bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sources of sustainable competitive advantage: the case of rice-milling firms in Thailand
Authors: Ritthaisong Yuttakorn , M. Johri Lalit , Speece Mark
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the effect of several valuable resources (organizational reputation, human resource management (HRM) practices, networks, and vertical integration in production) in explaining the performance of rice-milling firms in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

– Resource-based view (RBV) theory was used to explain that the particular bundle of firm resources can become the source of sustainable competitive advantage and thereby improve the business's performance. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and questionnaire were used to collect data from Thailand rice exporters. Then regression technique was employed for data analysis.

Findings

– Results from a survey of rice mills involved in international export showed that organizational reputation, some HRM practices, and networks were significantly related to firm's performance, but vertical integration was not.

Originality/value

– This study supports the basic assertion of RBV theory that a set of firm specific resources could be applied in ways that enhance sustainable competitive advantage.
Consumer response to retail performance of organic food retailers
Authors: Shih-Tse Wang Edward , Tsai Bi-Kun
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Understanding how retail performance can reduce risk perceptions and influence behavioral intentions remains a key issue for researchers. Consumer evaluations of a retailer's performance may form their risk perceptions and positive behavioral intentions toward the retailer. This study aims to extend previous research by proposing an integrative model that examines how three retail performance dimensions (product quality, service quality, and price fairness) influence consumer trust, risk perceptions, and repatronage intentions in the context of organic food retailing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Empirical data were collected from face-to-face interviews guided by a structural questionnaire. Consumers of organic food retailers located in Taiwan were asked to participate in the research and 416 usable questionnaires were collected. Structural equation modeling (SEM) through LISREL 8.70 was used to analyze the data.

Findings

– Results show that both product quality and price fairness have direct effects on consumer trust, risk perceptions, and indirect effects (through trust in retailer and transaction risk perceptions) on the intent to revisit an organic food retailer. Service quality only affects consumer trust directly, but not perceived transaction risk. In addition, service quality does not have a significant indirect effect on revisit intention.

Originality/value

– This study is the first to research essential issues for understanding the role of retail performance dimensions on transaction risk perceptions in organic food marketing practices in Taiwan.
Performance measures and metrics for the creative economy
Authors: Steven White D. , Gunasekaran Angappa , H. Roy Matthew
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Creativity is becoming one of the most powerful sources of competitive advantage in the modern economy. As more developed economies progress from the tertiary (or service-based) level to the quaternary (or knowledge-based) level, successful nurturing of creativity and innovation provides competitive advantages for industries and countries alike. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on the extant literature, a set of performance measures and metrics for the creative economy is proposed.

Findings

– A conceptual framework for developing a creative economy is presented, and measures and metrics to be used as a managerial tool for controlling performance in creative economies are provided.

Research limitations/implications

– Although the measures and metrics presented are based on the best available research, they are not empirically tested. Thus, the measures and metrics must be considered speculative and descriptive research is needed to validate their utility.

Practical implications

– Utilizing the performance measures and metrics identified in this research provides policy and decision makers with a foundation on which to build their local or regional economies.

Originality/value

– The research as presented contributes to the literature on the creative economy and is unique in its contribution to said literature.
Appraisal of CNC machine tool by integrated MULTI-MOORA-IVGN circumferences
Authors: Kumar Sahu Anoop , Kumar Sahu Nitin , Kumar Sahu Atul
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The primitive purpose of this manuscript is to develop an effective and efficient computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool evaluation index from the perspective of appraisal and benchmarking of preferred candidate machine tool in subjective information scenario. In this reporting, manager has been facilitated from the decision making tool and methodology in order to evaluate the best one and benchmarking the preferred candidate alternative machine tool under the subjective criterion circumstances.

Design/methodology/approach

– A MULTI-MOORA (multi-objective optimization by ratio analysis) methodology conjunction with grey number has fruitfully applied in evaluated subjective information against criterion module plate form from the prospectus of handling the vagueness, inconsistency, impreciseness and in order to appraisal and benchmarking of the candidate CNC machine tool alternatives.

Findings

– In today scenario, the subjective evaluation criterion has even ran over the CNC machine tool evaluation module (index) except other valuable area on account of an abatement of consistent data. The authors found out the subjective information is even necessary/mandatory to handling and tackle such an inconsistent, vagueness, impreciseness which associated uncertain criterion. So, the authors found out that the application of grey number conjunction with MULTI-MOORA decision methodology from the prospectus of appraisal and benchmarking of preferred candidate alternatives machine tool.

Originality/value

– The major contribution of this manuscript to exploration of grey number set conjunction with MULTI-MOORA methodology toward appraisal and benchmarking of preferred CNC candidate machine tool alternative, handled and tackled the evaluated subjective information from expert panel against subjective criterion environment, facilitates the multi-criterion decision making (MCDM) module from the prospectus of best one and ranking order the candidate machine tool alternative under the similar subjective criterion circumstances.
Entrepreneurship and innovation in emerging economies
Authors: Marcotte Claude
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– After presenting a brief review of the Schumpeterian and Kirznerian views on entrepreneurship, the purpose of this paper is aims to measure the two views within the economic and institutional contexts of emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Configurations of innovative entrepreneurship, opportunity entrepreneurship and contextual variables were assessed using cluster analysis on 16 emerging countries.

Findings

– Four profiles were found: innovative entrepreneurship of the Schumpeter Mark I type, innovative entrepreneurship of the Schumpeter Mark II type, opportunity entrepreneurship of the Kirznerian form and a fourth cluster described as a potentially emerging Schumpeter Mark II profile. The economic and governance indicators were favorable in the two innovative entrepreneurship clusters, whereas the contextual indicators of innovation were particularly favorable in the Schumpeter Mark II group.

Research limitations/implications

– The study demonstrated the importance of aligning theory, methods and context in comparative entrepreneurship research. Profiling countries on theory-based entrepreneurial dimensions appears as a viable approach. However, the results also pointed to the need for more attention to the dynamic aspects of country entrepreneurial activity. Another limitation lies in the low number of emerging countries for which complete comparable data are available.

Practical implications

– For policy makers, it may be interesting to examine our results showing that the economic and governance correlates are more favorable in the two innovative clusters.

Originality/value

– The study is one of the few recent attempts to clarify the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation in the context of emerging economies.
Empowerment and entrepreneurship: a theoretical framework
Authors: Al-Dajani Haya , Marlow Susan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop an empirically informed conceptual framework to analyse the gendered relationship between empowerment and entrepreneurship contextualised within the lives of displaced Palestinian migrant women operating home-based enterprises in Amman, Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

– A longitudinal qualitative study was undertaken during which semi-structured in-depth interviews were regularly conducted with 43 women producing high-quality traditional embroidered goods within home-based enterprises. The empirical material was utilised to inform and illustrate the creation of an empowerment framework.

Findings

– Entrepreneurship is popularly presented as an individually focused economic undertaking. However, this paper demonstrates it is also a socio-politically situated activity; within this particular context, marginalised subordinated women were empowered through their home-based enterprises.

Originality/value

– This paper offers a gender informed conceptual framework to inform the analyses of empowerment and entrepreneurship. The discussion describes the necessary processes for development goals to be realised, and explains how traditionally subordinated women can utilise enterprise to contribute to social change. In so doing, the proposed conceptual framework acts as a theoretical illustration of the gendered relationship between empowerment and entrepreneurship.
Impacts of Kaizen in a small-scale industry of India: a case study
Authors: Kumar Arya Amit , Kumar Jain Sanjiv
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– A large number of small-scale industries have shown their existence in India, tough competition among them made the survival of small industries difficult. All facing problems like reduced production and poor quality. The case study presented in the paper deals with Kaizen implementation in a machine vice manufacturer company. Kaizen has tremendous impacts on the production techniques and lead times. Case study represented is to motivate practitioners for implementing Kaizen in small-scale industries of India. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology applied to implement the Kaizen in Indian small-scale industry. Fishbone diagrams have been used to represent cause and effects. The result has been shown as savings in terms of money and time.

Findings

– Processing time has been reduced by 44.4 percent and an amount of Rs. 64,000 has been saved by recovering a total of 80 square feet working area. Improvements in the form of work flow have been achieved.

Research limitations/implications

– Value stream mapping can be integrated with Kaizen for more reduction in the product lead time.

Practical implications

– The paper will be worthily for practitioners and consultants for understanding Kaizen implementation in small-scale industry of India.

Originality/value

– The paper yields lots of values for practitioners to understand the impacts and significance of the Kaizen in small-scale industries of India. Also it bridges the gap between theory and practical of Kaizen implementation in small-scale industry of India.
Procuring complex performance: implications for exchange governance complexity
Authors: Roehrich Jens , Lewis Mike
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– While previous studies explored the argument that allies the notion of complexity to the complex product-service offerings being procured, this paper aims to explore whether there is a corollary with exchange governance complexity. More specifically, the paper analyzes the relationship between systemic complexity and complexity of contractual and relational exchange governance in procuring complex performance (PCP) arrangements.

Design/methodology/approach

– A multiple, longitudinal case study method is used to examine the relationship between systemic complexity and exchange governance complexity. The study deploys rich data sets by combining government and company reports with 43 semi-structured interviews.

Findings

– Preliminary conclusions suggest that as a response to increasing systemic complexity, organizations respond with increasing contractual governance complexity. However, better performing PCP arrangements illustrate that the use of simplified contractual governance in form of working agreements in combination with relational governance such as inter-personal relationships may be more effective to counteract complexity.

Practical implications

– The paper questions whether organizations should respond with increasing exchange governance complexity to counteract systemic complexity. Managers must consider the manageability and enforceability of complex contracts in combination with the formation of inter-personal relationships and simplified working agreements.

Originality/value

– This study adds to the limited empirical understanding on the nature of long-term public-private interactions in PCP. It also contributes through a rare focus on the relationship between systemic complexity and exchange governance complexity in PCP arrangements.
The relationships between soft-hard TQM factors and key business results
Authors: Calvo-Mora Arturo , Picón Araceli , Ruiz Carolina , Cauzo Lourdes
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to advance in the knowledge of the EFQM model as a framework for implementing total quality management (TQM). To do so, the work identifies the soft-hard TQM factors in the EFQM model, investigates the relationships between these factors and analyses their influence on key business results.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology used is factorial analysis and structural equations – specifically the partial least squares technique. The sample is made up of 116 private firms. TQM is an integral management philosophy which is based on a set of social and technical factors that must be put into practice through a reference framework, such as the one in the EFQM model.

Findings

– The work empirically identifies three dimensions that correspond to the soft-hard TQM factors (management and human resources, strategic management of partnerships and resources and processes management). Furthermore, it shows how these dimensions make up a management system that has a significant effect on key business results.

Research limitations/implications

– The main limitations are to be found in the sample used – private firms from a specific geographical context.

Practical implications

– The research model facilitates the design of a management system for professionals and orientates them in its implementation and improvement with a view to influencing key results.

Originality/value

– The data have been obtained from the scores of the processes of self-assessment and external assessment followed by firms that were candidates for excellence awards. The work empirically identifies the social and technical factors implied in the EFQM model and their relationships. Moreover, it presents the effect on a type of result that has not been analysed very much: key results (economic, financial, innovation or processes improvement).
Contracting for complex performance in markets of few buyers and sellers
Authors: Caldwell Nigel , Howard Mickey
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The aim of the paper is to identify and review the impact and challenges of new contractual arrangements on UK military procurement and other limited or oligopolistic markets.

Design/methodology/approach

– The unit of analysis is the large-scale procurement programme. Two cases of major military platforms (naval and air defence) examine through-life maintenance or “contracting for availability” and build theory on procuring complex performance (PCP). Propositions are developed from the literature then tested and extended from the case analysis, supported by 35 interviews from buyer and supplier representatives.

Findings

– Examining UK military platform procurement reveals a perspective not present in fast moving high volume supply chains. In oligopolistic markets such as defence, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) represents a market of one, seeking ambitious and non-incremental innovation from the prime contractor during the procurement process. The new contractual arrangements show an increasing shift in responsibility to the prime contractor who coordinates service support and supply chain incentivisation over extended, often multi-decade platform lifecycles.

Research limitations/implications

– The cases were conducted separately and later compared. Whilst based on defence sources, the paper concludes with general recommendations for all public-private complex procurements and seeks to explore other industry sectors as part of further research into PCP.

Originality/value

– Examined from a theoretical and practical perspective, the cases reveal the challenges facing procurement in major public-private projects. The changing role identified reflects extended timescales and the quasi-market military procurement environment, compounded by current economic and politically charged conditions. Procurement by default increasingly plays a new shaping role in large-scale programme management driven by outcome-based contracting. Customers such as the MOD must re-evaluate their role under these new contractual arrangements, providing leadership and engaging with future contracting capability and innovation.
A TOPSIS method to evaluate the technologies
Authors: Sarkar Asis
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to evaluate nine types of electrical energy generation options with regard to seven criteria. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to perform the evaluation. The TOPSIS method was used to evaluate the best generation technology.

Design/methodology/approach

– The options that were evaluated are the hydrogen combustion turbine, the hydrogen internal combustion engine, the hydrogen fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cell, the hydrogen fuelled solid oxide fuel cell, the natural gas fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cell, the natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cell, the natural gas turbine, the natural gas combined cycle and the natural gas internal combustion engine. The criteria used for the evaluation are CO2 emissions, NOX emissions, efficiency, capital cost, operation and maintenance costs, service life and produced electricity cost.

Findings

– The results drawn from the analysis in technology wise are as follows: natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells>natural gas combined cycle>natural gas fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cells>natural gas internal combustion engine>hydrogen fuelled solid oxide fuel cells>hydrogen internal combustion engines>hydrogen combustion turbines>hydrogen fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cells> and natural gas turbine. It shows that the natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells are the best technology available among all the available technology considering the seven criteria such as service life, electricity cost, O&M costs, capital cost, NOX emissions, CO2 emissions and efficiency of the plant.

Research limitations/implications

– The most dominant electricity generation technology proved to be the natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells which ranked in the first place among nine alternatives. The research is helpful to evaluate the different alternatives.

Practical implications

– The research is helpful to evaluate the different alternatives and can be extended in all the spares of technologies.

Originality/value

– The research was the original one. Nine energy generation options were evaluated with regard to seven criteria. The energy generation options were the hydrogen combustion turbine, the hydrogen internal combustion engine, the hydrogen fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cell, the hydrogen fuelled solid oxide fuel cell, the natural gas fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cell, the natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cell, the natural gas turbine, the natural gas combined cycle and the natural gas internal combustion engine. The criteria used for the evaluation were efficiency, CO2 emissions, NOX emissions, capital cost, O&M costs, electricity cost and service life.
A typology of Indian hypermarket shoppers based on shopping motivation
Authors: Mehta Ritu , K. Sharma Narendra , Swami Sanjeev
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Hypermarket is the most successful amongst organised retail formats in India. The purpose of this paper is to identify segments of hypermarket shoppers based on shopping motivation. The study profiles the identified segments on demographic characteristics and shopping outcomes, and compares the shopping motivation of hypermarket consumers with that of traditional store shoppers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study involved a survey of 201 actual shoppers in a hypermarket and that of 117 actual shoppers in 20 traditional stores. Principal components analysis of the motives for shopping at hypermarket and traditional store identified the respective dimensions of shopping motivation. Cluster analysis of the factor scores obtained on shopping motivation at hypermarket revealed the typology of hypermarket shoppers. Chi-square test and MANOVA were used to profile the identified segments of hypermarket shoppers on demographic characteristics and shopping outcomes respectively.

Findings

– Results revealed different dimensions of motivation to shop at the hypermarket and traditional store and four types of hypermarket shoppers were identified: utilitarians, maximisers, browsers and enthusiasts. The utilitarians are motivated by functional benefits such as the price and variety of products; the maximisers seek functional as well as recreational benefits; the browsers are high on social motivation; and the enthusiasts are high on all dimensions of shopping motivation. These segments showed overall significant differences on demographic characteristics and shopping outcomes.

Practical implications

– The proposal for allowing FDI in multi-brand retail in India, a rapidly emerging market for global retail players, is at an advanced stage of policy making. Many national and multi-national retailers are in the process of expansion in India. This study adds to their understanding of Indian consumers. Based on the identified typology, the study suggests different strategies to target different segments of hypermarket shoppers.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to the growing field of cross-cultural research on shopping motivation by highlighting the typology of Indian hypermarket shoppers.
Recommendations for information security awareness training for college students
Authors: B. Kim Eyong
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to survey the status of information security awareness among college students in order to develop effective information security awareness training (ISAT).

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a review of the literature and theoretical standpoints as well as the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-50 report, the author developed a questionnaire to investigate the attitudes toward information security awareness of undergraduate and graduate students in a business college at a mid-sized university in New England. Based on that survey and the previous literature, suggestions for more effective ISAT are provided.

Findings

– College students understand the importance and the need for ISAT but many of them do not participate in it. However, security topics that are not commonly covered by any installed (or built-in) programs or web sites have a significant relationship with information security awareness. It seems that students learned security concepts piecemeal from variety of sources.

Practical implications

– Universities can assess their ISAT for students based on the findings of this study.

Originality/value

– If any universities want to improve their current ISAT, or establish it, the findings of this study offer some guidelines.
Exploring incomplete information in maintenance materials inventory optimization
Authors: Puurunen Antti , Majava Jukka , Kess Pekka
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Ensuring the sufficient service level is essential for critical materials in industrial maintenance. This study aims to evaluate the use of statistically imperfect data in a stochastic simulation-based inventory optimization where items' failure characteristics are derived from historical consumption data, which represents a real-life situation in the implementation of such an optimization model.

Design/methodology/approach

– The risks of undesired shortages were evaluated through a service-level sensitivity analysis. The service levels were simulated within the error of margin of the key input variables by using StockOptim optimization software and real data from a Finnish steel mill. A random sample of 100 inventory items was selected.

Findings

– Service-level sensitivity is item specific, but, for many items, statistical imprecision in the input data causes significant uncertainty in the service level. On the other hand, some items seem to be more resistant to variations in the input data than others.

Research limitations/implications

– The case approach, with one simulation model, limits the generalization of the results. The possibility that the simulation model is not totally realistic exists, due to the model's normality assumptions.

Practical implications

– Margin of error in input data estimation causes a significant risk of not achieving the required service level. It is proposed that managers work to improve the preciseness of the data, while the sensitivity analysis against statistical uncertainty, and a correction mechanism if necessary, should be integrated into optimization models.

Originality/value

– The output limitations in the optimization, i.e. service level, are typically stated precisely, but the capabilities of the input data have not been addressed adequately. This study provides valuable insights into ensuring the availability of critical materials.
Communication effectiveness on IT service relationship quality
Authors: Park Jun-Gi , Lee Seyoon , Lee Jungwoo
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate the effect of communication effectiveness (CE) on service quality (SQ) leading to relationship quality (RQ) in IT service relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

– CE was decomposed into frequency, bi-directionality and quality of communication while SQ was decomposed into functional and technical qualities, and RQ into trust and relationship commitment. An empirical study is conducted testing the nomological research model consists of these dimensions, using survey method collecting data from 144 subjects.

Findings

– The findings indicate that good SQ can impact relationship commitment only via the clients' trust, but not directly. Influence of functional quality is stronger on trust but technical quality also maintains significant impact. Detailed findings imply that, while communication is important element influencing perceptions of SQ, quality of bi-directional communication is more critical than simple but frequent communication.

Originality/value

– This study explores the direct impact of CE on SQ leading to RQ in IT service context. Previous studies rarely tested the impacts of functional and technical SQ, simultaneously. Findings of this study add values to research on service relations as well as IT services research in terms of differentiating functional and technical service qualities.
Market-oriented sustainability: moderating impact of stakeholder involvement
Authors: W. Clark James , C. Toms Lisa , W. Green Kenneth
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The theoretical framework for market-oriented sustainability developed by Crittenden, Crittenden, Ferrell, Ferrell, and Pinney, in which the relationship between organizational culture and performance management is theorized as moderated by stakeholder involvement, is empirically assessed. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Crittenden et al. model is operationalized using market orientation to represent organizational culture and climate, logistics performance to represent performance management, and green purchasing to represent the moderator stakeholder involvement in sustainability. The model is assessed using data collected from a sample of 257 manufacturing managers working for US manufacturing plants. A partial least squares structural equation modeling approach is used to statistically assess for measurement scale validity and reliability and the moderated model.

Findings

– The results support the conceptual framework for market-oriented sustainability theorized by Crittenden et al. Organization culture in the form of market orientation interacts with stakeholder involvement in sustainability in the form of green purchasing to enhance performance monitoring in the form of logistics performance.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is one of the first to empirically assess the market-oriented sustainability model. Only one set of potential constructs (market orientation, green purchasing, and logistics performance) is used to test the overall model thus limiting the generalization of the results.

Practical implications

– The results indicate that manufacturing managers should work to establish and improve market orientation as a direct way of making their plants and organizations environmentally sustainable and that manufacturing managers interact with supply chain partners, specifically suppliers, to satisfy customer demands for eco-friendly products and services.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first studies to empirically assess the general form of the market-oriented sustainability model.
Empirical verification of the balanced scorecard
Authors: Janeš Aleksander
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The development and empirical verification of the balanced scorecard (BSC) model are key parts of the research of a case study on the performance measurement system (PMS) of the Ydria Motors LL Company (YM). The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was performed as a single case study of modelling the BSC for the manufacturing company and founded on complementary use of qualitative and quantitative methods. The central part of the case study is an empirically evaluated layout of the BSC with the Engle-Granger two-step method.

Findings

– The results and findings from empirical analysis showed that the methods used are appropriate for inclusion in the methodological approach as they are complementary. Therefore, it can be asserted that the introduction of quantitative methods of continuous data analysis for the implementation of the BSC improved the established approach. In this research, an approach that represents the basis for further work in the field of research in PMSs of companies, with the use of econometric tools, was empirically tested and developed.

Research limitations/implications

– The generalization of research findings is limited to only one manufacturing company. With the continuation of the research on other case studies, the preliminary lessons learned can be expanded to other organizations.

Originality/value

– Following the research findings, it can be established that the methodology used provides support to organization's decision-making process in real-time and can be used with different strategies scenarios and forecast simulations and thus supports the prioritization of strategic initiatives. In addition, the developed model allows the integration and testing of various performance indicators and the identification and selection of the most appropriate KPIs.
Motion planning for a new-model obstacle-crossing mobile welding robot
Authors: Zhang Tao , Wu Minghui , Zhao Yanzheng , Chen Shanben
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss motion planning about crossing obstacles and welding trajectory for a new-model mobile obstacle-crossing welding robot system. The robot can cross the obstacle in this way that one of the three adhesion mobile parts is pulled off the ground in turn. An optimal obstacle-crossing approach needs to be studied to improve the welding efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

– According to the characteristics of this mobile welding robot, two methods for crossing obstacles are compared. A special method is used for obstacle-crossing and welding. The kinematic model is established. By the optimization method, the optimum parameters for crossing obstacles are calculated. The welding speed when the robot is crossing the obstacle is very important, so its value must be in a certain range. Finally, the tracks of the wheels when the robot is crossing the obstacle are analyzed in order to observe the obstacle-crossing process.

Findings

– According to the analysis, the maximum speed of the vehicle in the obstacle-crossing is determined. When crossing the obstacle, the robot can do welding simultaneously. The welding speed cannot exceed a certain value. In the obstacle-crossing process, the tracks of the wheels can reflect the process. According to the obtained conclusion, the obstacle-crossing experiments are successfully completed, and the welding effect is good. The results can prove that the proposed method is feasible.

Research limitations/implications

– The speed of obstacle-crossing is not very large. It has some relationships with the lifting speed of the wheels, which is determined by the quality of drive motor. More efficient robot must be developed to meet the needs of industrial robot.

Practical implications

– Based on the excellent obstacle-crossing and welding capabilities, the robot with the new mechanism has a widely applying prospect in the field of welding and inspecting large equipment.

Originality/value

– The obstacle-crossing approach has certain innovation. The way that the robot can maintain continuous welding when crossing the obstacle is of a great significance.
The Pransky interview: Dr Paolo Pirjanian, CTO of iRobot Corporation
Authors: Pransky Joanne
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– PhD/inventor builds consumer robot start-up company based on low-cost, groundbreaking visual simultaneous localization and mapping (vSLAM) visual sensors and NorthStar® navigation technologies that sells for nearly $75 million dollars 12 years later. The following article is a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business, and personal experience of a prominent, robotic industry engineer-turned entrepreneur regarding the evolution, commercialization, and challenges of bringing a technological invention to market. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This interview was with Dr Paolo Pirjanian, CTO of iRobot Corporation. Dr Pirjanian previously served as both CTO and CEO of Evolution Robotics. Dr Pirjanian received his PhD degree from Aalborg University, Denmark. He has received several honors and awards including the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Early Career Award in 2004 and the Technical Leadership Award from JPL/NASA. Dr Pirjanian holds 67 patents.

Findings

– The challenges and solutions of transferring technological innovations into an affordable consumer product are presented. The resulting pioneering technologies and approximate 37 patents around vSLAM and NorthStar® were incorporated into Evolution's flagship consumer product, Mint floor cleaning robot. In October 2012, iRobot Corp acquired Evolution for $74 million in an effort to complement their own products and technologies.

Originality/value

– A robot scientist, in his roles as the CTO and CEO of a robot company, uses a paradigm shift in vision and pattern recognition to build an affordable consumer product and successful company.
Examining emerging ICT's adoption in SMEs from a dynamic process approach
Authors: Chinedu Eze Sunday , Duan Yanqing , Chen Hsin
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to advance information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption research and practice by examining and understanding the emerging ICT adoption in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from a dynamic process perspective using actor-network theory (ANT).

Design/methodology/approach

– This study employs a qualitative approach to investigate how services SMEs are constantly engaging in ICT adoption for improving business performance. Two rounds of interviews were conducted with 26 interviewees. Data collected from the unstructured and semi-structured interviews were analysed to understand the dynamic adoption process, actors involved and their interactions.

Findings

– The findings reveal the recursive and dynamic nature of the emerging ICT adoption process and the constant interactions and negotiations of various actors. Underpinned by the key concepts of ANT and validated by the empirical data, a framework is developed to depict the stages of dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption, the actors involved and the associated key activities.

Research limitations/implications

– Qualitative research is interpretive in nature and the size of the sample used is limited. These limitations require caution for the generalization of the findings. The framework can be further validated across a wider population using mixed methods combining qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Practical implications

– Emerging ICT adoption has moved from a simple adopters’ participation process to involving various actors that constantly interact and influence the process. SMEs manager can be influenced by and influence the technology advancement. As a result, SMEs need constantly interact with various human and non-human actors to keep up with the new ICT development and benefit from the emerging opportunities.

Originality/value

– The research focuses on the emerging ICT adoption in SMEs from the dynamic process perspective using ANT. It advances ICT adoption research and practice by developing a framework to depict the dynamic and interactive nature of ICT adoption process, and the actors involved and their interactions in the adoption process.
Value in professional service relationships
Authors: M.B. Schertzer Susan , B. Schertzer Clinton , Robert Dwyer F.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Business to business (B2B) professional services depend on inter-firm cooperation for the co-creation of value. Such cooperation rarely happens overnight; it requires time for the relationship to develop. The purpose of this research is to investigate how different performance attributes of a professional service differ with the tenure of the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– This exploratory study utilizes seven years of longitudinal customer data provided by a B2B professional service firm. The firm's customers assess satisfaction, value, loyalty, performance quality and their image of the firm after each project.

Findings

– Data were classified into three tenure related groups – i.e. transactional, emergent and mature relationships. MANOVA and post hoc contrasts of the average attribute scores of the three groups were conducted. The data support the conclusion that high performance in professional services is evident in mature relationships.

Research limitations/implications

– Data come from company archives and reflect the firm's efforts for tactical management of client relationships, not independent informant reports from randomly selected accounts.

Practical implications

– Satisfaction surveys can be employed tactically by professional service providers to develop stronger relationships with their clients en route to co-creating extraordinary value from high levels of service quality and the client's high regard for the provider's professional qualities, such as expertise, customer focus and initiative.

Originality/value

– To the authors' knowledge, no one has shown empirically the dramatic performance advantage stemming from relationships. This is important because theory suggests that customer relationships hold strategic value. Because they are immobile and inimitable, they represent a potential sustainable competitive advantage. However, relationships take time to develop. This begs the question of whether they are worth the time and effort to develop. In the professional service context, where buyer and seller seemingly must collaborate to co-create value, mature relationships indeed yield higher performance, compared to transactional and emerging relationships.
The role of interfirm reciprocity norm and agent's conscientiousness in supply contract adjustment decision
Authors: Li Jin , Tangpong Chanchai , Hung Kuo-Ting , R. Johns Tony
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to better understand the main effects of agent conscientiousness and reciprocity norm and the interaction effect of these two factors on contract adjustment decisions in buyer-supplier relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two scenario-based experiments with college students and business professionals were conducted. Three regression models were run to test three hypotheses proposed in the paper.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations of this study are the use of single-agent decision scenarios and the specific focus on one aspect of agent personality – i.e. conscientiousness and its collective influence on contract adjustment decisions. In a broader picture, the results of this study support the cross-level analytical approach to investigating marketing channel relationships, in which individual-level and organizational-level factors interact and determine decision outcomes in business exchanges.

Practical implications

– Recruiting and promoting managers who exhibit high levels of conscientiousness, coupled with proactively cultivating the norm of reciprocity with suppliers, are critical to a firm's thrust in attaining and sustaining marketing channel management practices with the emphasis on reciprocity-based exchange relationships.

Originality/value

– While the extant literature focuses largely on interfirm governance and contract enforcement, this study examines what actually influences decision-making agents' contract adjustment decisions. This study expands the marketing literature by investigating the impacts of agent conscientiousness and reciprocity norm on contract adjustment decisions.
Emerging market firms: measuring their success with strategic positioning maps
Authors: Kumar Singal Ajay , Kumar Jain Arun
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand and map the global competitiveness of firms in emerging markets. The authors refine a framework (called the “strategic control map”, or SCM) that looks at market capitalization – using two parameters of book equity (size) and price to book ratio (performance) – as a key driver of the competitiveness of firms. However, the SCM has limited value in the context of smaller and largely domestic firms, as is the case in emerging markets. To develop a more comprehensive understanding, additional vital metrics such as the degree of internationalization need to be considered.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors compare top 100 Indian firms against global firms on four dimensions – i.e. market price to book ratio, book equity, scope and scale of international operations. The authors consider data for the year 2009-2010 to make comparisons.

Findings

– The SCM, formulated with a developed market focus, is not suitable in the context of emerging markets as it fails to consider internationalization as essential to compete at the global level. Accordingly, the authors propose a new conceptual framework, referred to as the “strategic positioning map” (SPM).

Originality/value

– In this paper, the authors argue that “international intensity” and “market capitalization” can be two important dimensions to map the relative paths of growth for firms from emerging markets.
“Rise of the middle of the pyramid in Africa”: theoretical and practical realities for understanding middle class consumer purchase decision making
Authors: Chikweche Tendai , Fletcher Richard
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence the growing African middle class (middle of pyramid; MOP) consumers' purchase decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

– A mixed qualitative research method approach comprising in-depth interviews was used to collect data from middle of pyramid consumers in four countries. Secondary data analysis was used to complement the interviews.

Findings

– Key findings include the identification of three key intertwined influencers of branding, peer and social networks and aesthetics and product performance. Other influencers include technology and new products, distribution channels and family.

Research limitations/implications

– The focus on four countries has the potential to minimize the generalizability of findings from the study although the four countries used have a significant amount of middle class consumers in Africa. However, this does not detract from the findings of the study but actually provides a basis for further research into other emerging markets.

Practical implications

– Findings from the study provide practical insights for marketing managers who intend to serve this market, key of which are branding, use of social networks, online distribution and maximising technology.

Originality/value

– The paper expands the research agenda of the relatively new area of the MOP. By focusing on the MOP in Africa, the research expands existing knowledge beyond previous areas of focus of middle class studies that focus on China and India.
How important are different socially responsible marketing practices? An exploratory study of gender, race, and income differences
Authors: Patino Anthony , D. Kaltcheva Velitchka , Pitta Dennis , Sriram Ven , D. Winsor Robert
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance consumers place on various types of socially responsible marketing practices, and whether the level of importance varies by gender, race, and consumers' income.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was designed that asked subjects their attitudes toward the various social marketing practices that were uncovered through an analysis of recent literature from ABI-Inform, Fordham University's Center for Positive Marketing and focus groups. The survey was administered to 232 subjects and included information regarding race, gender, and income. Survey results were analyzed using latent class analysis (LCA). The results of the LCA were used to develop a correspondence analysis map.

Findings

– The results confirm the importance of key demographic factors (income, gender, and race) in understanding consumers' perceptions of socially responsible marketing.

Research limitations/implications

– One limitation is that the sample was collected in Baltimore, Maryland and not entirely representative of the population of the USA. Another limitation is that consumers’ perceptions of socially responsible marketing are only captured at one point in time rather than showing the evolution of a belief.

Practical implications

– Marketers need to target their messages carefully if they are promoting socially responsible marketing as a differentiating factor. Understanding how each demographic group responds to these socially responsible marketing messages can assist managers in their promotional efforts.

Originality/value

– Limited research has been completed that segments the market with regards to socially responsible marketing options. The research explores these segments by surveying active consumers.