bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Three shapes of organisational knowledge
Authors: van den Berg Herman A. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis research seeks to respond to Simon's challenge to apply “an economic calculus to knowledge”. The paper aims to develop a typology of knowledge that may be fruitful in facilitating research in a knowledge‐based view of production.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the enduring literature on the knowledge‐based view of the firm (KBV) and gleans three classifications of organisational knowledge as distinct factors of production: tacit, codified, and encapsulated knowledge.FindingsDifferences between the tacit, codified, and encapsulated shapes of knowledge carry strategic implications for the firm along six important dimensions. Distinguishing between its three classifications sets the stage for measurement of knowledge as a factor of production.Research limitations/implicationsDistinctions between the three shapes of knowledge may be less defined in practice than in theory. The classification in which a repository of knowledge falls is dependent on the tacit knowledge being applied by the user. Software may be encapsulated to a user, but codified to its creator.Practical implicationsRecognition of the differences between the three shapes of organisational knowledge may help managers to: determine the most economic combination of knowledge to use in production; transfer knowledge more effectively within and across organisational boundaries; determine the most economic location of firm boundaries; and ensure value is appropriated for the firm.Originality/valueThe paper suggests that distinguishing and accentuating encapsulated knowledge as a distinct classification of knowledge can help advance the development of a strategic knowledge‐based theory of production.
Knowledge integration and competitiveness: a longitudinal study of an industry cluster
Authors: Connell Julia , Voola Ranjit 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how – and whether – members of an industry cluster share knowledge through networking as a means to improving competitive advantage and, in particular, whether trust is present in the knowledge‐sharing process.Design/methodology/approachThe research involved three surveys utilizing a relationship marketing orientation (RMO) that were conducted at intervals (in 2004, 2008 and 2010) in addition to interviews with key cluster members, which were also conducted over a seven‐year period.FindingsKnowledge sharing and integration were found to mediate the relationship between RMO and competitive advantage in 2004 and 2010 but not in 2008. Lower mean scores for trust were also found in 2008.Research limitations/ implicationsThe limitations are that the respondent numbers were small. It is recommended that one more survey is conducted in 2013 to determine whether the interventions reported here, the recruitment of new cluster staff and the continuing growth of the cluster, influence the comparative results over time.Practical implicationsKnowledge sharing and collaboration within industry clusters requires active and discerning facilitation, particularly where new members are concerned.Originality/valueThe paper adds value to the current research on industry clusters and knowledge sharing as surveys were conducted over a seven‐year period that tracked changes as the cluster grew. The findings highlight the necessity of focusing on member relationships/collaboration during times of growth and change.
Antecedents of organizational knowledge sharing: a meta‐analysis and critique
Authors: Witherspoon Candace L. , Bergner Jason , Cockrell Cam , Stone Dan N. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeKnowledge is the most important component of sustainable organizational growth and economic performance. This meta‐analysis aims to summarize the determinants of individuals' knowledge sharing (KS) intentions and behaviors in organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors organize the knowledge sharing antecedents investigated in 46 studies (n≈10,487, median n=172) into three categories, i.e. knowledge sharer intention and attitude (four variables); rewards for KS (three variables); and organizational culture (nine variables).FindingsVariables in all three antecedent categories positively contribute to KS intentions and behaviors; high between‐study variability exists, and the fail‐safe n statistic suggests the observed effects are robust against a “file drawer” (missing study) bias. Moderator results suggest that motivating KS is easier in collectivist, as opposed to individualist, cultures.Research limitations/implicationsIn most of the studies included in this meta‐analysis, participants volunteered to share knowledge with researchers. Hence, an important threat to validity in the existing research is a potential “cooperation bias” in which participants likely overestimate their willingness to share knowledge. Future KS research should investigate the dark underbelly of knowledge activities in organizations, including investigations of knowledge hoarding, withholding of knowledge to gain personal advantage, and “contributing” worthless information to gain (through gaming) personal payoffs.Originality/valueThe meta‐analysis results herein contribute to the KS literature by identifying the determinants of KS, and an important potential limitation of much existing KS research.
Benchmarking hotel industry in a multi‐period context with DEA approaches: a case study
Authors: Wu Wei‐Wen , Lan Lawrence W. , Lee Yu‐Ting 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a benchmarking framework to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the hotel industry, in a multi‐period context, with consideration of perishable traits and carry‐over activities. The sustained high performers in the case study are identified and their business strategies are discussed.Design/methodology/approachThe dynamic DEA (data envelopment analysis) approach is used to identify the multi‐period sustained high performers. The super‐efficiency DEA approach is employed to conduct a thorough ranking under an input‐output‐consumption structure. The supplementary analysis is further implemented to help elucidate the benchmarking results.FindingsIn total, nine out of 80 international tourist hotels in Taiwan during 2006‐2010 are identified as the sustained high performers. These hotels have diverged business strategies in terms of employees (intensive versus economical labor forces), products (room versus F&B (food and beverage) services), prices (extremely expensive versus very inexpensive room rates), guests (business versus tourism guests), and others (e.g. location advantages).Originality/valueThis study contributes to benchmarking literature and to hotel industry in several aspects. Compared with conventional single‐period benchmarking in efficiency aspect only, the proposed multi‐period benchmarking framework under input‐production‐consumption structure can take into account the carry‐over activities, account for perishable traits, provide more robust results, and add more useful information to facilitate the hotel managers to ameliorate the efficiency and effectiveness. The proposed framework should be readily applied to other service industries (e.g. transport).
Research and development (R&D) portfolio management in the electric utility sector
Authors: Daim Tugrul U. , Oliver Terry , Iskin Ibrahim 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe electric utility industry, unlike most other technology‐intensive industries, does not spend much money or effort on research and development. Many utilities do not possess an in‐house R&D facility, nor is there an R&D line item in their budgets. Over the last several decades the rate of change in the electric utility industry has been very slow and in‐house R&D efforts have not been required. As the rate of change in the industry is beginning to change, the need to pursue R&D is increasing. The electric utility industry is responding to this increasing requirement by increasing R&D budgets, and in some cases re‐initiating the R&D process within individual utilities. The purpose of this paper is to focus on R&D portfolio management efforts of various actors from different industrial sectors, to find out the best practices by using benchmarking method.Design/methodology/approachThe paper used case study approach and on‐site interviews as research methods.FindingsThe authors found that R&D management is in its infancy in the electric utility sector, while the methods established in the manufacturing sector are applicable there.Originality/valueThis study is exploring R&D management in the electric utility sector and contributes to the service innovation research stream.
Many roads lead to sustainability: a process‐oriented analysis of change in higher education
Authors: Barth Matthias 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to comparatively analyse activities to integrate sustainability in teaching, research and operational practice in different higher education institutions, which differ both in the degree of how far implementation goes and in regards to the most active stakeholders. Against that background, the paper explores, in a process‐oriented focus, which drivers and barriers are experienced as most important and how they relate to each other.Design/methodology/approachA comparative multi‐case study has been conducted, with two main steps to structure the research process: first, desktop research was used to select appropriate cases in a theoretical sampling. Second, data from interviews with relevant stakeholders in each case were analysed according to the constant comparison method.FindingsAcross all cases, three distinctive patterns of implementation processes emerged, each of them with a unique set of influencing factors. For each pattern, drivers and barriers, as well as their relevance, are experienced differently and specific key constructs can be found to explain the implementation process.Research limitations/implicationsThe research focused on German institutions of higher educations and all cases are drawn from that population, which might limit the generalizability.Practical implicationsIt is hoped to provide valuable insights for future implementation processes and for various ways to support a sustainable transition in higher education.Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers to consider the process of implementation and the interaction between drivers and barriers. The value of the paper lies in its potential to help in understanding what role different drivers and barriers play in different patterns of implementation.
Environmental literacy and attitudes among Malaysian business educators
Authors: Joseph Corina , Obrin Nichol Esmie , Janggu Tamoi , Madi Nero 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the level of environmental literacy among business lecturers in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachA survey, which involved a combination of newly developed items and items adopted from past studies, was used to collect data from 35 respondents (out of 70).FindingsThe overall mean score for environmental literacy is 3.22 (out of 5), indicating that the respondents' level of literacy is slightly more than just fair knowledge. The most widely understood environmental literacy term is corporate social responsibility (CSR). The respondents were apparently aware of the recent mandatory disclosure requirement, i.e. to include the environmental information in companies' annual reports and the initiative moving towards “Green Malaysia”.Practical implicationsUniversities in Malaysia could learn from environmental initiatives undertaken by universities in developed countries in terms of implementation, organizational policies and strategies. It is important for business lecturers to influence students to favourably perceive environmental issues as one of the core business activities, using a participative approach in teaching and learning.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the limited literature of CSR education research, particularly in Malaysia, by filling the gap with the development of 13 items to determine the level of awareness toward environmental initiatives in Malaysia.
The quality‐value‐satisfaction‐loyalty chain: relationships and impacts
Authors: Gallarza Martina G. , Gil Saura Irene , Arteaga Moreno Francisco 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the classical topics of services literature in a tourism experience with a means‐end‐model on the quality‐value‐satisfaction‐loyalty chain. Within this wide stream of research, this work has a particular interest on value antecedents and on the sense of the link between value and satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachAn overall tourism experience with positive and negative antecedents (benefits and sacrifices experienced) and classical evaluations (perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty as behavioral intention) is analyzed through two competing structural models measured with partial least squares on a sample of 274 students traveling in groups for leisure purposes.FindingsThe empirical findings show that: the chain of constructs service quality‐perceived value‐customer satisfaction‐loyalty is once again confirmed in a service setting; affective antecedents (social value, play and aesthetics) are more important determinants of perceived value and satisfaction than cognitive antecedents (efficiency, quality and effort spent); and the model performs better when value is understood as an antecedent of satisfaction than in the opposite case.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings illustrate how tourism settings are paradigmatically useful for researching perceived value within services because of the differences found between cognitive and affective antecedents. The target chosen (students) and the sampling method used (convenience) need further replication in order to assure the validity of the results.Originality/valueBesides the use of PLS (rather than LISREL), the empirical purpose of measuring with same data a value‐satisfaction link and the reverse is interesting for services researchers in order to progress in the debate on the supremacy of one or another.
Consumer perception of healthfulness and appraisal of health‐promoting tourist destinations
Authors: Chang Lizone , Beise‐Zee Rian 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe article seeks to study consumer evaluation of the health benefits of a health‐promoting destination. Health‐promoting destinations often attempt to scientifically prove health benefits. It is suggested that health destinations should instead attempt to reflect consumers' preconceived health beliefs, rather than reform them. The aim is to test the applicability of the expectation‐disconfirmation theory to health promoting destinations and to offer recommendations for place marketing of destinations which are positioned as proving health benefits.Design/methodology/approachCognitive dissonance is a central theoretical concept in the model of consumer evaluation of the health benefits of a health‐promoting destination. The authors suggest that low cognitive dissonance between subjective health beliefs and the characteristics of a destination results in positive customer evaluations of the destination. This hypothesis was tested through regression analysis of data collected via a survey of 240 visitors at seven hot spring resorts in Taiwan.FindingsThe study suggests that the subjective beliefs of tourists regarding what is healthful are important criteria for tourists to evaluate the health benefits of a destination.Research limitations/implicationsThe expectation‐disconfirmation theory is successfully applied to the tourism sector and health care.Practical implicationsBased on the results, consumer research about what is believed to be beneficial to health is important when designing and promoting a health place.Originality/valueDestinations have been mostly studied as wellness destinations. However, many destinations promote scientific health benefits. The effect of consumer health perceptions on the attractiveness of health‐promoting destinations has received little attention. While common in tourism, the results are a novel approach to health care destinations.
An adaptive framework for QoS‐aware service selection optimization
Authors: Paul Beran Peter , Vinek Elisabeth , Schikuta Erich 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe optimization of quality‐of‐service (QoS) aware service selection problems is a crucial issue in both grids and distributed service‐oriented systems. When several implementations per service exist, one has to be selected for each workflow step. This paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe authors proposed several heuristics with specific focus on blackboard and genetic algorithms. Their applicability and performance has already been assessed for static systems. In order to cover real‐world scenarios, the approaches are required to deal with dynamics of distributed systems.FindingsThe proposed algorithms prove their feasibility in terms of scalability and runtime performance, taking into account their adaptability to system changes.Research limitations/implicationsIn this paper, the authors propose a representation of the dynamic aspects of distributed systems and enhance their algorithms to efficiently capture them.Practical implicationsBy combining both algorithms, the authors envision a global approach to QoS‐aware service selection applicable to static and dynamic systems.Originality/valueThe authors prove the feasibility of their hybrid approach by deploying the algorithms in a cloud environment (Google App Engine), that allows simulating and evaluating different system configurations.
NoSQL databases: a step to database scalability in web environment
Authors: Pokorny Jaroslav 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe paper aims to focus on so‐called NoSQL databases in the context of cloud computing.Design/methodology/approachArchitectures and basic features of these databases are studied, particularly their horizontal scalability and concurrency model, that is mostly weaker than ACID transactions in relational SQL‐like database systems.FindingsSome characteristics like a data model and querying capabilities of NoSQL databases are discussed in more detail.Originality/valueThe paper shows vary different data models and query possibilities in a common terminology enabling comparison and categorization of NoSQL databases.
Tip information from social media based on topic detection
Authors: Hattori Yuki , Nadamoto Akiyo 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe information of social media is not often written in ordinary web pages. Nevertheless, it is difficult to extract such information from social media because such services include so much information. Furthermore, various topics are mixed in social media communities. The authors designate such important and unique information related to social media as tip information. In this paper, they aim to propose a method to extract tip information that has been classified by topic from social networking services as a first step in extracting tip information from social media.Design/methodology/approachThemes of many kinds exist in a social media community because users write contents freely. Then the authors first detect the topics from the community and cluster the comment based on the topics. Subsequently, they extract tip information from each cluster. In this time, the tip information is include a user's experience and it has common important words.FindingsThe authors used an experiment to confirm that their proposed method can extract appropriate tip information from a community that a user specifies. The average precision is 69 per cent. A comparison of the authors' proposed method and baseline which is without detection of topic and clustering, the average precision obtained using the authors' proposed method is 18 per cent greater than the baseline.Originality/valueThe authors have three points to extract tip information from social media: topic detection and clustering from the social media using LDA method; extracting an author's actual experiences; and creation of a tip keyword dictionary from user experiments.
Relational power and influence strategies: a step further in understanding power dynamics
Authors: Chong Melody P.M. , Ping Fu Ping , Fan Shang Yu 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the existence of relational power which is derived from an indigenous Chinese construct – guanxi. The authors also test the hypotheses of relational power with two well established power sources (position and personal power) and their relationships with influence strategies (persuasive, assertive and relationship‐based).Design/methodology/approachThe authors employed a mixed method approach. The survey study included 438 Chinese respondents whereas the follow‐up interview study included 17 managers from different industries, collected across main cities in China.FindingsThe analysis of the data from survey responses provides support for the authors' argument regarding the existence of relational power. Survey results showed that all three power sources predicted leaders' choices of influence strategies. The follow‐up qualitative findings from additional interviews with managers also shed interesting insights into the dynamics of different power sources.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of a convenience sample may limit the generalizability of the findings. Notwithstanding, the study contributes to the power literature by adding a new dimension to the existing power typology, thus helping us better understand how different power sources affect leaders' choices of influence strategies.Practical implicationsThe study offers new insights to both practitioners and academicians, which is of growing importance because knowledge on power sources and understanding how it operates should help managers consciously cultivate desirable types of power. This study also shows the dynamics of guanxi, thus helping the Westerners better understand work relationships in China and understand why guanxi/relational power is effective here.Originality/valueThe paper integrates the power‐dependency theory and an indigenous Chinese construct – guanxi and empirically examines how the authors' proposed power source – relational power – affects leaders' choices of influence strategies. The paper argues that by adding this new power source to the power typology which has dominated the power literature for half a century can fully capture the sources of power embedded in an organizational setting, and generate practical implications on leader‐member interactions.