bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Similarities and divergences: comparison of social enterprises in Hong Kong and Taiwan
Authors: Chan Kam‐Tong , Kuan Yu‐Yuan , Wang Shu‐Twu 
Published: July 2011

PurposeOn the basis of a survey conducted in 2010,the purpose of this paper is to discuss the latest developments of social enterprises in Hong Kong and Taiwan by analysing the typology and nature of social enterprises in these two regions, their operating context, and their perceived social impacts. The institutional context and governmental policies appear to have had a great influence on the development of social enterprise in both these Chinese communities.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through a survey conducted in both Hong Kong and Taiwan in 2010. A total of 116 completed questionnaires (return rate: 27.2 per cent) in Taiwan and 45 completed questionnaires (return rate 53.0 per cent) in Hong Kong were received.FindingsSocial enterprises in Hong Kong and Taiwan are in a “growth stage”, and they are becoming more diversified in both regions. Solving the problem of unemployment and alleviating poverty appear to be two major reasons pursued by NPOs when they set up a social enterprise. In addition, the analysis also revealed that the significance of social enterprises for helping marginal groups is increasingly recognised and that self‐reliance is very much emphasised in both regions. Beside these similarities, there are also great differences between social enterprises in the two regions, be it in terms of respective importance, institutional context, marketing strategies or government policies.Originality/valueBy tracking the growth and development of social enterprises in Hong Kong and Taiwan from 2006 to 2010, this paper attempts to analyse the similarities and diversities of social enterprises in these two Chinese communities. It also attempts to shed light on the impacts of the institutional context and the governmental policies on shaping the future development of social enterprises.
Japanese social enterprises: major contemporary issues and key challenges
Authors: Laratta Rosario , Nakagawa Sachiko , Sakurai Masanari 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the emergence of social enterprise in Japan by looking at the predominant types of social enterprise in the country, their industries and target groups, their challenges and strength.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts an analytical approach, building on previous work; it is grounded on the social construction theory, which has the advantage of apprehending social phenomena from different viewpoints.FindingsThe study identifies three different conceptual approaches to explain the emergence of social enterprise in Japan. It then demonstrates that there exists a link between the approaches identified and the emerging social enterprise types in the country. Furthermore, it discusses the strategies used by those emerging social enterprise types in choosing their particular legal forms (in the absence of a specific legal form for social enterprise in Japan) and shows how this choice is normally determined by the constraints associated with those organisational forms. From this perspective, the paper outlines the major contemporary issues affecting social enterprises in Japan and focuses on two key challenges: the systems of regulation and the financial viability. In discussing the financial challenge it presents the dual attitude of the Japanese government towards the development of the social enterprise sector.Originality/valueThis paper builds up the theoretical foundations for the understanding of the social enterprise sector in Japan and it will stimulate further researches on the future development of the sector.
Social enterprise in South Korea: history and diversity
Authors: Bidet Eric , Eum Hyung‐Sik 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to deal with the history and main features of social enterprises in South Korea, where a specific legal framework was enacted in 2006.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis emphasises an economic sociological approach mixing economic considerations, political features and social aspects. The mobilised information comes from previous works realised by the authors on that topic as well as from updated statistics and data about policies, laws and regulations.FindingsThe study underlines that the emergence of social enterprises in South Korea was rooted in civil society and citizens' movements before it became a priority on the government's agenda. The result is the co‐existence of several forms of social enterprise with distinctive features: social enterprises certified by the official label, on the one hand, and de facto social enterprises, defined as such because of their practices, goals and values, on the other hand. Such a situation generates a growing tension between the priorities and values emphasised by the political sphere and by the civil society.Research limitations/implicationsSocial enterprise is an emerging field of interest and a recent phenomenon, constantly in progress; consequently, systematic data on the field are still lacking, and researchers do not have enough hindsight to learn definitive lessons and draw broad conclusions of statistical significance.Originality/valueThe paper sheds light on a phenomenon that is multi‐dimensional and is rapidly evolving. It provides a better comprehension of South Korean political choices and socio‐economic changes and can help to anticipate future evolutions and to shape related policies to deal with work integration and the promotion of welfare‐mix in the field of social services provision. It also brings information and learning for cross‐country comparative studies.
Bias, history, and the Protestant Work Ethic
Authors: Smith Virgil O. , Smith Yvonne S. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe Protestant Work Ethic (PWE) is an important construct for management theorists. However, there appear to be biases and distortions in the way it is used in research. This paper aims to discuss the issues of assumptions involving the PWE, thus addressing this gap in the management literature.Design/methodology/approachThe management literature distorts the PWE in three ways. First, though there are multiple work ethics, researchers largely focus on this one. This paper examines work‐ethics research and language in various management fields. Second, the construct has been developed within limited philosophical perspectives. This is tested by comparing work histories. Third, the historic documents are investigated and it is argued that the PWE is not Protestant.FindingsThere is evidence of bias in the management literature concerning the PWE. Though there are many work values, management research is dominated by the PWE. Luther's and Calvin's writings indicate that their essential views on work are the opposite of Webers' formulation of the PWE. However, the views of Marx and Engels on work echo the PWE.Research limitations/implicationsIf a basic assumption is distorted, research utilizing this assumption is suspect. The PWE is an important construct in several management disciplines. Bias in construct assumptions can result in inaccurate measurements and results.Practical implicationsResearchers must constantly be aware of possible personal bias, particularly regarding key constructs. Scholars should regularly examine assumptions in their discipline. The history of a discipline can greatly assist this examination.Originality/valueThis is one of the few examinations of the assumptions behind a key construct in the management literature, the PWE. There are strong indications that distortions about the PWE have been reified.
The ideology of executive bonuses: an historical perspective
Authors: Spector Bert , Spital Francis C. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to add historical perspective to the contemporary debate concerning the efficacy of executive bonuses. That debate has become particularly significant in the USA as a result of the recent economic collapse and the federal government's Troubled Asset Relief Program, turning the government – at least temporarily – into a shareholder of numerous companies.Design/methodology/approachThe article is primarily an intellectual history of an idea: that executive bonuses are required to achieve top performance. The main primary source is two sets of articles from theHarvard Business Reviewfrom the 1930s and the 1950s. These are supplemented by other primarily and secondary material.FindingsArch Patton, a McKinsey Consultant and the most published author in theHarvard Business Reviewduring the 1950s, constructed a defense of executive bonuses based on ideology rather than empirical evidence.Social implicationsConstituents of the current debate on executive bonuses should be aware of the degree to which statements of support for efficacy are often presented as universally and exclusively correct which may result in distortion and concealment of real interests.Originality/valueDespite the ubiquity of executive bonuses, no study has looked at the historical roots of the debate. Agency theory, which is presented as a rational and legitimate argument in favor of such bonuses, fails to address the historical context in which bonuses actually took root in corporate America.
Optimizing health care employees' newly learned leadership behaviors
Authors: Snell Anita J. , Dickson Graham 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this qualitative research study is to gain an understanding of the workplace experiences of individuals, employed in health care organizations, a few months after taking leadership development programming, as they endeavor to put into practice the concepts, ideas, and skills they acquired as part of their leadership development programs.Design/methodology/approachFour providers of leadership development programs in the health care arena canvassed their recent “graduates” to participate in the study. A total of 54 participant telephone interviews were transcribed and inductively analyzed.FindingsDespite the range of leadership development programs attended, participants were consistent in their enthusiasm for the uptake of leadership knowledge, and the organizations for which they worked were largely consistent in their facilitation of the participants' leadership efforts when they returned to work. Organizational factors that support or impede the practice of effective leadership, and strategies to facilitate supportive organizational responses to aspiring leaders, were identified.Research limitations/implicationsThis study cites benefits realized by health care organizations when participants of leadership development programs return to their workplaces; such benefits are based on the participants' self‐report only. Future research could gain third‐party corroboration concerning specific organizational impacts related to employees attending leadership development programs.Practical implicationsThere are many practices organizations can implement to ensure that full value is realized from employees who have attended leadership development programs. This study provides organizations with qualitative evidence of what supports and hinders employees in practicing newly learned leadership behaviors.Originality/valueLittle qualitative research exists that provides an overview of the workplace leadership experiences of individuals after taking leadership development programs.
The influence of empowering leadership, empowerment and engagement on affective commitment and turnover intentions in community health service workers
Authors: Albrecht Simon L. , Andreetta Manuela 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis study seeks to extend research on the relationship between empowering leadership, empowerment and outcome variables by examining the mediating role of employee engagement. More specifically, the study sets out to test whether employee engagement mediates the effects of empowering leadership and empowerment on affective commitment and turnover intention.Design/methodology/approachThe sample on which conclusions are based consisted of 139 employees of a community health service. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equations modelling (SEM) were used to test the measurement and structural models proposed.FindingsCFA showed acceptable fit indices for the measurement model after respecifying a reduced number of items for the explanatory variables. Structural equations modelling of a respecified model also yielded acceptable fit indices and showed that empowerment mediated the influence of empowering leadership on engagement. Engagement was shown to partially mediate the influence of empowerment on affective commitment, which in turn influenced turnover intentions.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of cross‐sectional self‐report data suggests the need to replicate the findings in a longitudinal design with additional samples.Practical implicationsResults are discussed in terms of the importance of training and development initiatives aimed at promoting empowering leadership, empowerment and engagement in health service contexts. The results will be of interest to practitioners and researchers.Originality/valueThe research provides new insights in to the relationships between empowering leadership, empowerment, engagement, affective commitment and turnover intentions in health service contexts.
Has marketing come full circle? Demarketing for sustainability
Authors: Sodhi Kamaljit 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe increasing emphasis on sustainable practices requires innovative strategies and responses from the marketer. The fundamental purpose of marketing is re‐viewed in the light of growing demands for quality of life and the sustainability of resource use, and responsibility to society for the actions and effects of firms.Design/methodology/approachThe discipline of marketing assumes its importance from establishing an interface with the consumer and the society at large. The idea of growth and increasing demand is implicit in marketing. The growing recognition of a fundamentally resource‐constrained environment requires a much guarded response from the marketer. Faced with the current situation of depleting resources, an ambience of increasing sensitivity to environmental issues and increasing demand of the consumer for a safer planet, how will the marketer justify pushing the product through the pipeline and on to the consumer? In the future it is reasonable to expect marketing processes to create or maintain demand and marketing to ration or reduce demand. The present study is an attempt to understand how demarketing may be used to further the sustainability agenda. It is an in‐depth review of literature has been undertaken to establish linkages between demarketing and sustainability.FindingsThe possibility of using demarketing as a marketer's response to sustainability concerns is clearly established and areas of further research are highlighted.Originality/valueThe paper opens up the debate on a subject that is clearly going to be high on the agenda for years to come.
Do SMEs need to strategize?
Authors: Sharma Govinda 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe study is prompted by the fact that most SMEs may not have the wherewithal or the willingness to devote time and resources to strategy formulation but are focused to reconsider this position by the pressures of globalization.Design/methodology/approachThrough a literature survey, a model suitable for SMEs is identified. An application of the selected model is presented. Applicability of strategic tools such as ERP in SMEs is examined. A case of a company, which has implemented ERP is analyzed.FindingsSMEs need strategy but the strategy depends on the complexity of the process. The case study points to the need for top management support and commitment.Research limitations/implicationsIt is difficult to get financial data from individual SMEs as most SMEs are proprietorship concerns.Practical implicationsFor countries, which are labor surplus, study on SMEs which are not capital intensive but create employment, has practical and social implication.Originality/valueThis paper attempts at filling research gaps on competitive strategies for SMEs.
Take‐off of online marketing: casting the next generation strategies
Authors: Sharma Amalesh 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to study the emerging nature of on‐line marketing and define the next generation strategies for online marketers.Design/methodology/approachIt is a qualitative research to explain a few factors. Surveys were conducted to determine the view points of consumers. Existing literature and current trends are consideredFindingsOn the basis of the study, author has tried to forecast certain major factors and strategic approaches, which will dominate the on‐line marketing world in the near future.Research limitations/implicationsIt is difficult to predict trends. Extreme technological revolution, huge changes in market dynamics, economy of the nations and few other factors may affect the trends suddenly. So the intensity of the result may vary with time.Practical implications:It will add value to the strategic thinking of the organizations. Especially for the start‐ups firms and for the firms, which are following the traditional on‐line marketing strategies, it will give a new outlook.Originality/valueThe paper attempts to showing the critical factors, which are neglected while building the online marketing strategies. Also, author tries to show the original market trends and the necessity of innovative strategies
Logistics outsourcing and company performance of SMEs
Authors: Solakivi Tomi , Töyli Juuso , Engblom Janne , Ojala Lauri 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the current state of and future expectations concerning the usage of the outsourcing of logistics operations in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), and to analyse and quantify the relationships between logistics outsourcing, costs and performance, financial performance, and the company context.Design/methodology/approachThe data were 223 manufacturing and trading SMEs from the Finnish logistics survey combined with detailed financial report‐based data, both referring to the year 2008. Statistical analyses including ANOVA and factor analysis were applied.FindingsTransport activities are excessively outsourced. Most companies report no outsourcing of order processing and invoicing, and half of them have not outsourced logistics IT systems. Outsourcing is expected to grow in all areas with strongest expectations in materials management, value‐added services, and in IT. The logistics costs for companies engaging in the medium level of outsourcing could be higher than those of other companies. Further research is needed to confirm this finding. No loss or gain in logistics performance due to outsourcing was observed. The more the companies are engaged in outsourcing, the more they monitor as well as collaborate internally and externally, or vice versa. In general, the results imply that management should not expect automatic gains from logistics outsourcing, and should rather analyse the company‐specific characteristics that support or in some cases suffer from the outsourcing decision.Originality/valueThe article explores logistics outsourcing in SMEs combining financial report data with self‐reported measures. It analyses and quantifies the relationship of logistics outsourcing to logistics costs, financial performance, logistics performance, and company context.
Place branding's role in sustainable development
Authors: Maheshwari Vishwas , Vandewalle Ian , Bamber David 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe aim of this research is to examine the place brand construct and to establish its role in the sustainable development of a place. This research reviews the evolution, development and effectiveness of the place branding concept from the perspectives of regeneration, growth and sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThe main research focus is on establishing key facets responsible for driving the brand of a place and examining the relationship between them in terms of achieving sustainability. A place‐specific branding campaign (using the Liverpool '08, European Capital of Culture status) was considered and data collected from the key stakeholders in Liverpool.FindingsThe findings suggest that place branding plays an important role in the sustainable development of a place, provided that the momentum of progress is maintained. In turn, these sustainable developments help promote the place and thereby create stronger place brands.Research limitations/implicationsWhilst some of the facets identified in this study are place‐specific (Liverpool is a port, for example), there is much of a generic nature here and the facets identified in this research could provide useful practical constructs for place branding practices and may therefore become the basis of a formal place brand framework which has a more generic application in terms of sustainable development.Originality/valueThis research paper provides better understanding of place branding and further explores its role into sustainable development through relationship framework.
Utilising the characteristics of small enterprises to assist in managing hazardous substances in the workplace
Authors: Laird Ian , Olsen Kirsten , Harris Leigh‐Ann , Legg Stephen , Perry Melissa J. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to present the literature which identifies the characteristics of small enterprises and outlines the opportunities to utilise them in working with small businesses to prevent and reduce exposures to hazardous substances.Design/methodology/approachA search of a variety of data sources, including Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, was conducted which combined the keyword search terms “small business”, “small enterprise”, “management”, “health and safety management”, “hazardous substances”, “hazardous chemicals”, “management of hazardous substances”. High quality studies were selected and combined with studies known to the authors.FindingsA strong body of evidence exists which shows that the management of OSH in small enterprises has been extensively reviewed and the most recurring theme is the identification of problems and challenges. A growing body of literature also confirms that models for chemical risk management and social responsibility issues can play a key role in managing hazardous chemical exposures in small enterprises. Furthermore, studies have shown that there are certain characteristics of small business that potentially provide positive opportunities for the implementation of preventive interventions.Originality/valueThe paper identifies these characteristics and features and suggests these can be effectively utilised in the design and development of interventions to prevent and reduce exposures to hazardous substances in small enterprises. Few interventions, however, have been developed utilising these positive characteristics.