close relationship between the equity and mortgage REIT categories and the general stock market is that there may not be a profitable reallocation of portfolios within these two asset classes. For policymakers, it can be suggested that they take notice of how changes in monetary policy (via changes in interest rates or money supply) influence REIT investments and what the impact of that would be on the reallocation of such investments by professional investors and managers.
The state of play in the futures field: a metascanning overview
Authors: Slaughter Richard
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The paper aims to introduce the first iteration of an international research project into the “state of play” in the futures field (SoPiFF) using methodology developed at the Australian Foresight Institute (AFI).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper outlines the overall approach and the methods it employed, along with some implications and emerging themes from this first iteration.

Findings

The paper casts new light on patterns of activity in the futures/foresight arena that, in turn, lead to policy questions, including those of purpose and effectiveness.

Originality/value

The SoPiFF project is of interest not only for its early results, but also for the use of the metascanning methodology outlined here. At one level it draws attention to the nature of the foresight practitioner's toolkit. At another it may also help to guide decisions about future resourcing options and the nature of training that is offered within the domain.
Understanding and resolving the global problematique: assessing the balance between progressive and socially conservative foresight
Authors: Slaughter Richard , Riedy Chris
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper draws on research undertaken for the State of Play in the Futures Field (SoPiFF) project and aims to explore the contribution of futures work to understanding and resolving aspects of the global problematique and to examine the social interests evident in futures work.

Design/methodology/approach

The project used an integral meta‐scanning framework to review publicly available futures material. The framework categorizes futures work according to organizational type, social interests, methods, domains and geographic location (details of the methodology are outlined in the accompanying introductory paper as well as on the web site created for the project).

Findings

The futures field has made a series of significant contributions to understanding the global problematique and has contributed to the pre‐conditions for its resolution. However, the bulk of mainstream futures work does little to improve the preparedness of humanity for looming future crises. More innovative futures work remains marginalized and largely ignored by the powerful and the wider public. There is a strong case for more effective political engagement than has occurred hitherto.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed on shared definitions for the field, interactions with the media, public and other fields of enquiry and action, measurement of individual foresight capacity, strategies for achieving influence – particularly in the political sphere, the role of subcultures within the futures field and suitable publishing strategies.

Practical implications

The paper recommends specific actions to promote and publicize good work, provide annual digests of futures‐related information, develop and use focused briefings, provide support for “cutting‐edge” futures work, further develop advanced futures methods, create new alliances, build the social capacity for foresight and strengthen the nexus between foresight and philanthropy.

Originality/value

The paper uses an integral meta‐scanning framework to provide a novel analysis of the futures field. The findings will be of value to all futures and foresight practitioners that are interested in the future success of the field.
The influence of futures work on public policy and sustainability
Authors: Riedy Chris
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to draw on a global scan of futures literature undertaken for the State of Play in the Futures Field (SOPIFF) project to investigate the contribution of futures work to averting looming sustainability challenges and suggest new strategies for influencing policy and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The SOPIFF project used an integral meta‐scanning framework to review publicly available futures material, providing a rich source of material to use in assessing the influence achieved by futures work. The framework categorizes futures work according to organizational type, social interests, methods, domains and geographic location.

Findings

On the whole, the influence achieved by futures work is disappointing given that many futurists are strongly committed to bringing about more desirable futures. Some qualified success stories include science and technology foresight, getting sustainability challenges onto the social agenda and small‐scale, distributed initiatives.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of the scanning process include heavy reliance on publicly available material, prioritization of breadth over depth of analysis and the physical and cultural location of the researchers. Future iterations of the research should go beyond public material, undertake deeper analysis of scanning hits and draw in more non‐western and non‐English work.

Practical implications

The paper proposes four strategies for increasing the influence of futures work: methodological renewal, political engagement, individual capacity building and participatory approaches.

Originality/value

The paper uses the recently developed integral meta‐scanning framework to provide a novel view of the futures field. The findings will be of value to foresight practitioners that are seeking to influence public policy and sustainability.
Foresight and futures in Europe: an overview
Authors: May Graham H.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

As part of the State of Play of the Futures Field project this paper attempts to assess the nature of futures in Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents internet‐based research.

Findings

The paper reveals an overview of futures work in Europe.

Research limitations/implications

The review is based on web‐based information mainly in English.

Originality/value

The paper is part of a global study assessing the level of futures work.
Futures schools of thought within the integral futures framework
Authors: Morgan Dennis Ray
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to expand on the findings of the SOPIFF project by identifying eight futures schools of thought, and then analyze and critique these through the integral futures (IF) framework. This paper, Part I, also aims to focus on the upper quadrants of the IF framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adapts Wilber's integral theory to clarify various philosophical orientations towards the future. It also adapts Polak's approach to futures as a matter of “social critique and reconstruction”; however, here the approach is global, civilizational, and integral, so it proposes civilizational critique and integral reconstruction as a method for evaluating futures schools of thought.

Findings

The IF framework has proved to be a valuable theoretical and analytical tool since it clarifies not only orientations to the future but also demonstrates the dynamic lines of development and interactions throughout all four quadrants, illustrating how the four‐quadrant approach is an effective framework for understanding the crisis of civilization and the response needed at this time in history to bring about a preferred future.

Research implications/limitations

The paper draws and expands upon the findings of the SOPIFF project as a way to better understand the “global problematique.” Thus, this paper suggests some implications of that research and proposes the integral futures framework as a way to interpret research findings. Future research should attempt to develop and apply the IF framework similarly in order to realize a sustainable, integrally‐informed image of the future of human civilization.

Practical implications

An integrally‐informed approach to futures and foresight studies should help develop and improve futures methodology/practices in general. The IF framework helps to understand philosophical orientations underlying practices and applications.

Originality/value

This application of the IF framework to various mainstream futures schools of thought is original. It should help futurists to see and interpret the bigger picture regarding images of the future in a civilizational context by revealing the “crack” in the modern image of the future, how it relates to the current world crisis, and what is needed to heal the crack so that a new, more integrally‐informed, sustainable image of the future can emerge.
Standardising wholesale super‐fast broadband access: the public role
Authors: Onwurah Chinyelu
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to set out a framework for assessing whether and how to intervene in the standardisation of new technologies, based on the experience of Ofcom, the UK converged communications regulator.

Design/methodology/approach

As part of its duties to promote the interests of consumers and citizens, Ofcom needed to decide whether or not to intervene in the standardisation of wholesale access to superfast broadband, in the context of the roll out of the next generation of telecommunications access networks.

Findings

Ofcom found that the case for intervention was finely balanced between, on the one hand, the risk to innovation and, on the other, the consumer welfare generated by the right combination of standardisation and network effects. Ofcom identified four basic models of intervention: take no formal action; require that infrastructure providers use open standards, without specifying which standards should be used; mandate a particular standard to be used; and specify the standard to be used. Ofcom developed a policy framework that assesses interventions in terms of prospects for innovation and network effects. This led it to choose an approach that initially involves no formal action. Instead, Ofcom facilitates industry leadership of standardisation whilst monitoring the emerging competitive environment and signalling both its desired outcomes and its determination to take action if competition does not develop.

Practical implications

It is too early to say whether this approach will ultimately prove successful, however the framework allows for progressive strengthening of intervention if competition is not forthcoming.

Originality/value

The paper delivers value in conceptualising and clarifying the overall approach to standardisation.