bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing disaster preparedness education in New Zealand primary schools
Authors: A. Johnson Victoria , R. Ronan Kevin , M. Johnston David , Peace Robin
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the national implementation of disaster preparedness education in New Zealand primary schools through the dissemination of What's the Plan, Stan?, a voluntary, curriculum-based teaching resource.

Design/methodology/approach

– Results and findings from a focus group study with school teachers and local civil defence staff in 2011 and a nationally representative survey of schools in 2012 were analyzed to identify intervening, facilitating and deterrent factors of uptake and use of the resource.

Findings

– The main intervening factors between resource promotion and school teachers’ awareness of the resource are word of mouth among school teachers and teachers’ proactive lesson plan research. The strongest facilitating factor was school-wide use of the resource. Lack of awareness of the resource and the perceived need for teacher training are the greatest deterrents to use of the resource.

Practical implications

– Based on the findings, several recommendations are provided for increasing use of the resource including use of web-based technology for teacher training, integration of disaster preparedness messaging into other children's programs, ongoing evaluation and curriculum requirements.

Originality/value

– An evaluation of the implementation of What's the Plan, Stan? adds to the limited body of knowledge on the benefits and challenges to distributing a voluntary teaching resource as a national strategy for curriculum integration of disaster education. The findings and lessons are relevant for nations meeting the Core Indicators of progress toward the 2005-2015 Hyogo Framework For Action.
Integrating social science research into wildland fire management
Authors: Czaja Michael , P. Cottrell Stuart
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Social science research is used to support the formulation of natural resource management decisions with accurate and timely information. Due to risk and potential impacts, this is important in wildland fire management. The purpose of this paper is to identify the respondent perceptions of a natural disturbance agent's impact on fire management in Colorado and Wyoming.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research methodology included a self-administered questionnaire completed by a random sample of respondents in three study locations adjacent to national forests. A quantitative analysis was conducted to identify attitudes about fuels management (prescribed fire) and beliefs about fire and fire management.

Findings

– Respondents viewed prescribed fire favorably and they understand the natural role of fire on the landscape. While results suggest respondents support management of forest conditions to decrease the effects of a wildfire, they do not feel that individuals have a right to expect their home to be protected from fire by land managers, nor do they agree with restricting home building near national forest land.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should continue the longitudinal assessment of attitudes toward prescribed fires, incorporating respondent distance to the national forest or identifying respondents living within the wildland-urban interface.

Originality/value

– This paper illustrates how applied, social science research can meet the needs of agencies and public officials. Results of this paper have been presented to state and federal forestry officials, and members of an executive-level task force in Colorado studying wildfire insurance and forest health.
Identifying macro-environmental critical success factors and key areas for improvement to promote public-private partnerships in infrastructure
Authors: Wibowo Andreas , Wilhelm Alfen Hans
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify macro-environmental critical success factors (CSFs) and key areas for improvement for public-private partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure development, using Indonesia as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology includes the definition of CSFs based on the United Nations for Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's self-assessment diagnostic tool and a survey on importance and performance attributes, the application of gap analysis (GA) and importance-performance analysis to prioritize areas needing urgent improvements, and the use of inter-rater agreement analysis to examine to what extent the ratings tend to converge on the same conclusions regarding importance and performance.

Findings

– Out of 40 possible success factors, a total of 16 are identified as CSFs in the context of Indonesia. GA suggests that no performance ratings exceed importance ratings for the identified CSFs, indicating the need for remedial actions. The factors requiring immediate improvements are all associated with commitments: to policy continuity, financial transparency, and corruption eradication.

Practical implications

– Although the paper discussing a specific country, the proposed approach is replicable and adaptable in different country contexts. Indonesia's experience can also be of value to governments facing similar problems in encouraging private investment in infrastructure.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the body of knowledge on PPP in infrastructure development by focussing exclusively on macro-environmental CSFs and Indonesia's PPPs, which are both rarely discussed in the existing literature.
Employee job satisfaction in engineering firms
Authors: W.Y. Tam Vivian , Zeng S.X.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among cultural values, using the dimension of power distance (PD), and employee job satisfaction in engineering firms in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

– A well-known leading survey design, the Value Survey Module 94 developed by Hofstede (1980), is used in measuring PD as a quantitative methodology in the form of a questionnaire survey in UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Findings

– Power distance index (PDI) show variation not only at country level, but also at firm level. Consultative is found to be the most preferred manager type by the employees. Employees perceiving their managers to be consultative are the least afraid of disagreement with their managers. “Work”, “co-workers” and “operating procedures” find to be the major job satisfaction facets while “opportunities for promotion” and “reward” are the least attracted to job satisfaction. Age is found positively correlated with “pay”, “work”, “opportunities for promotion” and “benefits”. “Work” and educational qualification of the employees are negatively correlated but no significant correlations appear to exist with other job satisfaction facets. No significant correlation existed between education level and PDI is found.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the first studies on PD and job satisfaction in UAE and Saudi Arabia. This can provide significant insight of how the Middle East countries, UAE and Saudi Arabia, react with globalization in the recent years. Recommendations for improving the existing job satisfaction in the Middle East countries are also explored.
Teaching corporate crisis management through business ethics education
Authors: Simola Sheldene
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this research was threefold, including to provide a four-point rationale for teaching corporate crisis management as a module within a course on ethical decision-making in business and organizations; to provide evaluative data supporting this approach; and to highlight the implications of this approach for human resource development and training.

Design/methodology/approach

– Thirty-four undergraduates in a required course on ethical decision-making in business and organizations completed pre- and post-course assignments assessing their knowledge about crisis/management, as well as their skills in crisis recognition, evaluation and action planning. Participants also completed a survey on their perceptions of the crisis management module and its placement within the ethics course.

Findings

– Statistical analyses demonstrated significant knowledge acquisition on crisis/management; significant skill development on crisis recognition, evaluation and action planning; and significantly greater “true positives” and significantly fewer “false negatives” in post-course identification of crisis warning signs. Perceptions of the crisis management module and its placement within the course on ethical decision-making were positive.

Research limitations/implications

– Although the sample size was relatively small, small samples are associated with a greater risk of failing to detect an effect that is present, rather than the greater predicament of erroneously concluding that an absent effect is actually present. This information, coupled with the fact that the results demonstrated not only statistical significance but also large effect sizes using Cohen’s d, inspires confidence. Nonetheless, additional assessment with larger samples would allow for the possibility of convergent evidence. Similarly, additional assessment within different organizational contexts, including applications in human resource training and development is warranted. Future research should also include assessment of specific underlying teaching strategies and evaluation of whether certain models are associated with greater learning on a broader range of crisis management skills.

Practical implications

– Programs in business ethics education and training comprise one useful context in which to teach corporate crisis management. The program specified here addresses two training needs previously specified in the human resource development (HRD) literature on crisis management, including identifying specific methods of enhancing recognition or detection of crisis warning signs and also of providing tools and enhancing skills for assessing and containing crisis.

Originality/value

– Despite the centrality of both ethics and HRD to crisis management, there has been a dearth of research on whether ethics education is a useful context through which to teach this topic. This research addresses this dearth and suggests new avenues for HRD in this respect.
Navigating the ethical maze through design action research
Authors: Tansley Carole , Kirk Susan , Fisher Colin
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to identify how ethical stances can be used to develop a frame set in the design of a web-based decision support system (DSS) for ethical decision-making and to test both the efficacy of these frames and the potential of such a tool for individuals and groups in both leadership development situations and organisational practice. Unethical behaviour by executives is a frequently cited reason for erosion of trust with other stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

– Utilising action research, by choosing ethics frames such as heuristics, a web-based ethics DSS designed to enable users to explore ethical issues from multiple perspectives was constructed and this was beta-tested with a major UK bank and a global oil company.

Findings

– In orchestrating constant revisions of the ethics frames in the tool, learning from each research cycle was identified, a new form of action research, a design action research, which emphasises the importance of collaboration in the design of such decision-making tools, was offered and the tool for management development and other applications was successfully beta-tested.

Originality/value

– It was demonstrated to management developers how web-based systems might be designed by non-information technology professionals; the framing literature was added by demonstrating the value of engaging in dialogue about ethical issues of concern to managers and their organisations and thus improving decision-making; and additions were made to the literature on ethics and Information systems (IS) and contribution toward action research in the fields of IS and ethics was done.
A consideration of organisational sustainability in the SME context
Authors: Darcy Colette , Hill Jimmy , McCabe TJ , McGovern Philip
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider organisational sustainability in the small- to medium-sized enterprises (SME) context focussing on a resource-based view. The paper overlays two contrasting perspectives: those of the SME and human resource (HR) perspectives to allow for the development of a composite model of organisational sustainability for SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper overlays four models of Carson’s (1985, 1990) small firm evolution and unique characteristics of SMEs; Wrightet al.’s (2001) pertaining to the application of the resource-based view of the firm perspective to strategic HR and Boudreau and Ramstad (2005) model of effectiveness, efficiency and impact of talentship. The paper, in particular, considers the human resource management (HRM) perspectives pertaining to the overlay and considers how these might impact organisational sustainability.

Findings

– An outcome of the paper is the development of a composite model to the SME and HR perspectives of organisational sustainability and its applicability to the SME context.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper suggests a number of emergent areas for future research. Future research should focus on the intangible aspects and softer elements of the organisational resource base. The majority of work in this area is grounded in the positivist paradigm. Future research should consider a pluralists perspective and draw on traditions of the post-positivist paradigm, for example, social constructionism.

Practical implications

– SME-support agencies and consultants who work with SMEs need, therefore, to work with them in assessing their competency spectra and then to help them develop the talent pools required to effect continued growth and success. In doing so SMEs need to be guided towards a better understanding of the traditional temporal cycle of recruitment; in essence, they need to ensure that they have the right competency set in situ in the early stages of the firms’ development.

Originality/value

– This paper is unique in its approach to the examination of sustainability within the context of SMEs and, in particular, the HRM aspects which contribute towards organisational survival, growth and sustainability.
The impact of best HRM practices on performance – identifying enabling factors
Authors: N. Theriou Georgios , Chatzoglou Prodromos
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationships between best human resource management (HRM) practices, knowledge management (KM), organization learning and organizational capabilities (OC), as well as their impact on organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– To carry out this research, a structured questionnaire was designed and distributed to 212 manufacturing firms which employ at least 50 employees. The final sample consists of 138 useable questionnaires.

Findings

– Results indicate that manufacturing firms pursuing best HRM practices achieve higher performance through the interaction of these practices with KM and organizational learning capability and the creation of OC.

Research limitations/implications

– Possible limitations of the study include the measurement of OC, the use of subjective performance indicators and the data collection approach reflecting mainly HRM managers’ perceptions.

Practical implications

– HR practitioners and/or managers should focus on establishing the appropriate mechanisms for integrating “best HRM practices” with learning, knowledge and OC in order to improve performance.

Originality/value

– This paper empirically tests a new composite model which elaborates upon the mechanisms that seem to intervene between the best HRM practices – performance relationship. Moreover, the value of the human factor in KM and organizational learning initiatives, as well as on OC, is explored. While this has already been underlined in the past, there is still no complete model simultaneously describing and testing all those relationships.
The role of mediation in the resolution of two industrial disputes in Ireland
Authors: Curran Deirdre
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of mediation on two long-running collective industrial disputes in Ireland using a theoretical framework established in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper presents a detailed qualitative analysis of two disputes. In both cases a panel of mediators was invited to intervene when the established dispute resolution structures and processes had failed and impasse had been prolonged. Each member of the mediation panels, and the lead union representative, was interviewed about their perception of the mediation process and its impact. Interview questions centred around a set of mediation “Outcome Determinants” identified by Wall et al. (2001). Following Wall et al.'s proposal, Lewin's (1951) Force Field Analysis theory is applied as a theoretical lens for understanding the subtle impact of mediation in these cases.

Findings

– The empirical evidence suggests that while mediation did not lead directly to settlement, it influenced the resolution of these disputes. The disputes were a-typical in that most collective disputes in Ireland are resolved through established industrial relations structures and processes, either at firm level or through State-funded agents/agencies. However, intractable disputes occur periodically and there is an on-going need of this type of specialised ad hoc mediation. The Wall et al. framework combined with Force Field Analysis theory, provide a theoretical lens through which these disputes can be analysed and understood.

Practical implications

– An understanding of the nuanced impact of mediation is useful for justifying the continuation of this valuable approach. There is also some scope for predicting the likely impact of mediation in advance of engagement or at least allowing the mediators to explore the status of the Outcome Determinants related to a specific case in order to develop a tailored mediation strategy.

Originality/value

– This paper is unique in that it takes an existing theoretical framework and tests its application in two case disputes. The value of the framework is thus highlighted. Further application of the framework to other dispute scenarios would facilitate its development as a tool of understanding and some limited prediction. Mediation in this type of context has not been formally researched before. Public policy and theoretical implications of the work are highlighted in the concluding section.
Africa as a source location: literature review and implications
Authors: Nnamdi Oguji , Owusu Richard
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the scope of sourcing research in Sub-Sahara African (SSA) from scholarly journals published from 1980 to 2013 on sourcing-related issues. The study identifies what is known about sourcing from this region and the implications for managers and researchers in supply chain management.

Design/methodology/approach

– Totally, 40 scholarly journals (supply chain journals and other journals publishing on diverse business topics) were found relevant and reviewed. Content (all field) search using the names of each SSA countries (e.g. Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, etc.) was carried out in the supply chain journals to filter out articles discussing sourcing-related topics. For other business journals, keyword search was performed (procurement, sourcing, purchasing, outsourcing, supplier relations, supplier selection, supplier development, supply management, offshore, supply chain and logistics).

Findings

– The literature review suggests that studies discussing sourcing issues in SSA have focussed mainly on challenges of sourcing from SSA, and they provide some insights on implementation of supply chain tools such as total quality management, negotiating and selecting suppliers from SSA, and just-in time purchasing. However, the authors found that there is an under-representation of this region in supply chain management literature. More so, the articles discussing sourcing issues in Africa are limited in scope empirically and theoretically in comparison with the large amount of contributions in other emerging economies of Asia and developed economies.

Research limitations/implications

– The limited amount of publications and contributions does not allow us to provide an integrated framework for sourcing from SSA.

Practical implications

– There is a need for future research to explore how the SSA context could enhance theorizing in supply chains. Also, there is need for researchers to extend the sourcing debate from the over emphasis on technology sourcing, knowledge intensive service outsourcing and component sourcing to other lower value-added products such as agricultural products and other raw materials sourced in SSA.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the first to explore the scope of sourcing in Africa. As the findings suggest, there have been limited amount of papers published about this region. The review provides a perspective for researchers to explore this region and to aid theory development in supply chains. It also provided implications on how to support research publication focussing on this region and how to inform managerial perceptions on sourcing from SSA.
The impact of inward international licensing on absorptive capacity of SMEs
Authors: Reza Saeedi Mohammad , Dadfar Hossein , Brege Staffan
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to examine the impacts of inward international licensing (IIL) on the absorptive capacity (ACAP) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a developing economy.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is explorative, qualitative and elaborative in nature. Therefore, a multiple case study was selected and performed as the research strategy. The data were collected from four pharmaceutical SMEs licensed from European pharmaceutical large-scale enterprises.

Findings

– The results confirm that IIL has a strong effect on acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation as absorptive factors. Furthermore, the results have been enhanced by several contextual factors of ACAP human resources, inter-and intra-firm relationships, internal knowledge and managerial and strategic aspects. These contextual factors have also been influenced by IIL.

Originality/value

– From the licensee perspective in a developing context, examining the extant literature on non-equity strategic alliances shows that very few studies have empirically examined the impact of this kind of alliance, such as IIL, on SMEs’ ACAP. On this basis, the study provides evidence that non-equity strategic alliances, particularly IIL, enhance SMEs’ capabilities such as ACAP. In other words, to overcome SMEs’ resource limitations and inadequate capabilities, IIL provides opportunities for them to obtain capabilities and critical resources.
Assessing lean’s impact on operational integration
Authors: Gamme Inger , H. Aschehoug Silje
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish a major project to create new insights on lean in the specific Norwegian context and further build on international research. Lean is relevant for the manufacturing industry, service, finance, healthcare and public sectors in Norway. There are, however, still many research questions to be raised.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two case companies have been studied, to identify what these companies have experienced as important enablers and disablers in their lean implementation process. The following research questions will be addressed: In what way(s) does lean contribute to greater operational integration? In what way(s) does lean hinder operational integration? The research methodology is based on semistructured interviews with selected persons from different levels within the companies.

Findings

– From this study, several common contributing factors have been found: the importance of commitment and presence on the part of management, use of visualization tools for information exchange, formal meeting arenas and cross-functional work. Furthermore, the companies perceived the following as hindrances to achieving operational integration: insufficient involvement in implementation and design of tools, lack of commitment within the management, lack of customer focus, working in functional silos, lack of dissemination within the company and distance.

Practical implications

– Based on empirical findings from initial mapping of each company’s experiences with operational integration after a lean implementation process, recommendations on how to achieve better operational integration will be presented.

Originality/value

– The research initiative provides knowledge experience from lean implementation processes in two different Norwegian case companies within different sectors.
Market orientation and service quality: opponents or colleagues
Authors: Pantouvakis Angelos
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the effects of market orientation (MO) and service quality (SQ) logic on business performance. It is generally believed that MO and SQ are different philosophies, as the first, mainly, focuses on the “external orientation or market based considerations”, whereas the second mainly falls into the “internal orientation or resource based” of the firm. However, very little empirical evidence is provided to examine their relationships and comment on their role in achieving superior business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing evidence from 400 shipping firms, this study examines the role of these two concepts (MO and SQ) on shipping companies’ business performance and attempts to classify cases according to their score on those constructs.

Findings

– Analysis revealed that despite what was thought by most managers inside and outside the maritime sector, all shipping firms are strongly market-oriented and that SQ and business performance are closely related to each other.

Originality/value

– The present survey, using a sample of 700 maritime professionals from some 400 shipping companies in Greece, aimed at exploring the combined effects of marketing orientation and quality on their performance. It further discriminates among three types (states) of companies based on their MO and SQ scores.
Organisational paradigms and sustainability in excellence
Authors: Brown Alan
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus on how organisations can benefit from adopting an organic paradigm of management to maximise the benefits of quality and business excellence strategy. Mechanistic approaches do not offer long-term sustainability and do not facilitate learning and innovation. Insights from research on business excellence award-winning organisations show how they embed quality into their culture for long-term sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper provides both a conceptual review of two organisational paradigms and relates this to the findings of a qualitative study of Australian Business Excellence Award winners. Interviews with company managers and case material from the organisations provided the information relating to strategies for sustaining business excellence.

Findings

– Organisations using a business excellence framework and those who have reached award status have adopted a range of approaches to maintain and sustain their performance. These include measures relating to leadership, processes, people, communication and strategy. Specific strategies focus on embedding, relentless driving values and engagement of people throughout. These support ongoing learning and innovation and fit the organic organisational paradigm.

Research limitations/implications

– Insights into how organisations sustain their use of business excellence frameworks show how business excellence principles can be embedded into organisations so that it becomes “the way we do things around here”.

Originality/value

– This paper offers insights into key issues faced by organisations that have already achieved high levels of performance on the business excellence frameworks and how they sustain this.
e-Internships: prevalence, characteristics and role of student perspectives
Authors: Jeske Debora , Axtell Carolyn
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the emergence of a new form of internship (virtual or e-internships), which poses particular challenges for the interns, the supervisors and organizations alike. The authors present results regarding the prevalence and characteristics of e-internships, including a brief e-internship description for demonstrative purposes. Then use the findings of a student survey to outline the role of students’ past internship experience and prior knowledge as potential factors that influence acceptance of e-internships.

Design/methodology/approach

– The case study was based on an interview with an e-intern and the analysis of student awareness, prior experience and knowledge was based on the analysis of a student survey.

Findings

– The paper summarizes preliminary research that confirms the emergence of e-internships in several countries. It also outlines the characteristics of these new internships and outlines how e-internships compare to traditional internships, thus providing an insight for practitioners and managers. The case study and student survey outline the role of previous internships and prior knowledge as potential influences on self-selection and interest in e-internships. The paper further discusses some of the practical issues.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper outlines a number of new findings about the e-internships and represents only a first step into the right direction. The success factors and conditions for these internships are currently largely unknown.

Originality/value

– This paper provides information about e-internships using available statistics, a case study and survey results. The paper outlines relevant research avenues for researchers in the area of virtual work and personnel management, e-collaboration, communication studies and multimedia effectiveness.
Analyzing the supply chain risk issues for an Indian manufacturing company
Authors: Kumar Pradhan Sudeep , Routroy Srikanta
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify, analyze, assess and manage the risks issues involved in an Indian manufacturing supply chain. The paper also shows the direction to use the proposed comprehensive risk management framework in different manufacturing supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

– The various risks for an Indian manufacturing company are identified through brainstorming session held with managers and engineers. The risks are categorized (i.e. delivery performance; process capability; demand and supply fluctuation at supplier end; rework; and business practices) and the domain (i.e. supplier, manufacturer and customer) of each risk is also identified for further analysis. A Failure Mode and Effect Analysis is used to rank the impact of all the relevant risks associated with various risk categories and the action plans are suggested by proposing a risk treatment process.

Findings

– The degree of impact of each relevant risk is determined and is used for deriving managerial insights. Through Pareto analysis, it is concluded that top 20 percent risk factors are coming from supplier and organization domain. It is interesting to note that no relevant risk related to customer domain is appearing in top 20 percent. It is also found that 54 percent risk is coming from supplier-related risk domain and 46 percent risk exists in the organization-related risk domain among top 20 percent risk.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is restricted to only one Indian manufacturing company. Therefore, the outcomes of the study should not be generalized. Further studies may be carried out for several Indian manufacturing industries to get more generalized impact of risks, its validity and their variation across the different manufacturing companies.

Practical implications

– The simplicity and clarity of the proposed framework provides step-by-step approach for identifying, categorizing and managing risks involved in the supply chain. It also provides the guidelines for a manager to benchmark and update risk handling in a specific manufacturing environment with its own priority considerations.

Originality/value

– Although many literatures are available related to supply chain risk management, the proposed approach provides a better practical generic platform to understand, manage, reduce and mitigate the risks involved along the manufacturing supply chain.
The ingenious marketing of modern paintings
Authors: M. Bayer Thomas , Page John
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to analyze the evolution of the marketing of paintings and related visual products from its nascent stages in England around 1700 to the development of the modern art market by 1900, with a brief discussion connecting to the present.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sources consist of a mixture of primary and secondary sources as well as a series of econometric and statistical analyses of specifically constructed and unique data sets that list nearly more than 50,000 different sales of paintings during this period. One set records sales of paintings at various English auction houses during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; the second set consists of all purchases and sales of paintings recorded in the stock books of the late nineteenth-century London art dealer, Arthur Tooth, during the years of 1870/1871. The authors interpret the data under a commoditization model first introduced by Igor Kopytoff in 1986 that posits that markets and their participants evolve toward maximizing the efficiency of their exchange process within the prevailing exchange technology.

Findings

– We found that artists were largely responsible for a series of innovations in the art market that replaced the prevailing direct relationship between artists and patron with a modern market for which painters produced works on speculation to be sold by enterprising middlemen to an anonymous public. In this process, artists displayed a remarkable creativity and a seemingly instinctive understanding of the principles of competitive marketing that should dispel the erroneous but persistent notion that artistic genius and business savvy are incompatible.

Research limitations/implications

– A similar marketing analysis could be done of the development of the art markets of other leading countries, such as France, Italy and Holland, as well as the current developments of the art market.

Practical implications

– The same process of the development of the art market in England is now occurring in Latin America and China. Also, the commoditization process continues in the present, now using the Internet and worldwide art dealers.

Originality/value

– This is the first article to trace the historical development of the marketing of art in all of its components: artists, dealers, artist organizations, museums, curators, art critics, the media and art historians.
Segmenting knowledge management (KM) practitioners and its relationship to performance variation – some empirical evidence
Authors: Joshi Himanshu , Chawla Deepak , A. Farooquie Jamal
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims at identifying segments among knowledge management (KM) practitioners and analyzes whether performance varies across these segments. The field of KM aims at enhancing performance through knowledge practitioners. However, not all KM implementations have similar outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review is conducted through secondary sources. Based on the themes identified for research, qualitative research through a focus group discussion (FGD) and personal interviews is used to explore the themes. This is used to develop a conceptual KM framework. An instrument is developed which is tested for validity and reliability. The instrument is administered to respondents and 313 responses are obtained. Convenience sampling is used to select the respondents. Further, k-means cluster is used to identify segments among KM practitioners. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test is conducted to determine if the average scores of KM constructs varied between the three clusters. Further, ANOVA test is also used to analyze whether organizational and financial performance scores vary between the three clusters. Post hoc test is used to determine the extent of variation between cluster pairs.

Findings

– The results show that the sample comprises three segments which were subsequently labeled as active, partly and passive KM practitioners. It was found that active KM practitioners scored highest on various KM constructs, passive KM practitioners scored the least and partly KM practitioners had scores in between the two. One-way ANOVA results showed that the average scores of KM constructs varied significantly between the three clusters. The results show that a significant difference is found in organizational as well as financial performance between any two cluster pairs.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample comprises 313 respondents, of which around 65 per cent are from services industry and 67 per cent from private sector. A higher representation from public sector and manufacturing industry would have made the comparison more meaningful. The findings are based on data collected from India, and therefore, the results may not be generalizable to all economies.

Practical implications

– The three clusters identified from the sample data may help organizations who have initiated the KM process to benchmark themselves with the obtained clusters and identify the trust areas important to their KM initiative.

Originality/value

– The study builds upon both qualitative methodology through FGD and personal interviews and quantitative methodology through questionnaire and surveys. This comprehensive coverage of KM constructs and identification of respondent clusters is insightful. It also provides researchers useful means to enhance performance through KM within clusters.
Customer knowledge management, innovation capability and business performance: a case study of the banking industry
Authors: Taherparvar Nastaran , Esmaeilpour Reza , Dostar Mohammad
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the effect of customer knowledge management (CKM) on continuous innovation and firm performance in 35 private banks in Guilan (Iran). CKM emerges as an important and effective system for innovation capability and firm performance. However, the role of CKM in innovation and performance is not well understood.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data have been collected via questionnaires from managers of private banks in Guilan. Feedback was received from 265 managers in 350 distributed questionnaires, and hypotheses were tested using the structural equation modelling.

Findings

– The results of this paper indicate that knowledge from customers has a positive impact on both innovation speed and innovation quality as well as operational and financial performances. Also, our results demonstrate a different effect of knowledge about customer and knowledge for customers on various dimensions of innovation and firm performance. By using customer’s knowledge flows, firms will be aware of external environment and new changes in customers’ needs and so will be more innovative and perform better.

Practical implications

– CKM is known as an important system to connecting internal environment to external environment to create novel ideas. The results of this paper shed light on the consequences of CKM on firms and provide support for the importance of CKM to enhance innovation capacity and firm performance.

Originality/value

– This article is one of the first to find empirical support for the role of CKM within firms and its importance on innovation capability and firm performance. This study can provide valuable insights and guidance for researchers and managers as well.
Managing knowledge in a service provider: a network structure-based model
Authors: Valio Dominguez Gonzalez Rodrigo , Fernando Martins Manoel , Carlos Toledo Jose
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze aspects of a network structure that promotes the practice of the knowledge management (KM) process in a service organization. The idea that knowledge is the main organizational resource has established itself in recent years, and knowledge has become more valuable in service organizations. Managing knowledge is therefore a central activity for organizations, and organizational structure must assist in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research strategy used is the simple case study, applied in a large multinational company in its unit established in Brazil.

Findings

– The paper points out that the network structure has more flexible characteristics regarding formalization, centralization and integration. In the case study, this structure encourages the flow of knowledge through the interaction between individuals, and also across sectors of the organization, with the aid of a department coordinating the KM process, responsible for the storage and distribution of the best practices for future use in sites of service.

Research limitations/implications

– The first point that should be highlighted is that the organization selected for the study is highly advanced in terms of KM, producing excessively positive results. Another negative aspect is related to the single case methodology. It does not allow extrapolation of the results to a larger population.

Practical implications

– Within the context of industrial services highlights the service provider sites. The sites correspond to the service provider company frontline. In the sites occur the process of providing service, contact with the customer, improvement activities and, essentially, where knowledge is put in practice. To facilitate the storage and distribution of knowledge, the network structure presents a sector called Center of Excellence. The Center of Excellence aims to centralize the repository of knowledge, enabling the transfer of knowledge between different sites.

Originality/value

– The main contribution is aimed at describing the characteristics of a network structure that stimulates the KM process in a service organization. This network of sites facilitates the flow of knowledge and the creative process.
Rebuilding Lisbon in the aftermath of the 1755 earthquake
Authors: Pereira Lopes Miguel
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to draw on available data regarding the historical event of the major Lisbon earthquake of 1755 in order to understand the governance structure that was set to rebuild the city of Lisbon, as well as to elaborate on Max Weber’s theory of authority.

Design/methodology/approach

– The present study aims to extend our knowledge on the role of leadership in organizational transformation, by examining the authority structure of governance in the aftermath of a major catastrophic event, using the study of an extreme case to generate new management theory.

Findings

– The study founded evidence that the successful rebuilding of Lisbon after the earthquake was accompanied by a certain kind of governance structure that included an authority structure that simultaneously incorporated Weber’s authority types of charisma, tradition and rationality; and there was a clear distinction between the roles of each kind of authority, as well as the inviolable respect and sacredness of each other’s terrain that seems to lead to that effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

– It is possible that the historical conditions in which this social transformation took place might not be repeatable in today’s context, but the analysis of such an extreme case of destruction and rebuilding evidences that the “atomistic” approach of Max Weber on authority can be enriched with a “molecular” approach that, at the same time, helps to further develop the concept of “shared leadership” by analyzing it from a Weberian point of view.

Practical implications

– Today’s organizations should analyze their governance structure and management staff from a “molecular” Weberian perspective, if they want to achieve major transformations.

Originality/value

– The study further develops Max Weber’s theory of authority and discusses it regarding a “shared leadership” perspective.
Capitalism in question
Authors: C. Prieto Leon , T.A. Phipps Simone
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to depict the pivotal role Octavia Hill, Jane Addams and Mary Parker Follett played in the field of social entrepreneurship. The article aims to examine the contributions made by these remarkable women who made valuable theoretical and practical contributions to the emerging field of social entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

– Synthesizing articles from history journals, writings about the figures of interest, published works by the figures themselves and other resources, this paper illustrates how Hill, Addams and Follett made valuable contributions to social entrepreneurship and questioned the rectitude of unadulterated capitalism.

Findings

– This paper concludes that Hill, Addams and Follett refuted the viewpoint that self-interest and single-minded self-survival were the best ways to live and to conduct business. By their actions, the women showed that they did indeed bring “capitalism in question”, by recognizing the importance of seeking others’ interests.

Originality/value

– This article highlights the contributions made by Hill, Addams and Follett, who made valuable contributions in the field of social entrepreneurship which is made evident by their work with housing settlements, community center development, etc.
In extremis leadership of Sartrean authenticity
Authors: Hayek Mario , A. Williams Wallace , W. Clayton Russell , M. Novicevic Milorad , H. Humphreys John
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to extend the body of knowledge of authentic leadership in extreme contexts by developing a framework grounded in the Sartrean existentialist perspective on authenticity and illustrating this framework using the works of Xenophon.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use Sartre’s existential view of authenticity to develop a framework of authentic leadership in extreme contexts. They then use this framework to examine Xenophon’s recount of the retreat of the 10,000 in the classic work, Anabasis. For this analysis, the authors iterate between the ideas of the past and the concepts of the present to understand how this classic has influenced and informed the current body of knowledge about leadership.

Findings

– Using a Sartrean existentialist lens, “in extremis” authentic leaders exhibit an awareness of context extremity, responsibility in leading and following to share risks in extreme contexts and self-determination that inspires mutual trust and loyalty.

Practical implications

– A Sartrean existentialist perspective suggests that authentic leaders in extreme contexts reflect authenticity by exhibiting and encouraging freedom of choice. By espousing this perspective, authentic leaders create common goals and interests that appeal to followers' intrinsic motivation which has been found to result in positive individual and organizational outcomes.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the authentic leadership literature by using an existential conceptualization of authenticity to examine leadership in extreme contexts. This conceptualization might be more appropriate than the Aristotelian virtue-based deterministic philosophy that has dominated authentic leadership research.