bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Green supply chain management
Authors: Luthra Sunil , Garg Dixit , Haleem Abid 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to introduce and provide an overview of the various issues related to Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) and suggest further scope and direction of research in this emerging field.

Design/methodology/approach
– The work relies on experiences, case studies and other literature related to GSCM. Literature has been segregated to understand various GSCM issues. A detailed review is used to sort out the literature and develop the research direction of the study. The review is focussed on development of GSCM including all those researchers which is relevant to environmental and social sustainability toward operation management and the supply chain. A literature review seems to be a valid approach, as a necessary step in structuring a research field.

Findings
– The objectives of this paper are to identify major research work conducted on GSCM and to classify them to identify gaps in literature and opportunities for future research. The paper has provided an integrative framework for study, design, implementation and GSCM performance. The findings also identify a number of issues that need to be addressed.

Research limitations/implications
– Implication of the work is that the knowledge of the research gap can be used to focus efforts on key areas so as to ensure speedy and comprehensive implementation of GSCM practices.

Practical implications
– The paper may prove to be a very useful source of information to practitioners and regulators in their green practices implementation programs.

Originality/value
– This paper provides some of the very first insights into development of GSCM theories. The methodological review will provide better understanding of the current state of research in the discipline.
A DEA-investigation of efficiency of the Indian general insurance during recession
Authors: Mandal Santanu , Ghosh Dastidar Surajit 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the efficiency analysis of the Indian general insurance sector using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and subsequently assess the impact (if any) of the global slowdown on the performance of the allied sector.Design/methodology/approach– The paper aims to analyze the operating performance of 12 general insurance companies in India between 2006-2007 and 2009-2010 using DEA based on secondary data collected from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Annual Reports.Findings– Findings clearly indicate that the global economic slowdown has severely affected the performance of the private sector companies; while the public sector companies exhibited relatively lesser variation in performance levels.Research limitations/implications– The methodology employed in the study estimates relative efficiencies without assuming any functional form; as a result the proper comparison of input utilized with the output produced is not possible. Several other tools like Malmquist Index and two-stage procedure have not been used.Originality/value– The study brings into light the operating characteristics and efficiencies of the Indian general insurance sector during the global slowdown and therefore holds practical value for policy makers and practitioners as well as for the decision makers of the firms employed in the study.
Antecedents and anticipated outcomes of superstitious behavior among professional salespeople
Authors: Mayo Michael , Mallin Michael 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The present study is a “first look” at sales superstitions with the purpose of establishing its prevalence among professional salespeople and examining the subsequent effects on sales person expected confidence, motivation, sales call behavioral intentions, and anticipated performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach
– Data was collected from 234 industrial (business to business) salespeople. SmartPLS path modeling was used to test a model consisting of three antecedents and three outcomes of salesperson superstitious behavior intensity.

Findings
– The findings reveal that salespeople are more likely to behave superstitiously when they believe in personal good luck and experience higher levels of role ambiguity. For these salespeople, outcomes such as expected increase in confidence and motivation, positive sales behavioral intentions, and performance outcomes were anticipated as a result of their superstitions.

Research limitations/implications
– Social cognitive theory is used as an organizing framework to guide this review as well as to develop a model that describes the conditions that give rise to sales superstitions and its potential impact on expected sales confidence, motivation, call behavioral intentions, and anticipated performance outcomes.

Originality/value
– Given the paucity of reports on sales superstitions, the present study extrapolates from other allied literatures to identify antecedents and consequences associated with engaging in superstitious behavior.
Value antecedents in relationship between tourism companies
Authors: Moliner-Velazquez Beatriz , Fuentes-Blasco María , Gil-Saura Irene 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– In the context of relationship marketing, identifying the elements that contribute to creating value for companies has become essential for managing customer satisfaction and retention. The literature has focused on business-to-end consumer relationships and there are few contributions in the business-to-business context, especially in the tourism industry. The aim of this study is to analyze the process of relationship value creation between tourism companies from the more relevant antecedents proposed in the literature: relationship benefits, long-term orientation and attitude towards the main provider.Design/methodology/approach– A survey was conducted with 309 travel agency managers who assessed the relationship with their main provider. All constructs were measured with multiple-item scales adapted from the literature. The proposed relationships were tested with a causal model estimated by robust maximum likelihood algorithm showing adequate fix indices.Findings– The results show that attitude toward the service provider, long-term relationship and relational benefits – multi-dimensional construct formed by confidence, social and special treatment benefits – make a significant contribution to the value formation in the relationship with the main provider. Furthermore, relationship benefits exert the greatest effect on relationship value.Practical implications– Based on the authors findings, practical suggestions for developing and maintaining successful long-term relations between tourism companies are proposed. To avoid the characteristic disintermediation of the travel industry, both providers and client agencies must be aware of the importance of perceived relationship value. Interpersonal elements such as trust, affective ties and preferential treatment are important aspects in the creation of that value. Service differentiation strategies are also the key to improving supplier image and perceived value in relation to the competition. Finally, the appropriate combination of ICT investment and customized service can provide major opportunities for reinforcing relations between tourism companies.Originality/value– The paper provides empirical evidence of the impact of relationship benefits, attitude and long-term orientation on relationship value in the business-to-business tourism context.
Rethinking conceptions of educational leadership within a First Nations setting in Canada
Authors: Fallon Gerald , Paquette Jerald 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide to First and non-First Nation educators, scholars, and policy makers alternative perspectives that can reshape research on educational leadership in First Nation education with new imaginings that question fundamentally the cultural-political-economic-space defined by Euro-centred notion of modernity.Design/methodology/approach– The paper addresses two questions in dealing with issues of conceptions of educational leadership in a First Nations setting: first, in what socio-cultural paradigm and epistemic framework, should the paper ground the view of relations among persons and between them and their environment, in a way that opens up spaces for prospects for action of those located outside a Euro-centric epistemic and ontological field; second, how could this paradigm assist us in formulating a conception of educational leadership that increases the leverage of First Nations education in constructing alternative sociocultural and educational worlds not grounded in the Eurocentric modernity?Findings– For non-First Nation educators, power brokers, and policy makers who want to create alliances with First Nation people, this paper outlines the necessity to consider cross-cultural dialogue about conceptions of educational leadership as an “opportunity to challenge conventional assumptions about knowledge, power, and a sense of place” (Marker, 2006, p. 21).Originality/value– The originality of this paper resides in its presentation of alternative conceptual horizons for educational leadership, horizons that acknowledge power inequities between mainstream societies and institutions on the one hand and First Nations peoples and their institutions on the other.
Ripple effects on family firms from an externally induced crisis
Authors: James Cater III John , Beal Brent 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of family business owners in an externally induced crisis from a resource-based perspective.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper employs a qualitative case study approach involving 22 firms.

Findings
– In the aftermath of the BP oil spill, a series of ripple effects impacted family firms both negatively and positively. The paper outlines five ways that family firms may improve company performance in crisis situations.

Research limitations/implications
– Although our study is rich in qualitative detail, it is important to recognize that the BP oil spill represents a unique crisis context and caution should be exercised in generalizing the study's findings.

Practical implications
– While ripple effects may be powerful at the industry and industry sub-group level, the paper provides evidence that family firms may overcome these external effects using one or more of five strategic initiatives: strong networking relationships, idiosyncratic local knowledge, flexibility, rapid response, and exercising trust with caution.

Originality/value
– The study validates the potential utility of a ripple effect model in the study of family businesses and externally induced crises. It has the potential to contribute to improving management response.
Conserving cultural values of heritage buildings from the facilities management perspective in Malaysia
Authors: Rafidee Bin Hasbollah Hasif , Baldry David 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The paper describes how expert views were elicited in developing a conceptual framework of conserving cultural values of heritage buildings (CVHB) from the facilities management perspective (fm). It proposes the manifestation offmperspective ofpeople,place,process, andtechnologyas a tool to sustain the physical condition and integrity of a HB and its CV according tofmdimension before a HB is endorsed as a heritage. The linkages betweenfmand CVHB will help to produce a guideline for conserving CVHB fromfmperspective (CVHBfm) at the initial phase of conservation in Malaysia. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– The study opted for an exploratory approach; three expert interviews were conducted from three levels of conservation practitioners drawn fromstrategic,tactical, andoperationallevels. A matrix thematic was used to manifest the qualitative variables in mapping the conceptual framework. The respondents will provide views and linkages between eight criteria of CVHB (social,economic,political,historic,aesthetical,scientific,age, andecological) andfmdimension (people,place,process, andtechnology) in conserving a HB at the preliminary phase of conservation. The responses from these respondents will provide insights into howfmperspective manifest and epistemological construct with CVHB variables that will be integrated in a case study method for further investigation inquiry.Findings– In this paper, the study indicates anfmperspective ofpeople,place,process, andtechnology, associates and epistemological constructed with CVHB criteria ofsocial,historic,aesthetical, andscientificin sustaining the physical condition and integrity of CVHB fromfmdimension in Malaysia. The respondents from three levels of conservation practitioners (strategic,tactical, andoperational) have explained and elaborated briefly the connotation between CVHB andfmin mapping the framework. It also provides insights into howfmdimension manifests with those CVHB variables in conserving a HB before it is endorsed as aheritageat the initial stage of conservation.Originality/value– Moving from this exploratory study, further research will be undertaken. In-depth interviews will be carried out with a rigorous emphasis onfmand eight criteria of CVHB with a greater number of experts on HB conservation fromstrategic,tactical, andoperationallevels in Malaysia. Documents suggested during the initial study such as The National Heritage Act 2005 (Malaysia) and UNESCO's outstanding universal values (OUV) will be analysed and framed in mapping the conceptual framework. Further investigation will assist Malaysia in advancing the application offmperspective to enhance the conservation of HB and its CV by highlighting the role offmas a robust tool in sustaining the integrity HB in Malaysia.
Competitive conditions and market power of Islamic and conventional commercial banks
Authors: Hamza Hichem , Kachtouli Safa 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The expansion of the Islamic banking industry seems to accentuate the banking competition in MENA and Southeast Asia where conventional and Islamic banks coexist. In this context, the research aims\ to examine the competitive conditions and the market power of the conventional and Islamic banks during the period 2004-2009 in MENA and Southeast Asia region.Design/methodology/approach– The authors use a variety of structural and non-structural measures related to the traditional approach and the new empirical approach of the industrial organization. The methodology is based on set of measures of the competition and market power. The first measure is a set of concentration ratios (C3, C5) and Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI). The second measures are the Panzar and Ross H statistic and the Lerner index based on econometric estimations with the aim of evaluating the structure of market and measuring its power in terms of price setting.Findings– The results indicate that under the HHI index, both markets are low concentrated, while according to the concentration ratios, the Islamic market is considered as moderately concentrated. The estimations results, through the H-PR-statistic of Panzar and Ross related to degree of competition and the Lerner index of market power, indicate that both markets are characterized by a monopolistic competition and the Islamic banking expressed a high degree of market power.Research limitations/implications– The research focuses exclusively on the countries where the data are available and excludes the other countries where competition and market power might have different forms.Practical implications– In a competitive environment, each bank is required to analyze the structure of its market and competitive conditions, in order to develop a business strategy and effective action plans. In the context of the multiplication of the Islamic banks in the MENA and Southeast Asia, the enhancement of Islamic bank competitiveness by offering new products is determinant for their success.Originality/value– To the best of the authors' knowledge few studies have examined this subject in a comparative analysis between the Islamic and conventional banks. So the authors contribute to the literature on Islamic banking by considering a sample of Islamic and conventional banks operating in the same countries in order to examine the existence or not of difference between them.
Islamic banks-Sukuk markets relationships and economic development
Authors: Ben Jedidia Khoutem Daoud 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the opportunities of Islamic finance in spurring economic development in Tunisia after the revolution of 2011. Precisely, this paper seeks to explore whether the Islamic banks-Sukuk markets relationships are more conducive of economic growth.Design/methodology/approach– This work reviews the role of Islamic finance in economic development, examines the current dominance of Islamic banks on the saving-investment process and compares it with a situation characterized by a more important implication of banks in the Sukuk markets both as issuers and buyers.Findings– This paper finds that the “marketable Islamic intermediation” provides easily more funds to finance the economic development and solve the problems of poverty and unemployment. It also reveals that Islamic intermediation can be improved by a more important implication of banks in the Sukuk markets. This permits to overcome many problems related to saving mobilization, bank liquidity management, risk taking and long-run investment.Social implications– The author's recommendations related to the economic policy suggest strict rules to establish accountability, disclosure laws and transparency in Tunisia.Originality/value– This paper is a first attempt to study the role of the relationships between Islamic banks and Sukuk markets in the economic development process. It stresses the importance of these relationships to better meet the requirements of development financing in Tunisia.
Measuring the variance of customer waiting time in service operations
Authors: Zhao Xiaofeng , Hou Jianrong , Gilbert Kenneth 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– Waiting lines and delays have become commonplace in service operations. As a result, customer waiting time guarantee is a widely used competition strategy in service industries. To implement waiting time guarantee strategy, managers need to not only know the average of waiting time, but also the variance around average waiting time. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– This research provides a mathematically exact expression for the coefficient of variation of waiting time for Markov queues. It then applies the concept of isomorphism to approximate the variance of customer waiting time in a general queue. Simulation experiments are conducted to verify the accurate approximations.

Findings
– A significant feature of the approximation method is that it is mathematically tractable and can be implemented in a spreadsheet format. It provides a practical way to estimate the variance of customer waiting time in practice. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the queuing models in providing guidance on implementing appointment scheduling and waiting time guarantee strategy. Also, the spreadsheet can be used to conduct what-if analysis by inputting different parameters.

Originality/value
– This paper develops a simple, easy-to-use spreadsheet model to estimate the standard deviation of waiting time. The approximation requires only the mean and standard deviation or the coefficient of variation of the inter-arrival and service time distributions, and the number of servers. A spreadsheet model is specifically designed to analyze the variance of waiting time.
Sense-making's role in creating alliance supportive organizational cultures
Authors: de Man Ard-Pieter , Luvison Dave 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The aim of this paper is to analyze the way in which organizational culture affects alliance performance. The literature has begun to focus on intra-firm antecedents of alliance success, but so far has mainly focused on structural aspects like the presence of an alliance department. This paper proposes that interrelated processes of sense-making in alliances and sense-making about alliances shape organizational culture to make it more supportive of alliances.Design/methodology/approach– A survey was developed to operationalize an alliance supportive culture construct. Results from 179 alliance managers were analyzed to investigate the inter-relationship of alliance experience, alliance supportive culture and alliance performance.Findings– Alliance supportive culture was found to fully mediate the relationship between alliance experience and performance. This finding suggests that experience with alliances leads to better alliance performance when this experience is translated into the organizational culture.Research limitations/implications– Further research may explore how alliance culture interacts with structural elements of alliance management as identified in the alliance capability literature. The interaction between alliance culture and alliance capability is as yet unexplored. In addition, research may take place to explore which elements determine sense-making about alliances.Practical implications– Managers should not only focus on tools and processes to improve their alliance success. They should also augment the sense-making process about alliances and remove cultural impediments to working with alliances.Originality/value– Many studies have found a relationship between alliance experience and success. This paper shows this is not a direct relationship, but that it operates via cultural change based on sense-making about alliance experience. This mediation effect has not been established before.
Knowledge sharing, intellectual capital and firm performance
Authors: Wang Zhining , Wang Nianxin , Liang Huigang 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of knowledge sharing (KS) on firm performance and the mediating role of intellectual capital (IC).Design/methodology/approach– A research model was developed based on prior KS and IC studies. A survey was administered to a sample of high technology firms in China and 228 usable responses were collected. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the research model.Findings– Tacit KS significantly was found to contribute to all three components of IC, namely human, structural and relational capital, while explicit KS only has a significant influence on human and structural capital. Human, structural and relational capital, enhance both operational and financial performance of firms. The effect of KS on firm performance is mediated by IC. Explicit KS has a greater effect on financial performance than operational performance, whereas tacit KS has a greater impact on operational performance than financial performance.Research limitations/implications– The sample of high technology firms in China might limit the generalization of the findings. Nonetheless, this study takes its lead from and extends prior research, thus providing a deepened understanding of the role of KS in organizational settings.Practical implications– The paper suggests that managers can enhance firm performance by enhancing their KS and IC. Managers can develop corresponding strategies based on the findings to achieve their specific performance goals.Originality/value– This is one of the first papers to examine how KS contributes to firm performance through the mediation of IC. It will add significant value for organizations trying to enhance their performance though KS practices.