bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitigation of risks due to service provider behavior in offshore software development
Authors: Mathew Saji K. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeAlthough risks and client‐vendor relationships in IT outsourcing have been studied in prior research, there is a paucity of studies providing insights on the mitigation of client risks through the relationship. This research aims to focus on mitigation of the ex post risks of firms engaged in offshore software development (OSD). Client risks due to service provider behavior are identified first. Further, this work seeks to identify relationship variables that could reduce the impact of determinants of risk on a risk category.Design/methodology/approachThis research followed a multiple case study method aiming to build insights and directions that would facilitate further research. The paper's goal of sampling was to choose cases which were likely to extend the emergent theory pertaining to risks and their mitigation through relationships.FindingsFindings from this study show that shirking, loss of control over information assets, and service provider lock‐in are the three categories of ex post risks. A relationship management strategy ensuring reasonable profits to the vendor could mitigate shirking risk. Trustworthiness of vendors established through credibility and benevolence in prior engagements could mitigate the risk of loss of control over information assets. Further, dependence balancing through a multi‐vendor offshoring strategy and joint investments in relationship‐specific assets could mitigate the risk of service provider lock‐in.Practical implicationsThe findings from this research provide useful insights in vendor selection and management process.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the growing body of literature in offshore IT outsourcing and makes two significant contributions: identification and categorization of risks due to vendor behavior and their determinants in OSD; and understanding the role of relationship dimension in mitigating such risks in OSD.
Brand, business mix, sense‐of‐place: do they matter downtown?
Authors: Sneed Christopher T. , Runyan Rodney , Swinney Jane L. , Lim Hee‐Jin 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis study aims to examine the extent to which consumers' perceptions of their downtown's brand identity (composed of image and positioning), business mix, and sense‐of‐place predict consumers' intention to patronize downtown.Design/methodology/approachA survey of residents (n=836) from four communities in Michigan and four communities in Oklahoma was conducted. The survey included scales measuring brand identity, business mix, sense‐of‐place, and patronage intention.FindingsPositioning, image, and business mix are significant, positive predictors of consumer patronage intentions downtown. Sense‐of‐place, however, has a significant, negative effect on patronage intention.Research limitations/implicationsThough limited to eight communities in two states, this study does broaden the research in place branding by examining consumers' perceptions of location as a brand and the influence of those perceptions on patronage intentions. Validity for scales measuring brand identity, business mix, and sense‐of‐place is provided. The study provides a springboard for additional downtown branding research.Practical implicationsThe negative effect of sense‐of‐place on patronage intention is troubling, indicating that a downtown which pays too much attention to preservation, walkability, etc. and not enough to brand image and business mix may suffer.Originality/valueDespite renewed focus on retailing downtown, there exists a paucity of research examining how consumers perceive their downtown. Of the current literature, most is narrowly focused in examining consumers' perceptions in limited domains. This study seeks to broaden the research literature by ascertaining consumers' perceptions of downtown in three areas – brand identity, business mix, and sense‐of‐place.
Exploring infrastructure procurement by Australian state governments
Authors: Staples Warren J. , Dalrymple John F. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on a research thesis that explores how Australian state government agencies procure infrastructure projects and the extent to which they view the procurement process as an opportunity to deliver more than just a physical facility. The primary purpose of this study was to understand the practice of construction project procurement by project managers on behalf of Australian state government agencies and to explore the creation of public value through procurement.Design/methodology/approachThis thesis presents results drawn from ten case studies of state government organisations that procure infrastructure; either roads or buildings. A total of 37 highly experienced project managers operationally responsible for the procurement of infrastructure within these organisations were interviewed.FindingsThe findings show that there is considerable scope for improving infrastructure procurement by Australian state governments and that broader public value creation approaches in the form of policy by‐products are either not considered or inconsistently pursued.Practical implicationsThe broader policy implications flowing from the research findings provide valuable commentary that inform the practice of infrastructure procurement and point to areas to which improvement efforts may be directed. These areas include the challenge of developing the next generation of infrastructure procurement managers, applying non‐price criteria in a rigorous way, using prequalification registers to engage in supplier development and delivering policy by‐products as part of standard procurement approaches.Originality/valueThis thesis presents qualitative data focused on the perspective of procurement professionals, a group who have, hitherto, been somewhat underrepresented in the literature.
On a new philosophy of project management
Authors: Jonathan Whitty Stephen 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an overview of a completed doctoral thesis that focuses on the application of evolutionary theory to various aspects of project management.Design/methodology/approachGenerally speaking the methods of research are founded on the epistemological framework of co‐evolution which regards human values, preferences, artefacts, and behaviours as evolutionary adaptations in the same way one would regard bipedal walking. A conceptual evolutionary (memetic) framework is developed to explore the prevalence of project management concepts, practices, and artefacts in a Darwinian manner.FindingsThe findings of this thesis can be summarised by saying; that we are hardwired for project management as our behaviours and artefacts are encoded across our biology and our culture; that some are drawn to aspects of project management because they get an emotional fix from it; that modern project management is not founded on evidence‐based practices, rather it has evolved the way it has for reasons other than that it leads to successful project delivery; that aspects of modern project management reflect the morals and values of our largely Judaeo‐Christian culture; and that the various concepts, practices, and artefacts of project management are loaded with local meanings which are selected and passed on to others.Practical implicationsThis thesis makes a contribution to the field by developing a new philosophy of project management that is concerned with raising questions, with the assistance of an evolutionary framework, about how one should consider projects and project management, why various concepts, practices and artefacts are more prevalent than others, what are their essential natures and how they are being adapted, and how we might go about progressing project management into the future.Originality/valueThis thesis proposes and advances an evolutionary framework for project management research.
Women's retirement meanings: context, changes, and organizational lessons
Authors: August Rachel A. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to identify the meanings associated with retirement for a longitudinal sample of women immediately prior to and following their official retirement. Contextual factors which shape those meanings are also described.Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth interviews, based on a series of interview guides were conducted with a sample of 14 women in their pre‐ and post‐retirement years. The data were coded using a grounded theory approach and typology classification schemes.FindingsRetirement was alternately conceptualized as a new period of life affording freedoms and growth, as a natural final phase, as a frightening period due to losses, and/or as a pinnacle of accomplishment or relief. The contextual influences of family, friends, and unique attributes of one's profession (e.g. having jobs with transferrable skills and/or having physically demanding jobs) help create meanings. Finally, meanings were found to shift over time in concert with changing contexts.Research limitations/implicationsWomen have a wide range of responses to their own retirement. The stereotype that they will easily replace the work role with family and/or household roles does not hold for all.Practical implicationsBy truly understanding the particulars of each employee's situation, managers can assist employees in the transition into retirement such that it is a smooth one. Managers might also be able to more immediately identify employees, who would be willing to return to the organization in a consulting or short‐term capacity following retirement.Originality/valueThe longitudinal data offers a unique vantage point, such that meanings can be traced over time in a way that has not yet been documented in empirical work.
Examining the link between enforcement activity and corporate compliance by Australian companies and the implications for regulators
Authors: Zubcic Joseph , Sims Robert 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between enforcement and compliance and to report on the results of an empirical study that assesses the impact of enforcement action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on the subsequent compliance by violators.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an extensive literature review, a sample of 50 similar complaints made to ASIC during the 2005/2006 financial year, were selected and grouped into two samples. The first sample, described as the enforcement sample, comprised of complaints that had been resourced for investigation by ASIC, and the second sample, described as the non‐enforcement sample, comprised of complaints that had not been resourced for investigation. An analysis was conducted to compare how many subsequent complaints had been received by ASIC in the following three years against members of the two samples.FindingsThe empirical evidence of the decrease in subsequent complaints against corporate violators subject to enforcement action clearly supports the argument that enforcement action does have an impact on corporate compliance of those violators. However, it has to be acknowledged that differences in rates of subsequent violation still do not guarantee that there is a cause and effect relationship between compliance and enforcement, as it is possible enforcement action may have resulted in violators becoming better at avoiding detection and complaint.Research limitations/implicationsThe samples were limited to complaints identified in the 2005/2006 year and only taken from two of ASIC's five regulatory categories, so caution is required when interpreting and making generalisations from the results. Only three years of subsequent complaints were examined so the study was limited to the examination of relatively short‐term effects of enforcement action.Practical implicationsCorporate regulators such as ASIC now need to obtain and examine qualitative data from violators and potential violators to gain insights into their actions and motivations after investigation and enforcement actions. This may enable regulators to better understand the impact on violators themselves and the extent to which media reporting of enforcement action may have a demonstration effect on potential violators.Originality/valueThe paper provides valuable empirical evidence of the influence of enforcement on compliance, which should be of interest to corporate regulators and those interested in regulation and corporate governance.
TQM journey of an Indian milk‐producing cooperative
Authors: Trehan Manish , Kapoor Vijay 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to focus on the TQM journey of MilkFed, a major milk‐producing cooperative in the state of Punjab in Northern India. It aims to demonstrate how TQM principles have been used to create an organisation‐wide environment of continuous improvement in a cooperative sector organisation that spread into tradition and ways of doing business in spite of facing numerous challenges.Design/methodology/approachMilkFed hired Punjab Technical University's School of TQM and Entrepreneurship (PGSTE) to create an organisation‐wide system of continuous improvement. PGSTE consultants prepared a road‐map for TQM implementation. In the first phase, 14 teams comprising 76 senior/middle level executives (one team from each of Milkfed's 14 plants/units) were trained in the structured application of TQM principles and the project‐by‐project improvement through a series of workshops. Each team implemented an improvement project, which was facilitated by the consultants.FindingsMilkFed has saved USD 0.89 million per annum which amounted to more than 25 per cent of its net profit. There is a tremendous scope for multiplying the gains through horizontal deployment of learning across various plants and units. Intangible benefits included transformation in attitude of employees, creation of team culture, breakdown of departmental silos and tremendous improvement in labour‐management relations.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that the project‐by‐project approach used in conjunction with the basic 7 QC tools is an excellent approach for building a culture of continuous improvement. It has many important lessons for organisations, which are starting their quality improvement journey.
Strategic positioning and quality determinants in banking service
Authors: Camgöz Akdag Hatice , Zineldin Mosad 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to investigate and define the competitive positioning of banks including state‐owned, domestic and foreign banks operating in Istanbul, Turkey. The aim is to check the competitive marketplace and to identify the major quality attributes, which bankers themselves and their customers used in determining the overall perception of a given bank and services offered.Design/methodology/approachThe investigation was held in Istanbul, Turkey. In total, 30 banks were included in the research, which includes state‐owned, local and foreign‐owned banks. A total of 1,530 questionnaires were submitted, answers collected and analyzed. Reliability test and frequency analysis were used to analyze the data.FindingsFrom the banks' customers' point of view, determinants relating to functional quality or how the customers wish to receive banking services became evident. It also became clear that customers of banks are not fully receiving what they want or need and their expectations, especially on the most important attributes of quality, are not being met.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey showed how the banks were selected and including their employees in relation to the other competitors' banks in the Turkish banking industry.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates an integrated technology, use of staff talent and streamlined operations that respond to customer needs and encourage customers to use the whole range of banking products/services rather than only a few as the end game. The results were used by bank staff later on to reengineer and redesign creatively their positioning strategy and the future direction for creating more effective quality strategies.
The impact of FDI on air quality: evidence from China
Authors: Kirkulak Berna , Qiu Bin , Yin Wei 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the impact of foreign direct investments (FDI) on air pollution in China using 286 cities from 2001 to 2007. It is a particular interest of this paper to observe the relationship between FDI and air pollution in particular after China joined to World Trade Organization in 2001. This paper provides a better understanding of economic growth and foreign investment while maintaining a sustainable environment. In order to achieve this task, this paper tests whether or not FDI inflow has impact on environmental deterioration in particular on air quality.Design/methodology/approachSince the data are both cross‐sectional and time series, panel data analyses (fixed effects and random effects) were applied. In order to detect the presence of serial correlation of error term, Durbin‐Watson test was used. As serial correlation problem was determined, generalized least square (GLS) using Ar(1) model was used to overcome serial correlation.FindingsThe findings show that FDI has no negative impact on the air quality in China. Contrary to expectations, the presence of FDI reduces the air pollution. This result can be attributed by the role of FDIs in the economy that FDIs are perceived as main sources of advanced technology in China. One of the striking findings of the paper shows that FDI has no significant impact on air quality in the central and western cities. The reason is that low level of FDI inflows to cities located in the Center and West. The findings are robust under both panel data (fixed effects and random effects) and GLS estimations.Practical implicationsThe results provide a wide array of information useful to practitioners, policy makers. Since the paper shows that FDI has no negative impact on the air quality, this result is crucial in attracting FDI to China.Originality/valueThis paper provides the largest sample including 286 cities all over China from 2001 to 2007. Considering the distribution of FDI across China, the sample is divided into three regions. Making sub‐samples of the FDI distribution allowed us to examine how the impact of FDI differs on air quality in the East, Central and West regions.
Estimating a modified nonlinear Hicks model: evidence from the Chinese economy (1970‐2007)
Authors: Michaelides Panayotis G. , Belegri‐Roboli Athena , Arapis Gerasimos 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a non‐linear Hicks model of the cycle, based on Keynesian theory and economic dynamics.Design/methodology/approachUsing the proposed approach, the paper puts forward a simple method for its empirical estimation based on nonlinear least squares and other relevant techniques.FindingsAn example is given to prove the feasibility and the increased validity of the non‐linear dynamic Hicks model. Analytically, an empirical application for the Chinese economy (1970‐2007) demonstrates the almost ideal performance of the modified model and of the proposed method.Research limitations/implicationsIf research is reported on in the paper, this section must be completed and should include suggestions for future research and any identified limitations in the research process.Practical implicationsWhat outcomes and implications for practice, applications and consequences are identified? Not all papers will have practical implications but most will. What changes to practice should be made as a result of this research/paper?Social implicationsWhat will be the impact on society of this research? How will it influence public attitudes? How will it influence (corporate) social responsibility or environmental issues? How could it inform public or industry policy? How might it affect quality of life? Not all papers will have social implications.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, there has not been any attempt in the literature to formally estimate the famous nonlinear Hicks model of the cycle because of a lack of the appropriate methodology.
Does financial outreach engender economic growth? Evidence from Indian states
Authors: Ghosh Saibal 
Published: July 2011

PurposeEmploying data on 14 major Indian states during 1973‐2004, this paper aims to investigate the hypothesis that economic growth is affected by financial outreach.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs univariate tests as well as advanced panel regression techniques to examine whether financial outreach matters for state‐level economic growth.FindingsThe analysis suggests that improvements in financial outreach led to a perceptible rise in per capita growth. In terms of magnitudes, a rise in demographic outreach by 10 percent raises state per capita growth by 0.3 percent; in case of geographic outreach, the increase is lower. Finally, the analysis supports the hypotheses that states with higher manufacturing share tend to grow faster and the quality of state‐level institutions and infrastructure exert a significant bearing on growth.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the definitions of financial outreach are based on international best practice, they focus only on banks and are driven by the availability of data on relevant variables.Practical implicationsThe article belongs to the broad strand of literature which examines the finance‐growth nexus.Social implicationsFinancial outreach is presently an avowed objective of policymakers, both in India and elsewhere. The article examines which sets of economic/policy variables impact financial outreach. The analysis can provide policymakers with feedback as regards the feasibility of the strategies pursued to improve financial outreach and thereby, how best to redesign and fine‐tune them.Originality/valueTo the author's knowledge, this is presumably the first study in India to examine the financial outreach‐growth nexus in a systematic manner at the sub‐national level.
The triple helix: science, technology and the entrepreneurial spirit
Authors: Etzkowitz Henry 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to outline the triple‐helix model of university‐industry‐government interactions and its contribution to entrepreneurship, and economic and social development.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws upon international case studies and interviews to delineate the development of the triple‐helix model and entrepreneurship.FindingsRelationships freely entered into among universities, industry, and government to translate scientific research into economic and social development, go beyond the received practices of both capitalism and socialism. Industry and government have been the two‐leading spheres of modern society since the eighteenth century. The university plays an enhanced role in creating new platforms for economic and social development in the transition to a knowledge‐based society. This new role for the university, sometimes called the “third mission” does not take place in isolation. Fundamental change at the organizational and institutional levels within and between university, industry, and government constitute a new innovation environment, based on science, technology, and a culture of entrepreneurial initiative.Originality/valueThe paper shows the stages and phases of development of the triple‐helix interactions.