bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alliance diversity, environmental context and the value of manufacturing capabilities among new high technology ventures
Authors: Terjesen Siri , Patel Pankaj C. , Covin Jeffrey G. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractManufacturing capabilities have often been shown to predict various indicators of firm performance. However, the association between manufacturing capabilities and firm performance has seldom been studied in the context of high technology new ventures. Using a sample of 167 UK‐based, high technology manufacturing ventures, the current study examines the relationship between manufacturing capabilities (in particular, those contributing to low operating costs and product quality) and venture performance. Additionally, the moderating effects of the ventures’ alliance portfolios and environmental contexts on the capability–performance relationships are explored. Results indicate that venture performance (as reflected in sales growth, return on sales (ROS), and return on assets (ROA)) is significantly predicted by manufacturing capabilities that promote low operating costs and product quality. Further, the data generally support the hypothesized moderating effects of two alliance diversity variables (alliance partner diversity and alliance geographic diversity) and two environmental context variables (environmental dynamism and environmental munificence) on the capability–performance relationships. Overall, the study supports the premise that the value of manufacturing capabilities (i.e., the strength of the capability–performance relationship) among high technology ventures is contingent upon the alliance and environmental contexts within which those ventures operate. Specifically, alliance partner diversity, alliance geographic diversity, and environmental munificence enhance the value of manufacturing capabilities that promote low operating costs. Alliance partner diversity, environmental munificence, and environmental stability enhance the value of manufacturing capabilities that promote product quality. The study's theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
The effects of hierarchical culture on knowledge management processes
Authors: Tseng Shu‐Mei 
Published: July 2010

PurposeIn order to make knowledge management (KM) successful, the most important aspect is to nurture an appropriate organizational culture. Furthermore, many studies indicate that hierarchical cultures can significantly hinder the success of KM activities. The purpose of this paper, therefore, based on the antecedents of hierarchical culture, is to utilize four activities of knowledge conversion to explore the impact of hierarchical culture on the effectiveness of KM processes.Design/methodology/approachIn order to understand the influences of hierarchical culture on knowledge conversion and KM processes, both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to analyze the data. A case study of two large companies included interviews with several senior managers. A survey questionnaire was also administered to senior managers in 31 Taiwanese companies that had hierarchical cultures.FindingsThrough interpretative case studies and questionnaire analyses, the research finds that a hierarchical culture influences KM practices and can act as a mediator for knowledge conversion and KM processes. For instance, developing a hierarchical culture will be suitable for combination and externalization. Moreover, it would be beneficial to the implementation of KM. In contrast, it would not be helpful for socialization and internalization. In addition, it would not be beneficial to KM strategy and planning.Research limitations/implicationsThe results need to be validated with a robust survey.Practical implicationsThe conceptual framework provides a convenient way to illustrate the effects of hierarchical culture on knowledge conversion and KM processes. Enterprises can make corrections and adjustments accordingly to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing KM through the appropriate organizational culture.Originality/valueThe paper proposes a conceptual framework to illustrate the influences of hierarchical culture on knowledge conversion and KM processes in Taiwanese organizations.
Slicing and dicing the gender/racial earnings differentials
Authors: Yap Margaret 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to explore an extensive set of determinants of earnings and to offer recent empirical evidence of their effects on gender and racial earnings gaps.Design/methodology/approachMost previous studies looked at gender and racial comparisons independently of each other. This study extends previous studies by considering the interaction between gender and race. Using administrative data from a large Canadian firm, this paper explores the determinants of earnings based on a standard human capital model, comparing the earnings of white females, minority males and minority females with their white male counterparts. Both the dummy variable approach and a decomposition analysis are employed.FindingsThe results show that ranking in the organizational hierarchy accounts for most of the differences in gender and racial earnings, and ranking, together with human capital and job characteristics variables, explains over 90 percent of the earnings gap.Research limitations/implicationsThe analyses in the paper are based on data from a Canadian organization with nation‐wide operations. The findings may not apply to small or medium sized enterprises in Canada and in other non‐Western economies.Practical implicationsTo eliminate the earnings gap, equal pay programs need to be supplemented by effective employers' programs and policies targeted at equal advancement opportunity.Originality/valueThe paper uses firm‐level data, which provides natural controls for variations across firms and allows for more in‐depth analysis of the impact of various factors on earnings differentials.
From policy to practice: engaging and embedding the third mission in contemporary universities
Authors: Nelles Jen , Vorley Tim 
Published: July 2010

PurposeOver the past 20 years public policy has sought to promote and formalise the socio‐economic role of universities under the auspices of the so called “third mission”. The purpose of this paper is to consider how the third mission relates to, and has the capacity to reinforce the core missions of teaching and research.Design/methodology/approachBy highlighting the key limitations of contemporary debate the paper bridges the conceptual model/case‐study dichotomy that characterises the literature. The paper draws on an ongoing study of higher education institutions in the UK and Europe.FindingsThe paper contends that triangulating teaching, research, and third stream activities reinforces the respective dynamics of each component through their recursive and reciprocal development.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper forms the foundations of ade novoresearch agenda to better understand the dynamics of the third mission as a central facet of the contemporary university.Practical implicationsThe paper has implications for policy‐makers and institutional strategy alike – identifying an unparalleled opportunity for institutional development by linking teaching, research, and third stream activities.Originality/valueBy highlighting the importance that universities need to embody an “inherent idea” the paper contends the third mission presents the capacity for institutional development beyond the third mission.
Generalising Darwinism to study socio‐cultural change
Authors: Breslin Dermot 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate the use of the evolutionary approach, and in particular the generalisation of Darwinian principles beyond biology to study socio‐cultural change.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a review of developments in generalising Darwinism to study socio‐cultural change, including key criticisms against using the approach. In the process key disagreements between the different conceptual approaches taken by evolutionary scholars, and key criticisms against using an evolutionary approach are highlighted.FindingsIt was seen that a number of critics fail to grasp the abstracted concept of Universal and Generalised Darwinism, focusing their arguments on detailed differences between socio‐cultural and biological evolution. Future research within the field should be directed towards building consensus regarding the definitions of key concepts, and using detailed empirical investigations to shed light on the usefulness of the different approaches taken for research and practice.Originality/valueThe key contribution of this paper is the presentation of a critical review of developments made in generalising Darwinism. It is further argued that the universal appeal of the approach offers researchers an opportunity for cross‐fertilising ideas, generating new insights across disciplines and learning from developments being made in parallel fields of study.
Service offshoring: the evolution of offshore operations
Authors: Youngdahl William E. , Ramaswamy Kannan , Dash Kishore C. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of economic development on culture and the significance of cultural change on the evolution of offshoring of services and knowledge‐based activities.Design/methodology/approachThe paper offers a conceptual model that links economic development, national cultural predispositions, and the future of offshoring service and knowledge functions. It builds on a range of academic literatures within these core areas to derive a set of propositions that offer insights into the manner in which the relative success and evolution of offshoring service and knowledge work would be impacted by a country's economic development posture and its cultural roots and value systems. The model presented here is also well complemented by examples from real offshoring projects to offer the reader a comprehensive picture of the central propositions put forth.FindingsSeveral propositions, formulated at the multidisciplinary intersection of service operations management, strategy, and international studies, provide ample opportunities for further discipline‐specific and cross‐disciplinary examination of complex interactions of economic development, culture, and offshoring approaches.Research limitations/implicationsThis form of conceptual research provides the basis for more rigorous theory development and testing. The aim of the conceptual analysis was to begin linking nascent research in the area of service and knowledge offshoring to an area of research that examines the links between economic development and culture.Practical implicationsGlobal operations managers dealing with extended service value chains that include offshore service providers must not only focus on dealing with cultural differences but they must also identify requisite cultural attributes for evolving service center roles.Originality/valueBy integrating perspectives from service operations management, strategy, and international studies, the paper provides new perspectives on offshoring of service and knowledge operations.
May I work from home? Views of the employment relationship reflected in line managers' telework attitudes in six financial‐sector organizations
Authors: Peters Pascale , den Dulk Laura , de Ruijter Judith 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to two related contemporary debates on the changing views of the employment relation and on the adoption of telework as a new work practice by analyzing line managers' general telework‐attitude formation processes, and possible outcomes in concrete request situations, mirroring managers' views of the employment relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis multi‐method study among 65 managers in six financial‐sector organizations comprises two parts. The interview part focuses on managers' arguments for or against telework in their departments, and how these are weighed in the telework‐attitude formation process. In the vignette study, managers assess their attitudes towards specific, hypothetical, but realistic telework requests of fictive employees in their departments.FindingsCombining the results of both studies, it is shown that the governance view dominates. Some managers, however, consider telework an “idiosyncratic deal.” Particularly in telework‐request situations, also the exchange view enters into the managers' perceptual frames. In order to decrease managers' ambivalence towards telework, the human resource management (HRM)‐system needs to be internally consistent and based on a view of the employment relationship which stresses commitment and trust as guiding principles, rather than control and coordination.Originality/valueEmploying a “configurational approach to strategic HRM,” this paper focuses on the importance of the “embeddedness” of telework practices in larger HRM‐systems in general, and the role of cultural obstacles in particular. Telework arguments are considered the HR principles guiding the telework‐attitude formation process, and mirroring managers' views of the employment relationship as part of their workforce philosophies.
Electronic negotiations in intercultural interfirm relationships
Authors: Graf Andrea , Koeszegi Sabine T. , Pesendorfer Eva‐Maria 
Published: July 2010

PurposeIntercultural interfirm relationships have become a new challenge for international management. The purpose of this paper is to explore differences in computer‐mediated negotiation behavior between participants who come from nations which differ as regards two major cultural values: individualism and collectivism.Design/methodology/approachThis is an empirical study with a sample containing 170 negotiators with different cultural backgrounds; it comprises content analysis; and multivariate analysis of variance models.FindingsComparing negotiators from Asian, North American, and European cultures, it is found that people who come from an individualist culture exhibit different negotiation strategies to individuals from a collectivist culture.Practical implicationsBased on the results management may sensitize negotiators in intercultural interfirm relationships to their counterparts' communication strategies.Originality/valueThe paper highlights how negotiators' cultures affect their strategic orientation.
Procedural fairness and cooperation in public‐private partnerships in China
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Jia Ming 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to extend research on public‐private partnerships (PPP) by exploring the path toward procedural justice and cooperation performance through contracts.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses equity theory to address inter‐partner cooperation in PPPs. The paper emphasizes how procedural fairness, as perceived by partners in a PPP, influences cooperation effects. Using both social exchange theory and transaction cost theory, it hypothesizes that procedural fairness improves cooperation effects by enhancing two kinds of contracts: the control‐formal contract and the informal contract.FindingsThe regression analysis suggests that procedural fairness indirectly affects three kinds of cooperation effects – direct effects, knowledge‐created effects, and social effects – by increasing formal and informal contracts.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research might address the antecedents of procedural justice.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests that procedural justice is important to PPPs and that contracts mediate this relationship.Originality/valueThe paper enriches PPP research, especially with regard to procedural formalization, contracts, and cooperation performance.
Struggles for cooperation: conflict resolution strategies in multicultural groups
Authors: Boroş Smaranda , Meslec Nicoleta , Curşeu Petru L. , Emons Wilco 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine the influence of group composition in cultural values on conflict management styles in groups.Design/methodology/approachA field study using data from 125 groups was conducted.FindingsThe results show that in groups where members feel they are equal and connected (horizontal collectivism) cooperation is better, and contending and avoiding conflict management styles are used less. When people view themselves as unequal and independent (vertical individualism (VI)) the avoiding style of conflict management is more frequently used. Within‐group similarity (low variety) in VI leads to more cooperation and less avoidant conflict management strategies as well as less third party interventions. High group variety in views of being unequal, but interconnected (vertical collectivism), as well as in the views of being equal but independent (horizontal individualism), leads to more cooperative conflict resolution strategy.Practical implicationsThe results show that small and consistent within‐group differences in cultural values are beneficial (with the exception of VI) for cooperative strategies. By showing that group compositional configurations in cultural values (vertical/horizontal individualism and collectivism) impact on conflict management strategies, the study has important implications for team design.Originality/valueThe paper extends current research by conceptualizing cultural values (it considers the horizontal vs vertical orientation in individualism‐collectivism) as configural group properties and by testing the impact of specific team configurations in cultural values on conflict management strategies.
Political participation and life satisfaction: a cross‐European analysis
Authors: Pacheco Gail , Lange Thomas 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to model the link between political participation and life satisfaction whilst correcting for the endogenous nature of the relationship; explore the impact of different strengths of political participation and aim to uncover if the relationship displays different patterns by gender.Design/methodology/approachThe data originate from the 2006/2007 European Social Survey. The analysis spanned across a pooled data set for 20 European countries. Three alternative empirical frameworks were trialled: an ordered probit regression, a linear regression model and a two‐step, simultaneous treatment effect model to address endogeneity concerns.FindingsFollowing the correction for endogeneity via two‐step, simultaneous treatment regressions, political participation – and specifically strong political engagement – displays a robust, statistically significant, strong and positive impact on life satisfaction. It was deduced that actual political participation, and not merely the right to participate in the political process, is a source of procedural utility.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross‐sectional nature of the data imposes design limitations to examining trends and changes over time. It follows that the analysis cannot rely on fixed‐effect estimations to control for time‐invariant factors.Originality/valueOnce the results are corrected for endogeneity, the empirical results reveal that the effect of actual political participation on life satisfaction not only matters, but also as the strength of political engagement grows it matters even more. Findings hold true even when a multitude of socio‐demographic characteristics are controlled for. These are important results for researchers and policy makers who are concerned about the happiness of people in democratic societies.
Participatory action research in learning commons design planning
Authors: Brown‐Sica Margaret , Sobel Karen , Rogers Erika 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to document the process the Auraria Library went through to plan research methods to produce information for their learning commons project.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides an overview and the results of one library's planning methods using user‐centered and participatory action research (PAR) principles. It includes a literature review and data gathered from several information gathering sessions. It also discusses useful resources and ideologies found outside the field of library science, such as “placemaking” and the concept of “third place.”FindingsAdopting values that honor user‐centered, evidence‐based decision making is a change that must include the whole library, as well as its users. When enough time is spent to include a broad spectrum of feedback you can get a lot of valuable evidence, even during a planning period.Originality/valueThe paper could be useful to libraries who are examining their services, environment, and technology. It is of interest to libraries that want to use user‐centered design and PAR in their work.
Support vector machines for measuring dielectric properties of materials
Authors: Hacib T. , Acikgoz H. , Le Bihan Y. , Mekideche M.R. , Meyer O. , Pichon L. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe dielectric properties of materials (complex permittivity) can be deduced from the admittance measured at the discontinuity plane of a coaxial open‐ended probe. This implies the implementation of an inversion procedure. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new non‐iterative inversion methodology in the field of microwave characterization allowing reducing the computation cost comparatively to iterative procedures.Design/methodology/approachThe inversion methodology combines the support vector machine (SVM) technique and the finite element method (FEM). The SVM are used as inverse models. They show good approximation and generalization capabilities. FEM allows the generation of the data sets required by the SVM parameter adjustment. A data set is constituted of input (complex admittance and frequency) and output (complex permittivity) pairs.FindingsThe results show the applicability of SVM to solve microwave inverse problems instead of using traditional iterative inversion methods which can be very time‐consuming. The experimental results demonstrate the accuracy which can be provided by the SVM technique.Practical implicationsThe paper allows extending the capability of microwave characterization cells developed at Laboratoire de Génie Électrique de Paris.Originality/valueA new inversion method is developed and applied to microwave characterization. This new concept introduces SVM in the context of microwave characterization. SVM results and iterative inversion procedure results are compared in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed technique.
Psychometric properties of the instrument quality in psychiatric care and descriptions of quality of care among in‐patients
Authors: Schröder Agneta , Wilde Larsson Bodil , Ahlström Gerd , Lundqvist Lars‐Olov 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the psychometric properties and dimensionality of a new instrument, quality in psychiatric care (QPC), and to describe and compare quality of care among in‐patients as measured by this instrument.Design/methodology/approachThe instrument quality in psychiatric care measures patients' experiences regarding quality of care. The instrument is based on a definition of quality of care from the patients' perspective. A sample of 265 in‐patients at eight general psychiatric wards in Sweden was assessed.FindingsExploratory factor analysis revealed that the original five‐dimensional 69‐item QPC was better with six dimensions and reduced to 30 items, hereinafter denoted quality in psychiatric care‐in‐patients (QPC‐IP) with retained internal consistency. The patients' ratings of quality of care were generally high; the highest rating was for quality of encounter and the lowest for participation.Research limitations/implicationsAnalysis of the dropouts was not possible because of incomplete registrations at the wards.Practical implicationsQPC‐IP is a simple, inexpensive and quick way to evaluate quality of care and thus contributes to health care improvement in the field of psychiatry.Originality/valueThe new 30 items instrument, QPC‐IP includes important aspects of patients' perceptions of quality of care. The QPC‐IP is psychometrically adequate and thus recommended for evaluating patients' experiences of the quality of psychiatric care.