bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How does organizational structure influence performance through learning and innovation in Austria and China
Authors: Hao Qingmin , Kasper Helmut , Muehlbacher Juergen 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between organizational structure and performance, especially through organizational learning and innovation, based on evidence from Austria and China.Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature and hypothesis, a theoretical, conceptual and structural equation model is set up through a questionnaire survey and sample of about 90 Austrian and 71 Chinese samples. Partial least squares were used in the analysis and the results are tested by bootstrap methods.FindingsThe findings reinforce the important infrastructure position of organizational structure on performance. First, organizational structure has more effects on organizational learning than on innovation, organizational learning has an indirect effect on performance through innovation, except the direct effect of structure on performance. Second, managers in Austria think structure has a more important effect on performance; both managerial and technical innovation influence performance, managerial innovation is not significant in China. Austrian companies prefer structural‐oriented innovation whereas Chinese prefer learning‐oriented innovation. Third, in a hi‐technology or knowledge intensive industry, organizational structures affect organizational performance mainly through innovation and organizational learning. But in traditional industry, such as labor‐ or capital‐intensive industry, organizational structure impacts organizational performance mainly through innovation. Fourth, for younger firms, learning is important in the relationship of organizational structure with performance, but in older firms, innovation is the mediator for structure on performance. Finally, senior managers think organizational structure improves performance directly and through innovation. But the middle and junior managers think organizational learning has an important mediating effect on performance.Originality/valueThe paper shows that innovation is a more important mediating variable in the influence of organizational structure on performance. Innovation needs to be encouraged at the strategy level instead of at the implication level.
NEV technology in China
Authors: Liu Yingqi , Kokko Ari 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to identify the main determinants of the development of the neighbourhood electric vehicle (NEV) industry in China, including influences from private stakeholders as well as the government, and domestic as well as foreign interest groups. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) and the relations between the government and the SOE sector.Design/methodology/approachThe paper follows an inductive approach, and is largely based on interviews with industry actors and representatives for relevant government agencies, complemented with secondary data.FindingsThe preliminary findings suggest that unlike Western market economies, where the impact of public policy on innovation is relatively transparent and well recorded (in the form of fiscal and financial incentives and formal legislation), much of Chinese innovation is driven by less formal decisions taken in the nexus between SOEs and relevant state agencies. Hence, although China suffers no lack of legislation at various levels (including laws, decrees, and guidelines) it is often difficult to identify the specific drivers for change.Practical implicationsThe findings are useful for understanding the development of the NEV industry in China.Originality/valueThe current paper is the first application of the GIST (Governance of Innovation towards Sustainability Technology) framework to the case of the Chinese NEV industry.
Units, populations, and valid analyses
Authors: Joy Liang Chia‐Huh , Chen Hung‐Bin , Wang Ming‐Yang 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to show the need for tourism researchers to identify clearly units of observation and measurement.Design/methodology/approachUsing examples focusing on international tourism, discussion shows how terms commonly used in tourism research can be vague, ambiguous or invalid for formulating theory or analysis or for generating and presenting research results.FindingsA tourism research best practice is needed regarding identifying populations and observation and measurement units so ambiguous or invalid use of terms like person, visits, visitor and travelers does not occur and specific terms, for example, person‐visit, person‐visit‐day and party‐visit are used to communicate clearly.Originality/valueThe paper clarifies the necessity of using terms like person‐visit, person‐visit days and nuclear‐family party visit to give research clear meaning and, in some cases, to avoid propagating questionable or invalid analysis.
Family friendly policies: accommodating end‐of‐life caregivers in workplaces
Authors: Vuksan Mirjana , Williams Allison , Crooks Valorie 
Published: March 2012

PurposeFamily friendly workplace policies (FFWPs) are designed to help employees co‐manage work and personal obligations. With the rising aging population and subsequent emphasis on informal caregiving in Canada, Canadian employees will have to maintain paid work while serving as caregivers for family members at end‐of‐life (EoL). Thus, workplaces need to be prepared to accommodate these workers' requests. The objective of this paper is to explore, qualitatively, the workplace and employee characteristics that are most helpful to employees in EoL caregiving situations from an employer/human resources (HR) perspective so as to inform the development of FFWPs targeting this group.Design/methodology/approachThe authors draw on the findings of five focus group discussions undertaken in 2008 with Canadian employers and HR professionals in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.FindingsThere are clear differences in how large and small workplaces accommodate employees who are providing EoL care. For instance, larger workplaces are more likely to have set policies around employee EoL care leaves and are unable to accommodate employees' needs that fall outside the scope of these policies; smaller workplaces are less likely to have standard policies for caregiver leaves and are more able to customize responses to leave requests. Employee characteristics such as length of time working for the employer and employee skill level also have a bearing on accommodating employee EoL care leave requests. The presence of HR infrastructure, which is more characteristically found in large workplaces, is also related to the availability of formal FFWPs.Research limitations/implicationsThe fact that the data were derived from the employer/HR perspective and not those of actual employees is a limitation. The small sample size and convenience (non‐random) sampling limits the generalizability of the findings.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the limited literature on FFWPs and EoL caregiving accommodations. The findings of this study can directly inform workplace practice, both now and in the years to come, regarding how best to support workers who are also providing informal EoL care to family, friends, and others.
Supervisor support as a moderator between work schedule flexibility and job stress
Authors: Wickramasinghe Vathsala 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effect of supervisor support on the relationship between work schedule flexibility and job stress.Design/methodology/approachFor the study a survey methodology was used and 232 software developers attached to offshore outsourced software development firms responded.FindingsIt was found that supervisor support moderates the relationship between work schedule flexibility and job stress.Originality/valueThe findings of this study will provide useful information for both practitioners and academics to better understand the nature of strategies to be adopted in mitigating job stress.
Projects and organisations
Authors: Drouin Nathalie , Besner Claude 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce the papers comprising a special issue of the journal. The central theme of this special issue is “Projects and organisations: adding rungs to the ladder of understanding project management and its relationship with the organisation”. It is dedicated to research that explores and proposes different avenues to contribute to the development of the field of project management from this perspective of projects and organisations.Design/methodology/approachThe Guest Editors solicited academics and collaborators of the Project Management Research Chair at the École des sciences de la gestion, Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM). Following a call for papers, five were selected that underwent a double‐blind peer‐review process.FindingsThe five selected articles each provide unique perspectives and insights. Viewed as a set, their contributions view projects and organisations from three main perspectives: project management governance issues; management of innovative and IT projects; and processes, practices and tools. The set brings new empirical data, ideas and theoretical frameworks to bear that justify the extension of the current project management paradigm, and suggest that project management be viewed as a critical function of the organisation.Practical implicationsThe set of papers encourages scholars to continue to examine organisational concerns related to project management with the goal of explaining and enhancing important relationships among organisational phenomena and the project management field.Originality/valueBy bringing this special issue together, the Editor played an important role in adding rungs to the ladder of understanding project management and its relationship with the organisation.
Organisational project management as a function within the organisation
Authors: Aubry Monique , Sicotte Hélène , Drouin Nathalie , Vidot‐Delerue Hélène , Besner Claude 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical framework and the preliminary results from a research programme on organisational project management. It aims at exploring how organisational project management can be conceptualised as a function within the organisation.Design/methodology/approachThe methodological framework is based on a constructivist epistemology. This research programme contains two sequential phases based on a robust mixed method. The first phase of the qualitative approach, which is the focus of this paper, includes 20 interviews with executives and middle managers.FindingsThis approach is expected to be helpful in assessing the fit between organisational context, project management implementation and organisational strategy. The proposed theoretical framework draws from the exploration of organisational project management as a function. Preliminary results confirm that organisational project management can be best understood as a function within the organisation. Future research includes the second phase of this research programme based on a quantitative approach.Research limitations/implicationsThis research situates project management within the theoretical field of organisational design. It borrows from innovation literature the concept of function that serve as a foundation piece in the proposed framework, to integrate the various activities undertaken to manage multiple projects.Practical implicationsThis research provides some evidence for the organisation design that serves articulating different activities undertaken for the management of multiple projects into a coherent function throughout the organisation.Originality/valueThis research explores what organisations really do when they face the challenges of managing multiple projects while at the same time pursuing their operations. Interviews with executives and middle managers clearly justify the identification of a function dedicated to the overall project management.
Islamic banking and economic growth: the Indonesian experience
Authors: Abduh Muhamad , Azmi Omar Mohd 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the short‐run and the long‐run relationships between Islamic banking development and economic growth in the case of Indonesia.Design/methodology/approachUsing quarterly data (2003:1‐2010:2), this paper utilizes the bound testing approach of cointegration and error correction models, developed within an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework.FindingsThe results demonstrate a significant relationship in short‐run and long‐run periods between Islamic financial development and economic growth. The relationship, however, is neither Schumpeter's supply‐leading nor Robinson's demand‐following. It appears to be bi‐directional relationship.Originality/valueThis paper uses empirical evidence to show the role of Islamic banks' financing towards economic performance of a country. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the study on the role of Islamic banking development towards economic growth is limited, particularly in the context of Indonesia.
Formulating withdrawal risk and bankruptcy risk in Islamic banking
Authors: Ismal Rifki 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to formulate both withdrawal risk and bankruptcy risk to mitigate the risks and to find the equilibrium area of revenue sharing to depositors. Taking the case of the Indonesian Islamic banking industry, this work might benefit the Islamic banks, banking regulators and all stakeholders to manage the risks and maintain the robust development of the industry.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the application of revenue sharing ratio in Islamic banks is studied. Withdrawal risk might happen because of the displaced commercial risk and bankruptcy occurs when the banks fail to manage such withdrawal risk. Referring to that, by using a mathematical approach, the formulas of withdrawal risk and bankruptcy risk are created with some underlying scenarios. Finally, mathematical formula and three dimensions area of the equilibrium revenue sharing ratio are developed.FindingsThe paper generates the financial mathematical formulas to assess the vulnerable and invulnerable conditions of the withdrawal risk and the bankruptcy and solvency conditions of the bankruptcy risk to be used by decision makers to mitigate the risks. The ultimate output of the paper is the equilibrium area of the revenue sharing ratio, which locates Islamic banks in a proper condition of no withdrawal risk and bankruptcy risk.Originality/valueTo the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first paper trying to analyze the issues under the Indonesian case.
Non‐exclusive attention‐structure for inter‐organizational knowledge flow and performance of the pharmaceutical firm
Authors: Malik Tariq 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to raise an empirical question: whether a non‐exclusive licensing for a technological exchange contributes to the firm's performance better than an exclusive licensing (closed) structure.Design/methodology/approachData from 343 pharmaceutical firms were used to test effects of these exclusive versus non‐exclusive modes (attention‐structures) on inter‐firm knowledge flow and the firm's performance. Logistic regression was used to analyze the evidence.FindingsThe results revealed that the firm that used non‐exclusive licensing more than exclusive modes performs better. The performance was measured in two ways: efficiencies and returns, both on assets and on investment. It appears that non‐exclusive licensing is contributing more to the firm's overall performance than an exclusive licensing. This paper makes an argument in favour of an open attention‐structure.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to one sector; it can be extended to other industrial sectors. Modes of governance can be extended to internalization or equity investment. The study is also limited to cross‐section analysis. Temporal factors can provide better insights. Knowledge type and its scope are also likely to influence the outcome. These areas provide opportunities for future research.Practical implicationsThe study emphasises that structures may precede technologies. Therefore, relevant institutions need to be considered in favour of a non‐exclusive attention‐structure. These findings may be relevant for future research and practice or policy making.Originality/valueThis paper extends the literature by supporting the argument that the usage of knowledge can increase its value to all relevant stakeholders. It provides empirical evidence to indicate that relatively open systems are better for high technology sectors. The study is likely to provide a solution, as well as trigger contentions, in the future.
Penrose's “unused services”: a cross‐cultural perspective on growth of firms
Authors: Chen Zheng , Doyle Eleanor , Fanning Connell 
Published: March 2012

PurposePenrose introduced the concept of “unused services” which she identified as the internal inducement to firm growth. The purpose of this paper is to explore “unused services”, insufficiently examined in the literature to date, by applying Eastern conceptual thinking to refine Penrose's arguments.Design/methodology/approachThe centrality of “unused services” to Penrose's theory is highlighted. The rationale for a general propensity of entrepreneurial managers to overlook the generation of such services in practice is developed and two Chinese concepts (XingandShifromSun Tzu) are employed to work through their implications for Penrose's concept.FindingsThe continuous availability of unused services represents the firm's propensity to grow (Shi) and is derived from the disposition of existing resources (Xing). The authors' cross‐cultural perspective highlights the fundamental and inherent force governing the growth of the firm as the process through which the management team makes meaning of existing and potential productive resources to explore and exploit their unused services.Practical implicationsGreater focus is required on the relationship between a firm's physical resources and the thinking and sense‐making of its managers. The art of achieving growth from a firm's productive resources arises from the meaning‐making capability and progression in managerial thinking of the management team, facilitating its members to “see” and exploit the inherent force for growth available in unused services.Originality/valueThe paper's cross‐cultural perspective permits refinement of Penrose's theory true to her focus on the inherent incentives and constraints on firm growth. Thus, thinking is advanced in terms of exploring the dominant factor governing the identification of potential productive opportunities within firms, i.e. their source of growth. Implications for practice are provided in the research agenda.
A version of Geiringer‐like theorem for decision making in the environments with randomness and incomplete information
Authors: Mitavskiy Boris , Rowe Jonathan , Cannings Chris 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish a version of a theorem that originated from population genetics and has been later adopted in evolutionary computation theory that will lead to novel Monte‐Carlo sampling algorithms that provably increase the AI potential.Design/methodology/approachIn the current paper the authors set up a mathematical framework, state and prove a version of a Geiringer‐like theorem that is very well‐suited for the development of Mote‐Carlo sampling algorithms to cope with randomness and incomplete information to make decisions.FindingsThis work establishes an important theoretical link between classical population genetics, evolutionary computation theory and model free reinforcement learning methodology. Not only may the theory explain the success of the currently existing Monte‐Carlo tree sampling methodology, but it also leads to the development of novel Monte‐Carlo sampling techniques guided by rigorous mathematical foundation.Practical implicationsThe theoretical foundations established in the current work provide guidance for the design of powerful Monte‐Carlo sampling algorithms in model free reinforcement learning, to tackle numerous problems in computational intelligence.Originality/valueEstablishing a Geiringer‐like theorem with non‐homologous recombination was a long‐standing open problem in evolutionary computation theory. Apart from overcoming this challenge, in a mathematically elegant fashion and establishing a rather general and powerful version of the theorem, this work leads directly to the development of novel provably powerful algorithms for decision making in the environment involving randomness, hidden or incomplete information.
Receding horizon control for cooperative search of multi‐UAVs based on differential evolution
Authors: Zhao Zhenyu , Lu Guangshan 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a hybrid method of intelligent optimization algorithm and Receding Horizon Control. The method is applied to solve the problem of cooperative search of multi‐unmanned aerial vehicles (multi‐UAVs).Design/methodology/approachThe intelligent optimization of Differential Evolution (DE) makes the complex problem of multi‐UAVs cooperative search a regular function optimization problem. To meet the real‐time requirement, the idea of Receding Horizon Control is applied. An Extended Search Map based on hormone information is used to describe the uncertain environment information.FindingsSimulation results indicate effectiveness of the hybrid method in solving the problem of cooperative search for multi‐UAVs.Originality/valueThe paper presents an interesting hybrid method of DE and Receding Horizon Control for the problem of cooperative multi‐UAVs.
Support for women's entrepreneurship: a Nordic spectrum
Authors: Pettersson Katarina 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse national state support programmes for women's entrepreneurship, in the Nordic countries, from a gender perspective.Design/methodology/approachFrom an analytical gender perspective based on a combination of Mayoux's framework of paradigms in support of women's entrepreneurship, Rees' approach to gender equality and Bacchi's analysis of what the problem is represented to be, the author performs a systematic comparative analysis of the varying policy goals, underlying paradigms and approaches in state support programmes for women's entrepreneurship in the Nordic countries.FindingsThe author concludes that all Nordic countries, with the exception of Iceland, have a programme or an action plan to support women's entrepreneurship, but vary in their underlying paradigms and rationales. The author places Norway at one end of the spectrum because its policy programme is most clearly influenced by a feminist empowerment paradigm intended to transform and/or tailor the existing support system through various measures. At the other end of the spectrum is Denmark, which most clearly focuses on economic growth in line with a neo‐liberal paradigm. Between these extremes, are Sweden, Finland and Iceland. The analysis reveals that state support programmes, in the name of supporting women entrepreneurs, tend to put women in a subordinate position to men and thereby risk sustaining a male norm.Originality/valueThe paper contributes a much‐needed systematic comparative analysis of support for women's entrepreneurship in the Nordic countries. This analysis is important in order to further the discussion of how policy actors can refrain from putting women in a secondary position to men, and thus avoid sustaining a male norm in entrepreneurship support.