bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrated portfolio planning of products and production systems
Authors: Bruch Jessica , Bellgran Monica 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– The purpose of the research presented is to analyse and discuss critical challenges related to the development of a production system portfolio.Design/methodology/approach– The study employs a longitudinal case study of an industrialization project at a global supplier in the automotive industry.Findings– This research makes two clear theoretical contributions. First, it extends the existing research on the manufacturing and R&D interface by proposing an innovative structure for production system development facilitating manufacturing companies in their efforts of being fast and cost-effective when introducing new products to the market. Second, this research identifies challenges related to the adoption of a production system portfolio and the necessary actions of a manufacturing company applying such a portfolio strategy.Research limitations/implications– The findings should be seen as a first attempt at assisting the development of a production system portfolio that matches the product portfolio. However, since the findings are based on only one case, the findings are to some extent context-specific and thus need to be complemented by more research.Practical implications– The research unveils challenges related to production system development and provides managers with a better understanding of some of the implications of the adoption of a portfolio strategy.Originality/value– This empirical study is among the first to explore the implications of a production system portfolio strategy. It advances the understanding towards a fully integrated product and production system development.
R&D in Sweden and manufacturing in China: a study of communication challenges
Authors: Georgieva Wlazlak Paraskeva , Johansson Glenn 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore communication challenges related to geographic distance, with emphasis on differences in national culture and language between R&D and manufacturing engineers, in a development project faced with uncertainty and equivocality.Design/methodology/approach– The results originate from a longitudinal single-case study of a commercial product development project.Findings– Three communication challenges are identified: clarity of shared information, intention to share information, and responsiveness to information received. The challenges are strongly associated with differences in national culture and language. The study also indicates that the communication challenges cannot only be handled by the use of rich communication media, but also by employment of communication media of low richness such as e-mails or “picture books”.Research limitations/implications– The single-case study approach limits the ability to generalize the findings. Future research should thus focus on additional studies of geographically separated R&D and manufacturing.Originality/value– The results from the study provide important insights for the management of product development in geographically dispersed settings. The findings emphasize the need to consider potential differences in national culture and language within a product development team. Acknowledging these differences and managing them properly can support efficiency of product development projects.
Interface challenges and managerial issues in the industrial innovation process
Authors: Säfsten Kristina , Johansson Glenn , Lakemond Nicolette , Magnusson Thomas 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of challenges related to interfaces in industrial innovation processes, together with suggestions on how these interface challenges can be managed. The paper investigates similarities and differences between the interfaces and identified challenges in terms of required managerial issues.Design/methodology/approach– The result presented in this paper is based on in-depth case studies of ten product development projects from five different manufacturing firms in Sweden. The empirical results are supplemented with results from a review of relevant literature.Findings– To manage the interface challenges market uncertainty, technological uncertainty, product complexity and/or degree of change in product, production complexity and/or degree of change in production, geographical and/or organisational dispersion between technology development and product development, and between product development and production, it was found that several issues have to be considered. Most of the identified managerial issues concern transfer synchronisation, transfer management and transfer scope. The authors have shown that despite many differences between the different phases in the innovation process, a quite concordant picture emerges when it comes to how to manage interface challenges.Practical implications– The classification of managerial issues into transfer synchronisation, transfer management and transfer scope provides an overview of areas that need to be addressed to manage interface challenges during the industrial innovation process. This knowledge provides some guidance for managers aiming at a smooth transition process, from technology development to production.Originality/value– By addressing both the interface between technology development and product development, and between product development and production in the same study, the authors have been able to provide a comprehensive overview of managerial issues related to interfaces challenges in industrial innovation processes in manufacturing firms.
The process of crisis information dissemination: impacts of the strength of ties in social networks
Authors: Wei Jiuchang , Bu Bing , Guo Xiumei , Gollagher Margaret 
Published: February 2014

Purpose
– The strength of ties between individuals influences the speed and spread of crisis information dissemination (CID). By constructing networks of strong and weak ties, this paper aims to innovatively explore the impacts of strong and weak ties on the CID at the macro level.

Design/methodology/approach
– To better understand the rules of CID in different kinds of social networks, this paper constructs a CID model based on the strength of ties in social networks and cellular automation, using simulations of CID speed and spread in an entire network, strong tie network and weak tie network generated by MATLAB.

Findings
– As the article's major theoretical contribution, the results demonstrate that CID is more efficient in a network of weak ties than in a network of strong ties, and that the spread of CID has a positive correlation with the believability of the information disseminated and the dissemination tendency coefficient. Furthermore, the difference of dissemination speeds between strong and weak tie networks varies regularly with information believability and the dissemination tendency coefficient.

Originality/value
– This study provides more effective public mechanisms for rapidly evaluating the believability of crisis information and responding to crises in real time. The findings also have some valuable implications for government agencies to improve the efficiency and effect of CID.
Creativity-based well-being of employees as a basis of future economy and society
Authors: Šarotar Žižek Simona , Treven Sonja , Mulej Matjaž 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– A new non-technological innovation to manage socio-economic crises and to build new economy and society. Economic theory that is based on fictitious market cannot manage building them, because it is one-sided and fails; the model suggests solving the crises and building new economy and society based on human requisite holism (HRH), creativity-based well-being (CBWB) and social responsibility (SR). The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– Qualitative economic analysis using HRH, CBWB, SR and dialectical systems theory (DST) is applied.Findings– The current global socio-economic/environmental crisis reflects decision-makers' one-sidedness and resulting oversights. HRH and SR support both holism and honesty and help to combat the negative impact of decision-makers' behaviour. SR can support holism and honesty better, if well-being is extended to CBWB, and if SR is upgraded with increasing CBWB, not welfare alone. Both SR and CBWB support HRH. The innovative synergy of CBWB and SR enables the solution of crises and the new economy and society beyond the currently practiced fictitious market. DST backs HRH, CBWB and SR, an ethic of interdependence and requisite holism (RH) approach, enabling requisite wholeness of outcomes.Research limitations/implications– Empirical data are from Slovene enterprises.Practical implications– The RH approach to managing socio-economic crises helps practitioners to rebuild modern society.Originality/value– Available literature offers no similar concept.
Recent achievements in bionic implementations of insect structure and functions
Authors: Liu Chao , Liu Jing , Xu Li , Xiang Wei 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– Entomology is a useful tool when applied to engineering challenges that have been solved in nature. Especially when these special abilities of olfactory sensation, vision, auditory perception, fly, jump, navigation, chemical synthesis, exquisite structure and others were connected with mechanization, informationization and intelligentization of modern science and technology, and produced innumerable classical bionic products. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– All kinds of special abilities of insects and application status have been described and discussed in order to summarize the advanced research examples and supply bibliographic reference to the latters. Future perspectives and challenges in the use of insect bionics were also given.Findings– In the period of life sciences and information sciences, insect bionics not only promoted the development of modern science and technology on the sides of mechanics, molecule, energy, information and control greatly but also provided new ideas and technologies for the crisis of science and technology, food, environment and ecosystem.Originality/value– It may provide strategies to solve the problems and be a source of good ideas for researchers.
The impact of healthy lifestyle interventions on mental health and wellbeing: a systematic review
Authors: Dale Hannah , Brassington Linsay , King Kristel 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– There is growing evidence that health behaviour change interventions are associated with mental health and wellbeing improvements. This paper aims to examine the effect of healthy lifestyle interventions on mental wellbeing.Design/methodology/approach– Six databases (Medline, Evidence Based Medicine Cochrane Registered Controlled Trials, Evidence Based Medicine Full Text Reviews, British Nursing Index, Embase, PsycINFO) were searched from database commencement up to April 2013. A broad focus on lifestyle interventions and mental health and wellbeing outcomes was chosen. Papers were systematically extracted by title then abstract according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria: any individual population (non-couple/family); any health behaviour change interventions; mental health and wellbeing outcomes; and a one-two level of evidence. Interventions aimed at workers were excluded, as were articles assessing cognitive functioning rather than mental health or wellbeing, or those using medications in interventions.Findings– Two authors reviewed 95 full papers. In total, 29 papers met inclusion criteria, representing a range of interventions spanning physical activity, diet, alcohol intake, drug use and smoking. A range of measures were used. The majority (n=25) of studies demonstrated improvements on at least one indicator of mental health and wellbeing. Limitations include the broad range of outcome measures used, varied follow-up times and the lack of detail in reporting interventions.Originality/value– Health behaviour change interventions targeting physical outcomes appear to have benefits to mental health and wellbeing spanning healthy populations and those with physical or mental health problems. Evidence is strongest for interventions targeting exercise and diet, particularly in combination and the actual lifestyle changes made and adherence appear to be important. However, it is not clear from this review which specific components are necessary or essential for improvements in mental health and wellbeing.
A study of network-building HR practices for TMT, strategic flexibility and firm performance
Authors: Lin Yaqing , Zhao Shuming , Li Na 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this study is to introduce strategic flexibility as an important dynamic capability into the field of strategic human resource management (SHRM) and explore its mediating role between network-building HR practices for top management team (TMT) and firm performance. Moreover, based on the context of transition economy in China, the authors examine environmental uncertainty as a moderator in these relationships and empirically test the questions above.Design/methodology/approach– The authors have conducted questionnaire surveys on 780 top managers in 390 companies mainly located in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang and finally received 241 valid samples.Findings– The results show that network-building HR practices have positive effects on firm performance and strategic flexibility plays a fully mediating role between them. In addition, environmental uncertainty moderates the relationship between network-building HR practices for TMT and strategic flexibility, while it has no moderating effect in the relationship between strategic flexibility and firm performance.Originality/value– These conclusions have important implications for the development and application of SHRM in dynamic environments. Theoretically, the authors enrich the functions of network-building HR practices for TMT and provide the evidence to advocate the development of the innovative HR practices in China. In terms of the practical implications of the study, it is argued that network-building HR practices for TMT and strategic flexibility can help firms to deal with uncertainty and achieve high performance, which provides constructive guidance in the development of enterprises in the China's transition economy.
Does original region institutional quality matter?
Authors: Xu Erming , Yang Hui 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– Although it has been proved in the macro level, that institutional quality (IQ) has significant influence on a country's economic growth, international trading, resource allocation, development strategy and others, its direct influence on micro level, or firm level still remains ambiguous. In this article, the authors aim to focus on the influence of IQ of a company's original region on its financial performance. The authors choose H share companies as the sample and try to answer an interesting question that whether original region matters during the development of a company in abroad stock market.Design/methodology/approach– This article uses a panel data of 120 H share firms, each ranges from 2005 to 2009. First, the authors use sectional analysis by SPSS19.0 to test the correlations and primary relationship among variables. Then, the authors use ordinary linear square (OLS) regression model to test the hypotheses with cross-sectional to reveal the primary results. In the end, the authors use STATA 11.0 to test panel data to decide the final results.Findings– The authors concluded that private sector development and product market development have positive effects on corporate financial performance, while laws and regulations development have negative effect. Type of the first shareholder plays an important role partly between region IQ and corporate financial performance: to governance-CFP relationship, non-state shareholders perform better than state ones; to product market-CFP relationship, state shareholders perform better non-state ones.Practical implications– In practices perspective, this conclusion is also inspirative. This study has implications for executives, too, and should help them to better manage their ownership structure. The results suggest that managers should choose first shareholder with critical thinking. Another way, this study has implications for governments-company interactions. It suggests that governments should engage in building an institution with high quality, so that every company will benefit from it.Originality/value– This article is the first research on region-level relationship between IQ and corporate financial performance, which is consistent with the multi-level structure of institution concept. And the authors employ H share companies as the sample, which revealed more about the conflict between governance and market embedded in regional institution.
The role of R&D investments in highly R&D-based firms
Authors: Schimke Antje , Brenner Thomas 
Published: February 2014

Purpose– This paper aims to examine the short-term structure of the impact of R&D investments on turnover growth, indicating differences between tangible and intangible investments. The main questions are whether R&D and capital investments accompany firms' growth in the subsequent periods and how this relationship depends on other characteristics of the firms, such as size and industry. In addition, the authors study the relationship between R&D investments and the autocorrelation dynamics of firm growth.Design/methodology/approach– The paper uses the European Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard as data source. This data source includes 1,000 European companies with information on employees, turnover, sector affiliation and details on capital expenditure and R&D expenditure.Findings– The authors find that R&D activities have, on average, a positive effect on turnover growth, while capital investments show both, positive and negative, relationships with firm growth. The relationship and its temporal structure strongly depend on firm size and industry affiliation as well as whether investments are considered as one-time or permanent activities.Originality/value– Usually, the impacts of firm characteristics on firm growth are studied without explicitly considering time. Firm characteristics and firm growth are usually measured and examined at the same point in time. In contrast, the study will focus on the short-term structure of the influence of firm characteristics on turnover growth, especially the impact of R&D investments.
How do CFOs make capital structure decisions? A survey of Greek listed companies
Authors: G. Noulas Athanasios , Genimakis Georgios 
Published: February 2014

Purpose
– The aim of this study is to investigate the corporate financing behaviour of nonfinancial Greek listed companies, focusing on how managers determine optimal capital structure.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study analyses the results derived from questionnaires submitted to the companies' chief financial officers (CFOs), using both descriptive and nonparametric statistics.

Findings
– The results broadly support the pecking order hypothesis over static trade-off theory. Firms listed on the Athens Stock Exchange prefer to use internal rather than external financing. A deeper examination of the systematic relationship between a number of variables and the financing decision provides tentative support for the existence of asymmetrically distributed information in the market and demonstrates a series of significant correlations among the determinative factors of a new long-term investment.

Originality/value
– This paper fills the existing gap between prominent theories of corporate leverage and empirical evidence. The questionnaire collects primary research data that are not available from public sources and reports CFOs' opinions and practices in the field.
Intraday liquidity patterns in limit order books
Authors: Malik Azeem , Lon Ng Wing 
Published: February 2014

Purpose
– Algorithmic trading attempts to reduce trading costs by selecting optimal trade execution and scheduling algorithms. Whilst many common approaches only consider the bid-ask spread when measuring market impact, the authors aim to analyse the detailed limit order book data, which has more informational content.

Design/methodology/approach
– Using data from the London Stock Exchange's electronic SETS platform, the authors transform limit order book compositions into volume-weighted average price curves and accordingly estimate market impact. The regression coefficients of these curves are estimated, and their intraday patterns are revealed using a nonparametric kernel regression model.

Findings
– The authors find that market impact is nonlinear, time-varying, and asymmetric. Inferences drawn from marginal probabilities regarding Granger-causality do not show a significant impact of slope coefficients on the opposite side of the limit order book, thus implying that each side of the market is simultaneously rather than sequentially influenced by prevailing market conditions.

Research limitations/implications
– Results show that intraday seasonality patterns of liquidity may be exploited through trade scheduling algorithms in an attempt to minimise the trading costs associated with large institutional trades.

Originality/value
– The use of the detailed limit order book to reveal intraday patterns in liquidity provision offers better insight into the interactions of market participants. Such valuable information cannot be fully recovered from the traditional transaction data-based approaches.
Is the NPS a trustworthy performance measure?
Authors: Kristensen Kai , Eskildsen Jacob 
Published: February 2014

Purpose
– In 2003 Reichheld published an article in HBR, in which he claims that the net promoter score (NPS), is the only number you need to grow, and the only number you need to manage customer loyalty. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the NPS is inferior to the standard measures of loyalty used by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and EPSI rating.

Design/methodology/approach
– In 2006 a customer satisfaction survey of the entire insurance sector in Denmark was conducted. The survey design was based on the questionnaires from EPSI rating and ACSI supplemented with insurance-specific questions, consumer sentiment questions and the basic Net Promoter Question. The sample consists of approximately 2,000 observations.

Findings
– The analyses presented in this paper show that the NPS it not what it claims to be: the one number you need to grow. The NPS is found to be a very poor predictor of both customer loyalty and customer satisfaction. The measure is very sensitive to changes in the underlying distribution, and finally the precision of the NPS was found to be low compared to other measures of loyalty, and it is not possible to predict the NPS categorization and hence it is hard to say precisely, how organizations can influence corporate growth based on the NPS.

Research limitations/implications
– The analysis is only conducted on data collected in a Danish business-to-consumer setting. More research is needed to shed light on the performance of the NPS across cultures as well as in a business-to-business setting.

Practical implications
– The paper demonstrates the dangers of using the NPS as an input to managerial decision making. Organizations are far better off using a standard customer loyalty measure such as those employed by the ACSI or EPSI instead of the NPS.

Originality/value
– Previous studies of the NPS have not replicated the methodology directly. Either there have been differences in scale length or in wording. The authors have constructed an experiment in the Danish insurance industry that answers some of the questions concerning the NPS without the shortcomings that most of the previous studies have suffered from.