bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CSR in SMEs: strategies, practices, motivations and obstacles
Authors: Santos Maria 
Published: July 2011

PurposeGiven the greater recognition of the role played by small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) within the European economy, this research aims to provide an insight into SME CSR practices. Within this scope, the objective is to identify accurately and extensively: CSR practices at the social, economic and environmental levels; the motivations, perceived benefits, existing obstacles; and the types of support and strategies that render possible an explanation of the factors which place the greatest restrictions on SME adoption of CSR practices.Design/methodology/approachThis research was realized through the completion of a questionnaire type inquiry structured around table‐based analysis. The questionnaire was sent out to a large sample of SMEs in Portugal.FindingsThe main results demonstrate that, while CSR takes on an informal, non‐structured character, it has been incorporated into the daily management of such companies. Furthermore, contrary to what happens at large companies, CSR at SMEs is fundamentally internally focused and results from attention to the potential benefits to the business from gains in eco‐efficiency, a better social climate or a higher profile in the local community. The emphasis is on the adoption of simple, easily applicable and cheap measures and normally with specific results exemplifying how SME CSR is located on the border between entrepreneurialism and business management and that of business citizenship.Research limitations/implicationsIt is not possible to extrapolate the data obtained since the study focused only on mainland Portugal.Practical implicationsThe fact that the study clarifies the strategies and motivations of CSR in SMEs makes possible the development of active policies to promote CSR in the universe of these companies.Originality/valueBecause the studies on SME CSR remain rare, this research contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics, motivations and strategies of CSR in the SMEs case.
The effects of visually primed pharmaceutical advertising disclosure on attitudes and perceived CSR practices
Authors: Wang Alex 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis study seeks to examine how consumers perceive the visually primed disclosure in a pharmaceutical company's advertisement and form their attitudes toward the disclosure, perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and attitudes toward the pharmaceutical company.Design/methodology/approachAn online study with a convenient sampling consisting of college students is used to manipulate the visual communication of a pharmaceutical company's advertising disclosure for the purpose of examining the effects of visually primed advertising disclosure on attitude toward the disclosure, perceived CSR practices, and attitude toward the pharmaceutical company.FindingsThe results reveal that a visually primed disclosure affects consumers' attitudes toward the disclosure positively. Visual priming also enhances consumers' perceived CSR practices and attitudes toward the company. This is evident as the impact of attitude toward the disclosure on attitude toward the company is mediated by perceived CSR practices.Practical implicationsPharmaceutical companies should improve their advertising disclosure practices by enhancing visual communications of their advertising disclosures. Since a mediating relationship between attitude toward the disclosure and attitude toward the pharmaceutical company is materialized by perceived CSR practices, visually primed advertising disclosures perceived as socially responsible practices can facilitate advertising effectiveness and enhance consumers' attitudes toward the pharmaceutical company.Originality/valueThis paper adds value to the existing literature on pharmaceutical marketing and CSR practices, and promotes the effective management of advertising disclosures by reinforcing their communications through visual priming.
Health expenditure efficiency: implications for pharmaceutical marketing
Authors: Hilsenrath Peter 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the efficiency of US healthcare in an international context. The paper emphasizes the concept of efficiency and explores implications for pharmaceutical marketing.Design/methodology/approachLiterature review, economic theory, secondary data and bivariate regression were used to describe and evaluate US healthcare spending and pharmaceutical marketing.FindingsUS healthcare spending is inordinately high as a share of gross domestic product within developed countries and this is associated with a relatively high share of private finance. But public sector finance is displacing private payment and this trend is especially pronounced for pharmaceuticals. Public finance combined with fiscal pressure can be expected to curb use of pharmaceutical detailing and other forms of marketing. The limits of affordability are not well assessed and socio‐economic institutions to facilitate decisions about present and future costs have yet to evolve.Originality/valueThis paper provides a macro perspective for healthcare finance and the marketing of pharmaceuticals. It pioneers analysis of economics and international healthcare systems integrated with the foundations of demand for pharmaceutical marketing.
Electricity markets: an overview and comparative study
Authors: Srivastava Anurag K. , Kamalasadan Sukumar , Patel Daxa , Sankar Sandhya , Al‐Olimat Khalid S. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe electric power industry has been moving from a regulated monopoly structure to a deregulated market structure in many countries. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively review the existing markets to study advantages, issues involved and lessons learnt to benefit emerging electricity markets.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs a comprehensive review of existing competitive electricity market models in USA (California), UK, Australia, Nordic Countries (Norway), and developing country (Chile) to analyze the similarities, differences, weaknesses, and strengths among these markets based on publically available data, literature review and information.FindingsOngoing or forthcoming electricity sector restructuring activities in some countries can be better designed based on lessons learnt from existing markets and incorporating their own political, technical and economical contexts. A template for design of successful electricity market has also been presented.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to a comparative analysis of five markets and can be extended in the future for other existing and emerging electricity markets.Practical implicationsThe discussed weaknesses and strengths of existing electricity markets in this study can be practically utilized to improve the electricity industry market structures leading to several social benefits including lower electricity cost.Originality/valueThe comprehensive review and analysis of five existing markets, physically located in different continents, may be used as an assistance or reference guide to benefit the emerging electricity markets in other countries.
Emerging models of social enterprise in Eastern Asia: a cross‐country analysis
Authors: Defourny Jacques , Kim Shin‐Yang 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to compare profiles of social enterprises as they are emerging in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea and to highlight common features across countries allowing the identification of (partly) East‐Asian‐specific model(s) of social enterprise.Design/methodology/approachThe paper first examines the socio‐economic contexts in which new public policies and new NPOs' initiatives were launched to offer innovative solutions to current challenges, especially unemployment. Interactions between Eastern Asia and Western regions (EU, USA) are also analysed as to experiments and conceptions of social enterprise. In order to identify major convergences and divergences across countries in Eastern Asia, we rely on country studies presented in this issue as well as on a broad literature, related more specifically to the development and roles of NPOs and co‐operatives in this region.FindingsFive major models of social enterprise with specific dynamics can be identified in Eastern Asia. State influence and driving forces linked to public policies make these models rather different from the typical US social enterprise; as for the role of civil society, it seems weaker than in Western contexts but is growing significantly. Co‐operative movements also play a significant role in shaping some social enterprise models. Finally, two conditions identified as critical for the development of social economy organisations – a “condition of necessity” and a “condition of shared destiny” – seem to be valid in Eastern Asia as well, provided they are properly reinterpreted.Research limitations/implicationsAs in other regions, the concept of social enterprise itself only begins to be used in Eastern Asia, and no specific legislation deals explicitly with social enterprise as such, except in South Korea. So the main challenge was to identify all categories of initiatives which can be described as part of the new “social enterprise phenomenon”. The understanding of the latter may evolve over time and vary across countries.Originality/valueThe present analysis, just like the other four papers in this issue, is a result of a joint research project of the EMES European Research Network and East‐Asian researchers. Country studies were conducted along common broad guidelines, and they were discussed and revised at various stages, which insured a fairly good level of comparability. Moreover, this seems to be the first systematic comparative analysis on social enterprise involving all industrialised countries in Eastern Asia.
Continuous improvement and dynamic actor associations
Authors: Papadopoulos Thanos 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the link between continuous improvement (CI) and dynamic actor associations through a case of lean thinking implementation in healthcare.Design/methodology/approachThe paper follows the qualitative case study strategy. Data were collected by interviewing (tape‐recording) managers and staff, analysing relevant written project material, and conducting non‐participant observations.FindingsThe findings suggest that the implementation of CI depends on the emergence of a “favouring” network from the dynamic associations between heterogeneous entities. This network aims at facilitating change leadership, establishing behaviour/culture prone to CI, and constructing a behaviour non‐resistant to CI needed for creating competencies for the continuous roll‐outs of such changes. Continuous translation is the underlying mechanism for establishing the favouring network.Originality/valueThe paper addresses the literature gap regarding the role of dynamic actor associations in shaping CI in a public sector context. It does not aim at generalising the results of the case study; it informs current theory by revealing that the success of CI deployment depends on the emergence of a CI‐favouring network, which will continuously transform opposing views into accepting CI.
Scope for fair trade and social entrepreneurship in India
Authors: Khanapuri Vivekanand B. , Khandelwal Mayank R. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeSocial entrepreneurship will play a big role in bringing the growth to the rural masses in India and so it becomes important to study the factors, like fair trade, that will shape the social entrepreneurship philosophy.Design/methodology/approachPrimary information has been collected from National Level bodies like Fair Trade Forum – India (FTF‐I) by means of discussions and debates. Current state of fair trade penetration has been discussed with the help of a case study of an India NGO, International Resources for Fairer Trade (IRFT) which is a pioneer in this field in India.FindingsDiscussions with FTF‐I and study of IRFT revealed some surprising facts about fair trade in India – one of them being the expected size of the fair trade market in the near future. Fair trade is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years and it has the potential be an inspiration for many to enter into the social entrepreneurship world.Practical implicationsWith this study as basis, many Non Government Organizations and other bodies may find that their business models can be slightly modified to make them eligible for entering the lucrative market of fair trade.Originality/valueThis is the first study that focuses on attempting to find a link between social entrepreneurship and fair trade in India. This study will not only help current and future social entrepreneurs understand the need for fair trade and its benefits but it will also help them understand how they could become fair trade compliant if they wanted to and thus contribute to all inclusive growth.
The selective nature of place branding and the layering of spatial identities
Authors: Boisen Martin , Terlouw Kees , van Gorp Bouke 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to strengthen the conceptual understanding of place brands and place branding by exploring to what extent place branding implies a level of selectivity and how this relates to the layering of spatial identities.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual approach has been taken in this paper to provide an analytical conceptualisation of place branding to guide future empirical studies. The research, and the resulting paper has been structured around a progressive discussion of place as concept, of place brands as limited forms of geographical representations and of place branding as a highly selective process.FindingsPlaces are highly complex and cannot simply be understood as spatial entities within a closed hierarchical, territorial‐administrative system. Places only exist when they have an audience, and the resulting spatial identities often overlap, contradict or complement each other across existing territorial‐administrative levels. The rise of new forms of spatial identities results in new “places”, and all places can be seen as having or being brands. The notion of place branding implies market segmentation and a certain level of power to exercise control by selecting target groups and formulating policy, strategy and undertaking action.Research limitations/implicationsIn future empirical and conceptual research concerned with place branding the inherent selectivity of place branding should be given more attention. The ends to which place branding is used as a means should be paid more attention in both policy (practice) and science (theory).Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the understanding of the metaphorical translation of branding and marketing towards places and spaces.
Using decision trees to identify tourism stakeholders
Authors: Byrd Erick T. , Gustke Larry 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of decision tree analysis in the identification of stakeholders based on their participation in tourism and political activities in a community.Design/methodology/approachA survey was sent to tourism stakeholders in two rural counties. Responses were collected and analyzed using the exhaustive chi‐square automatic interaction detection decision tree analysis.FindingsBased on the results of the decision tree analysis four tourism stakeholder groups were identified based on their participation in tourism and political activities in a community: high participants, high‐moderate participants, low‐moderate participants, and low participants.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to a low response rate, an issue of non‐response bias could exist, but the information from the respondents can give insight on stakeholders in these communities. Also, the specific results of this study can only be applied to eastern North Carolina and are not generalizable to other areas.Practical implicationsResults from this study demonstrate the use of decision tree analysis in identifying community stakeholders. Using decision tree analysis tourism planners can identify stakeholder groups that will participate in tourism and political activities. With this knowledge, tourism planners can identify which stakeholder groups will be the most influential and vocal in a community with regard to tourism development.Originality/valueDecision tree analysis is a tool for partitioning a data set based on the relationships between a set of independent variables and a dependent variable. The research reported here tests the application of decision tree analysis, an analytical technique that is not traditionally used to segment stakeholders in tourism.
Strategies to develop and maintain occupational health and safety measures in small businesses employing immigrant workers in metropolitan Montreal
Authors: Gravel Sylvie , Rhéaume Jacques , Legendre Gabrielle 
Published: July 2011

PurposeIn large urban centres, immigrants are employed by businesses in which there is a high incidence of serious or fatal occupational injuries. This paper aims to present findings on the lack of knowledge and understanding in terms of: explanations for the implementation or lack of, procedures; technical expertise in prevention and the inability of the internal actors to implement changes.Design/methodology/approachA study design with a comparison group is used. The observation sample is comprised of 21 small businesses (SB), of which 16 meet the following criteria: the enterprise had fewer than 50 employees; and at least 25 per cent of the workers were born outside the country. The other five serve as a comparison group; the only difference in these SB is that they employ fewer (<25 per cent) immigrant workers.FindingsThe findings indicate that SB employing immigrants have totally or partially failed to implement health and safety management in area of occupational health and safety.Practical implicationsImplementation of safety management is impeded by numerous factors, including a partial or biased understanding, from managers and workers, on occupational health and safety rules. Democratic participation is to be encouraged so that management and workers get more involved in actual prevention strategies implementing health and safety measures.Social implicationsActive participation of workers in workplace is essential in global health improvement, as related by Armataya Sen on concept of “substantial freedom”.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on health and safety management in SB employing immigrants
Demonstration of risk profiling for promoting safety in SMEs
Authors: Jørgensen Kirsten , Jan Duijm Nijs , Troen Hanne 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the risks and potential risks that may lead to accidents. It aims to look at how to improve risk assessment within SMEs for the benefit of all staff.Design/methodology/approachThe research included results from a Dutch project which identifies accident risks and safety barriers that are presented in a huge database and risk calculator. The method was first to develop a simple way of accessing this enormous amount of data, second, to develop a tool to observe risks and safety barriers in SMEs and to investigate the usefulness of the developed tools in real life, third, to collect data on risks and safety barriers in SMEs for two occupations by following 20 people for three days each and to create a risk profile for each occupations.FindingsThe result is a simple way to go through all types of risks for accidents – a tool for risk observations for external safety experts, and useful for SMEs and for risk profiles for two occupations. Finally some experiences about the needs and difficulties in risk awareness in small enterprises as well as requirements for the employer and the employees.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of the project is that the results have not been tested in SMEs and that the number of people observed and observations days are limited mainly because there was limited time for the project.Social implicationsThe article considers the dilemma that although accident frequency is higher in SMEs, most small companies experience no serious accidents; thus, they are not challenged to focus on safety, neither being aware of the risk of accidents nor being able to identify risk before the accident happens with the purpose of acting and taking action to prevent accidents.Originality/valueThe value of the project is the observation tool and the identification of risks, and being aware of what an employer and employee can do to minimise such risks.
Whole of enterprise portfolio management
Authors: Young Michael , Owen Jill , Connor James 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that there is not just a single project portfolio operating within an organisation, but instead there are multiple portfolios.Design/methodology/approachThis paper follows a case study methodology, utilising secondary sources in the form of publically available reports.FindingsThe authors offer a definition of whole of enterprise portfolio management and suggest that this conceptual tool will allow an organisation to control programs and portfolios, particularly, where organizations adapt to emergent situations.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is supported through a single case study using secondary data only. Whilst this provides an illustrated example to support a theoretical model, further empirical research is required to determine its applicability in other sectors and organisational contexts.Practical implicationsThis paper provides a whole of enterprise portfolio model in the utilities sector and can be applied to many organisations. It also provides a basis for further research.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new perspective on portfolio management, suggesting that the organisation consists of many portfolios that need to be managed in an integrative manner, rather than just the project portfolio be examined and managed in isolation.