bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Copycats: how smart companies use imitation to gain a strategic edge
Authors: Shenkar Oded 
Published: August 2010

PurposeReviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.FindingsIn the business world, imitation gets a bad rap. We see imitating firms as “me too” players, forced to play catchup because they have nothing original to offer. In Copycats, Oded Shenkar challenges this viewpoint. He reveals how imitation is as critical to prosperity as innovation and how savvy imitators generate huge profits. They save not only on R&D costs but also on marketing and advertising investments made by first movers, and avoid costly errors by observing and learning from others' trials.Practical implicationsProvides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.Social implicationsProvides strategic insights and practical thinking that can have a broader social impact.Originality/valueCopycats presents suggestions for making imitation a core element in your competitive strategy and pairing it powerfully with innovation.
Interview with Tom Adams, Chief Executive Officer, Rosetta Stone Inc.
Authors: by Juliet Norton Interview 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an interview with Tom Adams, Chief Executive Officer of Rosetta Stone Inc., one of the world's leading language‐learning solution providers.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer.FindingsRosetta Stone® is an interactive software program that uses technology to simulate the way we all learnt our first language as a child. Learners develop language proficiency naturally, by connecting new words with their meaning, in real‐life contexts that are technology enabled. Interactivity makes learning engaging, and the fact this is a computer‐based tool makes it ideal for busy learners that value convenience.Practical implicationsProvides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.Social implicationsProvides strategic insights and practical thinking that can have a broader social impact.Originality/valueLanguage skills are a vital part of global business, and selling to businesses, organizations and education establishments has become Rosetta Stone's largest growth area over the past few years. The world is learning languages as the world goes global, and language‐learning providers are an extremely important tool in facilitating this globalization.
Core competitiveness indicators: a study of real estate developers in China
Authors: Zhang Xiaoling , Shen Liyin , Wu Yuzhe , Peng Yi 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to find an effective approach for enabling real estate firms to understand their competitiveness and identify the core competitiveness indicators (CCIs) that influence the development of developers with particular reference to the Chinese real estate business environment.Design/methodology/approachA combined method including Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and the fuzzy set method was used to identify CCIs. Research data used for analysis were collected from a questionnaire survey in the Chinese real estate industry.FindingsAnalysis results suggest core indicators for assessing real estate developers' competitiveness include: good corporate brand awareness and sufficient resources for expansion, have access to a diverse range of capital, appropriate annual land reserve, excellent entrepreneurship, proper risk assessment and response capacity, and green development strategy.Practical implicationsThe examination of the CCIs furnishes real estate firms with core indicators to assess their competitiveness, thus adopt appropriate strategies to enhance their competitiveness in the real estate market. The findings offer new insights and references for studying similar topics in other industries and countries.Originality/valueThe paper chooses an effective approach to identify the competitiveness indicators for real estate firms by using a combined method including MCS and the fuzzy set method.
Government measures needed to promote building energy efficiency (BEE) in China
Authors: Qian Queena K. , Chan Edwin H.W. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to investigate the major differences between the government's role in building energy efficiency (BEE) in China and three developed countries, and to further the understanding of market expectations of the most effective government measures to encourage BEE development in China.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken was: establish a framework for a critical comparative study; compare and assess the BEE promotion measures available to governments in the USA, Canada, the UK and China; survey the BEE market expectations of building design professionals to better understand the favourable measures the Chinese Government could take to further promote BEE; and triangulate the findings of the comparative study and questionnaire survey to develop recommendations for BEE promotion in mainland China.FindingsEconomic incentives are important for BEE promotion at the current stage, but they are lacking in China. Active government interventions, such as adjusting energy pricing and implementing BEE legislation, are needed in China if BEE is to become economically viable and efficient.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to limited resources, the questionnaire survey did not reach every part of China. A further study should be carried out to extend the investigation to more areas of China and to obtain wider stakeholder coverage.Originality/valueThe originality of this paper lies in its development of a theoretical framework to further understanding of the government's role in BEE promotion and its use of first‐hand data collected from industry to verify market expectations of that role in China.
Relationship between information systems sophistication and performance measurement
Authors: Akma Mohd Salleh Noor , Jusoh Ruzita , Ruhana Isa Che 
Published: August 2010

PurposeStudies in performance measurement systems (PMS) seem to receive little attention in the information system (IS) literature. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to contribute to the stream of research in the fields of performance measurement and ISs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines how IS sophistication is linked to PMSs by investigating the use of performance measures in the Malaysian financial services industry. Data were collected from 140 financial institutions through self‐administered questionnaire survey of top‐level executives. A component‐based structural equation modelling, partial least squares, was used to test the research model.FindingsThe results indicate that IS sophistication is a determinant of performance measures. The results also indicate that different dimensions of IS sophistication affect different dimensions of performance measures usage.Originality/valueThe paper significantly extends prior research on performance measures by establishing IS sophistication links to the different types of performance measures. Further, the findings clarify the distinct and important roles of each IS dimension's influence on performance measures.
Bringing cyber loafers back on the right track
Authors: Zoghbi‐Manrique‐de‐Lara Pablo , Olivares‐Mesa Arístides 
Published: August 2010

PurposeDespite the use in companies of policy and control mechanisms to tackle cyberloafing, these practices are still popular among employees. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that control systems alone are unable to deter cyberloafing because they are eventually perceived as a sort of “ineffectual dog that may bark a lot, but ultimately does not bite.” Instead, control systems are only expected to deter cyberloafing if employees view them as leading to punitive consequences.Design/methodology/approachFirst, given the easy visibility of cyberloafing activities, the paper proposes a design for control systems that not only includes perceptions of organizational control (monitoring), but also perceptions of the supervisor's physical proximity (proximity). Data are collected from university administration and services personnel, whose main working tool is the computer. They all have internet access and individual e‐mail, a stable physical location at work, and a supervisor. Multiple hierarchical regressions are used to test whether in reality proximity and monitoring are unable to decrease cyberloafing unless they interact together with employees' fear of formal punishment (punishment).FindingsOnly by interacting together and with punishment are proximity and monitoring able to deter cyber loafers from engaging in cyberloafing.Research limitations/implicationsThe study could suffer from mono‐method/source bias, and the university that supplied the sample has certain job conditions similar to those of the public sector, thus raising concerns about the generalizability of the results.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that organizational managers should not only ensure that control systems are able to discover incidents and identify the perpetrators, but they should also follow them up with punitive consequences. Only if control systems are implemented together with punishment are they effective in eliciting perceived certainty among cyber loafers of being caught and sanctioned, and hence in “bringing them back on the right track.”Originality/valueDespite the extensive use of control systems to deter cyberloafing, there are no previous empirical studies that have examined and supported the negative interacting effects of proximity, monitoring, and punishment on cyberloafing.
The factors influencing employees' attitudes in high‐tech environment
Authors: Kuo Tsung‐Hsien , Ho Li‐An , Wu Ya‐Jung , Lin Chien‐Ting 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to look at factors which result in improved attitudinal outcome (AO) through the proposal and empirical validation of a theoretical model. The model incorporates four major self‐perceived dimensions: personality traits (PTs), job characteristics (JCs), transformational leadership behaviors (LBs), and AOs.Design/methodology/approachThis is a quantitative research using a survey questionnaire as data collecting instrument. Data collected from ten technological companies located in the Neihu Science Park in Taiwan (n=221) were analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsResults reveal that both personal traits and JCs have positive yet insignificant effects on AOs. However, both factors significantly and indirectly influence AOs via transformational LBs.Originality/valueThis proposed model provides an overall framework which indicates how both intrinsic and extrinsic factors can affect the perception of LBs, which consequently plays a critical role in influencing employees emotionally. This structure has rarely been explored and the findings are particularly useful for management in helping to set leadership in a bigger context.
Intangible asset management framework: an empirical evidence
Authors: Chareonsuk Chaichan , Chansa‐ngavej Chuvej 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the interrelationships of intangible assets to business performance. The paper reports an empirical evidence for the impact of three elements of intangible assets: learning and growth, internal business process, and external structure on the business performance of the firm. The linkages between intangible asset elements and business performance are investigated in companies of various business sizes, business sectors and establishment ages.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed model was adapted from the balanced scorecard strategy map. The primary data for analyzing and investigating the interrelationships between intangible assets and business performance were gathered by subjective opinion survey questionnaire. In all, 3,084 questionnaires were distributed to the top management. The numbers of qualified responses were 304 and the data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique.FindingsThe commonly assumed causal relationships are confirmed, i.e. the element of learning and growth has influence on internal business process, the element of internal process has effect on external structure, and the element of external structure, in turn, has effect on business performance.Originality/valueFollowing the research findings, top management in companies of different sizes, business sectors, and establishment ages should understand the nature of interrelationships and recognize the importance of intangible assets. These findings will enable top management to realize the impact of intangible asset elements on business performance so that long‐term strategies for effective intangible asset management may be emphasized for sustainable competitive advantage of the firm.
B2b eMarketplaces
Authors: Balocco Raffaello , Perego Alessandro , Perotti Sara 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to look in depth at the role of business‐to‐business (B2b) eMarketplaces in supporting B2b relationships, identifying the successful business models and the related critical success factors (CSFs), and to propose a new classification framework to classify eMarketplace business models.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on the analysis of 30 international eMarketplaces through case study methodology.FindingsNine different business models are identified, which can be classified in terms of a service‐provisioning model and supported processes between companies. For each business model, different CSFs are highlighted.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has been conducted on a sample of 30 significant international eMarketplaces. Future studies could apply the framework to other cases in specific industries.Originality/valueThe paper offers an overview of the eMarketplace business models linking them with the most relevant CSFs. On one hand, the identified CSFs must be considered by managers and entrepreneurs launching new eMarketplaces or managing existing ones, in order to define the strategy, the business model, and the value proposition for the company users. On the other hand, managers facing the problem of adopting internet technology to support a B2b relationship with business partners must learn to distinguish between the different B2b business models, in order to understand their impact on processes and more precisely evaluate the potential value offered by a B2b electronic intermediary.
A resource‐based perspective on information technology and firm performance: a meta analysis
Authors: Liang Ting‐Peng , You Jun‐Jer , Liu Chih‐Chung 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to aggregate previous research that adopts the resource‐based view (RBV) to examine whether information technology (IT) and organizational resources have significant effect on firm performance.Design/methodology/approachA framework that includes direct and indirect‐effect models is proposed. A meta‐analysis was conducted on 42 published empirical studies to examine how different factors in the RBV affect firm performance.FindingsFirst, it was found that the mediated model that includes organizational capabilities as mediators between organizational resources and firm performance can better explain the value of IT than the direct‐effect model without organizational capabilities. Second, technology resources can improve efficiency performance but may not enhance financial performance directly. Third, internal capabilities affect performance but it is external capabilities that affect financial performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of meta‐analysis is that findings are based on prior research conducted on different sources at different times. This may cause observation biases. Nonetheless, the large sample size can also increase the robust of the findings.Practical implicationsThe findings indicate that companies should focus on how IT resources can be used to enhance their capabilities, which will result in better performance.Social implicationsThe findings provide strong evidence that IT has contributed to both financial performance and organizational efficiency through strengthening organizational capabilities. The IT has been effectively used so far and the suspected productivity paradox does not exist.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to information management by increasing the theoretical and practical understanding of how IT resources affect organizational capabilities and firm performance. The findings provide valuable guidelines for future research on IT investment and firm performance.
Managerial networks and strategic flexibility: a QM perspective
Authors: Gutiérrez Gutiérrez L.J. , Fernández Pérez V. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to study the effect of external managerial social networks on strategic flexibility for a quality management (QM) perspective. External social networks can affect strategic flexibility positively. QM also contributes to developing these networks. However, there is currently a wide variety of alternatives for managing quality in organizations, such as ISO standards or the European Foundation for Quality Management model. Thus, different alternatives will influence the external social networks differently in ways that have repercussions for strategic flexibility. Testing these differences is the main purpose of this paper.Design/methodology/approachA total of 203 valid responses were classified in three groups: non‐QM, ISO, and total quality management (TQM) firms. Then, a comparative ANOVA analysis was performed to test differences among groups. Finally, different regressions were run to test the effects of external social networks (range, size and strength) on strategic flexibility depending of the observed group.FindingsPaper results show that, depending on which QM initiative is implemented in the organization, the effects of external managerial networks on strategic flexibility vary. Thus, in organizations without QM, the range of external social networks influences strategic flexibility negatively, whereas in organizations with ISO standards, this negative effect disappears. In organizations with TQM, the paper finds the positive effect of both size and strength of relations in the networks.Practical implicationsThe paper facilitates how to differentiate QM alternatives depending on their observed behavior.Originality/valueA new perspective (QM) is observed to test how managerial networks affect strategic flexibility.
Motives of transfer pricing strategies – systemic analysis
Authors: Lin Ching‐Wen , Chang Hsiao‐Chen 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to explore the adoption attitudes of internal and external motivations by multinational enterprises (MNEs) concerning transfer pricing manipulation and to discuss on pricing strategies of MNEs under different motives of transfer pricing manipulation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper conducts literature reviews regarding motives of transfer pricing manipulation and then conducts questionnaire survey and expert interview to select and generalize the transfer pricing manipulation decision making. Analytic network process (ANP) is then applied to obtain factors' weights and model construction.FindingsThe paper finds that tax minimization is no longer the focus of transfer pricing manipulation strategies of Taiwanese MNEs, and their real concerns are winning maximum economic profits, enhancing the competitiveness of the enterprise, and effectively repatriating profits to parent companies in order to facilitate greater economic profits.Research limitations/implicationsIt is found from the model that most of the transfer pricing manipulation motives are based on low‐price strategies, which circumvent the exchange rate risks of low quotes. A possible reason is that current business operational patterns that have been limited to the electronic industry adopt the quantity‐based pricing strategy of “narrow profit margin and large volume.” However, the transfer pricing manipulation has great influence on the financial structures of the enterprises. The enterprises, as a result, must understand and reinforce the working of pricing transfer manipulation in the business development.Originality/valueThe paper collects questionnaires and investigation results from experts and scholars and uses ANP to construct a complete pricing strategic decision‐making model that may be taken by actual MNEs under different motives, in order to provide reference to MNEs when making transfer pricing manipulation strategies.
Use of electronic resources by research scholars of Kurukshetra University
Authors: Madhusudhan Margam 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis paper focuses on the use of e‐resources by research scholars of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (India). The main aim is to determine the use of e‐resources, users' skills in handling e‐resources, and the purpose of their use. Further, the paper aims to highlight the problems faced by research scholars in accessing e‐resources, their opinions on feature of e‐resources, and their views on usefulness of e‐resources compared to that of conventional sources.Design/methodology/approachThe survey was conducted through a structured questionnaire circulated among 60 research scholars (PhD and MPhil) taken from different departments of Kurukshetra University and the response rate was 83 per cent. A stratified accidental random sample method was used for selection of respondents and interacting with them. These respondents were among those available in the university library during the survey period (18‐28 December 2008). The responses received from the research scholars to 14 questions are presented in the form of tables and figures and analyzed by using a simple method of calculation.FindingsThe paper concludes that electronic resources have become an integral part of the information needs of research scholars at Kurukshetra University. Further, it finds that e‐resources can be good substitutes for conventional resources, if the access is fast, and more computer terminals are installed to provide fast access to e‐resources. Google is the most widely used search engine for locating information electronically.Practical implicationsThe paper restricts the study exclusively to use of e‐resources by the research scholars of Kurukshetra University.Originality/valueFew attempts have been made to study the use of e‐resources by research scholars and their impact in India. The paper highlights the use of e‐resources in research at Kurukshetra University with some constructive suggestions for improvement of electronic resources and services.