bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Replying to management challenges
Authors: Xi Youmin , Zhang Xiaojun , Ge Jing 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address several challenges faced by organizational management in the contemporary context, and how managers can better reply to management challenges by integrating oriental and occidental philosophy and wisdom.Design/methodology/approachThe paper first describes the characteristics of the contemporary management context and identifies challenges that managers are likely to encounter. The paper then investigates how oriental and occidental philosophy and wisdom reply to these management challenges, whilst also considering the relative advantages and disadvantages of both traditions. Based on the complementarity of these two traditions, the paper finally proposes a framework that integrates both oriental and occidental wisdom by HeXie Management Theory to better respond to management challenges.FindingsThe contemporary organizational environment is characterized by four key salient components: complexity, change, ambiguity, and uncertainty (CCAU). Managers are challenged by problems of determining causality, managing holistically, and adaptation to rapid change. Western philosophical approaches to confronting management challenges arising from CCAU, inherent in the wider economic environment, emphasize standardization and rational design on the basis of science, law, and religion. Conversely, Oriental philosophical approaches to management challenges oppose such rigid systems in favour of flexibility and adaptability which emphasize harmony and morality. Essentially, whereas western thought intends to limit the occurrence of unpredicted events through the development of scientific systems, oriental thinking aims to provide a flexible and fluid system which absorbs the effects of CCAU, thus limiting and using its impact. These two perspectives both have their own advantages and disadvantages when facing management challenges in the context of CCAU. By integrating these two complementary approaches, the authors propose HeXie Management Theory (HXMT). HXMT establishes a clear vision and mission to direct the development of organizations; to organize an integrated management system through the HeXie Theme and HeXie Coupling, and to apply the component “He Principle” and “Xie Principle” as basic mechanisms to cope with management challenges.Originality/valueThis study contributes to research on relationships between organizations and environment by providing a holistic analysis, and adds knowledge about how to reply to management challenges by constructing ambidextrous organizations based on HeXie Management Theory.
An empirical study of organizational reform of China's bankcard industry and policy recommendations
Authors: Fu Lianying , Yu Linhui , Luo Pinliang 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the performance of China's bankcard market during 1999‐2005 when China's local card association – China UnionPay (CUP) was established in 2002, which integrated many small closed payment systems into an open payment system.Design/methodology/approachDifference‐in‐difference (DID) estimator and fixed effects model are employed to assess the potential influences of the establishment of CUP on the performance of China's bankcard businesses. In implementing DID method, it is possible to view the banks (payment entities) that are members of the CUP as the “treatment group” and others outside the CUP as the “reference group”, and introduce the “CUP member” dummy variable. Simultaneously, the paper introduces the “incident year” dummy variable labeling 2002 and afterward since the CUP was founded. Therefore, effects of establishing the CUP on the performance of its members can be simply obtained by estimating the coefficient of the interaction term between the “CUP member” dummy variable and “incident year” dummy variable in the estimation equation. The data used in this paper come from the official CUP website and Chinese Financial Statistic Almanac (2000‐2006).FindingsThe empirical evidence shows that from the micro‐perspective of maximizing platform transaction volume, the “closed to open” organizational reform, i.e. introducing the CUP into the market decreased rather than increased the performance of CUP's members. The fundamental reason for this was imperfections in the market's internal management mechanism and multi‐party profit distribution mechanism, which led to dislocation and distortion in the positioning and function of the card association‐CUP.Originality/valueDifferent with most other studies that are pure theoretical ones, this study represents one of the few studies that use empirical methods to investigate two‐side markets.
The diversification effects of a firm's political connection and its performance implications
Authors: Deng Xinming , Tian Zhilong , Li Jianfeng , Abrar Muhammad 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to comprehensively investigate the combined influence of a firm's political connection and diversification on corporate performance, and to explore whether firm's political connection has an impact on the diversification effect, and whether this diversification effect would promote its performance significantly or not.Design/methodology/approachThe research used a regression model to explore the correlation among political connection, diversification strategy, and corporate performance. The research subjects are the private enterprises listed on Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange in China for the period 2002‐2005.FindingsThe study found that: first, for those firms without political connections, the relationship between diversification strategy and corporate performance displayed an “inverted U” curve; for firms with political connection, the relationship was a “reverse L”. Second, firms with political connections are more likely to implement a diversification strategy, especially unrelated diversification. Third, when implementing an internationalization strategy, private enterprises with political connections are more likely to expand through unrelated diversification strategy. Fourth, the diversification of the enterprises with political connection are more likely to promote the short‐term accounting performance than those without political connection, but the unrelated diversification of politically connected enterprises would have a negative impact upon its future performance, that is to damage the company's market value.Originality/valueThe paper expands the literature on the relationship between diversification and firm performance. It contributes to the research about the influence of political connection upon corporate performance.
Relational mechanisms, market contracts and cross‐enterprise knowledge trading in the supply chain
Authors: Zhang Xumei , Chen Wei , Tong Jie , Liu Xiangyu 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effects of relational mechanisms and market contracts on cross‐enterprise knowledge trading in supply chain and to examine the role of market contracts. Relational mechanism is categorized into indirect and direct relational mechanism in this paper. Cross‐enterprise knowledge trading is categorized into explicit and tacit knowledge trading. The indirect relational mechanism is mainly expressed by knowledge brokers, while the direct relational mechanism consists of shared goals and trust.Design/methodology/approachMultiple regression analysis was performed on questionnaire data from 256 Chinese manufacturing enterprises in supply chain in order to assess the relationships between relational mechanisms, market contracts and cross‐enterprise knowledge trading.FindingsThe results show that knowledge brokers and market contracts have significant and positive effects on explicit knowledge trading, but the effects on tacit knowledge trading are not significant. Shared goals and trust have significant and positive effects not only on explicit knowledge trading but also on tacit knowledge trading, while trust has a stronger positive effect on tacit knowledge trading than explicit knowledge trading. Finally, the moderating effects of market contracts are proven in the relationships between relational mechanisms and knowledge trading, excluding the relationship between knowledge brokers and tacit knowledge trading.Originality/valuePrevious studies about the cross‐enterprise knowledge trading in supply chain focused on theoretical research which did not match with reality, especially in China, where the relational mechanism in trading activities is strong. Based on relational exchange theory and transaction cost theory, a conceptual model for the effects of relational mechanisms and market contracts on cross‐enterprise knowledge trading in supply chain is proposed in this paper, and then empirically tested using the data collected from 256 Chinese manufacturing enterprises in supply chain with multiple regression models. The findings provide a theoretical basis for knowledge trading participants selecting an appropriate governance mechanism to promote knowledge trading, and these also guide the knowledge trading among members of supply chain in practice.
Climate change and tourism: comparing female Costa Rican and American perceptions
Authors: Aguirre Gonzalez Juan Antonio 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to contribute to a better understanding of the climate change problem in naturally protected areas in developing countries, based on women's perceptions and to determine whether national parks should take an active role in providing climate change educational information and activities.Design/methodology/approachThe work reported in this paper was carried out at Vulcan Poas National Park, Costa Rica, and the analysis drew on a sub‐sample of 162 Costa Rican women and 273 American women. The material collected was analyzed using a combination of ANOVA, correlation and standardized derived regression modelling using the forward elimination technique.FindingsClimate change certainly ranks below personal and immediate risk in terms of perceived importance and the top‐level risks reported by respondents related to immediate personal concerns. The key explanatory variable in the case of the Costa Rican women is the relative educational level of the person and the park's ability to educate people about climate change. In the case of the American women, the variables included in the final model were: industrial emissions, deforestation and aerosol sprays. The results indicate that a significant difference exists between the two groups with regard to current perceptions about the threat from climatic change, and the likely importance of the problem in 50 years' time. Costa Rican women appeared to exhibit a more complex problem‐reaction‐action behavioural continuum than the American women in the study. In both cases it is unclear as to the role played by protected areas in terms of the impact of information and education provided in relation to climate change.Research limitations/implicationsThe role of the parks as a source of education and information about the topic is not clear. However, it was established that there is an overall interest in the topic among women visitors, particularly local women. This level of awareness could be harnessed to develop strategies for combating and mitigating climate change, and in this sense, national parks might play an enhanced role as a place of learning about the topic.Originality/valueThis study is the first of its kind. In previous studies, women's reactions to climate change have been investigated much less than men's.
Reforms, WTO, arbitrage efficiency and integration between the China‐US soybean markets
Authors: Han Shengfei , He Pei 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a new approach to market analysis, and test how the China‐US soybean market integration and arbitrage efficiency have changed across 1995/1‐/2004/1 – a period covering strengthened government efforts to join WTO, and the institutional changes following WTO accession.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ a regime‐switching model with parametric, semi‐parametric, and nonparametric measures to discern different market conditions in the sample period, as well as detect the structural shifts over time. Three types of data – expected prices, transaction costs, and trade flow – are used for the analysis.FindingsResults of the analysis indicate better integration over time, but deteriorating efficiency. The markets often departed from efficient arbitrage throughout the study periods, and counter‐intuitively worsened after China's elimination of quota in 1999, and accession to WTO in 2001. One other interesting finding is that the state monopoly practice in soybean trading during the early periods produced seemingly competitive equilibrium price relationships.Originality/valueThe paper is an original work that provides policy implications regarding the impacts and effectiveness of government policies on China's international soybean markets, the remaining bottlenecks, and the challenge to both Chinese soybean farmers and the US exporters. The method of identifying trade variation in a price model and the combination of parametric and semi‐parametric analyses with comprehensive data further permits more accurate and intuitive interpretations previously unavailable.
Why do farmers quit from grain production in China? Causes and implications
Authors: Zhan Jin‐Tao , Wu Yan‐Rui , Zhang Xiao‐Hui , Zhou Zhang‐Yue 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe number of farms engaged in grain production in China has been declining in recent years. Limited efforts have been devoted to examine why producers quit from grain production and how such exits affect China's grain output. Such information, however, is invaluable in understanding whether the exit from grain production should be encouraged and if so, how. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that influence farmers' decision to quit from grain production, with a view to drawing implications for devising policies to deal with such exits.Design/methodology/approachBoth descriptive statistics and econometric techniques are used to analyse a set of unique and comprehensive farm‐level survey data to identify key factors that affect farmers' decision to quit from grain production.FindingsKey factors that influence a farm to quit from, or stay in, grain production include: family size, the share of farming labour out of total family labour, per capita arable land, the proportion of land used for grain production, the share of family income from grains. It was also found that the level of grain prices and the sunk cost in farming, chiefly in grain production, also affect the likelihood that a household will stay or exit from grain production. Further, farmers in more economically developed regions are more likely to quit from grain production.Originality/valueThe paper's findings clearly indicate that farms with a larger scale of grain production and earning higher income from grain are the major contributors to China's grain production. Potential exists for China to raise its total grain output if the land from those exiting farmers is readily made available to larger producers, enabling them to further benefit from the economies of scale.
Network strength, transaction‐specific investments, inter‐personal trust, and relationship satisfaction in Chinese agri‐food SMEs
Authors: Lu Hualiang , Feng Shuyi , Trienekens Jacques H. , Omta S.W.F. 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of network strength, transaction‐specific investments and inter‐personal trust on business relationship satisfaction for small‐and‐medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in agri‐food processing and exporting in China.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data collected from 80 agri‐food SMEs in Jiangsu Province were used for empirical testing. The authors applied an ordered logit regression approach for model estimation.FindingsThe results demonstrate that strongguanxinetworks, high level of transaction‐specific investments and inter‐personal trust significantly contribute to a high level of relationship satisfaction for agri‐food SMEs in China. In addition, inter‐personal trust shows a moderating effect on the relationship between transaction‐specific investments and relationship satisfaction.Practical implicationsBusiness relationships play a critical role in the modern market environment. Relational arrangements (based onguanxiand inter‐personal trust) should be further enhanced in order to yield satisfied business relationships for SMEs in China.Originality/valueThe paper extends our understanding of relationship (guanxi) marketing, as well as marketing practices for agri‐food SMEs in China.
Simulation‐based crack growth mitigation through optimum laser peened residual stress
Authors: Singh Gulshan , Ocampo Juan , Millwater Harry , Clauer Allan 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop an approach to optimize the cycles‐to‐failure of a peened component with respect to laser peening (LP) variables: pressure magnitude, mid‐span, and spot size when the component is subject to a variable amplitude loading.Design/methodology/approachTo optimally design an LP process, an experimentally validated 3D finite element simulation of the LP process, a cycles‐to‐failure estimation capability incorporating residual stress, and a particle swarm optimization strategy were developed and employed to maximize the cycles‐to‐failure of a component of a titanium turbine disk.FindingsThe most critical finding of this research is that a minor difference in the residual stress profile can lead to a large difference in the cycles‐to‐failure. This finding implies that selecting the optimization objective to be the cycles‐to‐failure is a better option as compared to the residual stress profile.Research limitations/implicationsThe LP‐induced residual stresses are assumed static and do not change as number of load cycles increase.Originality/valueThe paper develops a framework that relates the LP variables and the cycles‐to‐failure of a peened component. A modified particle swarm optimization approach is developed to optimize the fatigue life of a turbine disk.
A cross‐national investigation of university students' complaining behaviour and attitudes to complaining
Authors: Ferguson Graham , Phau Ian 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how students from Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia differ in their propensity to complain and attitudes to complaining.Design/methodology/approachA self‐administered questionnaire was designed using established scales to assess respondent reactions to a service failure by a university. The survey was completed by a sample of university students on an Australian university campus. ANOVA was used to compare differences between groups and regression was used to explore the relationship between attitudes and their complaining behaviours.FindingsAustralian students have a less positive attitude to complaining than Malaysian and Indonesian consumers. Contrary to expectations, “switching” behaviours were not revealed as a separate dimension of complaining behaviours, however switching was identified with online complaining as part of a new complaining dimension related to taking action outside of the organisation. Malaysian and Indonesian students are more likely to complain in this way. Surprisingly, Indonesian students are less likely to remain loyal to the service provider and Australian students were less likely to “voice” internally to the service provider. Having a positive attitude to complaining was positively related to taking action outside the organisation and to voicing within the organisation, while negative attitudes to complaining were positively related to remaining loyal to the service provider for Australian and Malaysian students.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are limited to consumers of complex services such as University degrees. They are also limited to Indonesian, Malaysian and Australian consumers. Other service contexts, cultures and product failure situations should be investigated in the future.Originality/valueThis research bridges an inherent gap in the literature by exploring the complaining behavior of students in an Asia‐Pacific context. Service organisations can use the findings to better interpret and respond to complaining behavior by students from different nationalities. In particular, it helps faculty and university administrators to manage dissatisfied students from diverse national backgrounds and assists marketers to develop marketing initiatives and communication policies for the student recruitment process.
Post‐crisis South Asia: monetary management and macro‐prudential regulation
Authors: Nachane D.M. , Shahidul Islam M. 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe global crisis, originating in the US financial sector, affected the Asian region primarily through three channels – declining trade volumes, exchange rate pressure and asset deflation. The purpose of this paper is to focus on how the crisis impacted the four major economies of South Asia, viz. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and how, by a combination of swift actions on the monetary, fiscal and exchange rate fronts, the worst consequences of the crisis were averted.Design/methodology/approachThe regulatory and supervisory systems in these four economies are then benchmarked against certain desirable norms, which have emerged out of post‐crisis international deliberations.FindingsIt is felt that the South Asian regulatory systems perform fairly wellvis‐à‐visthese norms.Practical implicationsThe paper also touches upon the major highlights of the crisis impact, policy responses and post‐crisis recovery in the Southeast Asian region.Originality/valueThe several similarities and the few contrasts between the two regions on these aspects are also presented.
Teacher education lesson observation as boundary crossing
Authors: Lofthouse Rachel , Wright David 
Published: August 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test and develop a new tool for lesson observation and feedback within the context of initial teacher education. The tool was designed to align with the practitioner enquiry model of teacher learning underpinning the course, and as such it drew mentors into the mode of responding to their students’ questions.Design/methodology/approachThe research was undertaken as a Design Study. The design of the tool led to an iterative, collaborative, process‐focused approach to the development of the observation tool. Students and their mentors were encouraged to experiment with and report on their observation experience.FindingsThe observation tool altered the quality of the mentoring relationship through focusing on enquiry as its foundation. Feedback from student teachers and their mentors helped us to define the role of observation in the process of professional learning and to review the nature of the mentoring relationship which emerged.Practical implicationsSignificant professional development and learning can be triggered by crossing both real and metaphorical boundaries and as such it is essential that the tools offered to students and their mentors are supportive of divergent learning outcomes, through which each student teacher has the opportunity to transform teaching practices, not simply replicate existing ones.Originality/valueObservation and feedback in the classroom can be viewed as a “boundary” practice. This new tool can be regarded as a “boundary object” which promotes the use of questions to support the “framing and reframing” necessary for the professional learning and development of the beginning teachers.