bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrating transformational and participative versus directive leadership theories
Authors: Arnold Kara A. , Loughlin Catherine 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which male and female leaders report engaging in participative versus directive intellectually stimulating transformational leadership behaviour across three different contexts (business, government and military).Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 64 senior leaders (29 female and 35 male) across Canada.FindingsLeaders were more likely to describe using a participative versus directive approach to intellectual stimulation. Gender similarities and differences also appeared across contexts: government leaders reported almost twice as many directive examples as business leaders, and men and women in both of these contexts were very similar in their reports about how they enacted intellectual stimulation. In contrast, men and women in the military diverged, with male leaders reporting more participative behaviour than female leaders.Research limitations/implicationsThis study extends the leadership literature through an integration of participative and directive leadership theory with transformational leadership theory. Sample size and self‐report data are possible limitations.Practical implicationsFindings provide insight into the behaviours leaders engage in to enhance creative thinking and problem solving within organizations across different contexts and suggests that this aspect of transformational leadership is most likely to be enacted in a participative way by both male and female leaders.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to empirically investigate participative versus directive transformational leadership behaviour. Gender differences between contexts are worthy of further study, specifically regarding the implications of these findings for female leaders’ promotion and career progression.
Broadband availability and economic growth
Authors: Bojnec Štefan , Fertő Imre 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a model to measure the effect of broadband availability on economic growth in developed OECD countries.Design/methodology/approachThe effect of the broadband availability‐related variables on economic growth is analyzed by using cross‐country panel data for 34 OECD countries over the years 1998‐2009. The robustness of the results by the six econometric estimation approaches is compared. The preferable dynamic panel model with the system of Generalized Method of Moments is selected.FindingsThe access channels per inhabitant and total broadband per inhabitant have improved over time, but vary across the analysed OECD countries. The improved access channels per inhabitant and gross capital growth (investment) play a positive and significant role in the per‐capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Labour productivity growth has encouraged economic growth positively. These results are robust independently of the estimation procedure.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors do not find a positive and significant role of the total broadband per inhabitant on the per‐capita GDP growth. These findings and the results for control variables pertaining to trade openness and inward foreign direct investment (FDI) in the growth equation are biased to the estimation procedure.Originality/valueThe conceptual‐empirical value to the research of new connections made using the key elements of economic growth theory with focus on the effect of the broadband availability, main macroeconomic and economic openness variables on economic growth. This is one of the first studies that, in the growth equation, uses different broadband availability‐related variables, which in addition to gross capital growth, government consumption, and inflation in the adjusted augmented growth model are controlled for labour productivity growth, trade openness, and inward FDI.
Exploring the effects of information quality change in road transport operations
Authors: Popovič Aleš , Habjan Andreja 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe information system (IS) literature has previously emphasized the positive contribution of IT‐enabled quality information on decision making and firm performance, particularly when firms operate in highly competitive and uncertain settings. Yet, our understanding of how such information potentially transforms transport operations and generates improvements in organizational performance is limited. In response, the authors conduct an exploratory comparative case study of three transport firms that have introduced the global positioning system (GPS) in their operations. The purpose of this paper is to focus on assessing changes in transport operations due to the use of the quality information GPS provides and the link between these changes and organizational benefits.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through semi‐structured interviews, direct observations and archival documentation in the three transport firms. Applying methods of a comparative case study, the data were analyzed by employing iterative and inductive analyses.FindingsThe results identify transport operations as the missing element in a more comprehensive explanation of previously hypothesized relationships between information quality improvements and organizational benefits in road transportation. Notably, it was found that different information quality affects transport operations in various ways. In addition, improved transport operations, namely transport service planning, vehicle routing and transport control, result in improved customer service, enhanced transport asset utilization, reduced transport costs and time, and in increased satisfaction of employees working within the transport process.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper offers a series of propositions that aims to stimulate empirical research and theoretical thinking on this topical subject.Practical implicationsThe findings offer valuable insights to transport firms, while providing and improving information quality for transport service planning, vehicle routing and transport control that results in organizational benefits linked to customer service, transport asset utilization, costs, and employee satisfaction. For information to have practical value, firms must use it in those transport operations identified as adding value to the firms' performance.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge this is an early attempt to inform firms in the transport industry about the information quality change following from GPS use and its implications for transport operations.
A new approach for assessing the correlated risk
Authors: Pan Jeh‐Nan , Chen Sheau‐Chiann 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between multivariate process capability indices and loss functions for both nominal‐the‐best and smaller‐the‐better cases, so the likelihood and consequences resulting from the nonconforming of a manufacturing process or an environmental system can be evaluated simultaneously.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors present a new approach of correlated risk assessment by linking the multiple process capability indices and loss functions, in which the multivariate process capability indices and multivariate loss functions describe the likelihood and consequences as a result of nonconformities in multivariate manufacturing or environmental system, respectively. Then, the associated relationship equations are developed using multivariate methods. Moreover, a step‐by‐step procedure is provided to facilitate the implementation of the correlated risk assessment.FindingsGiven the multivariate process capability indices, the authors show that the expected loss can be estimated by developed relationship equations and two numerical examples are also given, to demonstrate how the correlated manufacturing and environmental risks can be properly assessed by linking the multivariate process capability indices and multivariate loss function.Practical implicationsThe risk information of likelihood and expected loss, classified in the four planning zones of a strategic planning matrix, provides practising managers and engineers with a decision‐making tool for prioritizing their quality improvement projects when conducting risk assessment for any multivariate process or environmental system.Originality/valueOnce the existing quality/environmental problems and their Key Performance Indicators are identified, one may conduct risk assessment by applying the relationship equations to evaluate the impact of correlated risk on manufacturing processes or multiple environmental emissions inside company; this can lead to the direction of continuous improvement for any industry.
Music business models and piracy
Authors: Bustinza Oscar F. , Vendrell‐Herrero Ferran , Parry Glenn , Myrthianos Vasileios 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to estimate the scale of illegal file‐sharing activity across ten countries and to correlate this activity with country revenues. The work aims to elucidate an under‐explored business model challenge which exists in parallel with a music piracy challenge.Design/methodology/approachThe study data are drawn from a number of sources, including a data set of a survey of more than 44,000 consumers in ten different countries undertaken in 2010. Following analysis, all findings are validated by a panel of industry experts.FindingsResults show that non‐legitimate file‐sharing activity is a heterogeneous issue across countries. The scale of activity varies from 14 per cent in Germany to 44 per cent in Spain, with an average of 28 per cent. File‐sharing activity negatively correlates to music industry revenue per capita. This research finds many consumers are not engaging with online business models. Almost one fourth of the population claim that they do not consume digital music in either legal or illegal forms. This phenomenon is also negatively correlated with sales per capita.Practical implicationsResults support the need for policy makers to introduce strong intellectual property rights (IPR) regulation which reduces file‐sharing activity. The work also identifies a large percentage of non‐participants in the digital market who may be re‐engaged with music through business model innovation.Originality/valueThis research presents a map of the current file‐sharing activity in ten countries using a rich and unique dataset. The work identifies that a country's legal origin correlates to data on file‐sharing activity, with countries from a German legal origin illegally file sharing least. Approximately, half of the survey respondents chose not to answer the question related to file‐sharing activity. Different estimates of the true scale of file‐sharing activity are given based upon three different assumptions of the file sharing activity of non‐respondents to this question. The challenge of engaging consumers in the digital market through different business models is discussed in light of digital music's high velocity environment.
Optimal technology selection considering input levels of resource
Authors: Yu Peng , Hee Lee Jang 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose an optimal technology selection (OTS) method considering technology alternatives' required input levels of resource, to help companies select an optimal technology.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed method clustered technology alternatives according to their required input levels of resource. After that, in each cluster, the proposed method used data envelopment analysis‐assurance region (DEA‐AR) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) rating method to evaluate the efficiencies and priorities of the technology alternatives, respectively. Finally, combined scores of the technology alternatives were calculated. A company can choose a proper technology cluster, and then select the technology alternative with the highest combined score within the selected cluster as the optimal technology.FindingsThe results showed that the OTS method cannot only select suitable technology which accords with a company's actual input capabilities, but also provide a more accurate selection result.Originality/valueTraditionally, technologies are evaluated without considering the technologies' required input levels, and simply ranked for selection. However, there are differences between a company's actual resource levels and a selected technology's required input levels of resource. This study proposes an integrated method to evaluate technology systematically and provides a more reasonable selection process for selecting optimal technology.
Perceived performance effects of ICT in manufacturing SMEs
Authors: Bayo‐Moriones Alberto , Billón Margarita , Lera‐López Fernando 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate whether information and communication technologies (ICT) resources, including investment and use of specific types of ICT as well as innovative work practices, have a positive impact on several dimensions of firm performance, taking into account both direct and indirect effects and both short and long‐term effects.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study using data from a sample of 267 Spanish manufacturing SMEs was conducted. Path analysis was used to study direct and indirect ICT impacts and OLS regression was the estimation method employed.FindingsThe findings show a positive relationship between ICT adoption and all the measures of perceived performance analyzed, although the impact is not always immediate since the lag effects and length differ according to the type of ICT. Managers' perceptions of ICT impact are related to the adoption of new work practices but the effects also depend positively on the number of years since new work practices were implemented. ICT impact on final performance (market share and profits and margin) takes place mainly indirectly through the improvement of internal and external communication, as well as through operational performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations of the research stem from the specific geographical context under consideration and restrictions relating to the cross‐sectional nature of the data.Practical implicationsThe results reveal the wide scope of the benefits of ICT adoption in SMEs and point to the need for persistence in use so as to obtain good results in some areas. They also stress the positive effects of adopting ICTs together with organizational innovation.Originality/valueThis research extends the scope of the analysis of ICT payoff literature by analyzing direct and indirect effects and by focusing on a broad range of technologies, a variety of performance measures and several time lags to study ICT adoption impacts in SMEs.
How can a mobile vendor get satisfied customers?
Authors: San‐Martin Sonia , López‐Catalán Blanca 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the role that a relational variable (trust) and three personal variables (impulsiveness, involvement and innovativeness), may play as antecedents of satisfaction of mobile shoppers.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative information was collected using a survey instrument directed to Spanish mobile shoppers. In total, 447 valid questionnaires were obtained. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsTrust, involvement and innovativeness were found to have a positive impact on mobile shopper satisfaction, except impulsiveness, which has a negative impact, as the authors proposed.Research limitations/implicationsThe study highlights the importance of gaining m‐shopper satisfaction and different ways of achieving this goal, especially, internal influences.Practical implicationsM‐vendors should bear in mind that engendering trust and involvement with the channel is positive if they are to achieve purchaser satisfaction with the medium, whilst encouraging impulsiveness would prove detrimental. It should also be stressed that mobile phone user tendency to make use of new technologies could encourage impulsiveness that might lead to dissatisfaction, but that this innovativeness prompts individuals to take a keener interest in the products and services available over the mobile and ultimately leads them to become more involved.Originality/valueMobile commerce Spain is still in its infancy, hence the interest in gaining an insight into the factors which most impact the satisfaction of those who have already purchased using this means. Although research into e‐commerce has increased, few works have dealt with mobile shopping. Innovativeness, impulsiveness and involvement have received little attention in this context.
Supply chain involvement for better product development performance
Authors: Feng Taiwen , Wang Dan 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of three types of supply chain involvement (SCI) on three types of new product development (NPD) performance.Design/methodology/approachTo test the research hypotheses, structural equation modeling was conducted using data from 214 Chinese manufacturing companies.FindingsThe results reveal that internal involvement is positively associated with customer and supplier involvement. It was also found that three types of SCI influence three types of NPD performance differently. Specifically, internal involvement is important in improving NPD speed, while customer and supplier involvement have significant effects on NPD cost and NPD speed. Moreover, internal and customer involvement enhance market performance indirectly, whereas supplier involvement improves market performance both directly and indirectly.Research limitations/implicationsThis research examines the relationship between SCI and NPD performance in China. However, the effectiveness of SCI may be contingent on various factors (such as involvement timing, innovation strategy and business environment) and the relationship may be different in other cultural contexts.Practical implicationsManagers should adopt a holistic SCI perspective to manage their supply chains when developing new products, to achieve better performance.Originality/valueThis study contributes to SCI literature and practices by defining three types of SCI in the context of supply chain, examining the relationships among them and revealing the impacts of different types of SCI on different types of NPD performance.
Alignment of operations strategy: exploring the marketing interface
Authors: Jose Zanon Celeste , Gomes Alves Filho Alceu , Jose Chiappetta Jabbour Charbel , Lopes de Sousa Jabbour Ana Beatriz 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify factors that can help managers to overcome barriers to alignment of operations strategy at the interface with marketing.Design/methodology/approachThis objective required the application of a procedure based on strategic consensus and a deeper analysis, such that the delimitation of the study in a single case was mandatory. The strategic processes of interfacing involve managerial attributes that are subject to the influence of human aspects and, therefore, the research method used a qualitative approach. The protocol design included the following data sources: interviews, document reviews and researcher observations. The categorisation was made based on the theoretical references, the frequency of observations, common responses and information from documents.FindingsThe balance between intra‐functional trade‐offs, joint research on the competitive context, reflections on the understanding of customer needs and operational performance, and understanding of inter‐functional trade‐offs were the main factors verified. They effectively support decisions associated with interface processes and promotes the integration of these processes. They can generate inputs that enable managers to achieve an appropriate balance among alternatives in light of various trade‐offs.Practical implicationsThese factors make possible new connections between strategic processes in the context of operations and marketing functions. The formations of these strategies are aligned through a better understanding of both threats and opportunities by means of a joint analysis of the competitive context. The presented findings can be used to develop a clear definition of strategic objectives of operations and a more appropriate treatment of market needs.Originality/valueThe findings from the research can be considered as new elements for promoting alignment in the formation process of the operations strategy. Little research to date has examined the operations‐marketing strategic interface of companies in the context of strategic consensus.
IT investments and product development effectiveness: Iranian SBs
Authors: Sai Hong Tang , Ghobakhloo Morteza 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine if, and how, investments in IT at different levels can create new product development (NPD) capabilities in terms of IT leveraging competence in NPD and NPD effectiveness. The paper also investigates how Iranian small businesses (SBs) can achieve desired marketing performance through developing these capabilities.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is consistent with the perspective on IT‐enabled organizational capabilities. A questionnaire‐based survey was conducted to collect data from 218 businesses or NPD managers of SBs in Iran.FindingsIT leveraging competence in NPD and NPD effectiveness are valuable key capabilities that transform the value of IT resources to a firm's performance for Iranian SBs. Investments in both technical and human IT resources have positive effects on the development of NPD capabilities, and thus performance in the surveyed SBs.Research limitations/implicationsAmong other limitations, relying on a small sample size and cross‐sectional data of this research, and lack of generalizability of findings tend to have certain limitations.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that the investments in both technical and human IT resources increase firms' ability to develop effectiveness in NPD. However, IT investments strategy should be aligned with effective use of IT functionalities, as the effect of IT leveraging competence in development of NPD effectiveness is more pronounced. Second, IT leveraging competence in NPD and NPD effectiveness are important intermediate organizational capabilities through which the benefits of both technical and human IT resources are converted into performance effects at the firm level for Iranian SBs.Originality/valueThis case study explores how Iranian SBs can develop NPD capabilities, and subsequently, marketing performance, a topic that has received little attention to date.