bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Financial market governance and the Euro‐Mediterranean Partnership
Authors: Salhi Alexander , Kern Andreas 
Published: July 2011

PurposeIn recent years, Mediterranean Partner countries (MPCs) have been ambitious about reforming their banking and financial systems. Former state‐owned banks have been privatised, and restrictions for international capital flows have been lowered to accelerate investment activities and spur regional economic growth. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate these latest developments against the backdrop of the state‐of‐the‐art literature and derive implications for a reformed institutional setting for sound financial market governance in the Mediterranean region.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on recent empirical literature on the relationship between financial development, financial governance, and economic growth, this paper empirically assesses the validity of the so‐called finance‐growth nexus for Mediterranean Partner countries.FindingsThe findings indicate that the current institutional set‐up renders an efficient allocation of savings impossible, and thus represents a strong binding constraint on economic growth. In this regard, it is found that adverse financial governance practices have substantially contributed to this outcome.Practical implicationsThis paper argues for upgrading domestic regulatory frameworks before continuing a sequential integration and liberalisation process.Originality/valueIt is thought that this attempt is unique in explicitly formulating a comprehensive role for the Euro‐Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) in assisting MPCs on financial governance issues. In this respect, it identifies prevailing incentive schemes for regional actors and opportunities for the EU to actively support the implementation of a reform agenda for financial institutions in the EMP framework.
The development and market success of eco‐innovations
Authors: Halila Fawzi , Rundquist Jonas 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe study, which compares the success factors for eco‐innovations with those factors for other innovations, is intended to improve understanding of how eco‐innovations achieve market success.Design/methodology/approachA case study design is used. Six eco‐innovations cases and six other innovations cases are compared. Data were obtained mainly from interviews with the eco‐innovators and the other innovators, written materials about the innovations, and secondary data from an earlier quantitative study.FindingsThe study shows that there are both similarities and differences in the success factors for the two types of innovations. One similarity is that a network with diverse competences supports successful innovators. However, for eco‐innovators the network is used more for solving technological problems. Other innovators use the network to a greater extent for assistance with financing and marketing. In addition, eco‐innovators have greater difficulty than other innovators in attracting venture capital for development.Research limitations/implicationsThe results indicate that an interesting approach for future research would be to take a life‐cycle perspective that identifies the factors that influence the further growth and development of eco‐innovative firms.Practical implicationsThe identification of the success factors for eco‐innovations' development may improve their chances of success. Furthermore, the results can help policy‐makers improve the support system for commercialization of eco‐innovations.Originality/valueAs a comparative study of success factors for eco‐innovations and other innovations, the study presents a new way to identify such factors for eco‐innovators.
Challenges of multi‐actor involvement in the public sector front‐end innovation processes
Authors: Hennala Lea , Parjanen Satu , Uotila Tuomo 
Published: July 2011

PurposeStudies with a user approach in a public service context are still rare, making the contribution of this study worthwhile. This paper aims to present a case of facilitating innovativeness by involving stakeholder groups in the development of service production in the public sector. The case is related to the provision of housing and well‐being services to ageing people. The study proposes focusing on the front‐end stage of an innovation process: the ideation phase in a virtual idea generation environment, in which fruitful and fresh ideas that are based on customers' needs are sought for in order to support the innovation process.Design/methodology/approachA constructive research approach is applied in this study. Central theoretical building blocks are provided by the extended SECI model as presented by Uotila, Melkas and Harmaakorpi, Amabile's componential theory of creativity and Burt's and Granovetter's arguments regarding structural holes and weak ties.FindingsBased on the evaluation, it can be argued that the open innovation model and particularly the inclusion of external information and knowledge from potential service users generated, despite some shortcomings, new insights and added to the value of the development process.Originality/valueThe paper proposes a model that can be utilized in facilitating the novelty value of presented ideas in the front end of the innovation process and also critically discusses the challenges of the applied model, especially from the point of view of the brokering function needed during the process.
A conceptual framework of generative customization as an approach to product innovation and fulfillment
Authors: Buffington Jack , McCubbrey Donald 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address the problem in research of a lack of a holistic conceptual framework related to incremental and discontinuous innovation. Too often, the term “innovation” is used without an understanding of how it can be applied in a product design and supply chain fulfillment system. In this study, the goal is to develop a holistic “innovation continuum” to treat innovation as a complex adaptive system (CAS).Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review was conducted, and from it, four propositions and a conceptual framework were developed.FindingsThe authors determined that an “innovation continuum” can be established through the use of a complex adaptive system. Two, incremental innovation is determined to possess adaptive qualities, and can be enhanced through the use of collaboration and evolutionary algorithms. Three, discontinuous innovation is established as a creative process enabled through expert designers, and improved through the use of generative design. Next, a supply chain system for incremental innovation can be assisted by the use of adaptive systems, but it is not proven that a generative customization system (for discontinuous innovation) can be improved through the use of a CAS.Originality/valueThe paper has established an “innovation continuum” linking incremental and discontinuous innovation within one holistic system. It establishes the use of evolutionary algorithms to improve the viability of incremental innovation, and generative design for discontinuous innovation. Finally, the concept of generative customization as an end to end product design and supply chain fulfillment solution for discontinuous innovation is established.
The impact of generational differences on the workplace
Authors: Haynes Barry P. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore workplace implications of the changing workforce demographic.Design/methodology/approachThe author identifies the different generations in today's workforce. The workplace expectations of the different generations are explored.FindingsCorporate real estate (CRE) managers need to establish the different needs of the different generations. In addition, the CRE manager needs to create an environment that allows all generations to coexist in the same workplace.Practical implicationsCRE managers can use the information to assist in alignment of their workplace to the different generational expectations of the workforce.Originality/valueThe paper fills a void by evaluating office occupiers' workplace preferences based on age.
Examining the building selection decision‐making process within corporate relocations
Authors: Nunnington Nicholas , Haynes Barry 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to consider the complex decision‐making process involved in corporate relocation and the validity of a tool designed to improve the objectivity and strategic management of this process and to change the focus of the decision upon the strategic management objectives rather than the real estate deal.Design/methodology/approachThe authors identify the progression of the decision‐making process; disaggregate components of that process; and evaluate a tool designed to improve the decision‐making process.FindingsThe size of the organisation can have a significant impact on the building evaluation and decision‐making process, smaller firms with less resources are more likely to make the relocation decision based on “gut feeling” rather than detailed evaluation. However, with increased transparency, accountability and corporate social responsibility, decisions based on more rigorous and objective approaches are being demanded. The evaluated tool facilitates a more objective approach and shifts the focus from a real estate to a business decision.Practical implicationsCorporate real estate managers can use the information to evaluate their own decision‐making processes against the framework of the tool and decide if it may be applicable to their context.Originality/valueThe paper fills a void by examining the decision‐making process from a fresh perspective, updates the thinking by providing a contemporary tool which has been beta tested with students and is about to be piloted with corporate clients.
Peer evaluation to develop benchmarking in the public sector
Authors: Cappelli Lucio , Guglielmetti Roberta , Mattia Giovanni , Merli Roberto , Francesca Renzi Maria 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe urgency to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of public administrations has led to the adoption in the public sector – in Italy as well as in other countries – of tools and models inspired by the total quality management (TQM) approach, such as the common assessment framework (CAF). A parallel need was felt within public structures to train people, the “peers”, who aside from being able to implement the self‐evaluation activities of their own administration, also needed to be equipped with the necessary skills to complete external evaluation activities, namely “peer evaluations”, with the ultimate aim of spreading quality management culture and best practices in the field through an approach based on benchmarking. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey designed to determine the training requirements that a “peer” should acquire in order to perform “evaluation” activities.Design/methodology/approachThe paper has strong empirical connotations and is essentially based on, first, a questionnaire given to evaluators/self‐evaluators to identify the problems emerging with the application of the CAF model in administrations that have adopted it. In this sphere a great deal of attention has been paid to – in addition to the preparation of the questionnaire – the delicate task of codifying the answers to open questions proposed to interviewees; and second, the investigation inherent in the current educational choices in Italy in the TQM arena, specifically addressing the public sector.FindingsApart from the analysis of data obtained from the investigation, presented with descriptive statistics, the paper identifies the training content necessary: first, to place “peers” in a position to be able to autonomously and fully carry out their evaluation work on the basis of the CAF model; and second, to render the evaluation activities systematically comparable among the various administrations.Research limitations/implicationsAt the present time the research deals with the Italian context. However, future investigations involving different European countries could be carried out, taking the present results as a starting point for a benchmarking activity.Practical implicationsThe paper puts forward the creation of a “network” of actors who manage all the “peer evaluation” activities, from the provision of the training pack and monitoring the “peer” exchange process, up to benchmarking initiatives and the dissemination of best practices.Originality/valueThe paper presents original data and information in order to identify the training needs of individuals that actually use CAF, starting from the assumption that the training of evaluators is the primary condition for promoting the adoption and diffusion of CAF in Italian public administrations and thus maximizing its benefits.
A systematic benchmarking perspective on performance management of global small to medium‐sized organizations
Authors: Gomes Carlos F. , Yasin Mahmoud M. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer small to medium‐sized organizations (SMOs) with global business aspirations an innovative approach to performance measurement and management.Design/methodology/approachThe first phase of this research is based on a literature review. The second phase capitalizes on the literature review to offer a conceptual framework aimed at improving the performance measurement approach utilized by SMOs. The advocated approach stresses performance measurement, benchmarking, and effective implementation.FindingsThe conceptual approach offered in this study represents the main outcome of this applied research. The advocated approach integrates several frameworks in an effort to address practical concerns related to performance measurement, management, and improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe research offered in this study has practical and theoretical implications. The proposed approach offered by this study should be refined and validated through future research.Practical implicationsThe approach presented in this study offers practicing managers a systematic and practical approach to performance measurement, management, and improvement.Originality/valueThe approach offered in this study capitalizes on several methodologies and tools to offer managers a benchmarking‐based performance management approach suitable for SMOs with global operational aspirations.
A theory of benchmarking
Authors: Moriarty John P. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the necessary or sufficient methodological elements contributing to benchmarking's effectiveness and to establish them within an acceptable theoretical framework: a theory of benchmarking.Design/methodology/approachA causal approach is applied to organizational benchmarking's current definitions and implementation frameworks. The resulting theoretical framework is compared with current benchmarking praxis to explain its effectiveness and satisfy historical criticisms. Supervenience and entailment relationships between benchmarking parties, within the umbrella of Peircean Causation, determines the feasibility of a benchmarking proposition.FindingsBenchmarking effectiveness can be established from an organizational axiom and five logical conditions. This paper proposes a new encompassing definition of benchmarking, reduces its typology to a single form, explains current practices and addresses historical criticisms. The logical conditions also explain the effectiveness of business excellence frameworks such as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and ISO 9000.Research limitations/implicationsA theoretical framework for benchmarking provides a platform for extending the theory of organizational improvement.Practical implicationsA theoretical framework for benchmarking has potential to enhance organizational sustainability by reducing wasted effort.Originality/valueThe research establishes a new definition of benchmarking and the necessary and sufficient conditions for its effectiveness.
Mobile telecommunications gives birth to a fourth generation: an analysis of technological, licensing and strategic implications
Authors: Curwen Peter , Whalley Jason 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the technological, licensing and strategic implications of the move to the fourth generation of mobile telecommunicationsDesign/methodology/approachAn initial section provides an analysis of what is meant by fourth generation mobile telecommunications based upon a new taxonomy. This is followed by an overview of all countries where Long Term Evolution is being, or has been, introduced, introducing multiple case studies to illustrate the variety of approaches adopted. After a subsequent summary of what is happening in respect of WiMAX, the paper concludes with an assessment of the prospects for fourth generation technology.FindingsOne key finding is that what is commonly understood to be fourth generation technology is in practice 3.9G rather than 4G. Another is that “true 4G” is shortly to be ratified and will gradually be introduced over the next few years, but that it will be used in different ways by different operators in different countries.Research limitations/implicationsSome data for the case studies is hard to establish with certainty.Practical implicationsVery fast mobile networks are already a reality. Ultra‐fast networks will soon appear but only in limited places. Most customers will not notice the difference.Social implicationsThings that are already easy and quick to download on a mobile device will become even easier and quicker to download. Whether this will matter much is a moot point.Originality/valueThe taxonomy of mobile technology is the only one available in the public sector.
Modeling healthcare processes as service orchestrations and choreographies
Authors: Benyoucef Morad , Kuziemsky Craig , Afrasiabi Rad Amir , Elsabbahi Ali 
Published: July 2011

PurposeService‐oriented architecture is becoming increasingly important for healthcare delivery as it assures seamless integration internally between various teams and departments, and externally between healthcare organizations and their partners. In order to make healthcare more efficient and effective, we need to understand and evaluate its processes, and one way of achieving that is through process modeling. Modeling healthcare processes within a service‐oriented environment opens up new perspectives and raises challenging questions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate one of these questions, namely the suitability of web service orchestration and choreography, two closely related but fundamentally different methodologies for modeling web service‐based healthcare processes.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a case‐based approach that first developed a set of 12 features for modeling healthcare processes and then used the features to compare orchestration and choreography for modeling part of the scheduled workflow.FindingsThe findings show that neither methodology can, by itself, meet all healthcare modeling requirements in the context of the case study. The appropriate methodology must be selected after consideration of the specific modeling needs. The authors identified usability, capabilities, and evolution as three key considerations to assist with selection of a methodology for healthcare process modeling. Further, sometimes one method will not meet all modeling needs and hence the authors recommend combining the two methodologies in order to harness the benefits of modeling healthcare processes in a service‐oriented environment.Originality/valueAlthough literature exists on process modeling of web services for healthcare, there are no criteria describing necessary features for micro‐level modeling, nor is there a comparison of the two leading service composition methodologies within the healthcare context. This paper provides some necessary formalization for process modeling in healthcare.
Enterprise and process architecture patterns
Authors: Barros Oscar , Julio Cristian 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a method to support business process architecture and business process design, and present an application to the domain of public hospitals in Chile.Design/methodology/approachThis method is based on the formalization of generic architectures and their internal process structure, proposed in this work as architecture and process patterns, which have been developed at the Master in Business Engineering of the University of Chile and validated empirically in hundreds of Chilean firms from different industries.FindingsThe authors have found that the use of architecture and process patterns accelerates the design of such structures until the last level of detail, providing a good and timely basis for information system design and, in particular, were able to develop comprehensive generic process architecture for public hospitals in two months.Originality/valueThe authors' approach considers explicitly the relationships among the architecture elements and process components, providing a systemic view of the business structure and ensuring the alignment between its elements.
Understanding the determinants of business process modelling in organisations
Authors: Eikebrokk Tom R. , Iden Jon , Olsen Dag H. , Opdahl Andreas L. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address a theoretical gap in the business process management (BPM) literature on factors that influence the acceptance and use of business process modelling (PM) in organisations. The paper seeks to contribute to theory building and practice in BPM through better understanding of important determinants of PM adoption and use.Design/methodology/approachA combination of literature review and 34 interviews in context was used to develop a PM acceptance model that was subsequently empirically tested using survey data from 74 companies.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights about how business PM can be influenced by many factors in the organisational context. It suggests that PM is a complex activity mandated by management, but influenced by individual and socio‐political factors.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need for future research to focus on the many opposing forces that influence business PM in organisations. Future studies should analyse influence from different stakeholder groups separately to reveal their relative influence on PM activity and its outcomes.Practical implicationsThe paper identifies important forces in the organisational context that managers should focus on in their efforts to successfully implement business PM in their organisations.Originality/valueThis paper uses a triangulation of sources of information to better understand the less‐studied process of PM adoption and use in an organisational context. It contributes to theory building within BPM and to more successful BPM in organisations.