bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of strategic orientations on Saudi firm performance: is supply chain integration a missing link?
Authors: Alsadi Amin K. , Aloulou Wassim J. 
Published: June 2021

PurposeLittle previous research has investigated the relationships among strategic orientations, supply chain integration and firm performance. The purpose of this study is to advance a research model that examines the direct and indirect effects of strategic orientations via supply chain integration on firm performance in the Saudi transitional context.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on data collected from a survey using questionnaires completed by 187 top management members of Saudi firms from different sectors. To analyse the data and test the proposed hypotheses, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were conducted using the AMOS statistical analysis package.FindingsResults show that both market orientation and supply chain integration have a significant positive direct effect on Saudi firm performance. They also reveal that supply chain integration fully mediates the effect of technology orientation on firm performance, while partially mediating the effect of market orientation on firm performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the literature by showing how SCI could serve as an organizational capability that links strategic resources to firm performance. The main limitation of this study is that it was not possible to generalize the findings. Future research perspectives were proposed to address this limitation and add new insights to the field.Practical implicationsThe results could help decision-makers in Saudi firms choose the right strategic orientations and aid them in integrating their supply chains by sharing the necessary information and coordinating operations with key partners to enhance their firms' performance.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to conduct such an investigation in the Saudi context. The study simultaneously examines the role of supply chain integration in linking strategic orientations to firm performance and fills a current research gap in such a transitional context.
The application of Lean Six Sigma and supply chain resilience in maritime industry during the era of COVID-19
Authors: Praharsi Yugowati , Jami’in Mohammad Abu , Suhardjito Gaguk , Wee Hui Ming 
Published: June 2021

Purpose
This study aims to apply a Lean Six Sigma framework to support continuous improvement in the maritime industry (shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping companies) during COVID-19 pandemics. By applying the concepts of Lean Six Sigma and supply chain resilience, the most suitable continuous improvement method for the maritime industry is developed to maintain a resilient supply chain during COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach
A specific shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping company in Indonesia is chosen as the research object. The Lean Six Sigma framework reveals the wastes through the supply chain resilience concept, and implements internal business processes to maintain optimal system performance.

Findings
The paper identifies important implementation aspects in applying Lean Six Sigma to shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping. The DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve and control) approach is applied to achieve supply chain resilience. Resilient measures are generated for the case companies to maximize performance during the pandemics.

Practical implications
This paper provides a new insight for integrating Lean Six Sigma and resilience strategies in the maritime industry during COVID-19 disruptions. The authors provide some insights to sustain the performance of the maritime industries under study.

Originality/value
This study is part of the first research in the maritime industry that focuses on continuous improvement during COVID-19 using Lean Six Sigma and supply chain resilience.
Pioneering anti-poverty policies in Brazil and Mexico: ambiguities and disagreements on conditional cash transfer programs
Authors: Tomazini Carla 
Published: June 2021

PurposeFocusing on the conditional cash transfers (CCTs) first created and implemented in Brazil and Mexico, this article takes a new look at the factors facilitating the creation of these innovative policies. In order to shed light on the continuous struggles that are faced when pioneering, formulating and adopting these anti-poverty policies, the authors analyze three types of ambiguities: axiological, partisan and electoral.Design/methodology/approachBased on a gradual institutional change approach within the advocacy coalition framework, the authors conduct a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, official public administration archives and newspapers.FindingsThis article demonstrates that advocacy coalitions (for human capital, basic income and food security) and the quest for electoral gains are viable contexts for exploring the complex processes involved in setting up CCTs, of which Brazil's Bolsa-Família and Mexico's Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera (POP) provide emblematic examples.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to comparative social policy research and institutional change analysis. The coalitions and ambiguous consensuses studied here expand the perspectives with a more detailed understanding of the chaotic processes involved in developing social policies.
The elusive promise of universal social protection: the case of the Greek general minimum income (GMI)
Authors: Burgi Noëlle M. , Kyramargiou Eleni 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThe need to alleviate poverty and achieve the United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Universal Social Protection (USP) mechanisms is a high priority for governments and international organisations (IOs). This paper focuses on the recent introduction of a general minimum income (GMI) in Greece, in the context of the international diffusion of governing expertise. It examines whether the “universal” scheme being implemented constitutes a paradigm shift likely to offer solutions to the country's previous fragmented and unjust welfare system, and to problems the society has faced since the 2010s depression.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses critical grounded theory, with data gathering through iterative field observations and semi-structured interviews.FindingsResults highlight the elusiveness of USP normative promises: rather than enhancing people's effective freedoms to act as self-determining agents, USP pushes the poor to adapt to current degraded socio-economic conditions. Participation in the shadow economy is a structural feature of USP; it is implicitly tolerated insofar as it is regarded, in the words of the World Bank (WB), an “engine for growth”. This constitutes an institutional and governance challenge for the implementation and expansion of social welfare programmes and could compromise the 2030 SDGs Agenda.Originality/valueWhile research to date has examined the “modernisation” of the Greek welfare system in a national or comparative perspective, it adds to the literature by framing the study in the field of global social policy, shedding light on the discrepancies between internationally designed mechanisms and the normative aims of USP.
Innovation orientation and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) in Ghana: evidence from manufacturing sector
Authors: Issau Kassimu , Acquah Innocent Senyo Kwasi , Gnankob Robert Ipiin , Hamidu Zulaiha 
Published: June 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of innovation orientation dimensions on the performance of manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach
Probability sampling technique, particularly, simple random method, was used for this study. Approximately, 81% response rate was achieved from a total sample size of 346. Furthermore, PLS-SEM technique was used to determine the relationships among the study variables.

Findings
The result showed that market innovation significantly predicted SMEs’ performance. Conversely, non-significant positive nexus was established between process innovation and SMEs’ performance as well as product innovation and SMEs’ performance.

Practical implications
Based on the outcome, the stakeholders in the SME sector should aim at improving their market, products and process innovations.

Originality/value
Despite the importance attached to the employment of innovation in the SME sector by scholars in the extant literature, studies involving dimensions of innovation orientation on SMEs’ performance were not much seen in literature. This study enriched literature by determining the relationships between the innovation orientation dimensions and SMEs’ performance.
Impacts of cooperative and competitive personalities on tacit knowledge sharing among Chinese employees
Authors: Zhang Ying , Chen Haoyu , Liu Ersi , He Yunwu , Cheng Edwin 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the influence of cooperative and competitive personalities on tacit knowledge sharing (TKS) by exploring the mediating role of organizational identification (OI) and the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS) among Chinese employees.Design/methodology/approachConducting a network survey of ordinary employees from Chinese listed companies (2019) as the research objects, the authors collect 298 valid samples for research. The authors apply confirmatory factor analysis to test the reliability and validity of the constructs, structural equation modeling to verify the direct effect and the PROCESS macro to test the mediating and moderating effects.FindingsThe results show that there is a positive relationship between cooperative personality (COP) and TKS, and there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between competitive personality (CMP) and TKS. OI plays a mediating role between COP and TKS, while POS plays a negative moderating role between COP and TKS.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper only takes Chinese employees as the research sample, and future research can make a cross-cultural comparison between the impacts of cooperative and competitive personalities on employees’ behaviors.Practical implicationsThe results of this study suggest that enterprises should actively cultivate the COP of employees, and managers should refrain from intervening in the behaviors of employees with COP. At the same time, for employees with CMP, managers should guide them to control their competitive tendency at a reasonable level. The conclusions of this paper also suggest that managers should pay attention to the cultivation of employees’ OI.Originality/valueThis study plugs the gap in research on the impacts of cooperative and competitive personalities on TKS. It makes a contribution to the research development of COP and CMP and their influence mechanisms on employees’ behaviors. In addition, the negative moderating effect of POS on COP–TKS link verifies the correctness of Y theory. Studying the relationships among personality traits (cooperative and competitive personalities), cognition (OI) and behaviors (TKS), this paper makes a contribution to such a research stream.
Fostering performance management in healthcare: insights into the role of big data
Authors: Spanò Rosanna , Ginesti Gianluca 
Published: June 2021

Purpose
This study aims to understand how Big Data foster a greater acceptance of performance management systems (PMS) discourses in health care.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper focusses on the case of head and neck cancer treatment and prevention and benefits from the analysis of archival sources and 19 interviews with physicians in the field. It uses the framework of the Middle Range theory (MRT) to understand whether, in the case of head and neck cancer, Big Data may favour the enactment of PMS discourses in health care, in turn benefiting from any improvement in PMS.

Findings
This study setting unveils the changing pathway known as reorientation through boundary management. Medical professionals internalized and even mobilized PMS discourses, showing the premises for evolutionary changes in the future, when the current limitations will be dealt with.

Originality/value
This paper offers new theoretical, practical and policymaking insights into how new technologies can foster positive PMS discourses among actors who usually resist them. This value also extends to different fields and contexts.
Restraining forces and drivers of supply chain collaboration: evidence from an emerging market
Authors: Oyedijo Adegboyega , Francois Koukpaki Adebayo Serge , Kusi-Sarpong Simonov , Alfarsi Fahd , Yang Ying 
Published: June 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate how restraining forces and driving forces impact SC collaboration in the context of Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach was adopted. Using semi-structured interviews, data was obtained from manufacturers and third-party logistics providers in Nigeria’s food and beverage sector. The data was analysed using the thematic analysis method.

Findings
Interesting findings were revealed regarding how some underlying forces impact SC collaboration. These findings were categorised into internal, SC and external environment level factors. However, certain forces were also identified at these distinct levels which can sustain the collaboration between SC partners in emerging markets such as Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications
The issues highlighted in this paper create opportunities for future studies to dig deeper into the concept of SC collaboration in emerging markets. Future studies may find other unique contextual factors which may influence SC collaboration asides from those identified in this paper.

Practical implications
This research aids managerial understanding of the restraining forces and drivers of SC collaboration in an emerging market. The research also provides new insights on how to manage SC collaboration in emerging markets.

Originality/value
Many studies on supply chain management have wholly focussed their attention on developed countries, often neglecting emerging markets such as Nigeria in the discourse. Although SC collaboration has been well researched, the study attempts to shift the attention to the most populous country in Africa. With the help of the force field theory, this research reveals new insights on the restraining forces and drivers of SC collaboration, offering the foundation for a new line of research on this subject in emerging markets.
How culture, leadership and engagement helped a small business survive during the pandemic
Authors: Blattner John F. , Karmia William P. , Walter Thomas J. 
Published: June 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this case study is to investigate how a small catering company has coped with the current Covid-19 pandemic. Initial research was performed in 2014 and repeated in 2018. Given the far reaching business challenges of the pandemic, the authors examined the viability of the organization within the current climate.

Design/methodology/approach
Embedded organizational components of culture, leadership and engagement are explored as key elements in the sustainability of the company during the pandemic crisis. Prior research data using the organizational culture inventory is used to assess organizational culture over a four-year period. Employee data and interview analysis within company structure is used to determine how leadership and employee engagement is impacted. Culture research is examined to determine the influence of company culture upon organizational survival.

Findings
This paper identifies workplace culture elements that contribute to company sustainability. Embedded core value systems, strong employee engagement mechanisms and focused leadership styles were observed to be critical influences upon company survival during the pandemic.

Originality/value
This research would assist industry professionals and practitioners in understanding the active workplace culture mechanisms found to be effective for organizational survival during periods of crisis. Companies that adopt similar practices may acquire sustainability advantage during the pandemic.
Electronic component detection based on image sample generation
Authors: Wu Hao , Lv Quanquan , Yang Jiankang , Yan Xiaodong , Xu Xiangrong 
Published: June 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to propose a deep learning model that can be used to expand the number of samples. In the process of manufacturing and assembling electronic components on the printed circuit board in the surface mount technology production line, it is relatively easy to collect non-defective samples, but it is difficult to collect defective samples within a certain period of time. Therefore, the number of non-defective components is much greater than the number of defective components. In the process of training the defect detection method of electronic components based on deep learning, a large number of defective and non-defective samples need to be input at the same time.

Design/methodology/approach
To obtain enough electronic components samples required for training, a method based on the generative adversarial network (GAN) to generate training samples is proposed, and then the generated samples and real samples are used to train the convolutional neural networks (CNN) together to obtain the best detection results.

Findings
The experimental results show that the defect recognition method using GAN and CNN can not only expand the sample images of the electronic components required for the training model but also accurately classify the defect types.

Originality/value
To solve the problem of unbalanced sample types in component inspection, a GAN-based method is proposed to generate different types of training component samples and then the generated samples and real samples are used to train the CNN together to obtain the best detection results.
Seasonal variations and risk assessment of heavy metals in PM2.5 from Handan, China
Authors: Niu Hongya , Wu Zhenxiao , Xue Fanli , Liu Zhaoce , Hu Wei , Wang Jinxi , Fan Jingsen , Lu Yanqi 
Published: June 2021

Purpose
This study aims to acquire a better understanding on the characteristics and risks of heavy metals (HMs) in PM2.5 from an industrial city – Handan, China.

Design/methodology/approach
PM2.5 samples were collected on the basis of daytime and nighttime at the state controlling air sampling site in Handan city. Ten metal elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sr, Cd and Ba) in PM2.5 were determined with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The pollution levels of metals were characterized by enrichment factors, and the sources of metals were identified with principle component analysis and cluster analysis. The ecological and health risks of metals were assessed using ecological and health risk indexes.

Findings
Results showed that the highest and lowest PM2.5 concentration appeared in winter and summer, respectively. The concentration of PM2.5 at night was higher than in the daytime in winter, yet it is the opposite in other seasons. The total mass concentration of detected metals was the highest in winter, and the total mass concentration in the daytime was higher than at night in all four seasons. The elements V, Rb, Sr and Ba exhibited a deficient contamination level; Cr, Ni and Cu exhibited a moderate contamination level; while Fe and Cd were at an extreme contamination level. The metals in PM2.5 originated from a mixture source of fossil fuel combustion and manufacture and use of metallic substances (34.04%), natural source (26.01%) and construction and traffic-related road dust (17.58%). Results from the ecological risk model showed that the ecological risk of metals was very high, especially risks related to Cd. Health risk model presented that both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk coefficients of metals were above the tolerance level of the human body.

Originality/value
The significance of the study is to further know the pollution characteristics of PM2.5 and related HMs in Handan city, and to provide references for ensuring local resident health and ecological environment.
The Evolution of Supply and Demand in Markets for Generic Drugs
Authors: FRANK RICHARD G. , MCGUIRE THOMAS G. , NASON IAN 
Published: June 2021

Policy Points
Much concern about generic drug markets has emerged in recent policy debates.
Important changes in regulations, the structure of purchasing, and the length of the drug supply chain have affected generic drug markets.
Effective price competition remains the rule in generic markets for large‐selling drugs. Smaller markets and those for injectable products often have less price competition and are more susceptible to supply disruptions.
ContextThe image of generic drugs as a commodity sold in competitive markets is an oversimplification, as evidenced by increasing accounts of price spikes, sustained high price‐cost margins, and market disruptions. The mismatch between the canonical economic model of generic drug markets and reality motivated our empirical project.MethodsTo explore recent changes in those factors impacting the supply and demand for generic drugs, we studied, from a variety of sources, the data on price, competition, supply disruptions and recalls, changes to the supply chain, and buy‐side concentration. We examined quarterly data through 2018 for a cohort of 77 molecules that lost patent protection during the so‐called patent cliff between 2010 and 2013.FindingsOn the supply side, we found that for large‐market oral solids, generic entry and price declines were consistent with past studies showing a significant number of market entrants and substantial reductions in the average price of a molecule. In smaller markets for oral solids and injectable products, we observed fewer entrants, higher rates of exit, smaller price reductions, and, in some cases, considerable price instability. The number of reported shortages increased across all generic market types over time, with the rate of shortage increases especially pronounced in markets for injectable products. The number of product recalls also rose over our study period. Although we did not estimate causal effects, we did find several changes in the market environment for generic drugs that may contribute to these phenomena. The demand side for generics has become more concentrated. Supply chains rely more on producers outside the United States (particularly from China and India). Contracting practices have undergone changes that may inhibit competition in product supply. FDA regulatory scruitiny has increased.ConclusionsCompetition in generic drug markets varies widely by market size and product form. Recent changes in demand‐side market structure imply more downward pressure on prices stemming from buy‐side concentration. The FDA's greater regulatory oversight puts upward pressure on costs, and the lengthening of the supply chain increases production uncertainty for producers. Demand and supply‐side changes point to further market instabilities across all generic markets due to producers’ changing economic position.