bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality differentials and reproductive health service utilisation determinants in India
Authors: Anand Sandip , Sinha R.K. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper seeks to establish relationships between women's reproductive health service use, assessed longitudinally and by facility type, with service quality perceptions related to public or private health facilities.Design/methodology/approachThe study was mainly secondary and quantitative in nature. It included analysing data collected by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) as a follow‐up study to the 1998‐1999 National Family Health Survey (NFHS‐2). The follow‐up survey was carried out in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand. In 2002‐2003, these four states were selected to capture socio‐economic and demographic variations. Analysis includes composite indices and logistic regression analysis. A scale was constructed to measure utilisation levels. Dimensions include: service proximity, doctor availability, waiting time, medicines, facility cleanliness, dignified treatment, privacy, service affordability and treatment effectiveness.FindingsFindings indicate that doctor availability, waiting time, cleanliness, privacy and affordability at private health facilities enhance the probability that a health facility will be used for any reproductive health purpose. At the combined states level, medicine availability and treatment effectiveness at public health facilities enhances service use.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation is that the study includes only selected Indian states.Practical implicationsThe findings may enhance Indian service‐quality policy.Originality/valueThe paper's main contribution is that seemingly for the first time in India, healthcare service use has been measured longitudinally and then explained through service quality variables by comparing public and private health facilities.
Hotel performance: state of the art
Authors: Sainaghi Ruggero 
Published: October 2010

PurposeHow do we measure the success of a hotel business? What factors determine performances? This paper seeks to explore the responses which researchers and practitioners have given to these questions in the last 20 years.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on the analysis of 152 contributions and uses the balanced scorecard as a model to rationalize the main streams of research.FindingsThe analysis of literature shows the gradually assumed importance of the balanced scorecard as a satisfactory performance measurement system. The findings related to the determinants of results are instead highly complex and far‐reaching. The determining factors are generally looked for within the enterprise. Four main functional research fields have been identified (strategy, production, marketing and organization) and for each one main research goals, findings and open questions are defined. The horizontal axis of the balanced scorecard (customer perspective, strategy and process perspective) is the area of greatest research (over half of the papers). This evidence appears in line with the structural features of the hotel business and with the importance held, respectively, by customer relations and the protection of the efficiency of management processes.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper shows the main weaknesses and strengths in previous research design in terms of: dependent and independent variables, sample and data sources. At theoretical level, the current research is strongly based on six countries (69 percent of the sample). Given the profound diversity of national contexts, researchers focusing on internal determinants should use external control variables more extensively. Furthermore, some recent subfields appear very fragmented especially in terms of independent variables used.Originality/valueThe paper identifies research streams and gaps in the field of hotel performance.
Teacher research as continuous process improvement
Authors: Ellis Charles , Castle Kathryn 
Published: October 2010

PurposeTeacher research (inquiry) has been characterized as practice improvement, professional development and action research, among numerous names and descriptions. The purpose of this paper is to support the case that teacher research is also a form of quality improvement known as continuous process improvement (CPI).Design/methodology/approachThe paper outlines the underlying characteristics, processes and sub‐processes employed by teacher researchers. Next, the same approach is applied to the underlying characteristics, processes and sub‐processes of CPI. Lastly, an analysis is performed to identify parallels between teacher research methodology and the methodology employed in CPI to support the case that teacher research is a form of CPI.FindingsIt is believed that a defensible analytical case has been built that where teacher research is conducted, the teacher's practice and the education of the students is undergoing CPI.Practical implicationsSchools and school administrators searching for techniques to improve the learning that takes place in their school should strongly consider and support teacher research as an effective means of quality improvement.Originality/valueThe paper presents a different perspective and view of teacher research in the context of CPI, which was once considered the domain of businesses and corporations.
The psychosocial costs of conflict management styles
Authors: Chung‐Yan Greg A. , Moeller Christin 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the interactive effect of interpersonal conflict at work and adopting an integrating/compromising conflict style on workers' psychosocial wellbeing.Design/methodology/approachA total of 311 employed young adults completed an online questionnaire.FindingsModerated hierarchical multiple regression analyses support the hypothesis that integrating/compromising interacts with interpersonal conflict at work to predict psychosocial strain. Specifically, it was found that integrating/compromising is related to psychosocial strain in a U‐shaped fashion when work conflict is high. Although a moderate degree of integrating/compromising is psychosocially beneficial for workers and can buffer the negative impact of work conflict, beyond a certain point, integrating/compromising is associated with an increase in psychosocial strain when work conflict is high.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the study suggest that investigations of conflict styles should focus not only on managing the occurrence of conflict – or resolving it when it does occur – but also on the psychosocial costs of adopting particular conflict styles. The data are cross‐sectional; therefore, inferences about causality are limited.Originality/valueThe study is one of the few to empirically test the psychosocial costs of adopting particular conflict styles. In addition, compared with similar studies, more complex relationships (i.e. nonlinear) between the variables are assessed.
Using experts to develop a supply chain maturity model in Mexico
Authors: Garcia Reyes Heriberto , Giachetti Ronald 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis research aims to develop a supply chain maturity model so that Mexican firms can evaluate their current supply chain operations and develop an improvement road‐map.Design/methodology/approachThe Delphi Method was used with 80 experts in Mexico. The Delphi Method gathers multiple perspectives on supply chain operations and delineates a path to reach a group consensus. The results lead to the specification of a supply chain maturity model S(CM)2. S(CM)2is validated through experimentation and a pilot test to verify the ability of the model to help managers assess the supply chain processes of a firm by identifying their maturity level in each model viewpoint. A pilot test with a Mexican firm demonstrates the practical implementation of the model.FindingsThe research results in a meta‐model, called the supply chain maturity model S(CM)2, that describes supply chain maturity at five levels across multiple competency areas, and provides guidance to specify an improvement plan.Research limitations/implicationsThe meta‐model was developed in Mexico and may not apply to the operations of supply chains in other countries. Additionally, the large scope of the meta‐model calls for further testing and refinement.Practical implicationsThe research provides a means for firms to evaluate their supply chain operations and develop improvement plans.Originality/valueThe paper contributes by integrating the ideas of reference frameworks, capability maturity models, and improvement processes and demonstrates how a holistic meta‐model can be developed to evaluate supply chain operations.
Understanding e‐auction use by procurement professionals: motivation, attitudes and perceptions
Authors: Tassabehji Rana 
Published: October 2010

PurposeE‐auctions have had a big impact on procurement over the past decade. Despite the benefits, there has been well documented resistance to this procurement medium. There is a need to understand factors which influence motivation to use and attitude towards e‐auctions, in order to facilitate practitioners' ability to develop and adapt e‐auctions into an effective procurement tool. This paper seeks to address this issue.Design/methodology/approachA model of the inter‐relationships between e‐auction drivers is derived from an analysis of the literature. Data from a sample of senior procurement professionals across several industry sectors were collected by online questionnaire and a structural equation model was fitted using PLS.FindingsThe study reveals that e‐auction use for procurement is motivated by building relationships with suppliers and not solely as a means of optimising prices of goods and services. Where attitude towards e‐auction use is negative, this is mainly driven by a strategic approach to procurement.Originality/valueNowhere in the extant literature has there been a study on the impact of how the organisational role of procurement by the organisation impacts e‐auctions use and attitudes. Furthermore, by distinguishing between motivations for using e‐auctions and attitudes towards them, procurement professionals are found to have a negative attitude to e‐auctions, but at the same time their motivations for using them are significantly linked to building relationships with their suppliers. This suggests that the potential of e‐auctions as a powerful procurement tool is being realised, but as yet has not been fully developed and implemented. The implications are that procurement managers should focus on developing the use of e‐auctions in a more strategic way to maximise both their effectiveness and the investment in them for the longer term.
The logistics services outsourcing dilemma: quality management and financial performance perspectives
Authors: Gotzamani Katerina , Longinidis Pantelis , Vouzas Fotis 
Published: October 2010

PurposeLogistics has become an essential service for synchronous companies. Many companies have recognized the potential benefits gained through a high quality system of logistics services, which are provided either internally or externally by a third party logistics company (3PL). The 3PL is positioned between the company and its customers, in a new‐shaped logistics triad, having a crucial role in handling end‐customer information and feedback. Thus, service quality becomes one of the most important criteria for a decision to outsource logistics services and further to select a provider. This paper aims to evaluate the dilemma to outsource logistics services and the decision to select a provider based on quality management and financial performances criteria.Design/methodology/approachA survey instrument was provided to a sample of 66 manufacturing and 3PL companies. This instrument explored quality management issues and achievements in logistics services. Statistical inference tests and cluster analysis were employed in order to test the research hypotheses which were built and reflected the basic purpose of the paper.Findings3PL providers are ahead of manufacturing companies that operate logistics departments on quality implementation and improvement issues in logistics services. Furthermore, the research proved a positive relationship between quality performance and financial performance for 3PL providers.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on a single country data. Further multi‐country studies will enable the generalization and validation of the findings.Practical implicationsThe paper helps managers evaluate the logistics outsourcing dilemma in terms of quality management and quality service. Also the paper proves the strong relationship between effective quality management and sound financial performance for 3PL providers.Originality/valueThe paper presents substantive evidence supporting: the logistics services outsourcing decision based on quality management and performance criteria, and the importance of quality as a criterion to choose a 3PL provider, based on the positive relationship between effective quality management and financial performance for 3PL providers.
Information sharing and collaboration practices in reverse logistics
Authors: Olorunniwo Festus O. , Li Xiaoming 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how the use of information technology (IT) and supply chain management initiatives (information sharing and collaboration) impact a company's performance in reverse logistics (RL).Design/methodology/approachA survey based on a previous exploratory research and literature review was sent out to 600 US companies having substantial activities in RL. Issues addressed in the survey, such as IT types deployed, IT operational attributes, information sharing, and collaboration, involve multiple parties in multi‐tier RL networks, extending beyond a simple buyer‐supplier dyad.FindingsThe results revealed that the type of IT used per se did not have a differential impact on a company's performance in RL. However, IT operational attributes positively affected RL performance and information sharing and collaboration are critical to RL performance.Practical implicationsInvestment in IT alone cannot improve a company's performance; managers should take full account of IT attributes when deciding IT in RL. IT operational attributes tend to support one another – an improvement in one would lead to improvements in the others. With no exception in RL, companies need to share information and collaborate with their partners.Originality/valueThe paper reports an empirical survey of the IT use and collaboration practices in RL, and provides insights into the relationships and impacts of IT, RL operational attributes, information sharing, and collaboration on one another as well as on RL performance.
Collaborative supply chain practices and performance: exploring the key role of information quality
Authors: Wiengarten Frank , Humphreys Paul , Cao Guangming , Fynes Brian , McKittrick Alan 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper seeks to report the results of a study examining the importance of information quality for the efficacy of collaborative supply chain practices.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was sent to procurement managers throughout the supply chain within the German automotive industry. Regression analyses illustrate the differences in performance of collaborative practices under high and low information quality scenarios.FindingsThe study illustrates that the impact of collaborative supply chain practices (i.e. information sharing, incentive alignment, joint‐decision making) on performance varies significantly depending on the quality of information that is exchanged throughout the supply chain. Specifically, whilst information sharing improves operational performance when low and high quality information is exchanged, incentive alignment and joint decision making only improve operational performance when the information is of high quality.Originality/valueAlthough research on the performance impact of collaborative supply chain practices has advanced over the past decade, there is still a scarcity of research acknowledging the multidimensional nature of collaboration. Additionally, the importance of information quality for the success of collaborative practices has not been firmly established. The paper addresses this void in the literature by reporting results of an empirical study examining collaborative supply chains and practices within the German automotive industry. The paper will thus be beneficial to supply chain managers considering collaborative practices and will support further empirical research work in the collaborative supply chain research field.
Supplier integration strategy for lean manufacturing adoption in electronic‐enabled supply chains
Authors: So Stuart , Sun Hongyi 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to formulate supplier integration strategy with the aim to eliminate Ohno's manufacturing wastes and empirically examines its influence on lean manufacturing adoption in electronic‐enabled manufacturing supply chains (EMSC).Design/methodology/approachThe proposed theoretical model is tested with the survey data obtained from 558 manufacturers in 17 countries which is stratified into two groups of small/large firms for measuring the significance of measurements.FindingsThe influential factors comprising the supplier integration strategy, i.e. information sharing, e‐business systems and policy‐based supplier selection, have positive influence on the long‐term lean manufacturing adoption in small‐ and medium‐sized firms. Besides, the results reveal that manufacturers may commit ongoing use of lean manufacturing only if it has been using regularly.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is conducted from the stand point of a manufacturing firm. Hence, the constructs are not appropriate for distributors and retailers. Besides, the concepts measured in the study can only be generalized to small‐ and medium‐sized firms.Practical implicationsImplementing supply strategy in practice requires the collaboration of manufacturers and suppliers, and manufacturers are in better position to select the suppliers in favor to the implementation of lean manufacturing in EMSC. Also, small manufacturers tend to adopt lean manufacturing along with relevant supplier integration tactics due to having less complex organizational structure.Originality/valueThere is a scarcity of papers that study the impact of supplier integration on lean manufacturing through combining practitioner's lean implementation methodology and academia's decision theory. This paper is beneficial to manufacturers who intend to revise their e‐supply strategy in coping with sustainable imitative in recessionary time.
Supply chain opportunity in an uncertain economic recovery
Authors: Olson Eric G. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to discuss opportunities that businesses have to grow their operations in a more scalable way with a higher level of investment in variable‐cost resources and assets. For most companies around the world, resources have been reduced, inventory drained, technology spending curtailed, and core processes scaled back in order to adjust to the current reality of reduced demand. In an uncertain recovery, supply chain operations need to be more scalable and flexible as they anticipate economic recovery and increase capacity. Moreover, this can be easier to achieve coming out of a severe recession.Design/methodology/approachThis work first explains why scalability and flexibility benefits are potentially easier to achieve when rebuilding supply chain operations out of a severe downturn. Second, a rationale is provided to show how a scalable and flexible supply chain mitigates multiple risks from economic uncertainty during a recovery where a more traditional fixed‐cost approach does not. Third, a four‐step approach is described that businesses can follow to identify and capture supply chain opportunities where a scalable and flexible model might be most sensible to consider.FindingsMore scalable, variable cost supply chain operations have clear advantages over more traditional cost ones, especially when the economic recovery includes a high level of uncertainty and there is a risk of reentering a renewed recessionary period. There may be no better time than now for enterprises in any industry to consider adopting a more variable cost supply chain to limit risk and capture the most revenue growth opportunity.Originality/valueThe concepts of centralization, utilizing temporary and part‐time labor, and outsourcing are certainly not new ones and many companies have already benefited from adopting these ideas in their supply chains. However, it has not been widely recognized that these same concepts pose heightened and renewed opportunity for any business across industries because of how the global recession has changed their business landscape. Since companies have already downsized labor forces, drained inventory levels, closed facilities, and cut other costs dramatically, there is a tremendous opportunity to evaluate new, more variable‐cost business models as they grow operations to meet renewed demand.
Knowledge management as an ephemeral management fashion?
Authors: Hislop Donald 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to understand how interest in the topic of knowledge management has evolved in the decade between 1998 and 2008 and to evaluate the claim that knowledge management is a management fashion.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the academic publications database to investigate academic interest in the topic of knowledge management between 2000 and 2008, and company web sites to evaluate level of contemporary interest among global consultants and professional service firms in knowledge management.FindingsThe data presented challenge the idea that knowledge management can be regarded as a transient fashion, showing that academic interest in the topic has been sustained throughout the first decade of the twenty‐first century. However, in contrast to this, there has been a significant decline of interest in knowledge management among global consultancies and professional service firms.Research limitations/implicationsThe data on levels of academic interest in knowledge management were taken from only one source (ABI Proquest) and data on the level of interest among consultants and professional service firms were based on an analysis of their web sites.Originality/valueThe paper provides the first systematic evaluation of the level of interest in the topic of knowledge management in almost a decade.