bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding ICT adoption in the small firm sector in Southern Africa
Authors: Chinyanyu Mpofu Knowledge , Watkins‐Mathys Lorraine 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to examine information and communications technology (ICT) adoption among small hotel businesses in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative research is based on seven case studies that fall within the South African and European Union small and medium enterprises (SMEs) definitions. The case studies are constructed on the basis of 60 semi‐structured interviews and supporting secondary data. The authors adopt the Gibbs et al. model which identifies and brings together ICT adoption factors that include government role, environmental attributes, owner/manager attributes, organisational attributes and social networks. Archer's epistemological bootstrapping technique is applied for analysing the data. In addition, Zappala and Gray's stage model is used to gauge the level of ICT uptake reached by each case study. In this way, the authors incorporate an important additional element for examining ICT adoption.FindingsApart from providing rich insights into the ICT adoption process, the results highlight the individual distinctive behavioural characteristics as well as the stage of ICT adoption reached by each case study. The paper finds that case studies that operated in a stable business environment; with organisational readiness; financial and owner manager support seemed readily engaged in ICT adoption. Social networks played a crucial role, especially among those small businesses with resource constraints.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings from seven individual cases in the three South African Development Community (SADC) countries have limited cross‐case and cross‐national comparisons owing to the distinctive organisational characteristics of the SMEs. Furthermore, the selection of case studies from a single sector of small hotel businesses results in data which only reflect the experiences of SMEs in typical urban locations of Johannesburg, Gaborone and Harare. The implications of these limitations mean that further data are needed from other small firm sectors and more SADC countries in order to gain a better understanding of ICT adoption among SMEs in the region.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the literature on ICT adoption among SMEs in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The results bring new insights from small hotel businesses and help to explain ICT adoption, which is relatively under‐researched in these SADC countries.
Thrive, not just survive: enhance dynamic capabilities of SMEs through IS competence
Authors: Wang Yi , Shi Xinping 
Published: May 2011

PurposeSmall and mid‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing challenges in an increasingly fierce environment. This paper aims to explore the promise of information systems (IS) in enhancing the survival and competitiveness of SMEs in a dynamic environment. To address this issue, the paper draws upon the dynamic capability theory and develops a research model of IS‐enabled dynamic capabilities to examine the role of IS competence for enhancing SMEs dynamic capabilities in a competitive business environment.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study is conducted by using survey data from senior managers of 120 SMEs in China.FindingsThe analytic outcomes support the research model and confirm that IS competence significantly contributes to SMEs' dynamic capabilities for gaining competitive advantage.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper contributes to the literature on IS impact on dynamic capabilities of SMEs by incorporating IS competences into a research model of IS‐enabled dynamic capabilities and articulating the relationships between IS competences and dynamic capabilities of SMEs in a changing business environment. The research findings enrich dynamic capabilities theory by justifying IS as an enabling antecedent for organizational capability development. The findings may empirically convince SMEs owners and management to effectively invest in and deploy IS for enhancing SMEs' dynamic capabilities and performance.Originality/valueA capability‐building perspective is used to examine how IS can leverage SMEs' capabilities to enhance their competitive advantage in a dynamic environment.
The value proposition of adopting mCRM strategy in UK SMEs
Authors: Zheng Vanessa 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to investigate the key drivers and barriers of adopting mobile customer relationship management (mCRM) services in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and proposes an mCRM strategy framework.Design/methodology/approachPrevious SME technology adoption literature has used different models to explain how SMEs accept or reject technology innovations. There is a lack of research in mobile technologies such as mCRM services. Using a secondary research method, this study critically analyses the impact of mCRM services adoption by UK SMEs.FindingsRapid development in mCRM applications enables SMEs to gain competitive advantages. This paper argues that mCRM services help SMEs to create different levels of relationship bonds with their customers, which in turn can create value proposition and improve business performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suggests that SME owners/managers need to understand their business needs and processes, and the mobile technology, to focus on their CRM strategies, and allocate resources in order to successfully adopt mCRM services to exploit the full potential. The conceptual model needs to be tested empirically.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates that business values and core services can be specific to mCRM strategy. It proposes and discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the mCRM strategy framework and suggests further research directions.
Why do female expatriates “fit‐in” better than males?
Authors: Cole Nina , McNulty Yvonne 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to assess the relevance of the personal value called self‐transcendence as an explanatory factor regarding gender differences in the socio‐cultural adjustment of expatriate employees.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 37 male and 31 female expatriates responded to an online questionnaire concerning their self‐transcendence value and their adjustment as expatriate employees.FindingsSelf‐transcendence of the expatriate predicted interactional and work adjustment. Perceived expatriate‐local difference in self‐transcendence was a negative predictor of work and interactional adjustment. Females had higher (non‐significant) self‐transcendence than males. Further gender differences in the impact of self‐transcendence and perceived expatriate‐local differences in self‐transcendence were found.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research into the effect of expatriate levels of the personal value of self‐transcendence, its two components, universalism and benevolence, and gender differences therein appears warranted. Statistical techniques to establish causality should be used.Practical implicationsKnowledge regarding the self‐transcendence values of candidates for expatriate assignments may assist global human resource managers to make more effective selection decisions regarding expatriate assignments.Originality/valueThe study described in this paper is among the first to assess potential explanations for the better interactional and work adjustment of female expatriates compared to males. This study replicates earlier findings regarding the relationship between perceived expatriate‐local differences in self‐transcendence and expatriate socio‐cultural adjustment and provides new knowledge regarding gender differences in this relationship.
The roles of expatriates' spouses among dual career couples
Authors: Mäkelä Liisa , Känsälä Marja , Suutari Vesa 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify how dual career expatriates view their spouses' roles during international assignments.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 39 interviews were carried out with expatriates who had a working spouse. The interview data were content analysed using replication logic.FindingsThe authors' findings indicate that the importance of spousal support increases among dual career couples during international assignments. Expatriates report their spouses as having supporting, flexible, determining, instrumental, restricting and equal partner spousal roles.Originality/valueThis study provides in‐depth understanding about multiple spousal roles during international assignments among dual career couples and contributes to the previous literature by showing how spousal roles appear in the international context, and by identifying two new spousal roles.
Marital status and work outcomes of self‐initiated expatriates
Authors: Selmer Jan , Lauring Jakob 
Published: May 2011

PurposeMost of the fast‐growing literature on business expatriates has focused on organizational expatriates (OEs) who have been assigned by their parent companies to the foreign location. However, there is much less research on self‐initiated expatriates (SIE), who themselves have decided to expatriate to work abroad. The purpose of this paper is to provide knowledge on this under‐researched group of expatriates.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was directed electronically towards SIE academics in universities in the Nordic countries and in The Netherlands.FindingsThe current study examines marital status, gender and work outcomes of SIEs, and specifically whether there is a moderating effect of gender. Results showed, as expected, a positive association between being married and work effectiveness as well as with work performance but, surprisingly, there was no moderating effect of gender on these positive relationships.Practical implicationsResults indicate that organizations recruiting SIEs in the host country location may want to prefer married expatriates over their unmarried counterparts in the anticipation for them to achieve better work outcomes. However, there should be no distinguishing between men or women in the recruitment process.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the understanding of the similarities and differences between OEs and SIEs.
Effect of section thickness and build orientation on tensile properties and material characteristics of laser sintered nylon‐12 parts
Authors: Majewski Candice , Hopkinson Neil 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe work carried out as part of a £350,000 project aimed at improving understanding of polymer sintering processes. This particular package of research was performed in order to identify the effects of different section thicknesses (and therefore different thermal conditions) in parts produced by laser sintering (LS), on the resultant mechanical properties of these parts.Design/methodology/approachLaser sintered nylon‐12 parts were produced in a range of thicknesses between 2 and 6 mm, and in three different orientations, to identify the effects of each on the tensile properties of these parts.FindingsResults indicated that, at any of the orientations tested, the section thickness had no significant effect on any of the main tensile properties, or on the repeatability of these properties. Crucially, this is in direct contradiction with the trends identified previously in this project, whereby changes in section thickness have been shown to correlate with changes in fracture toughness.Research limitations/implicationsFurther work could investigate a wider range of section thicknesses or geometries, in order to continue building a more complete picture of the effects of geometry on laser sintered part properties.Practical implicationsThese results are directly applicable to designers using, or wishing to use, LS to manufacture their products.Originality/valueWhilst there is a large range of published literature on the effects of processing parameters on mechanical properties of laser sintered parts, and on the resolution and accuracy achievable with these, there is minimal information available on the effects of geometry on mechanical properties. This paper therefore represents a novel addition to the global LS knowledge base.
Influence of the particle size distribution on surface quality and mechanical properties in AM steel parts
Authors: Spierings A.B. , Herres N. , Levy G. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeA recent study confirmed that the particle size distribution of a metallic powder material has a major influence on the density of a part produced by selective laser melting (SLM). Although it is possible to get high density values with different powder types, the processing parameters have to be adjusted accordingly, affecting the process productivity. However, the particle size distribution does not only affect the density but also the surface quality and the mechanical properties of the parts. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of three different powder granulations on the resulting part density, surface quality and mechanical properties of the materials produced.Design/methodology/approachThe scan surface quality and mechanical properties of three different particle size distributions and two layer thicknesses of 30 and 45 μm were compared. The scan velocities for the different powder types have been adjusted in order to guarantee a part density≥99.5 per cent.FindingsBy using an optimised powder material, a low surface roughness can be obtained. A subsequent blasting process can further improve the surface roughness for all powder materials used in this study, although this does not change the ranking of the powders with respect to the resulting surface quality. Furthermore, optimised powder granulations lead generally to improved mechanical properties.Practical implicationsThe results of this study indicate that the particle size distribution influences the quality of AM metallic parts, produced by SLM. Therefore, it is recommended that any standardisation initiative like ASTM F42 should develop guidelines for powder materials for AM processes. Furthermore, during production, the granulation changes due to spatters. Appropriate quality systems have to be developed.Originality/valueThe paper clearly shows that the particle size distribution plays an important role regarding density, surface quality and resulting mechanical properties.
Development of low‐cost imaging system for laser metal deposition processes
Authors: Barua Shyam , Sparks Todd , Liou Frank 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe melt pool created by a laser is one of the most important factors affecting the quality of the deposit in a laser metal deposition (LMD) process. The high‐intensity infrared (IR) radiation emitted by the melt pool saturates a conventional camera sensor preventing useful data acquisition. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the development of a low‐cost vision system to monitor the size of the melt pool for in‐process quality control of the deposit.Design/methodology/approachAccording to the black body radiation theory, there is no radiation emitted in the ultraviolet (UV) region from the melt pool created in the LMD process. IR radiation and visible light are the only radiations inherent to the LMD process. UV illumination is utilized along with narrow band pass filters on a USB camera to achieve a clear image of the melt pool while IR radiation of the process is blocked out. The melt pool size and shape were closely monitored during the deposition process.FindingsA clear image of the melt pool was obtained using a relatively low‐cost imaging system during laser deposition process.Originality/valueTraditional approaches to vision systems in high‐intensity processes use a high‐speed video camera fitted with IR filters to prevent saturation of the camera sensor. Such systems are usually complex and expensive to run and maintain. This paper demonstrates an alternative and lower cost method to achieve in process monitoring in an LMD process.
A layerless additive manufacturing process based on CNC accumulation
Authors: Chen Yong , Zhou Chi , Lao Jingyuan 
Published: May 2011

PurposeMost current additive manufacturing (AM) processes are layer based. By converting a three‐dimensional model into two‐dimensional layers, the process planning can be dramatically simplified. However, there are also drawbacks associated with such an approach such as inconsistent material properties and difficulty in embedding existing components. The purpose of this paper is to present a novel AM process that is non‐layer based and demonstrate its unique capability.Design/methodology/approachAn AM process named computer numerically controlled (CNC) accumulation has been developed. In such a layerless AM process, a fiber optic‐cable connected with an ultraviolet (UV) LED and related lens is served as an accumulation tool. The cable is then merged inside a tank that is filled with UV‐curable liquid resin. By controlling the on/off state of the UV‐LED and the multi‐axis motion of the cable, a physical model can be built by selectively curing liquid resin into solid.FindingsIt is found that the cured resin can be safely detached from the accumulation tool by applying a Teflon coating on the tip of the fiber‐optic cable, and controlling an appropriate gap between the cable and the base. The experimental results verified the curing and attaching force models.Research limitations/implicationsA proof‐of‐concept testbed has been developed based on a curing tool that has a diameter around 2 mm. The relatively large tool size limits the geometry resolution and part quality of the built parts.Originality/valueBy incorporating multi‐axis tool motion, the CNC accumulation process can be beneficial for applications such as plastic part repairing, addition of new design features, and building around inserts.
Enterprise orientations: a framework for making sense of fashion sector start‐up
Authors: Mills Colleen 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to present an original conceptual model that captures the orientations of new business founders in the fashion design sector as they navigate the tension between creative endeavour and business practice.Design/methodology/approachThe start‐up experiences of 38 fashion designers from the four main fashion centres in New Zealand were examined using an interpretive narrative approach. The designers' enterprise development narratives were analysed using in‐depth literary and conceptual analyses to reveal the nature and context of their start‐up behaviour and the conceptual frameworks they employed to make sense of their start‐up behaviour.FindingsThe designers were, to varying degrees, preoccupied with a perceived tension between creative processes and business practices. This tension was typically experienced as a disjunction between self‐identity and the identities supported by the business models designers worked within. Successfully navigating this tension could require significant conceptual shifts or fundamental adjustments in business approaches which challenged designers' original rationales for start‐up. The analysis of designers' responses to the creativity‐business tension and how they made sense of this produced a conceptual framework, a space delineated by three basic enterprise orientations: creative enterprise orientation (CEO), creative business orientation (CBO), and fashion industry orientation (FIO).Research limitations/implicationsThis conceptual framework has major implications for policy makers and providers of design education and business support as it offers a means of differentiating between the lived‐in experiences of designers. In so doing it could be used as a tool for tailoring support more appropriately to designers' needs. The narrative approach produced rich, contextualised insights and a template for the further studies that will be required to establish the wider applicability of the framework.Originality/valueThe original conceptual framework presented here provides much needed insight into creative business start‐ups that will allow better targeting of education, support and policy development. The approach used to create this framework is an innovative example of how narrative and sensemaking approaches can be combined to provide rich insights into enterprise creation from the entrepreneur's perspective.
Gender effects on risk‐taking of entrepreneurs: evidence from Bulgaria
Authors: Ivanova Yordanova Desislava , Ivanova Alexandrova‐Boshnakova Matilda 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe research objective of the study is to investigate the gender effects on risk propensity, risk perception, and risk behaviour of entrepreneurs distinguishing between direct and indirect gender effects. The study seeks to address the gap in the knowledge of the link between risk taking, risk propensity, and risk perception in the context of women and risk (Brindley).Design/methodology/approachBased on Sitkin and Pablo's model of risk behaviour and the literature on cognitive factors as determinants of risk perception, the paper provides hypotheses about the link between gender, risk perception, risk propensity, and risk behaviour. The proposed hypotheses are tested on a sample of 382 Bulgarian entrepreneurs.FindingsAlthough female and male entrepreneurs have similar risk perceptions, female entrepreneurs are likely to have a lower risk propensity than male entrepreneurs. Risk propensity mediates completely the effect of gender on risk behaviour. The effect of gender on risk propensity is mediated partially by risk preference, outcome history, and age. Gender has an indirect effect on risk perception via overconfidence and risk propensity.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper's ability to draw causal inferences is limited by the cross‐sectional nature of the study. The results may not be applicable to other countries and occupations.Practical implicationsThe findings help to clarify the reasons for gender differences in risk behaviour and risk propensity of entrepreneurs and to design behavioural interventions.Originality/valueThis paper is an attempt to create a better understanding of the factors that account for gender differences in risk taking.
Conceptualising employer branding in sustainable organisations
Authors: Kryger Aggerholm Helle , Esmann Andersen Sophie , Thomsen Christa 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reconceptualise employer branding in sustainable organizations at the intersection of branding, strategic human resource management (HRM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR).Design/methodology/approachBased on an outline of current conceptualisations of employer branding, the paper discusses the strategic potentials of merging corporate branding processes, strategic HRM and CSR into a theoretical framework for reconceptualising employer branding as co‐created processes and sustainable employer‐employee relationships.FindingsWhen organizations adapt strategies for sustainable development (including CSR), it affects how to approach stakeholder relations and organizational processes, including the employee‐employer relationship and employer branding processes. However, current employer branding conceptualisations do not comply with such changed corporate conditions. The suggested framework reconceptualises employer branding as an integrated part of a CSR strategy, thus offering a new way of approaching employer branding as supporting sustainable organizational development and long‐term employer‐employee relationships.Practical implicationsThe proposed conceptualisation of employer branding implies a shift in focus from end result to process. As part of the process, organizations need to approach employees as corporate partners in order to co‐create employer‐employee values.Originality/valueThis paper suggests and discusses a new conceptualisation of employer branding, which appreciates co‐creation and employer‐employee dialogue as strategic processes for supporting sustainable organizational development.