bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Six Sigma based risk management framework for handling undesired effects associated with delays in project completion
Authors: Usman Tariq Muhammad 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a risk management framework, combined with Six Sigma tool and techniques, to help handle the undesired effects that can occur during the project execution. There exist various risk management methodologies but none of them provide an efficient framework and tools to handle undesired effects. In this paper, the goal is to assist practitioners in management of risks.Design/methodology/approachThe author defines a new risk management framework on the basis of critical review of previous research applied in the industry related to different manufacturing, construction, HR, Marketing, IT and other domains. The strengths and weaknesses of these methods have been compared through empirical analysis based on real‐life case studies.FindingsAn enhanced framework is developed for handling, management and analysis of risk associated with the projects. An extended model is presented by combining the previous risk management methodologies with Six Sigma methodologies, in order to achieve both improvement and minimization of risks simultaneously. The risk management framework defined in project management lacks compatibility and enhancement with the handling in real‐time projects. By combining a number of methodologies, after critical study of related frameworks, it has been possible to devise a framework which has proved to be beneficial.Research limitations/implicationsThe model defined in the paper is based on implementation and approvals from the management and takes time for implementation of Six Sigma. Currently the enhanced model is implemented in a single process in a real‐time industry to validate the model. A through study and knowledge of processes with data is required in order to implement the model.Social implicationsThe proposed model achieves higher organizational performance by motivation and training of its employees handling large‐scale projects. This has increased the knowledge of persons by minimizing the barrier to change management; hence, achieving organizational excellence and project management with ease.Originality/valueThe methodology will help organizations, especially in the manufacturing industry, to minimize the risks in both pre‐execution and post‐execution of projects. It enables overall improvement of organization with total product management, root cause analysis, project management knowledge areas and combination of Six Sigma tools. It also makes the knowledge management concept possible within the framework, to maintain the flow of knowledge throughout the organization. It has decreased dependency on a single person and promotes team management concepts with shared work values.
A case of implementing SPC in a pulp mill
Authors: Rantamäki Jukka , Tiainen Eeva‐Liisa , Kässi Tuomo 
Published: July 2013

PurposeA control chart is a widely used Six Sigma DMAIC process measure and control phase tool. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the body of knowledge on applying statistical process control (SPC) methods in a pulp mill production organization and the special issues that need to be considered in this context.Design/methodology/approachThe method for obtaining the results was action research, where the researcher actively participated in implementing changes in organization. Procedures to detect and further handle the deviations in a pulp mill organization were created and implemented. A cause and effect diagram used in finding causes and storing the accumulated knowledge was modified to make it applicable to this environment.FindingsFactors for successful SPC implementation were found to be in line with earlier findings in other industries. SPC can act as a means of organizational learning in the pulp and paper industry. Specific problems in the pulp and paper industry concerning the use of SPC were the autocorrelation of data, excessive measurement variation, and limited process knowledge. The effectiveness of SPC in a pulp mill was shown both in the decreasing amount of deviations and in the positive opinions of the employees.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are generated from a single case, so general applicability is limited.Practical implicationsThis case study can be used as a benchmark by other practitioners in the industry.Originality/valueThis article provides new knowledge in the context of implementing SPC in a pulp and paper manufacturing organization.
Modelling lean and green: a review from business models
Authors: Duarte Susana , Cruz‐Machado V. 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how different business models, embodied in awards, standards and frameworks, can contribute to modelling a lean and green approach for an organization and its supply chain.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 12 business models were studied. A literature review was conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of each model. After defining lean and green management paradigms, a number of guidelines were developed to connect and integrate lean and green principles.FindingsThe study reveals a number of categories that are common in most business models, providing adequate conditions for a lean‐green transformation. The guidelines were developed to model a lean‐green organization by applying specific principles and tools of a lean and green culture.Research limitations/implicationsThe relationships identified within and between models reflect a partial view of a lean‐green transformation. The approach adopted merges the different principles, and tends to emphasize similarities and minimize differences.Practical implicationsThe proposed model can be the basis for further research in lean and green paradigms, contributing to understanding when an organization and its supply chain can apply the lean and green principles and tools.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to understand, develop and integrate a lean and green organizational culture approach, based in standardized management business models.
Developing social capital for facilitating knowledge management practices
Authors: Monavvarian Abbas , Asgari Nasser , Akhavan Peyman , Ashena Mostafa 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThis study seeks to explore the effect of social capital (SC) on knowledge management (KM) practices. The main problem under investigation is to assess the importance of SC within an organization and to ascertain how it can ensure that knowledge activities would continue to be fitting and proper in the organization.Design/methodology/approachBased on the notion that certain factors can affect knowledge management, this paper examines the effect of the various aspects of social capital on the knowledge management practices. The research method is descriptive and correlational. The population of the research consists of managers and senior experts of NIOPDC (National Iran Oil Product Distribution Co). A sample of 273 subjects was selected using statistical sampling. Data were collected through questionnaire consisting of 25 questions.FindingsThe study has found that there are meaningful relationships between all of the dimensions of SC and KM practices. They can also facilitate knowledge management practices. The findings further suggest that among various dimensions of SC, trust has the most influential effect on KM practices.Research limitations/implicationsIn spite of lacking considerable empirical research investigating the correlations between KM and SC, this research not only extends the understanding of the effect of SC on KM, but also the interrelationship between various aspects of SC and their joint effects on knowledge management practices.Originality/valueExisting research has concentrated on studying the effect of SC on KM, by and large. There is little empirical research investigating the correlations between KM and SC. This paper addresses this gap and contributes understanding of how organizations can promote the effectiveness of KM practices through developing their social capital.
Investigating causal relationship between social capital and microfinance
Authors: Akram Sohail , Routray Jayant Kumar 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to investigate causal link between social capital and microfinance by testing the role of social capital in explaining the household's access to microcredit under the group‐based lending approach.Design/methodology/approachHousehold level primary data was collected from a rural district of Pakistan. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to construct a social capital index, whereas two logit models were developed to predict the probabilities of access to credit. Besides, few qualitative statements have also been used to supplement the results from main empirical analysis and to understand the impact mechanism of social capital on microfinance participation.FindingsParticipation in local organizations, heterogeneity of associations and level of both generalized and institutional trust were identified as the key dimensions of structural and cognitive social capital to influence households' access to credit. On the other hand, when these dimensions were combined in a single social capital index, the result indicated that social capital index has no significant effect on microfinance participation. This result provides support to the argument that grouping all the dimensions of social capital into one index may run the risk of losing the explanatory power of social capital.Practical implicationsThe results of the study could be encouraging for governments and other development agencies. The existing social capital could be utilized in the design and delivery of microfinance programs as well as other rural development activities. The results of the study also encourage policy makers to invest in the creation of social capital either directly or by providing environment supportive of its creation.Originality/valueThe study is a contribution to the limited empirical literature on social capital and microfinance. This study is the first of its kind in Pakistan and hopefully will contribute to the limited knowledge on social capital literature in the country generally and in the context of rural development specifically.
Local particularities or distance gradient
Authors: Herath Shanaka , Maier Gunther 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of relative importance of local characteristics, distance from the city centre and unobservable spatial relation in explaining values of constant‐quality apartment units in Vienna.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on recent developments in spatial econometrics and spatial hedonic house price modelling, the rent gradient hypothesis is examined by means of hedonic regression and spatial hedonic regression. Spatial autocorrelation tests are applied in order to assess possible presence of spatial dependence. The authors borrow Florax et al.'s specification search strategy in order to choose the most appropriate spatial model specification.FindingsThis research shows that local characteristics – or particularities – proxied by district and distance from the city centre are important location variables with regard to the Viennese apartment market. The spatial analysis suggests that the apartment prices are spatially autocorrelated and the Viennese apartment market has a distance‐based neighbourhood structure. The main finding is, however, that residents are willing to bid more for constant‐quality apartment units that are close to the centre of the city.Originality/valueRent gradient hypothesis is usually tested within non‐spatial hedonic frameworks: this study estimates a spatial hedonic model additionally in order to allow for comparison of results. This is also the first article to apply recent developments in spatial econometrics to examine explicitly rent gradient theory in the context of the Viennese apartment market.
Volatility interdependence in European real estate securities markets
Authors: Hiang Liow Kim 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the interdependence of daily conditional volatility in seven FTSE‐NAREIT‐EPRA European developed real estate securities markets – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland, from January 1990 to December 2011.Design/methodology/approachThis paper employs the multivariate GARCH and the generalized VAR volatility spillover index methodologies.FindingsThe author finds that each of the seven European developed real estate securities markets is relatively endogenous and interacts well with the other markets. In particular, the French real estate securities market has the most dominant volatility impact on other markets over the full sample period. The introduction and implementation of the euro is associated with a moderate increase of the total volatility spillovers around the three‐year (January 1999‐January 2002) period among the sample markets. Moreover, these markets have experienced an increase in their volatility correlation, as well as becoming more open around the GFC period. Around this crisis period, the German real estate securities market emerges as the “volatility leader” in transmitting the conditional volatilities to other markets in the European region.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to examine whether each of the sample European real estate securities markets has influenced or has been more influenced by others from the conditional volatility spillover perspective in the context of economic globalization, monetary integration and financial crisis. Since international investors incorporate into their portfolio selections not only the return correlation structure but also the market volatility interaction, the results of this study can shed light on the extent to which investors can benefit from international real estate securities diversification in the European developed countries.
Performance and role of European listed infrastructure in a mixed‐asset portfolio
Authors: Oyedele Joseph B. , McGreal Stanley , Adair Alastair , Ogedengbe Peter 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the performance of European listed infrastructure before, during and after the global financial crisis and the significance of European infrastructure in a mixed asset portfolio. The paper examines the level of correlation of European infrastructure with other major assets classes and substantiates the potential diversification benefits of including European infrastructure within a mixed asset portfolio.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses monthly investment return indices obtained from Thomson Reuters DataStream over a ten year period (2001‐2010). The paper analysed the European listed infrastructure investment return characteristics including average annual return, annual risk, Sharpe indices, mean variance portfolio and maximum return portfolio and computes the efficient portfolio frontiers using the risk solver optimization tool.FindingsThis study shows that despite the global financial turmoil, a robust performance was seen by certain infrastructure sub‐sectors particularly European generation utilities, which posted positive annualised returns during the global financial crisis and European “ports” emerged as the overall best performing sub‐asset class during the post‐GFC period. Using the monthly return indices over the ten year period, European infrastructure investment was found to play a significant role in the optimality of multi asset portfolios.Originality/valueThe originality of the paper stems from the analysis of the performance and significance of European listed infrastructure in a multi‐asset portfolio over unique periods which tested the resilience of European listed infrastructure performance over different financial climates including the global financial crisis period. This paper presents European listed infrastructure as an indication of rewarding investment outlets for investors in quest of exposure to the infrastructure industry and for those seeking to enhance investment portfolio performance.
Rural infrastructure development in the Volta region of Ghana: barriers and interventions
Authors: Badu Edward , Owusu‐Manu De‐Graft , Edwards David J. , Adesi Michael , Lichtenstein Scott 
Published: July 2013

PurposeAlthough a high proportion of the Ghanaian population live and work in under‐developed areas, research on rural infrastructure development is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges confronting rural infrastructure development and the requisite incentives needed to boost it.Design/methodology/approachAn inductive methodological approach was adopted using a structured questionnaire to survey the perceptions of rural contractors.FindingsIncentive systems identified include the provision of mobilization funds for projects; a plant pool for rural contractors; special allowance for rates of project items; and provision of letters of credit to secure loans for projects. Key challenges confronting rural construction were identified as a lack of financial institutions willing to support projects with funds; lack of potable water; lack of good health care systems; and lack of a goods market to supply materials.Research limitations/implicationsIdentification of challenges and incentive systems for rural infrastructure development provides an opportunity to reinvigorate rural infrastructural development in sub‐Saharan Africa.Practical implicationsThe study will be of value to all project partners throughout the supply chain who contemplate rural infrastructure development.Originality/valueThe paper presents a novel epitome of rural infrastructure delivery in the developing country of Ghana.
Measuring and reporting intellectual capital
Authors: Serena Chiucchi Maria 
Published: July 2013

PurposeDespite the plethora of frameworks proposed, there is little evidence of organizations measuring and reporting their IC. This paper aims to shed light on the factors that can hinder or promote the utilization of IC accounting for managerial purposes, thus contributing to understanding why IC frameworks are not so widespread in practice.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate the issue at hand, a multiple case study of three Italian companies, which have been measuring their IC for several years, will be used, adopting a critical perspective. The actual research project was conducted using an interventionist approach.FindingsThe paper shows how IC model utilization and IC mobilization are influenced by several factors such as: the project's connection to a specific strategic objective, the system's interactive design, its complexity, the predominant use of non‐financial indicators (which can be ambiguous and provocative), the backward‐ or forward‐looking nature of the resultant measurement tools and the osmosis between company‐wide and local control systems.Research limitations/implicationsBeing referred to a multiple case study, results cannot be generalized to other organizations. The adoption of an interventionist approach and the IC model applied may have influenced the results obtained.Practical implicationsThe findings can help companies to make the IC accounting implementation processes more effective and create the conditions that can help mobilize IC.Originality/valueThe paper investigates IC in action, thus contributing to narrowing the gap between theory and practice, and offers new insights on some hindering or enabling factors which may influence the diffusion of IC accounting.
Colouring the numbers – on the role of intellectual capital in financial reporting
Authors: Graaf Johan 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore how managers are mobilising IC items when approaching their investors and analysts. To this date, there is a lack of knowledge surrounding the translation processes of IC, from corporate disclosures to the capital market. Little is known of how managers mobilise their IC in order for analysts and investors to embrace it and consider it to be a relevant part of corporate disclosures.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies a performative approach to IC, in which framing theory is mobilized to understand the duality of financial indicators. The empirical material was collected through a case study approach, focusing on the interim reporting practices of a Swedish online gaming company. The study investigated a total of 16 earnings announcements and their accompanying conference calls in the period of 2008‐2011. In addition, five interviews with top managers and financial analysts were performed.FindingsThe findings suggest that IC is highly dependent on financial indicators and can therefore not be treated as the opposite of financial capital. Instead of complementing financial capital, IC is the symptomatic quality of financial indicators, i.e. a way to make sense, contextualise and reconnect a disentangled representation with empirical phenomena.Originality/valueThis paper introduces a new way of viewing IC disclosures, expanding the knowledge and methodology in IC research. The paper also highlights the study of an important disclosure, expanding research on IC disclosures beyond annual reports. Finally, it offers practitioners additional insights in the communication of non‐financials to the capital market.
Awareness of your own intangible assets
Authors: Demartini Paola , Paoloni Paola 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the point of convergence between the process of drawing up the intellectual capital statement (ICS) and the corporate social responsibility statement (CSRS).Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical paradigm underlying the authors’ research is interpretivism. In particular, this study is conducted in light of the “action research” perspective. Data have been gathered by in‐depth interviews with managers and from group discussions.FindingsThe results demonstrate that is possible and also convenient to overlap the tasks to be done in the process of drawing up the ICS and the CSRS.Originality/valueThis paper is of interest to both scholars and professionals because it presents the results of an empirical study into the critical success factors for implementing the development of ICS and simultaneously of CSRS.
A political economy of intangibles reporting: the case of Japan
Authors: Girella Laura , Zambon Stefano 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe paper aims to explore the economic, political and social premises according to which some governmental agencies have decided to promote IC reporting in their country. Firstly, it will examine the contextual premises and conditions that have encouraged (or inhibited) IC reporting. Secondly, it will investigate the way these premises and conditions interact in different ways, thus establishing (loosely) coupled relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe relationship between IC recommendation for corporate reporting and contextual linkages will be analysed from a political economy perspective, as proposed by Cooper and Sherer, and others, and as modified by the type of discursive analysis inspired by Burchell et al.FindingsIn light of the relationship that the paper will establish between different discourses, IC will be understood not as a merely corporate neutral technique but as an economic and socially constructed phenomenon aimed at re‐launching the growth of a country. In this way, it will be explored from both within – in terms of methods and their usefulness for its “supporters” – and also externally – in relation to how it is perceived and in turn communicated by politicians who are “delegates of different cognitive and social institutions”, as Manninen said in 1996.Originality/valueA political economy analysis of IC reporting enables the opening up of the black box of IC reporting in relation to public policy, outlining a useful approach for practitioners and policy makers.