bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
International arbitration contract principles: analysis of Middle East perceptions
Authors: Abu Sadah Muhammad 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the main contract principles which govern the international arbitration contract with special emphasis to examine contract principle found of the Middle East, how international principles of contract are perceived in the region, and whether there are any dominant contract principles.Design/methodology/approachA general exploratory research procedure used to give a better grasp of various aspects of socio‐legal approaches. The paper seeks to create knowledge that can be used to retrieve some pressing social and organisational understanding in the said region. The first part of the paper examines the role of ethics and tradition in understanding Middle Eastern contract principles. The second part examines the impact of Islamic Law on commercial contract principles. The third section analyses the regional perception of international contract principles. Finally, the paper addresses some contemporary issues of international contracts in the Middle East.FindingsThe paper showed that the legal perceptions of international contract principles reflect regional legal thinking which has been influenced by a mixed understanding of regional traditions, Islamic contract law principles as well as Western contract principles when these principles match regional legal culture. Overall, it showed that still under such mixed understanding, there are strong regional legal traditions and these are found in Islamic contract principles and affects commercial contract experiences. In general, a significant difference still exists between modern international contract principles and those in the Middle East.Practical implicationsThe paper generates a knowledge that mixed understanding in regard to international contract arbitration principles due historical and cultural reasoning. Arab States does not share common understanding of international contract principles. Thus, it is very superfluous to propose the argument that there is sole Middle Eastern regional perception which dominates every Arab State. Therefore, special understandings and considerations should be given to every international arbitration contract from certain Arab State entity to another.Originality/valueThe paper provides a clear understanding of the guidelines for international commercial arbitration contract in the Middle East. Legal culture should be taken into consideration if a successful contract implementation has to be achieved.
Efficiency of trucks in logistics: technical efficiency and scale efficiency
Authors: Kim Taeho 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a scheme to estimate the technical efficiency of trucks engaged in logistics and to analyze the properties of efficiency. The objectives are to determine individual‐truck level technical efficiency using both radial and non‐radial measures for freight trucks, to calculate the degree of input overuse.Design/methodology/approachData envelopment analysis is employed in this paper because it does not require the assumption of the functional specification between input and output factors and also includes multiple outputs unlike stochastic frontier model. Data for empirical analysis in this paper come from a survey of truck drivers.FindingsThe result of technical efficiency estimation shows that there exists a substantial opportunity for improvement in technical efficiency of trucks engaged in logistics and also the heterogeneity in the technical efficiency among trucks based on their capacity and age. For scale efficiency, it is also possible to confirm the existence of improvement opportunity and heterogeneity among truck and that trucks with large capacity are more scale‐efficient than those with small capacity.Originality/valueThe paper analyzes the properties of technical efficiency scores of trucks engaged in logistics and finds some managerial insights which can help them improve their efficiency.
A multi‐disciplinary profile of IS/IT outsourcing research
Authors: Alsudairi Mohamed , Dwivedi Yogesh K. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeIn recent years a large number of studies have appeared on information systems (IS)/information technology (IT) outsourcing related issues but scattered in a number of distantly related publishing outlets which may hamper the use of such published resources and repetition of research conducted by various researchers. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic survey of the literature pertaining to research on IS/IT outsourcing.Design/methodology/approachThe research aim was accomplished by extracting information on a number of relevant variables by conducting a review of 315 articles on IS/IT outsourcing published between 1992 and 2008.FindingsThe analysis is presented by listing and illustrating subject category, journals, year of publications and country, frequently published authors, productive institutions, the trend of collaborative nature (co‐author analysis) of research, the impact/influence of published research; topics/research issues and utilised methods, and the challenges and limitations of existing research.Practical implicationsResults of this research may have implications for both private and public sector organizations interested in outsourcing IS/IT services and applications, and various stakeholders of academic publishing (namely, researchers, journal editors, reviewers and universities) research on IS/IT outsourcing.Originality/valueThe primary value of this paper lies in extending the understanding of evolution and patterns of outsourcing research.
A decision support system for improving performance of inventory management in a supply chain network
Authors: Beheshti Hooshang M. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThis article seeks to present a decision support model for improving supply chain performance. The model aims to provide a holistic view of the supply chain as an integrated system by analyzing inventory options to facilitate the decision‐making process by business partners in the system.Design/methodology/approachIn recent years, organizations have focused on incorporating both internal and external business activities of their supply chain into an integrated system. The goal of integration of all supply chain activities is to maximize total systems performance while minimizing costs. Literature review and professional experience in the field provided the foundation for the model development in this research.FindingsThe article demonstrates the usefulness of a decision support model in analyzing and developing a cooperative environment among supply chain members in order to reduce the cost of inventory as well as the cost of goods sold. The effects of utilizing such tools as just‐in‐time and electronic business systems are illustrated and discussed.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed model demonstrates disadvantages of individual optimization in an integrated supply chain system as well as the advantages of collaboration of supply chain members in finding the minimum cost. The model uses one manufacturer with multiple retailers and distributors. Future research in this area could expand the model to allow multiple manufacturers.Practical implicationsThe decision support model allows decision makers along the supply chain to employ a series of what‐if analyses to evaluate different scenarios with regard to lowering the cost of products reaching the consumer.Originality/valueThe model developed in this paper provides the foundation for future research as well as support for decision making when various decision makers are involved.
Insights from action research: implementing the balanced scorecard at a wind‐farm company
Authors: Schneider Roman , Vieira Rui 
Published: July 2010

PurposeAfter a diagnosis of the existing management control systems (MCS) at a wind‐farm company, the paper seeks to develop a balanced scorecard (BSC) in order to enable the organization to compress and streamline management decision making and to show what is to be taken into account for a successful implementation of this framework.Design/methodology/approachAn action research study, using Otley's performance management framework – to get a comprehensive view of MCS, identify strengths and weaknesses of the systems in place, and then develop a BSC – was conducted to the attainment of useful empirical knowledge, and to help achieve effective change within the organization.FindingsThe paper identifies the main issues related to performance measurement and presents a BSC designed for a wind‐farm company.Practical implicationsA comprehensive guide of the balanced scorecard methodology is described, including how the concept can be customized to the wind‐farm industry. The paper is especially of interest for practitioners.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper is threefold. First, the paper describes how the BSC concept can be improved through customizing the normal four perspectives, by including additional perspectives that provide awareness about stakeholders, such as suppliers, community and government. Second, the research provides practical guidelines to design a performance measurement model, considering the organization's stakeholders and the strategies to ensure that value is created for them. Finally, and for the first time, the paper provides a systematization of the key performance indicators for a wind‐farm organization.
Latin America's critical management? A liberation genealogy
Authors: Mandiola Marcela P. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to articulate the need of new approaches for what has been regarded as a critical position within management studies. Particularly it aims to explore the gap among critical management studies in considering the colonial position of Latin America within traditional (international) management influences. It seeks to raise the liberation concept and genealogically explore in order to state a geopolitical critical enunciation for Latin America within international management.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the theoretical frame of Laclau and Mouffe's Discourse Theory methodologically articulated by Glynos and Howarth to explore the antagonisms built around the liberation concept, as well as its radical possibilities in a current context in Latin America.FindingsThe paper proposes a new articulation of the liberation concept as a resistance response facing a new form of oppression within current Latin American affairs; or in other words a new form of colonization: the colonization through managerial discourses.Originality/valueThe paper's contribution lies in an original consideration of an (im)possible critical standpoint to international management from the Latin American radical tradition. Also the paper joins the novel endeavors to mobilize Discourse Theory within the boundaries of management research.
Psychological knowledge for the governance of the South
Authors: Camilo Pulido‐Martinez Hernan 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to achieve a critical understanding of the place of psychological knowledge with regard to the international regulation of the world of work. Specifically, it seeks to explore the place and operations of psychology involved in the constitution of workers as subjects in countries that do not produce this knowledge but appropriate, adapt and hybridise it.Design/methodology/approachThe transition from a “traditional” passengers transport system to a “rapid bus service” named Transmilenio is considered as a “local” focus of analysis. Working conditions and some psychological practices established in a multi‐site ethnographic study conducted within the transport system are considered to illustrate ways in which psychological knowledge contributes to the production of drivers as subjects, and to perpetuate the relationships of international subordination.FindingsThe paper establishes the particular transformations that, in terms of working conditions, frame the application of psychological knowledge. It also shows how psychological practices applied in different types of transport companies are connected to produce “traditional” workers as “the other” which has to be transformed. Finally, the psychological practices are linked to some of the global flows which aim to produce a global management at a distance”.Originality/valueEven though work psychology is a source of inspiration for management techniques, there is not much research related to the local‐global implications of its practices. Thus, this paper contributes to the understanding of the ways in which North‐Atlantic psychology operates when it is applied to work settings located in the South.
The discursive construction of decision making in interdisciplinary teams
Authors: Kure Nikolaj 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the analytical productiveness of a discursive power perspective in understanding interdisciplinary teams' inefficient decision processes, and to discuss the ethical consequences of such an approach.Design/methodology/approachBased on a case study of an interdisciplinary team in a Danish hospital, the paper analyzes the team's decision practices as a result of discursive power operations that privilege and marginalize groups and persons.FindingsThe paper shows that a discourse of equality dominates the team's decision practices. This produces a tendency among members to word observations as reflections whereas expert assessments are rendered unlikely and unwelcome. The paper demonstrates that this analysis is productive in understanding why interdisciplinary teams struggle to develop efficient decision processes. Furthermore, the paper suggests that managers should respond ethically to these discursive power operations with political interventions.Originality/valueA variety of theoretical models have been proposed to understand interdisciplinary teams' problematic decision processes. This paper makes an original contribution to this field by shoving how a discursive framework provides a productive analytical strategy. Moreover, the paper's proposition of political intervention as an ethical way of securing social sustainability is unprecedented.
Japanese business and poverty reduction
Authors: Sugawara Hideyuki 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine inspiring ideas in which Japanese companies are finding innovative ways to tap into base of the pyramid (BOP) markets to increase their profit while simultaneously reducing poverty and contributing to BOP society.Design/methodology/approachThis paper examines a potential and some issues of Japanese business in BOP market through case analysis of Yakult Honsha Co Ltd and Nihon Poly‐Glu Co Ltd.FindingsThe paper reveals that Japanese companies have a particular aptitude and strength for BOP business. The paper have three findings: Japanese company has a source of BOP business; Japanese companies have aptitude and strength for BOP business; and the time is ripe for Japanese companies to break into the BOP market.Research limitations/implicationsThere are few cases of Japanese companies which are engaging in BOP business. It could be kind of difficult to get a general result on Japanese business.Practical implicationsThis paper shows that a high potential for Japanese companies to succeed in BOP market and some issues facing Japanese companies.Originality/valueThis paper is the first which analyzed some cases of Japanese BOP business and revealed a high potential of Japanese companies for BOP business.
The impact of relationship quality on client's loyalty
Authors: Ben Naoui Feten , Zaiem Imed 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the theoretical foundation of the relationship quality concept and loyalty, and to study the relationship between relationship quality, its antecedents and loyalty.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study was conducted in the parapharmaceutical sector. Data collection was carried out through the direct administration of a questionnaire to a sample of 300 pharmacists dealing with sales representatives of the parapharmaceutical products.FindingsThe results show that there is a significant relation between the antecedents of relationship quality, namely, interpersonal communication, relational contact, conflict resolution and client‐oriented behavior, and relationship quality itself. Relationship quality has also an impact on loyalty which is accounted for positively by satisfaction, and negatively by affective conflict.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors limited the scope of the study to purifying measurement scales and testing the links between the various concepts.Practical implicationsThe paper sheds light on the action leverages that suppliers have to work on so as to improve the quality of their relation with their clients.Originality/valueCompared to most previous research works which did not go beyond the probing of antecedents of relationship quality separately, the most important contribution of the study lies in taking into account some important antecedents in the study of the influence of antecedents of relationship quality on each dimension of relationship quality.
Pharmaceutical innovation and generic challenge: recent trends and causal factors
Authors: Dubey Jayashree , Dubey Rajesh 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze the present trends in pharmaceutical innovation and the impact of generic competition.Design/methodology/approachA secondary research was conducted to collect data related to new drug approvals of various classes over previous years; trends of investment in research and development; and the pipeline of new drug products of pharmaceutical companies.FindingsWhile the new molecular entity (NME) approval rate has not improved over previous years, innovators have been aggressively pursuing the radical innovation process. Further, there has been a significant increase in incremental innovation. Pharmaceutical companies' investment in research has gone up resulting in higher number of application for new drug approvals. In India, pharmaceutical companies have significantly increased their research investment. However, the NME pipeline is still slim though there has been a significant surge in generic filings.Originality/valueIt provides a concise understanding of trends in pharmaceutical innovation and analyzes how various factors are shaping up the innovation process. It also throws light on the evolution story of Indian pharmaceutical companies to become drug innovators.
Smart thermostats: are we ready?
Authors: Daim Tugrul U. , Iskin Ibrahim 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the important product features that are to be included in smart grid devices. This will help the decision makers to prioritize the product feature implementations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a quantitative approach to determine the important product features. Data used in the model have been gathered by conducting a survey among 22 potential customers who have been living in residential areas.FindingsAlthough customers understand that a feature to respond to price signals could benefit them, they overwhelmingly prefer cost benefit that an energy demand system would provide.Originality/valueAt a time when many are rushing in to implement technologies such as demand side management and any smart devices that go with them, this paper shows that customers may have different preferences than those implementing the technologies.
Modified PROMETHEE approach for assessing energy technologies
Authors: Oberschmidt Julia , Geldermann Jutta , Ludwig Jens , Schmehl Meike 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to elaborate a multi‐criteria methodology for the performance assessment of energy supply technologies, which also takes into account the dynamics of technological change.Design/methodology/approachThe approach chosen is based on the multi‐criteria outranking methodology Preference Ranking Organisation METHod for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE), which is linked to the concept of technology's life cycle by assigning criteria weights depending on the actual development phase of a certain technology. The modifications to the PROMETHEE algorithm are described and the modified methodology is demonstrated by evaluating heat and power supply alternatives for a municipal area in Germany.FindingsThe methodology is suitable for the evaluation of energy technologies taking into account varying preferences depending on their stage of maturity. It is a feasible alternative to other methodologies which allow for interconnections like the analytic network process. The results show that, based on a multi‐criteria life cycle approach, renewable energy technologies are competitive with conventional alternatives for supplying heat and power.Practical implicationsAppropriate methods are required to elicit life cycle‐dependent preferences. Decision support should help decision makers (DMs) to articulate preferences according to different development phases and illustrate the results in the most meaningful way.Originality/valueThe methodology provides the basis for a comprehensive analysis of energy technologies at different life cycle stages. It can be used to support decision making in different situations and by various actors.
Winery visitation sets
Authors: Alant Karin , Bruwer Johan 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discern the intra‐regional visitation patterns of wine tourists. Exploratory research was conducted in two branded wine regions, to conceptualise the spatial movement of wine tourists in a theoretical construct.Design/methodology/approachInformation was obtained from a random sample of 214 visitors to 25 wineries in two branded wine regions in South Australia. Data were collected by means of face‐to‐face interviews using a highly structured questionnaire at each of the winery cellar door venues.FindingsA conceptual theory regarding winery visitation sets (VSs) was developed. Discernable spatial visitation patterns to wineries result from the dynamic interaction of visitors’ needs and the incumbent winery profiles that exist in a hierarchy within a wine region. The grouping of sequentially visited wineries in the three‐tier hierarchy form specific VSs of wineries. Winery profiles are initially determined by visitation incidence: the most visited Regional Centre Point (RCP) winery is followed by sequentially less visited regional profile (RP) wineries and a third tier of regional attribute (RA) wineries. Visitation pattern trends are identifiable and differ between first‐time and repeat visitors.Research limitations/implicationsIt is possible to detail the market segmentation of wine tourists quite accurately in terms of their psychographics and demographics and favoured visitation patterns within the branded wine region. This will also provide important insights into the balance of winery and cellar door roles in the region and confirm the “optimal” number of wineries required to fulfil the needs of the ever‐increasing numbers of wine tourists.Originality/valueThis paper is of value to academic researchers, wine industry practitioners and travel and accommodation providers alike as it provides the foundation for a conceptual theory to explain the discernable intra‐regional visitation patterns of wine tourists to the cellar doors of wineries.