bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of IT application on supply chain learning and service performance
Authors: Huo Baofeng , Haq Muhammad Zia Ul , Gu Minhao 
Published: November 2019

PurposeDespite the recognition that supply chain (SC) learning is important for competitive advantage, little is known how to enable such learning. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of information technology (IT) application on different types of SC learning (i.e. internal, customer and supplier learning) and service performance.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies structural equation modeling to test the conceptual model based on data collected from 213 manufacturing firms in China.FindingsAlthough strategic application has a direct and negative relationship with all three dimensions of SC learning, it indirectly and positively improves SC learning through tactical and operational application. The authors observe that tactical application is positively related to all three dimensions of SC learning, while operational application improves internal and customer learning only. The authors also notice that internal and customer learning are positively related to service performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study classifies IT application into strategic, tactical and operational dimensions, which may not adequately cover the entire set of IT application portfolio.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest managers to use corresponding IT application to improve SC learning and service performance.Originality/valueThis study provides a new framework to understand the relationships between IT application, SC learning and service performance.
Nikola Motors: a case study in bundling as a market entry strategy
Authors: Woo Heejin , Grandy Jake 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
By introducing how a young entrepreneurial firm leverages bundling as a market entry strategy, this study aims to suggest a way that a relatively vulnerable startup can secure its position from a threat of resource-rich established competitors.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a qualitative investigation into Nikola Motors, a Class 8 heavy-duty truck manufacturer based in Phoenix, Arizona. The analysis revealed the underlying mechanisms that allow a startup to effectively enter a market through bundling in the truck manufacturing industry.

Findings
Nikola Motors Co. uses a bundled business model in commercializing hydrogen-power technology used for heavy-duty truck manufacturing. Instead of focusing on a single product, Nikola’s business model created an ecosystem surrounding hydrogen fuel-cell electric heavy trucks, including hydrogen fueling stations, maintenance service and leasing. By leveraging partnership with players in other areas, it overcomes the resource limitation as a relatively small firm.

Originality/value
Startups seeking to disrupt markets with novel technologies risk losing their competitive advantage to imitation by more resource-rich established firms. This study examines a novel approach to a bundled business model that can be effective for relatively resource-poor new companies. It suggests practical implications on how firms which are relatively in a weak position compete with established incumbents.
Government expenditure and economic growth nexus in ECOWAS countries
Authors: Olaoye Olumide Olusegun , Orisadare Monica , Okorie Ukafor Ukafor 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the direction of causality between government expenditure and economic growth in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries.

Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts the recently developed panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) by Love and Abrrigo (2015) and two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) in order to resolve the inherent problems of endogeneity and persistence in economic data.

Findings
The results from the study show no evidence of either unidirectional or bidirectional causal relationship between government expenditure and economic growth in ECOWAS member countries.

Originality/value
Unlike previous studies that adopted cointegration technique, we adopt a system GMM through the application of a dynamic PVAR framework within the framework of panel data analysis in order to address the possibility of feedback effect in the causal relationship between government expenditure and economic growth. In addition the PVAR also allows us to model shocks across countries.
The effects of goals attainment on CEO-owner satisfaction and the role of family involvement
Authors: Machek Ondřej , Hnilica Jiří 
Published: November 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how the satisfaction with economic and non-economic goals achievement is related to the overall satisfaction with the business of the CEO-owner, and whether family involvement moderates this relationship.Design/methodology/approachBased on a survey among 323 CEO-owners of family and non-family businesses operating in the Czech Republic, the authors employ the OLS hierarchical regression analysis and test the moderating effects of family involvement on the relationship between the satisfaction with different goals attainment and the overall satisfaction with the business.FindingsThe main finding is that family and non-family CEO-owner’s satisfaction does not differ significantly when economic goals (profit maximisation, sales growth, increase in market share or firm value) and firm-oriented non-economic goals (satisfaction of employees, corporate reputation) are being achieved; both classes of goals increase the overall satisfaction with the firm and the family involvement does not strengthen this relationship. However, when it comes to external non-economic goals related to the society or environment, there is a significant and positive moderating effect of family involvement.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the family business literature. First, to date, most of the studies focused on family business goals have been qualitative, thus not allowing for generalisation of findings. Second, there is a lack of evidence on the ways in which family firms integrate their financial and non-financial goals. Third, the authors contribute to the literature on the determinants of personal satisfaction with the business for CEOs, which has been the focus on a relatively scarce number of studies.
African religious ministers’ transition from expatriation to migration
Authors: Ramboarison-Lalao Lovanirina , Brewster Chris , Boyer Pierre-Yves 
Published: November 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the contextual determinants of transition from expatriation to migration (TEM) among ministers of religion originating from the developing world.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used in-depth analysis of narratives of four African religious ministers working in France, plus interviews with their five superiors and three host country national colleagues.FindingsThe findings point to personal-level, organisational-level and country-level contextual determinants, which come into play as levers or barriers in the “TEM” process.Originality/valueThe study identifies a new category of global mobility research at the intersection of expatriation and migration and develops a theoretical framework which points to the positive and negative influence of three-layered contextual determinants on how expatriated low-status church ministers from the developing world become migrants. The authors found a so far unreported determinant of the personal context: the role of a world view: very visible as “God centrality” in the participants. Results also shed new light on the international careers of this overlooked category of “non-traditional expatriates” from Africa.
The job design happiness scale (JDHS)
Authors: Dutschke Georg , Jacobsohn Lia , Dias Alvaro , Combadão Jaime 
Published: November 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that individuals consider necessary to be happy in their job. Based on these factors, a measure of job design happiness (JDH) is proposed.Design/methodology/approachTwo methods were applied: a qualitative study with content analyses (n=969) to develop an exploratory questionnaire; and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis by applying structural equations models. In this second study the questionnaire was sent to a second sample (n=1,079).FindingsFive first-order factors were identified: self-fulfillment; group working, attaining goals; leadership; and sustainability and job/family balance. These factors are explained by a second order factor: JDH.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed to determine how the identified “job design happiness” components may interact with one another. Testing the measure of different industries and national cultures is also suggested.Practical implicationsManagers and human resources practitioners can improve job and organizational performance by applying the scale in several moments in time measuring the job happiness “pulse,” monitoring their decisions.Social implicationsThe adoption of this measure for decision making in organizational and job design can contribute to the improvement of living standards and firm sustainability.Originality/valueResearch on organizational happiness has been increasing but instruments to measure JDH, considering organizational factors, are limited.
A systems model of organizational change
Authors: Maes Guido , Van Hootegem Geert 
Published: November 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a meta-model of organizational change that allows to look at change from different angles. This meta-model starts from the idea that there are different discourses about organizational change, each having their own merits but also their own limitations. Bringing these discourses together into an integrated systems model allows the authors to capture the essence of organizational change a lot better.Design/methodology/approachThis model is designed based on a literature review of organizational theories, systems theories related to theories of organizational change and specific theories about organizational change.FindingsThe literature review resulted in a systems model of organizational change that is better able to grasp the complexity of change than linear models.Originality/valueThis model goes beyond the usual change models from the normative discourse and provides a multidimensional view on organizational change.
Managing customer-to-customer interaction (CCI) – insights from the frontline
Authors: Nicholls Richard , Gad Mohsen Marwa 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the capacity of frontline employees (FLEs) to provide insights into customer-to-customer interaction (CCI) and its management in service organisations.

Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory study used focus groups and semi-structured in-depth interviews with FLEs to investigate their experiences and reflections in dealing with CCI in a complex service setting in the UK.

Findings
FLEs are able to recall CCI encounters, both positive (PCCI) and negative (NCCI), with ease. They are capable of conceptualising and exploring complex nuances surrounding CCI encounters. FLEs can distinguish levels of seriousness of negative CCI and variations in customer sensitivity to CCI. FLEs vary in their comfort in intervening in negative CCI situations. Whilst FLEs draw on skills imparted in an employee-customer interaction context, they would benefit from CCI-specific training. Propositions are advanced for further empirical testing.

Research limitations/implications
The authors studied FLE views on CCI in a customer-centric service organisation in the UK. Future research should further address the FLE perspective on CCI in less service-driven organisations and in other countries. A wide range of themes for further research are proposed.

Practical implications
The insights presented will assist service managers to assess the CCI context of their own organisation and develop strategies and guidelines to support FLEs in detecting, understanding and responding to CCI encounters.

Social implications
The paper highlights and discusses the complexity of intervening in negative CCI encounters in socially inclusive service environments.

Originality/value
Based on FLE-derived perceptions of CCI, the paper contributes conceptually to CCI knowledge by identifying the existence of “concealed CCI”, distinguishing between gradual and sudden CCI intervention contexts and exploring the human resource development consequences of this distinction, with original implications for service management. The study also contributes to extending the scope of research into triadic service interactions.
Understanding the reading habit and attitudes among the rural community in low literacy rate areas in Malaysia
Authors: Samsuddin Samsul Farid , Mohamed Shaffril Hayrol Azril , Bolong Jusang , Mohamed Nor Aini 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reading habit and attitude among rural communities in the low literacy rate areas in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach
Multi-stage cluster and simple random sampling were employed and 400 respondents who live nearby the rural library were selected.

Findings
Moderate levels of reading attitude were obtained from the result of the study, in which several variables produced a significant relationship in the reading attitude (education level, household income and time spent in reading).

Practical implications
Better understanding on the reading habit and attitude among rural communities could produce better information on the service provision towards the establishment of rural libraries in low literacy rate areas in Malaysia. This would also increase the utilisation of reading sources and services provided.

Originality/value
The paper provides better understanding on the reading habit and attitude among the rural communities in the low literacy rate areas in using the facilities provided by the rural libraries. The findings may be useful to the rural literacy and library development community in the developing countries.
Cost of capital and probability of default in value-based risk management
Authors: Gleißner Werner 
Published: November 2019

PurposeThis paper aims to present the combination of enterprise risk management (ERM) and value-based management as especially suitable methods for companies with a shareholder value imperative. Among its major benefits, these methods make the contribution of risk management for business decisions more effective.Design/methodology/approachAny possible inconsistencies between ERM, generating value because of imperfect capital markets and the CAPM to calculate cost of capital, which assumes perfect markets, must be avoided. Therefore, it is imperative that valuation methods used are based on risk analysis, and thus do not require perfect capital markets.FindingsValue-based risk management requires the impact of changes in risk on enterprise value to be calculated and the aggregation of opportunities and risks related to planning to calculate total risk (using Monte Carlo simulation) and valuation techniques that reflect the effects changes in risk, on probability of default, cost of capital and enterprise value (and do not assume perfect capital markets). It is recommended that all relevant risks should be quantified and described using adequate probability distributions derived from the best information.Practical implicationsThis approach can help to improve the use of risk analysis in decision-making by improving existing risk-management systems.Originality/valueThis extension of ERM is outlined to provide risk-adequate evaluation methods for business decisions, using Monte Carlo simulation and recently developed methods for risk–fair valuation with incomplete replication in combination with the probability of default. It is shown that quantification of all risk using available information should be accepted for the linking of risk analysis and business decisions.
Countries’ regulatory context and voluntary carbon disclosures
Authors: Mateo-Márquez Antonio J. , González-González José M. , Zamora-Ramírez Constancio 
Published: November 2019

PurposeThis study aims to analyse the relationship between countries’ regulatory context and voluntary carbon disclosures. To date, little attention has been paid to how specific climate change-related regulation influences companies’ climate change disclosures, especially voluntary carbon reporting.Design/methodology/approachThe New Institutional Sociology perspective has been adopted to examine the pressure of a country’s climate change regulation on voluntary carbon reporting. This research uses Tobit regression to analyse data from 2,183 companies in 12 countries that were invited to respond to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire in 2015.FindingsThe results show that countries’ specific climate change-related regulation does influence both the participation of its companies in the CDP and their quality, as measured by the CDP disclosure score.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is restricted to 12 countries’ regulatory environment. Thus, caution should be exercised when generalising the results to other institutional contexts.Practical implicationsThe results are of use to regulators and policymakers to better understand how specific climate change-related regulation influences voluntary carbon disclosure. Investors may also benefit from this research, as it shows which institutional contexts present greater regulatory stringency and how companies in more stringent environments take advantage of synergy to disclose high-quality carbon information.Social implicationsBy linking regulatory and voluntary reporting, this study sheds light on how companies use voluntary carbon reporting to adapt to social expectations generated in their institutional context.Originality/valueThis is the first research that considers specific climate change-related regulation in the study of voluntary carbon disclosures.
Ghacem in Ghana: marketing cement in a newly competitive environment
Authors: Kpekpena Israel , Hu Haiyan 
Published: November 2019

Theoretical basis
This case study applies the scanning of marketing environment (i.e. typology of marketing environments); strategic marketing planning process, involving SWOT analysis, growth strategies; and marketing mix (four ps).

Research methodology
This is modeled as a qualitative study. Primary data were collected through a phone interview with the key informants, and secondary data came from various publications such as government reports, news portals and company websites.

Case overview/synopsis
Ghacem was the first cement manufacturing company in Ghana and had enjoyed a monopoly for almost 33 years. The company offered a homogeneous product to an undifferentiated market from 1967 until competition began in 2000. New competitors promote the use of cement grade numbers on their product packaging to signal a better value, which intensified the competition. As the Head of Marketing of the company, Benny was asked to develop a marketing strategy for the company’s newly developed product for the company to remain competitive.

Complexity academic level
Undergraduate students taking Principles of Marketing.
On the low reproductive success of two Cyrtopodium species (Orchidaceae: Cyrtopodiinae): The relative roles of biotic and abiotic pollination
Authors: Maciel Artur A. , Cardoso João C. F. , Oliveira Paulo E. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRewardless orchid species are pollinated by deception and have reduced reproductive success. Those species that present self‐compatibility followed by alternative mechanisms of autogamy may compensate for such episodic allogamy events. This is the case for rain‐assisted self‐pollination, a rare mechanism in Orchidaceae. In this study, we investigated the reproductive biology of two terrestrial species: Cyrtopodium hatschbachii and C. paludicolum. We studied their reproductive systems, examined pollinators and male and female successes, and ascertained if rain promotes self‐pollination. Both species are allogamous but self‐compatible. However, natural fruit set is low, not exceeding 1.40% during 4 years of observation. This may result from the reduced frequency of pollinator visitation followed by a high pollinator specificity, because each species was pollinated by a single specialist bee. Although spontaneous selfing did not occur, we verified fruits formed by rain action. The evaporation of the water droplet that accumulates on stigma helps the pollinarium to slip back, promoting selfing. This occurred in approximately 10% of C. hatschbachii fruits, but in C. paludicolum it was recorded only once during three observation years. This indicates that the phenomenon happens at random and may vary temporally. Nevertheless, rain may confer additional fruit set, especially under circumstances of pollinator limitation. Overall, we confirmed deception as a strategy for this understudied genus. In addition, we report a further two cases of rain‐assisted self‐pollination for Cyrtopodium, for species from the center of diversity of the genus, indicating that it may be more widespread than previously thought.
Dynamics of economic efficiency in tariff and trade
Authors: Nawaz Nasreen 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWhen the efficiency losses or gains as a result of an ad valorem import tariff are accounted for, the exisiting literature compares the equilibrium states before and after the tariff. However, after the imposition of an ad valorem tariff, the cost of the foreign producer to sell in the domestic market jumps upwards by the extent of the ad valorem tariff. This affects the quantity of imports, and the market is no longer in the initial equilibrium. The market then adjusts and after some efficiency loss, a new equilibrium state is arrived at. The mechanism of price adjustment has a basis of lack of coordination among buyers and sellers at the exisiting prices. The economic efficiency loss when the market is out of equilibrium is not taken into consideration in the literature, while deriving an optimal ad valorem tariff rate. In this article, an optimal ad valorem tariff schedule has been derived. From optimality, it should be construed that the economic efficiency losses get minimised when the market is adjusting and also during the equilibrium. A revenue constraint has to be met in addition.
Understanding Different Approaches to Benefit‐Based Taxation
Authors: Scherf Robert , Weinzierl Matthew 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe normative principle of benefit‐based taxation has exerted substantial influence on many areas of public finance, but it has been largely set aside in the modern theoretical approach to optimal income taxation, where welfarist objectives dominate. A prerequisite for that gap to close is the clarification of what benefit‐based income taxation would mean, specifically in a first‐best setting. This paper seeks to provide clear, accessible descriptions and novel graphical representations of four major approaches to first‐best benefit‐based taxation, explain how these approaches relate to each other, and apply them within the classical benefit‐based framework for optimal income taxation of Smith (1776).