bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Change and stability interaction processes in SMEs: a comparative case study
Authors: Humberto Mejia‐Morelos Jorge , Grima François , Trepo Georges 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore interactions between change and stability during the implementation of a specific change initiative (ISO 9000). It attempts to develop a theoretical framework on change and stability management in small firms.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a process approach based on retrospective comparative case study methodology. Data collection in the six companies lasted over a year. This gives the opportunity to contrast failed change initiatives against successful ones.FindingsTwo models emerged from this approach; they support the notion that change and stability could be complementary during the different phases of the change initiative the authors analyzed. The findings show that total absence of stability variables in the change initiative could have negative effect on results.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on a multiple case study approach, which limits the generalizability of the findings.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that applies and empirically tests the change and stability relation in small firms.
Leading to learning and competitive intelligence
Authors: Trong Tuan Luu 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThis research aims to examine whether there is the chain effect from corporate social responsibility (CSR) and emotional intelligence (EI) to organizational learning and competitive intelligence in chemical companies in a Vietnam business setting.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to analyze a set of 403 responses returned from self‐administered structured questionnaires sent to 620 middle level managers.FindingsResearch findings reveal the impacts of ethical CSR and EI on organizationally beneficial upward influence behaviors, which promote organizational learning. Learning in organizations then acts as an antecedent to competitive intelligence.Originality/valueTo activate the transformation of individual knowledge into organizational knowledge, managers should role model and inspire members to share, from emotions to ethical values, so that they can transcend their self‐interests to develop organizationally beneficial behaviors. Organizational knowledge, from this learning process, will help members discern competitive opportunities.
Three proven rules: discovering how exceptional companies think
Authors: Raynor Michael E. , Ahmed Mumtaz 
Published: April 2013

PurposeAfter many years of researching data for thousands of companies the authors identified a population of 377 exceptional companies in two categories: 199 Miracle Workers, or the best of the best, and 178 Long Runners – still exceptional, but at a lower level. This paper aims to examine these two categories.Design/methodology/approachWith the flaws of previous searches for the secret to exceptional corporate performance in mind, the authors began theirs with a radical premise: that what constitutes stand‐out performance is not obvious. It is not enough simply to set up a performance benchmark, no matter how demanding it might seem, and see who clears it.FindingsBy studying how exceptional companies thought about decisions they made the authors derived three rules that were key to outstanding performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology behind the research is complex and deserves careful study. It is discussed in several chapters of the authors' new book Three Rules: How Exceptional Companies Beat the Odds.Practical implicationsThe authors' research suggests that the most profitable course of action is to devote resources to tackling the hard problem of creating anew the non‐price value customers will pay for, not the hard problem of how to remain profitable at lower prices.Originality/valueThese three rules apply to almost every decision within the purview of senior management. When applying them, the authors conclude that the most profitable course of action is to devote company resources to tackling the hard problem of creating anew the non‐price value customers will pay for, not the hard problem of how to remain profitable at lower prices.
What went wrong at Boeing
Authors: Denning Stephen 
Published: April 2013

PurposeAt the beginning of 2013, Boing's revolutionary 787 airliner suffered a host of problems and then the fleet was grounded because of a fires caused when lithium‐ion batteries overheated. This paper aims to look at the way the company managed the risks of innovation and how outsourcing added to this risk.Design/methodology/approachAccording to his research, which includes news reports and published internal reports, the author believes that Boeing problems with the 787 Dreamliner that led to its grounding can be blamed on how it went about outsourcing, both in the USA and beyond.FindingsThe paper reveals that the 787 involved not merely the outsourcing of a known technology. It involved major technological innovations unproven in any airplane.Practical implicationsSome degree of offshoring is an inevitable aspect of manufacturing a complex product like an airplane, but the cultural and language differences and the physical distances involved in a lengthy supply chain create additional risks. Mitigating them requires substantial and continuing communications with the suppliers and on‐site involvement, thereby generating additional cost.Originality/valueThe author offers a set of recommendations for company executives planning to offshore projects that involve major technological innovations.
Motorola's global financial supply chain strategy
Authors: Blackman Ian D. , Holland Christopher P. , Westcott Timothy 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define and explore the concept of financial supply chain strategy in a global business environment. The paper aims to illustrate the concepts with a detailed case study of Motorola's global financial supply chain.Design/methodology/approachThis is a detailed, longitudinal case study analysis of a focal organisation and its economic partners in a financial supply chain. The case study combines qualitative analysis of the strategy evolution with extensive time‐series data and quantitative analyses of the performance of the financial supply chain.FindingsThe financial supply chain is an integral component of Motorola's overall supply chain management strategy. Physical product, information systems and financial flows are closely aligned with each other throughout the supply chain incorporating Motorola, its customers, suppliers and banks. The overall trend is towards the development of an integrated global financial supply chain in which cash flows mirror product flows. Motorola shares financial data with its suppliers as part of a cooperative strategy that generates cost savings for Motorola and its suppliers in areas such as foreign exchange and cash balances. The cooperative strategy also improves the quality of the payments process measured by six sigma techniques and produces strategic benefits such as risk reduction for the supply chain as a whole in areas such as foreign exchange and payments. A strategy of this type is only possible by taking a global perspective of the financial supply chain.Research limitations/implicationsThe development of financial supply chains has not been fully addressed in the supply chain management literature. This paper defines this relatively new topic area and explains its significance in its own right, and also in terms of the inter‐relationships between finance and manufacturing supply chains. A research agenda for financial supply chains is proposed that describes a range of new research opportunities in this area.Practical implicationsThe development of integrated financial supply chains will lead to significant savings in terms of funding, banking and administrative costs associated with treasury and payment activities. The implementation and nature of the strategic change also highlight important strategic planning and implementation issues associated with financial supply chains.Originality/valueThe strategic importance of financial supply chains for business and academic researchers is demonstrated through the definition of this topic and the application of a research framework to a detailed study of Motorola's global financial supply chain using time‐series data of strategy evolution and financial supply chain performance. The research findings and comparison with theory support the assertion that this is a relatively new and unexplored problem area that is of direct relevance and interest to researchers in supply chain management.
Risk and resilience in agri‐food supply chains: the case of the ASDA PorkLink supply chain in Scotland
Authors: Leat Philip , Revoredo‐Giha Cesar 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe paper examines one of Scotland's major pork supply chains and seeks to identify the key risks and challenges involved in developing a resilient agri‐food supply system, particularly with regard to primary product supply, and to show how risk management and collaboration amongst stakeholders can increase chain resilience.Design/methodology/approachThe case study involved in‐depth interviews with seven people involved in the chain and its management.FindingsReduced supply chain vulnerability to risks arose through horizontal collaboration amongst producers, and vertical collaboration with the processor and retailer. Producers improved market and price security, and pig performance. For the processor and retailer the collaboration generated greater security of supply of an assured quality, improved communication with suppliers, and reduced demand risk as they could assure consumers on quality, animal welfare and product provenance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study's findings are based on the analysis of a particular supply chain, but the cooperative concerned currently produces over half of Scotland's weekly pig production.Practical implicationsThe findings are highly transferable to other agri‐food supply chains. Producers' successful efforts to deal with different risks and the role of collaboration in enhancing chain resilience are illustrated.Originality/valueThe case is interesting because pigmeat supply profitability has been under constant pressure. It discusses the risks faced by all chain participants and the collective development of a chain which is relatively resilient to variations in price, production and supply.
Communication managers in the dominant coalition
Authors: Kanihan Stacey Frank , Hansen Kathleen A. , Blair Sara , Shore Marta , Myers Jun 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine formal and informal types of power, and identify the characteristics of corporate communications managers who are in the dominant coalition.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports on results of a survey sent to a representative sample of S&P 500 corporate communications managers and CEOs in the USA Data about industry sector, company size, annual revenue and profitability were collected for the responding companies and a random sample of 100 non‐responding companies. The responding companies (n=161) did not significantly differ from the non‐responding companiesFindingsThe paper finds that four attributes of informal power differentiate communications managers who are in the dominant coalition from those who are not: reciprocal trust, strategic business decision‐making, social inclusion and communication expertise.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should explore whether any of the 37 percent of communications managers in the dominant coalition at these top companies come from backgrounds significantly different from those of the executive elite.Practical implicationsThe paper supports the organizational theory of the importance of informal power as a prerequisite to be in the dominant coalition – particularly friendship and “being included.” Communications managers who are in the dominant coalition are in a better position to institute ethical and excellent (symmetrical) communication practices. The findings of this study have implications for the likely success (or lack thereof) of managers with diverse backgrounds of being included in the dominant coalition.Originality/valueThe paper provides quantitative, generalizable results based on a representative sample where many previous studies have relied on qualitative data alone.
A square go: tackling organised crime where it doesn't want to be tackled
Authors: Murray Kenneth 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advocate the inclusion and development within law enforcement of relevant professional skills which will enable strategic analyses to be made of organised crime groups as economic entities; the ultimate aim being to identify and neutralise the distinctive capabilities which underpin their assessable competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approachDiscussion of challenges facing law enforcement in tackling the finances of organised crime and outline of an adapted business strategy model to identify the characteristics of the competitive advantages exploited by economically successful organised crime groups.FindingsMoney laundering remains a difficult crime to prosecute yet it is the key crime enabling organised crime groups to develop their influence in our democracies. Law enforcement must broaden their approach to disabling this crime by developing relevant skill sets which can analyse the distinctive capabilities of organised crime groups as competitive economic players as a means of identifying relevant options and opportunities to disrupt and dismantle them.Research limitations/implicationsThe development of mature business strategy skills as part of the law enforcement effort against organised crime is implied.Practical implicationsAdapting the culture of law enforcement to accommodate the relevant professional skills required to effectively combat organised crime in the field of economic crime.Social implicationsProtecting democracies, democratic institutions and the communities they serve through the improved effectiveness of measures taken against Organised Crime Groups.Originality/valueIt is hoped the paper will encourage debate on the topic.
AML‐CTF: a forced marriage post 9/11 and its effect on financial institutions
Authors: Sinha Gauri 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the incompatibility of anti‐money laundering (AML) and counter‐terrorist financing (CTF) measures as a hasty over‐reaction after 9/11, focusing on the compliance burdens that this imposes on the regulated sector, most notably financial institutions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper explains the fundamental differences between money laundering and terrorist financing. It follows the evolution of the marriage between AML and CTF measures in the USA and the UK, comparing the pre and post‐9/11 phases. Consequently, the specific legal burdens placed on financial institutions as a result of this marriage are discussed.FindingsThe paper, while recognising the importance of targeting terrorist money, contends that inherent differences exist between money laundering and terrorist financing, and fusing them together is a hasty reaction to the 9/11 attacks. It argues that the need of the hour is to focus on terrorist profiling, rather than attempting to target terrorist financing through the AML regime. It also concludes that financial institutions are unfairly burdened with the task of “suspecting” terrorist funds, while receiving little or no guidance in this respect.Originality/valueThis paper is of value to governments, regulators, and financial institutions considering the effective implementation of the AML‐CTF regime in the UK and the USA.
Library usage and demographic characteristics of undergraduate students in a UK university
Authors: Stone Graham , Collins Ellen 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThis paper builds upon existing research into library usage by exploring whether demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity and country of origin have an effect upon undergraduate library usage at the University of Huddersfield.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses demographic and library usage data for a graduating year of full‐time undergraduate students at the University of Huddersfield, and uses statistical tests to explore the significance of the relationship between demographics and usage.FindingsThe study finds that there is a statistically significant relationship between demographic characteristics and library usage on some, though not all, dimensions. But in many cases the effect size is small.Research limitations/implicationsThe study uses data from a single UK university, and the findings may not therefore be generalizable. Furthermore, the study is able to identify statistical relationships but is not able to fully explain why they exist.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that library services may need to be shaped differently for different demographic groups of students. Working with students in their own institution, librarians may be able to discover more about why these differences exist.Originality/valueThis paper shows a relationship between usage and demographic characteristics among undergraduate students, allowing librarians to consider how better to shape their services to meet student needs.
A study of sustainability of continuous improvement in the manufacturing industries in Malaysia
Authors: Janee Ali Anees , Islam Aminul , Poon Howe Lim 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of six variables: strategic focus; monitoring continuous improvement development; integration of continuous improvement; management of continuous improvement; involvement/engagement and learning; and knowledge sharing, on sustainability of continuous improvement capabilities in the context of the manufacturing industries in Penang, Malaysia. The paper determines the impact of organizational self‐assessment towards the relationship of these six factors and sustainability of continuous improvement capabilities.Design/methodology/approachThe study opted for an exploratory study using the survey instrument to collect data. The questionnaire was published through the web and manual distribution. For the web survey, e‐mails were broadcasted to invite the random employees to participate in the e‐mail survey, where respondents were directed to answer the attachment that contained the questionnaire. Online survey method is chosen because it is convenient, time and cost effective to intact with the respondents who are dispersed in different geographical areas.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights about how strategic focus, management of continuous improvement and learning/knowledge sharing positively influence on sustainability of continuous improvement capabilities in an organization. It suggests that organizational self‐assessment has a mediating effect on the relationship between strategic focus, learning/knowledge sharing and sustainability of continuous improvement capabilities.Research limitations/implicationsThe complex nature of the process of sustaining continuous improvement capabilities as a research topic places limitations on this study, particularly in the area of sample selection and data collection. The major sample selection at the manufacturing organizations is difficult because an organization's perception in terms of continuous improvement may not be the same, thus it is not easy to ascertain relevant sample characteristics.Practical implicationsThe implications of this study highlighted that the most effective predictor for sustaining continuous improvement capabilities was strategic focus, in addition, this study provided insight into the mediating effect of organizational self‐assessment towards the effectiveness of sustaining continuous improvement capabilities in the manufacturing industry.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified need to study how the effectiveness of sustaining continuous improvement capabilities can be developed.
Defining and assessing requisite supply chain visibility in regulated industries
Authors: Klueber Roland , O’Keefe Robert M. 
Published: April 2013

PurposeSupply chain visibility (SCV) is vital where supply chain (SC) partners must have access to information regarding materials within the SC. This is particularly important in regulated industries where government or industry regulators require additional SC‐related information. An argument is presented that in regulated industries there is a requisite level of visibility that should be assessed. The purpose of this paper is to identify and organise the components of requisite supply chain visibility (RSCV), producing simple concepts that could lay the foundation to assess the requisite level of visibility.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on previous research into, and definitions of SCV, this paper builds a definition for RSCV. A project where RSCV is applied as a concept is then presented as a case. The Swiss firm Jet Aviation, its logistics provider Fiege, its equipment suppliers, and involved logistics agents are the participants in the case.FindingsRequisite SCV in regulated environments can be perceived as dependent upon a firm's strategic orientation, partner capabilities, the need for SC compliance to regulations, the desire for operational flexibility and issues within the environment in which the SC operates. The case suggests that a capabilities, rather than outcomes‐based, approach has merit.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are limited by the context of the case, but are applicable using an analytical generalization to highly regulated industries. A specific method for measuring RSCV is needed, and further research is progressing in this area.Practical implicationsUsing the RSCV concept to manage large‐scale SCV initiatives can help firms in highly regulated industries identify the critical factors that increase or limit their SCV. The case suggests that when implementing an IT solution for RSCV, networkability across the SC partners is a key limiting factor.Originality/valueThere is limited research into the role of regulation and compliance in SCV. This is one of the first pieces of research to consider requisite SCV. It proposes a SC specific configurable assessment concept, and presents a unique case in SCV.