bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous determination of optimal cultural distance and market potential in international market entry
Authors: Malhotra Shavin , Sivakumar K. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop and test a theoretical model of managerial decisions involving international market entry.Design/methodology/approachThe authors propose a mathematical model that seeks the optimal level of cultural distance between the host and the home country and the market potential of the host country that maximizes a firm's investment in an international market. The authors illustrate the intuition and the managerial application of the model using a large data set of cross‐border acquisitions, then the results of this data set are used to validate the model in a specific data context.FindingsThe authors find that cultural distance and market potential have curvilinear and interaction effects on the level of equity participation. The empirical results are further used to conduct sensitivity analysis of decisions for changes in parameters.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors’ general approach can be used to analyze any two variables that have interaction effect on a variable of interest related to market entry strategies.Practical implicationsThe authors illustrate the intuition and the managerial application of the model using a large data set of cross‐border acquisitions. Managers can use this approach in choosing CBA targets.Originality/valueThe study provides a mathematical framework and an empirical illustration of optimizing the cultural distance and market potential for maximizing equity participation in foreign market acquisitions. This is a new unique contribution to the literature.
Consumer ethnocentrism and willingness to buy
Authors: Josiassen Alexander , Assaf A. George , Karpen Ingo O. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to clarify how demographic consumer characteristics influence and interact with consumer ethnocentrism on willingness to buy. The authors analyze the direct effects of selected characteristics on the tendency for consumer ethnocentrism. Further, the moderating effects of these consumer characteristics are investigated.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from 361 consumers in Australia. Data analysis was conducted using regression analysis with interactions and post hoc slope analysis.FindingsThe empirical findings show that consumer tendencies for ethnocentrism are directly influenced by characteristics of the customer. The authors also find that the strength of the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism and willingness to buy is influenced by customer characteristics. Specifically, age and gender are found to be important moderators of the consumer ethnocentrism‐willingness to buy relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the study should be interpreted in view of certain limitations. For theory‐testing purposes, the study tests hypotheses in a particular context: Australian consumers. Consequently, caution is necessary in extrapolating the results to other national contexts.Practical implicationsOn the one hand, the results provide managers with a detailed understanding of which customer groups are the most consumer ethnocentric. On the other hand, the results provide an understanding of which customer groups have the strongest consumer ethnocentrism‐willingness to buy link. These findings can be used to allocate resources to marketing.Originality/valueMarketing researchers show that consumers rely on different cues and make different decisions depending on their tendency for consumer ethnocentrism. Academic research has also discovered important differences in the cognitive processes and behavior depending on demographic characteristics. However, there are competing views in the literature as to how these fundamental consumer characteristics influence and interact with consumer ethnocentrism. This study further clarifies the role of demographic consumer characteristics.
Quality function deployment and its profitability engagement: a systems thinking perspective
Authors: Zare Mehrjerdi Yahia 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe paper seeks to give some reviews of quality function deployment and by using a systems thinking perspective to show how QFD can be a useful and profit‐making tool for business decision making in general.Design/methodology/approachIn order to show that QFD is a tool that brings profit to the organization the paper has designed various loops using systems thinking perspectives and fundamentals theorems for discussion purposes and facts verification.FindingsThe task of successful product development must encompass the management commitment in giving value to the voice of the customer by using quality function deployment. This is because this quality function tool can make a significant contribution to business success through profit generation and competiveness enhancement.Practical implicationsThis research helps the pros and cons of quality function deployment in getting a better understanding and usefulness of the QFD.Original/valueThis paper helps management in getting a better understanding of the quality function deployment, its power of profit‐making and productivity enhancement and the role that systems thinking can have in better describing the problem to the middle and top management.
The economic impact of quality management systems in Portuguese certified companies
Authors: Sampaio Paulo , Saraiva Pedro , Guimarães Rodrigues António 
Published: October 2011

PurposeDespite all the studies carried out in order to analyze the impact of quality management systems implementation and certification over companies' financial performance, conclusions reached so far have been of a contradictory nature. Some authors conclude that there is a positive relationship between ISO 9001 certification and companies' financial improvement, while others do not find evidence to support such a relationship. Overall, no consistent evidence could therefore be found in the literature concerning the ISO 9001 impact over companies' business financial performance. This work aims to provide a contribution in this area.Design/methodology/approachUsing a public database of Portuguese companies' financial information, this paper describes the results obtained from studying the economic impact of quality management systems, based on a statistical analysis.FindingsThe results suggest that companies with higher financial performance do present a greater propensity to implement and certify their quality management systems. The ISO 9000 implementation motivation is a critical success factor in the impact of the quality management system over the company economic performance and, for some financial indicators, non‐certified companies do present, on average, higher performance than those that are certified.Originality/valueThis paper aims to provide an important contribution to the worldwide research related to the quality management systems impact over companies' financial performance.
On adopting quality orientation as an operations philosophy to improve business performance in banking services
Authors: Mehra Satish , Joyal Aaron D. , Rhee Munsung 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to study the impact of adopting quality orientation as a business operations philosophy to enhance a firm's performance. Specifically, it aims to identify various indicators that make up a quality orientation philosophy, and to research their role in improving business performance in the banking sector of the service industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper surveyed retail banking firms for this study, and used path analysis and structure equation modeling (SEM) to develop the study model. This model was tested to develop the process by which quality orientation philosophy, if adopted, can impact a business's performance.FindingsResults indicate that specific indicators of quality orientation, when operationalized as a business philosophy, can enhance a banking firm's performance. This study also provides an insight for managers as to the process of adopting quality orientation philosophy in their businesses.Research limitations/implicationsResearch was conducted on a specific sector of service industry: the banking sector. The relatively small size of the study sample may impact the outcome of research applicability in some large businesses. However, the research does provide valuable insights as to how other businesses can adopt quality orientation in their operations.Originality/valueThis paper examines the process by which operational activities should be designed to effect a service firm's performance by placing emphasis on the quality aspect of each indicator that comprises quality orientation. This differs from other studies in the sense that it first operationalizes quality orientation as a set of indicators, and then shows how individual indicators influence business performance.
Assessment of engineering colleges through application of the Six Sigma metrics in a State of India
Authors: Chaudhuri Debaprayag , Ranjan Mukhopadhyay Arup , Ghosh Sadhan Kumar 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to measure the current or baseline institutional performance level of the Government and private engineering colleges in the state of West Bengal.Design/methodology/approachThe study has been conducted on the basis of a survey. The feedback for this survey questionnaire has been considered independently for service providers such as administrators, faculties, other supporting staff as well as students who receive these services and are direct customers. A total of 2,168 persons have been surveyed from the 30 randomly selected colleges out of 70 colleges. The baseline or current performance level of the engineering colleges has been assessed based on the sigma level through quantification of the survey questionnaire consisting of eight enablers. Each enabler contains several questions or drivers. A total of 75 drivers have been arrived at for eight enablers. A seven‐point scale has been designed for each driver ranging from “Unsatisfactory” to “Outstanding”. To identify the weak areas for a college, the vital few drivers that correspond to “Unsatisfactory” performance have been made to take necessary remedial measures for attaining the new benchmark sigma level under the present techno‐economic set‐up.FindingsThe overall ratings (sigma levels) of engineering colleges in West Bengal range from 0.11 to 2.7, which is far away from the sigma level (4σ) of an average organization in the USA.Originality/valueThe paper is a purely original work. Instead of going by the popular perception of the Selection, Engineering and Technology, West Bengal, it is much better to categorize the colleges based on the class intervals of baseline sigma levels as demonstrated.
Applying selected quality management techniques to diagnose delivery time variability
Authors: Chapman Paul , Bernon Michael , Haggett Paul 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThis research seeks to identify and apply techniques that can be used in a supply chain context to diagnose the causes of variability in delivery lead time.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was conducted and a number of quality management (QM), techniques were selected as candidates for diagnosing delivery time variability. A case study of the application of these techniques is provided on the UK‐based defence supply chain that supported UK operations in the Iraq war of 2003.FindingsCandidate QM techniques for diagnosing delivery time variability were identified, namely: Process Chart; Histogram; Failure Mode and Effect Analysis; and Cause and Effect Analysis. These techniques were successful in enabling the diagnosis of the causes of delivery time variability in the context of the case study investigated.Practical implicationsThe work illustrates how QM techniques can be employed to address issues with supply chains, not least with regard to the important problem of variability in delivery leadtime. In practice, this highlights benefits that result to practitioners in order to improve the performance of operations in a dynamic setting, such as the defence supply chain studied here.Originality/valueThis work has value in presenting the findings of an in‐depth case study on the application of QM techniques in a multi‐echelon supply chain setting. It is also original in employing the FMEA technique together with an end‐customer perspective to assess the effect of failure modes in operations across a supply chain. FMEA also provided the means to examine supply chain risk, thus providing a research instrument for deploying risk as a lens. The application of QM techniques in this novel setting provides support for their application beyond the conventional setting of internal operations.
Attaining the Millennium Development Goals: the role of macroeconomic policies
Authors: Chowdhury Anis , Islam Iyanatul 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to shed some light on the role of macroeconomic policy‐mix in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially the goal of poverty reduction.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs descriptive approach and provides an analytical narrative of historical experience.FindingsIt is argued that macroeconomic policy‐mixes pursued by many developing countries as part of conditions to receive support from international financial institutions and the donor community have been largely restrictive. They have failed, in most cases, to generate high enough growth to have significant impacts on poverty reduction. The poverty reducing impact of growth has also been weakened by the rise in inequality due to associated policy reforms promoting market liberalization and deregulation.Practical implicationsThe paper argues in favor of using full and productive employment, which is one of the core MDGs, as the goal of macroeconomic policies.Originality/valueThe paper argues that there should be refocusing of macroeconomic policies to align with MDGs.
GNP and beyond: searching for new development indicators – a view in retrospect
Authors: Simonis Udo E. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeWorld wide, the gross national product (GNP) has been and still is the basic accounting concept and the dominant societal goal and performance indicator. As the concept is full of flaws and deficiencies, national and international committees are searching for alternatives. A view in retrospect may help in this search. The purpose of this paper is to present such a view in retrospect, by looking at the early attempts made to get out of the impasse and to break the deadlock of outmoded concepts.Design/methodology/approachThis paper deliberately looks at the early attempts made to get out of the impasse of the flawed GNP concept, and to improve and extend traditional accounting. Several of these early attempts are presented in some detail.FindingsBoth the “Growth and Distribution Index” and the “Net National Welfare Index” were useful conceptual innovations. Over time, however, they got lost or were forgotten. The time has come to reactivate such initiatives or to start and implement similar ones.Practical implicationsThe traditional GNP concept neglects significant distributive and environmental effects of economic growth. The time has come to either supplement or replace the concept – to go beyond GNP.Originality/valueThe conceptual deficiencies of the traditional GNP concept are on the agenda again. A view in retrospect – as presented in this paper – could help, so that in due course a breakthrough becomes possible in the search for new development indicators.
Does merger structure matter?
Authors: Qing Hao Grace , Howe John S. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeA friendly merger can be structured as a one‐step transaction or a two‐step transaction. For a variety of reasons, such as the fast speed with which two‐step mergers are completed, there are concerns about whether target shareholders are disadvantaged by this structure in comparison with one‐step mergers. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of the two types of merger structures from the shareholder point of view.Design/methodology/approachIn order to compare the shareholder wealth effects of merger structure, the authors control for deal and firm characteristics and the endogenous nature of the choice of transaction form. Specifically, the authors follow the literature to use a switching regression framework with endogenous switching to address endogeneity.FindingsNo evidence was found of detrimental effects of two‐step mergers on target shareholders. The findings suggest that at least some one‐step mergers could benefit from using the two‐step structure. The authors provide several explanations for the continued use of one‐step mergers.Originality/valueAlthough there is some literature on freeze outs of minority shareholders, no one has examined two‐step mergers in comparison with one‐step mergers. The paper's results will be valuable to corporate managers, M&A advisors, regulators, and policy makers.
Systemic risk and competition in OTC derivatives dealing: evidence from client failures
Authors: Emm Ekaterina E. , Ince Ufuk 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of systemic risk and competition in over‐the‐counter (OTC) derivatives dealing. Using derivatives‐related failures during the 1990s, the authors draw conclusions that are pertinent to the recent financial market turmoil involving OTC derivatives.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the event‐study methodology with crude dependence adjustment to examine the wealth effect for the involved derivatives dealers. The authors re‐estimate the parameters using the market‐adjusted model to check for robustness. In addition, a multivariable regression framework was used to estimate the determinants of the abnormal returns.FindingsOTC derivatives dealers experience negative returns when their clients announce derivatives losses. In contrast, rival dealers uninvolved in the loss event exhibit positive returns. The extent of the positive returns for the rival dealers grows as new events unfold, and the dealers continue to steer clear of derivatives trouble. A broader industry portfolio of securities brokers, dealers, and advisors is affected negatively, indicating possible industry contagion. The cross‐sectional analysis of the abnormal returns indicates the presence of information (and not pure) contagion implying that in a financial crisis involving derivatives systemic failure is not likely.Originality/valueThe authors extend the literature by examining an exhaustive set of derivatives loss events. The sample includes a more diverse set of derivatives dealers and it spans a longer time period than prior studies did. This is also the first study confirming the distorting impact of the “too big to fail” and “federal safety net” phenomena in the context of OTC derivatives dealing.
An introduction to Google Plus
Authors: Elson Anderson Katie , Still Julie M. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to Google's new service, Google+.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides general descriptions of the elements of Google+.FindingsThe paper explores the potential for the use of Google+ by librarians.Originality/valueGoogle+ is a new service that is already being looked at and used by librarians. This paper provides brief descriptions of the elements of Google+, as well as helpful tips on how to find other librarians, to gain the most potential out of this service.
Technical skills for new digital librarians
Authors: Tzoc Elías , Millard John 
Published: October 2011

PurposeAs libraries, museums, and research institutions continue to work on historical digital collections for their digital repositories, there is always a need to either hire or train digital librarians and they are expected to bring or learn a set of technical skills that can help these institutions keep up with the current trends of web technology. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current technical skills being sought for digital librarian positions, as well as provide a basic exploration of the list of technical courses offered by major library school programs in 2010.Design/methodology/approachA twofold data collection methodology was developed that compared the required and desired technical skills as expressed in 43 positions announcements from January to December 2010 and the technical courses offered in 2010 at selected library programs listed on the top schools, as identified by the 2009 US News and World Report ranking. A common set of categories was developed to account for variations in wording and specific implementations of a technology.FindingsThis study reveals that current students and practicing librarians need to seek out additional non‐curricular opportunities to build competency in the technical areas represented in the study. Fortunately, the areas where the greatest disparity exists are also areas where significant opportunities for independent learning are available.Originality/valueThis paper can be useful for library students or practicing librarians who are interested in acquiring new technical skills. The results can also help library administrators when hiring new librarians for digital and technical departments.
Free electronic books and weeding
Authors: Steele Kirstin 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose is to explore using databases of freely available electronic books as part of a library's collection.Design/methodology/approachThe paper considered whether expensive discovery services, an OCLC product, or an open source product would be practical alternatives to the current labor‐intensive system used.FindingsAn open source product introduced in 2010 called GIST Gift and Deselection Manager (GDM) appears to fit the author's needs nearly exactly.Research limitations/implicationsSince earlier Getting It System Toolkit (GIST) workflow products have a proven track record, the author would expect library students and practitioners to also experiment with the Gift and Deselection Manager.Practical implicationsAll can start using GDM anytime when they are ready, without spending any money.Social implicationsThe paper highlights an open source workflow option.Originality/valueThe paper notes that the Gift and Deselection Manager was released on August 16, 2010, an event of which some library professionals might not be aware.
Digital books and the salvation of academic publishing
Authors: Cross Roger L. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe paper seeks to propose that librarians act to ensure the continued existence of small, specialized, and non‐profit publishers as avenues of intellectual and academic discourse in an era of growing publishing monopolies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the profitability of commercial publishers and their plans for expansion in the digital book market, and contrasts this with the continued financial hardships of public‐welfare academic publishers.FindingsThe problems for non‐profit academic publishers will not be solved by simply “going digital”.Practical implicationsLibrarians need to exclude small academic publishers from further burdening through collective collection development.Originality/valueThe paper reviews developments in digital book publication from the perspective of a 1997 conference on the “crisis” in academic publishing with current business practices and expansions by large publishing houses.