bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
R & D spending among Chinese SMEs: the role of business owners’ characteristics
Authors: Gao Yongqiang , Hafsi Taïeb 
Published: September 2015

Purpose– Given that organizational decisions are made by individuals and thus shaped by their subjective and objective characteristics, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of SME business owners’ characteristics on their firms’ research and development (R & D) spending in a transition economy.Design/methodology/approach– The authors first build the arguments that, among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), business owners’ perceived importance of R & D-related activities, their education, related experiences, and social connections, should affect their firms’ R & D spending positively. Then the authors use a Chinese nationwide survey of private SMEs to test the arguments. Tobit regression analyses are conducted by taking Stata 12.0 as the statistic tool.Findings– The authors find that business owners’ perceived importance of R & D-related activities is positively associated with their firms’ R & D spending. In addition, better-educated owners and owners who have technology-related working experience tend to invest more in R & D activities. Finally, owners who have social connections, especially industrial connections, tend to spend more on R & D activities.Originality/value– This study improves the understanding of R & D spending determinants among SMEs. Going beyond general environmental determinants, it reveals the important agency role of SME owners, and thus contributes to a better understanding of how decisions leading to SME innovations are influenced by business owners’ perceptions and demographic characteristics.
Does VRIO help managers evaluate a firm’s resources?
Authors: Knott Paul J. 
Published: September 2015

Purpose– The resource-based view and value-rarity-imitability-organisation (VRIO) method have diffused widely into courses aimed at managerial practice, but research has yet to verify whether they help managers analyse a firm’s resources. Following recent interest in the use of strategy tools, the purpose of this paper is to focus on what happens when VRIO informs strategy action.Design/methodology/approach– The paper uses experimental method to evaluate directly users’ analysis guided by VRIO relative to analysis that is not. Systematic coding of the responses evaluates how users select resources to evaluate, in which areas they make recommendations, and what account they take of competitors, dynamic evolution, and resource disadvantages, risks and limitations.Findings– VRIO encouraged users to evaluate resources relative to competitors and competitive dynamics, but resource selection difficulties and failure to evaluate resource disadvantages limited its value. In addition, it drew users to the existing operations and business model.Research limitations/implications– The study highlights a tendency for users to evaluate antecedents and outcomes of resources, and partly supports the view that VRIO elicits inward-looking descriptions. Field-based research is needed to show how using VRIO plays out in full strategy making context.Practical implications– Highlighted limitations in VRIO analysis could be alleviated by better specifying resource selection and by addressing the positive-only tenor of VRIO materials.Originality/value– Only a small number of published studies evaluate VRIO as a method of practical strategic analysis, and this paper is the first to look directly at users’ responses.
An integrative model of IT-enabled organizational transformation
Authors: Cha Kyung Jin , Hwang Taewon , Gregor Shirley 
Published: September 2015

Purpose– Despite much research on information technology (IT)-enabled organizational transformation (OT), there are still many issues to be addressed. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by proposing an integrative model that includes specific transformation resources, capabilities, and outcomes pertaining to the success of IT-enabled OT.Design/methodology/approach– Using the resource-based view, organizational learning theory, and business process reengineering, the authors developed an integrative model of IT-enabled OT. To validate this model, the authors conducted in-depth case studies of five firms that reported successful IT-enabled OT and five others that reported less successful.Findings– This study offers three important findings. First, flexible IT and policies were found to be key transformation resources. Second, training, teamwork, leadership, and project ownership were identified as key transformation capabilities. Third, strategic outcomes such as responsiveness, customer satisfaction, and business scope were suggested as key transformation outcomes. The benefits realized by the less successful group tended to be limited to the operational level. Overall, the findings provide evidence that strategic benefits from the success of IT-enabled OT can be obtained by combining specific transformation resources and capabilities.Originality/value– The results of this study make three contributions to the literature on IT-enabled OT. First, the authors shed light on the underlying mechanism by which specific transformation resources and capabilities lead to the improvement of specific outcomes. Second, IT-enabled OT has been conceptualized from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Third, the authors brought together the diverse literature on IT-enabled OT, presenting an empirically validated integrative model of IT-enabled OT.
Ownership structure, product market competition and productivity
Authors: Mnasri Khadija , Ellouze Dorra 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of product market competition and ownership structure on total factor productivity and the interaction between these two governance tools.

Design/methodology/approach
– Using a sample of 90 Tunisian non-financial firms over the period 1998-2012, the authors use fixed effects and Generalized Method of Moments models to test the complementary/substitutability effect between family ownership and competition.

Findings
– The authors find that product market competition boosts productivity in that it mitigates agency problems. Moreover, the authors show that large blockholders have a positive impact on firms’ performance. When considering ownership types, it seems that families play an important role in improving productivity. However, this ownership structure is less effective when firms operate in competitive industries. Thus, the results suggest that a substitution effect exists between internal governance mechanisms (particularly family ownership) and competition.

Practical implications
– Tunisian politicians must review the investment code and remove barriers and restrictions in order to assure fair product market competition. Also, regulation must be changed to encourage foreigners’ shareholding and the creation of private equity firms. Moreover, large shareholders operating in a competitive environment should open up their capital to new shareholders in order to undertake more investments and to benefit from certain advantages.

Originality/value
– To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of product market competition on the relation between corporate governance and productivity in the Tunisian context. Moreover, the complementary/substitutability effect between family ownership and competition has not been examined before in any context.
Determining factors in the effectiveness of executive coaching as a management development tool
Authors: Rekalde Izaskun , Landeta Jon , Albizu Eneka 
Published: September 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a classified list of the factors that are most influential in the success of an executive coaching process, arranged in order of importance.Design/methodology/approach– Selection of factors from an exhaustive literature review, and development of a qualitative investigation, applying a Focus Group, a Nominal Group technique, and the Delphi method to a group of experts comprising coaches, coachees, and human resources managers, in order to complete and assess the factors selected.Findings– The most outstanding factors needed in executive coaching are confidentiality, trust, and empathy between coach and coachee; the coach’s ability to generate trust, and her/his competence in communication skills, vocation and commitment; the coachee’s need, motivation, responsibility for his/her own development and commitment to the process; and a guarantee from the organization of the confidentiality of that process.Practical implications– This research furnishes a quantitative criterion for the evaluation and ranking of the determining factors in coaching success, which facilitates a justified selection of factors, both for research and professional purposes.Social implications– This study makes it possible to better channel the allocation of resources and gearing of business decisions for the implementation of coaching programs.Originality/value– This paper provides a systematic review of the empirically based literature dealing with the main success factors in the effective application of executive coaching, and contributes new factors derived from the knowledge of professional experts, along with a classified and ranked list of those factors, assessed in terms of their relevance to the satisfactory outcome of a coaching process.
Care coordination for older people: an exploratory framework
Authors: Hughes Jane , Chester Helen , Sutcliffe Caroline , Xie Chengqiu , Challis David 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for examining variation in care coordination arrangements for older people.

Design/methodology/approach
– A multi-method approach was adopted combining analysis of secondary data and primary data. There were two stages: the development of the framework and its constituent attributes and indicators; and its validation from two perspectives: a meeting with managers and focus groups with practitioners. It was informed by an existing generic framework; subsequent policy guidance; data from an English national survey; previous research; and international literature.

Findings
– The framework comprises 19 attributes each with indicators measuring performance relating to: organisational arrangements influencing service delivery; the performance of core tasks of care coordination; and differentiation within the process to distinguish between responses to different levels of need.

Originality/value
– Care coordination arrangements in England are characterised by diversity. This paper provides a framework for evaluating local arrangements thereby highlighting strengths and where improvements are needed. It offers a means to promote programme fidelity. As such it has utility for both service commissioners and providers.
Longitudinal effects on self-determination in the RCT “Continuum of care for frail elderly people”
Authors: Ekelund Christina , Eklund Kajsa 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– An intervention “Continuum of care for frail elderly people” was designed to create an integrated care from the hospital emergency department (ED) to home. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate longitudinal effects in terms of self-determination in daily life for community-living frail older persons.

Design/methodology/approach
– A non-blinded, controlled trial with participants randomised to the intervention group or a control group with follow-ups at three, six and 12 months. The intervention involved collaboration between a nurse with geriatric competence at the ED, the hospital wards and a multi-professional team in the community with a case manager as the hub. The intervention’s person-centred approach involved the older persons in all decisions. Inclusion criteria: 80 years and older or 65-79 years with at least one chronic disease and dependent in at least one daily activity. Analyses were made on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle and outcome measure experienced self-determination in daily life measured by Impact on Participation and Autonomy for Older persons (IPA-O). The analysis was made using Svenssons’ statistical method.

Findings
– There were significant differences in favour of the intervention at three months in self-determination concerning activities at home and at three and six months concerning social relationships.

Originality/value
– Self-determination seems to deteriorate over time in both groups, and the intervention “Continuum of care for frail elderly people” seemed to slow the rate of decline in two dimensions; activities in and around the house at three-month follow-up, and at three and six months concerning social relationship. Thus, the intervention has the means to support them in exercising self-determination and aging in place, a valuable benefit both for the individual and for society.
Transport infrastructure and sustainability: a new planning and assessment framework
Authors: Newman Peter William 
Published: September 2015

Purpose– Transport infrastructure is fundamental for economic development and for enabling cities to shift away from unsustainable automobile dependence. These agendas are coming together but the tools and processes to create less automobile-dependent cities are not well developed. The purpose of this paper is to suggest how the planning and assessment process can help to achieve this goal of integration.Design/methodology/approach– Understanding how cities are shaped by transport priorities through urban fabric theory creates an approach to the planning and assessment process in transport and town planning that can help achieve the purpose.Findings– Four tools are developed from this theory: first, a strategic framework that includes the kind of urban fabric that any project is located within; second, benefit cost ratios that include wider economic benefits, especially agglomeration economies in each fabric; third, avoidable costs that assess lost opportunities from the kind of urban development facilitated by the infrastructure chosen; and finally, value capture opportunities that can help finance the infrastructure if they are used to create walking and transit fabric.Research limitations/implications– Detailed application to the standard transport and town planning tools should now proceed to see how they can be adapted to each urban fabric, not just automobile city fabric.Practical implications– Recognising, respecting and rejuvenating each fabric can be implemented immediately.Social implications– Urban lifestyle choices are best understood by estimating the potential demand for each market and building to these.Originality/value– The urban fabric tools outlined provide the best way of integrating sustainable development goals into how cities are planned and transport projects are assessed.
A system-of-systems approach to understanding urbanization – state of the art and prospect
Authors: Kasai Sakura , Li Nan , Fang Dongping 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– City is an artificial dynamic open giant complex system, whose multifunctional and interdisciplinary characteristics leads to significant complexity. While challenges arising from individual urban functions have been the focus of urban studies, major urban challenges such as traffic congestion and inefficiency of resource usages may originate from the “interface” where different urban functions interact. Previous research has revealed the potential that regarding city as a system-of-systems (SoS) may shed light on solutions to various urban challenges. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– To examine this research potential, this paper begins with an overview of challenges in urbanization and current approaches which lack systematic solutions. The idea of applying SoS approach is then inspired by existing studies on urban metabolism where city is regarded as an entire system. This idea is followed by definition and characteristics of SoS, as well as comprehensive overview of the state of the art on SoS-based solutions to urban challenges. This paper then discusses the merits and limitations of current studies on SoS for urbanization, followed by a case study which precedes research visions.

Findings
– The paper finds that regarding city as SoS is a potentially effective approach for urban studies. This is highlighted by original research visions on how to advance this line of research. These research visions point out a few ideas for future research. It particularly highlights the role of human and information in the establishment, management and evolution of various urban functions.

Originality/value
– The originality of this paper lies in the use of the conception of “SoS” to emphasize the importance of properly modeling human and information in an urban system so as to better reveal the intra-SoS mechanism.
Literature review of green retrofit design for commercial buildings with BIM implication
Authors: Bu Shanshan , Shen Geoffrey , Anumba Chimay J. , Wong Andy K.D. , Liang Xin 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– This research paper is a literature review of the existing building retrofitting process. It proposes studying the functional, technical, and organizational issues of the green retrofit process. The purpose of this paper is to expand the domain of design framework for retrofitting existing buildings.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper provides a review of the model-based design process from enrollment to evaluation stages representing the green retrofitting process in selected publications. The paper opted to review the Green Retrofit Design (GRD) process model for achieving a systematic design model of GRD development in the future.

Findings
– Functional and maintenance issues are mainly for new buildings, also in the field for renovation and demolishing. Publications also show that environmental, social, and technical issues are often examined separately in the decision process of GRD. Papers in the facility management scale would concentrate more on organization/legal issues. Publications with questionnaire design are devoted to the usage on life-cycle assessment on existing building, but not yet on the stakeholder management and design process and related issues.

Social implications
– The achievement of the study is to provide a new framework of design approach that is significant to the theoretical research, education, communication, and practical works in terms of GRD development.

Originality/value
– The paper not only achieves a specific sequence of practical approaches, including awareness of problems, conceptual development, and design embodiment, to meet design objectives, but also conforms to academic practice-based research of creative design taking on GRD practice.
What Drives Foreign Direct Investments into West Africa? An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Anyanwu John C. , Yameogo Nadege D. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis paper analyzed drivers of foreign direct investments (FDI) to West Africa using a panel dataset from 1970 to 2010. OLS and GMM techniques are used for the estimations. The main results indicate that there is a U‐shaped relationship between economic development and FDI inflows to West Africa. In summary: (i) The quadratic element of real per capita GDP, domestic investment, trade openness, first year lag of FDI, natural resources (oil and metals) endowment and exports, and monetary integration have positive and significant effect on FDI inflows to West Africa; and (ii) there is a negative relationship between FDI inflows to the sub‐region and loan component of ODA, economic growth, level of economic development (real GDP per capita), life expectancy, and domestic credit to the private sector.
Monetary Policy under Uncertainty in WAEMU: Parsimonious Model and Central Bank Preferences
Authors: Nantob N'Yilimon 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis paper looks at the implications of monetary policy uncertainty in the WAEMU area over the period 1975Q1–2010Q2. Under uncertainty on the transmission mechanisms, the monetary policy must be cautious according to the Brainard conservatism principle. Using the linear quadratic stochastic control approach by introduction the variance covariance matrix of the estimated parameters in the optimal control theory the results through the optimal monetary policy rule yield that the policy‐makers are always very cautious when they have an inflation and output gap stabilization objective. However, when they are concerned to smooth interest rate, their behavior becomes distinctly more aggressive.
Enhancing North Africa's Infrastructure for Improved Competitiveness
Authors: Yogo Urbain Thierry , Verdier‐Chouchane Audrey 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis paper aims at assessing the relationship between infrastructure development and competitiveness in North Africa. Based on the World Bank data, we analyze the infrastructure indicators of four North African countries over the period 1996–2012 and estimate the elasticity of competitiveness with respect to infrastructure development. We first argue that competitiveness could be improved by investing more on infrastructure. Although comparison with sub‐Saharan Africa reveals that important progress has been made in North Africa in terms of quantity, countries need to improve the infrastructure quality by investing in green energy, in maintenance, in public private partnerships and in regional infrastructure. Econometric analysis confirms that a 1 percent increase in infrastructure quality raises competitiveness by 0.64 percent. Country specific elasticity is respectively 0.22 in Algeria, 1.42 in Egypt, 0.36 in Tunisia and 0.56 in Morocco. Based on these results, appropriate policy recommendations are discussed.
Assessing Indicators of Currency Crisis in Ethiopia: Signals Approach
Authors: Megersa Kelbesa , Cassimon Danny 
Published: September 2015

AbstractCurrency crises, generally defined as rapid depreciations of a local currency or loss of foreign exchange reserves, are common incidents in modern monetary systems. Due to their repeated occurrence and severity, they have earned wide coverage by both theoretical and empirical literature. However, unlike advanced and emerging economies, currency crises in low‐income countries have not received due attention. This paper uses the signals approach developed by Kaminskyet al. () and assesses currency crisis in Ethiopia over the time frame January 1970 to December 2008. Using the Exchange Market Pressure Index (EMPI), we identify three currency crisis episodes that coincide with the liberalization following the fall of Ethiopian socialism, the Ethio‐Eritrean border conflict, and the zenith of the global financial crisis. The timing shows the importance of both local and international dynamics. More macroeconomic indicators picked up the first crisis in a 24‐month signalling window, compared to the latter two. Three categories of indicators were used: current account, capital account and domestic financial sector. None of the capital account indicators were significant based on the noise‐to‐signal ratio rule. One possible explanation for this might be the weak integration of the Ethiopian economy with global capital markets.