bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Why did they do that? Variability in routine transactions
Authors: Davern Michael J. , Wilkin Carla L. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a frank reflection on the authors' journey in applying social theory to understand the routine use of a transaction‐processing system in a rich field context.Design/methodology/approachInspired by a perplexing initial observation, the program of research moved quickly from one of more traditional positivist methods (experiments and surveys) to case study research. The case study involved observation and comparative analysis of the routine use of a reservation system across a large franchised accommodation chain.FindingsAs a reflective essay, the key findings relate to the research process itself. The essence of the findings is that applying social theory is itself a social process.Originality/valueThe paper finds that insight can come from understanding the routine use of IT as a social artefact, not just from studying crises or latest innovations.
Collaborative forecasting and planning in supply chains
Authors: Nakano Mikihisa 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the impact of internal and external collaborative forecasting and planning on logistics and production performance.Design/methodology/approachTo measure the degree of collaborative forecasting and planning, the concept of collaboration is categorized into three dimensions: sharing resources, collaborative process operation, and collaborative process improvement. Based on these dimensions, a survey of Japanese manufacturers was conducted and the analytical model is proposed to examine using structural equation modeling.FindingsThere are positive relationships between internal and external collaborative forecasting and planning. Upstream and downstream collaborative forecasting and planning are also positively related. Internal collaborative forecasting and planning has a positive effect on relative logistics and production performance. External collaborative forecasting and planning does not have a significant effect on relative logistics and production performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study does not clarify how firms can achieve the improvement of forecasting and planning process. Future research should investigate the mechanism of process improvement in supply chain.Practical implicationsNot only sharing resources and collaborative process operation but also collaborative process improvement play a crucial role in gaining sustainable competitive advantage in logistics and production.Originality/valueThis study focuses on the forecasting and planning process in supply chain and proposes new dimensions measuring the degree of collaborative forecasting and planning. By focusing on the process and using the dimensions, the relationship between supply chain collaboration and performance are discussed concretely.
Logistics service performance contracts: design, contents and effects
Authors: Forslund Helena 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the performance management (PM) process may be affected by the design and contents of logistics service performance (LSP) contracts between customer and supplier.Design/methodology/approachA case study of four manufacturing companies' way of working with contracts towards their suppliers was conducted.FindingsDifferent design and contents of contracts, containing some patterns related to industry, company size and degree of formalization, were found. The PM process with contracts was split up into one setup and one execution sub‐process. Once the setup was made, all resources were focused on measuring, analysing and improving LSP. The changed management of the PM process may be one factor explaining the improved LSP all studied customer companies perceived.Research limitations/implicationsAn explorative approach with few cases limits the possibilities to generalize the results to analytical generalization.Practical implicationsThis paper has illustrated how companies can apply LSP contracts.Originality/valueFew empirical and especially case‐based studies of LSP contracts were found.
An analysis of the value of supply chain management periodicals
Authors: Menachof David A. , Gibson Brian J. , Hanna Joe B. , Whiteing Anthony E. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide rankings of quality of peer reviewed periodicals for faculty research use, rankings of usefuless of both peer reviewed and non‐peer reviewed periodicals for teaching and outreach purposes, and rankings of usefulness of search engines for finding articles.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted during the Autumn Semester of 2006. 82 periodicals were identified as relevant to the Supply Chain Management field. Respondents were asked to rank their top used journals in terms of use for teaching, outreach and research.FindingsA total of 143 surveys were completed. Journal of Business Logistics, Harvard Business Review, and International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management were the top three ranked journals in the composite index. EBSCO Business Source Premier, ProQuest, and Google Scholar were the top three search engines used to find logistics and SCM articles.Research limitations/implicationsA clear global consensus is forming on the top journals for SCM. However, the emergence of Operations Management/Operations Research Journals into the rankings is an important trend. There was also the absence of previously ranked journals as the field evolved from transportation and distribution to logistics to SCM.Originality/valueThis paper is the largest survey completed to date in the field and substantially updates previous surveys. All academics who are active in SCM will find value in this paper.
Speculative excess and the Federal Reserve's response
Authors: Huston John H. , Spencer Roger W. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a single variable indicative of the state of market speculation; to determine whether the Federal Reserve has attempted to quell speculation when it has been most rampant and whether such attempts were successful.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examine the literature on market “bubbles” and the Federal Reserve's treatment of them; to determine a single variable reflective of market speculation via principle components integration; to examine the Federal Reserve's interaction with market speculation by estimating a vector autoregression version of the Taylor rule.FindingsIt is possible to construct a single variable representative of market speculation, termed the index of speculative excess that correlates well with standard views of market excess; the Federal Reserve did attempt to retard market speculation during the three major bull markets of the past century; monetary policy did little to inhibit market speculation.Originality/valueHighly original in the construction of a single variable reflective of market speculation; joins the ongoing debate as to the extent of Federal Reserve concern with speculative activity and the Fed's poor record of accomplishment in this area.
A comparison of the motivations of small business owners in Africa
Authors: Benzing Cynthia , Chu Hung M. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper sets out to examine the reasons why 599 entrepreneurs in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria started their small businesses. It aims to compares ten motivations across three countries and by gender.Design/methodology/approachTen Likert‐style questions were used to determine start‐up motivations. The mean scores were calculated and compared to test for significant differences. A factor analysis was conducted to see whether the ten items could be synthesized into distinct factors. Then, the factors were compared across countries and by gender.FindingsThe strongest motivator across countries was the opportunity to increase income. A factor analysis found three motivation factors: a family factor, an external validation factor, and a self‐betterment factor. The three countries showed significant differences with Ghanaian entrepreneurs rating the family factor as more important. The item analysis showed that female entrepreneurs were less motivated to create a business as a legacy or for external validation.Research limitations/implicationsThe list of motivations here is non‐exhaustive. The addition of other motivation items could change the results. Results should not be generalized to other countries or other regions of the countries surveyed.Practical implicationsSince motivations differ across countries and gender, countries can benefit from developing country‐ and gender‐specific programs to encourage business creation. For instance, Nigeria and Kenya should develop stronger succession laws so that businesses can be inherited by family members. Ghana and Nigeria might stimulate more enterprise development by providing public recognition for entrepreneurial behavior.Originality/valueThis is the first cross‐country study of the motivations of entrepreneurs in sub‐Saharan Africa.
Alpaca ownership or entrepreneurship? The New Zealand case
Authors: Duarte Alonso Abel 
Published: February 2009

PurposeAlpaca ownership in New Zealand has been developing in recent years. However, very little academic research has been conducted in this area, particularly from alpaca owners' points of view. This exploratory study attempts to close some of the knowledge gaps in this area.Design/methodology/approachBetween April and June 2006, a total of 233 alpaca owners located in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand participated in the study by completing a questionnaire.FindingsWhile the overall results confirm the importance of the lifestyle dimension among New Zealand alpaca owners, the existence of many respondents whose operations are open to the public and who own a larger number of alpacas suggests more than just lifestyle motivations, but rather an intention to exploit commercial opportunities in this activity.Research limitations/implicationsThere is an acknowledged limitation regarding the quantitative approach used here. Such an approach may have limited the ability to capture insightful perspectives, for example, in the form of respondents' experiences that are unique to qualitative research.Practical implicationsImplications for New Zealand's alpaca ownership include the need for operators and industry bodies to increase their knowledge, particularly their marketing knowledge, in view of the growing volume of alpaca‐related products, such as their fleece.Originality/valueThe study presents insights into a rural activity in New Zealand that so far has received very limited attention from academic research. The exploratory nature of the study also provides an avenue for future studies to further explore small and medium rural enterprises that, as in the case of the alpaca industry, are currently emerging industries.
Knowledge capability flows in buyer‐supplier relationships
Authors: Carrizo Moreira António 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand how suppliers have managed to accumulate knowledge in their relationship with large multinational clients.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology was based on four case studies' qualitative data, collected from semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews. The buyers were selected among the largest MNEs of the electronics, automotive and footwear industries and the suppliers were selected among the set of SMEs supplying to those MNEs. The objective was to assess the supplier's knowledge transfer‐oriented capabilities and the buyer's interaction‐oriented capabilities in the SBR.FindingsThe paper highlights the important leading role of the client in the buyer‐supplier relationship involving SMEs as well as the knowledge‐sharing atmosphere of successful cooperative relationships. Although it confirms the advantages of alliances for SMEs, knowledge transfer‐oriented capabilities, are used by SMEs in order to sustain client satisfaction and to strengthen their core competencies. Despite all efforts of SMEs, if clients are not willing to use interaction‐oriented capabilities, buyer‐supplier relationships are doomed to failure.Research limitations/implicationsOne practical implication is that, if SMEs are adequately supported by public policies, it is possible to transfer knowledge from more advanced to less endowed economies . The main limitation stems from the fact that it is not possible to claim generalisation as the research is the result of a series of four case studies.Originality/valueThe paper uses dyadic relationships as a viable option to compensate internal knowledge deficiencies of SMEs in their relationship with MNEs. It complements former research as little is known about the importance of alliances in the context of knowledge acquisition and learning in SMEs. It contributes to the SME scientific literature by investigating how SMEs learn from their alliance partners.
Personal, household and business environmental determinants of entrepreneurship
Authors: Krasniqi Besnik A. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore personal, household and business environmental influences on entrepreneurship in Kosova.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of a econometric investigation using a binary choice model based on a nationally representative labour force and household survey conducted by Riinvest Institute at the end of 2002.FindingsThe results suggest that males, those who live in urban areas, belonging to a larger family/household, have a higher likelihood of being involved in entrepreneurial activities, while a weak positive effect of age and no significant effect of marital status are found. Self‐employed were more likely to be found in sectors where start‐up and sunk costs are expected to be lower (such as services and trade), those sectors that experienced high growth (construction) and in the regions in which entrepreneurship is more developed. In contrast with previous studies, it is found that education received household remittances and the presence of an additional wage earner in a household have negative impact on entrepreneurial activities arising from country‐specific features.Research limitations/implicationsThese empirical findings identified determinants influencing entrepreneurial activities providing basis for policy discussion aimed at entrepreneurship development in the country.Originality/valueThe paper complements rather scarce empirical evidence on determinants of entrepreneurship from a unique transition country. It highlights the role of some transition and country‐specific factors in entrepreneurial activity of the population, providing better insights in understanding entrepreneurial behaviour of people in general and in transition economies in particular.
Problem solving in small firms: an interpretive study
Authors: Giroux Isabelle 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to present the results of a recent interpretive study of 11 small Central Vancouver Island firms in British Columbia, Canada, which yield new interpretations of the nature of problem‐solving processes within the wider context of managerial capability as a critical contributor to small business survival.Design/methodology/approachThe methodological approach taken is positioned within an emergent body of research in the field of small business and entrepreneurship that applies an interpretive paradigm to uncover the complex facets of how individuals develop their capabilities and management practices with a particular emphasis on the small business owner‐manager. More specifically, the critical incident technique method, along with an approach to data analysis and coding that draws from grounded theory, is combined and applied as a qualitative research strategy to yield new understandings of problem solving in small firms.FindingsResearch findings reveal the intuitive, improvised and non‐linear nature of how problems are actually solved in the sample of small firms studied, in contrast with a number of well‐known theoretical research frameworks that propose well‐defined and delineated steps in the problem‐solving process.Research limitations/implicationsThe small sample size and the methods chosen to conduct the research do not allow for the generalization of findings to all firms, yet do allow for the emergence of themes among the businesses that participated in the study. Research could be expanded by applying a similar research design to small firms in other regions of Canada to determine whether significant differences or similarities exist and to identify the implications for research in the area of problem solving in small firms.Originality/valueThe identification of problems as critical incidents represents a primary focus of the research and provides a more explanatory account of problem solving from the perspective of small firm owner‐managers involved in the process. The analysis of these highly subjective interpretations represents valuable research findings that provide a basis for the development of theory on problem solving in small firms.
Portfolio strategies using EVA, earnings ratio or book‐to‐market
Authors: Leong Kenneth , Pagani Marco , Zaima Janis K. 
Published: February 2009

PurposePast studies have shown that investment strategy using two popular metrics, the earnings‐price ratio (EP) and book‐to‐market ratio (BM) enable investors to reap abnormal returns. More recent development of another ratio, economic value‐added‐to‐market value (EVAM) can be seen as a hybrid of EP and BM ratios. The purpose of this study is to examine whether portfolios created by utilizing the EVAM ratio will generate higher returns than portfolios formed with EP or BM ratios.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing the EVA data obtained from Stern Stewart & Co. and financial data from COMPUSTAT and center for research in security prices (CRSP), portfolios are created following the Fama and French portfolio formation methodology. The authors form separate portfolios using EP, BM or EVAM ratios where firms are ranked by a ratio in year t, then split into deciles. Then portfolios are constructed in year t + 1 for each decile and equally weighted portfolio returns are calculated. The cumulative ten‐year returns are compared between portfolios formed with EP, BM and EVAM ratios.FindingsThere are three interesting findings. One, the EP portfolios depict results that have long been documented. That is, value stock (low price‐to‐earnings ratio firms) and growth stocks (high price‐to‐earnings ratio) exhibit the highest returns. Two, the ten BM portfolio performances are not statistically different. Three, the EVAM ratios indicate that the negative EVAM (lowest decile) portfolio exhibit the highest return and the second highest return is generated by the highest EVAM portfolio. The general results of the thirty portfolios show that the highest EVAM ratio (EVAM10) performs the best. However, the pairwise mean differences between EP, BM and EVAM portfolios do not show statistical differences over the 1995–2004 period.Originality/valueAlthough investment strategies using EP ratio and BM ratio have been thoroughly studied, investment strategy using EVAM ratio has not. Given that it has been documented that EVA is a better conceptual measure of value, portfolio managers or investors would be interested to know whether utilizing EVA for investment strategy would earn a higher return than strategies that use EP or BM ratios.
Boundary choices in the pulp and paper industry
Authors: Jantunen Ari , Sandström Jaana , Kuittinen Hanna 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to shed light on the boundary choices of firms operating in the pulp and paper industry.Design/methodology/approachExplorative interviews were conducted with senior managers of pulp and paper companies, and comparative data on other industries were collected. The theoretical approach was based on extended transaction‐cost economics (TCE).FindingsThe results demonstrate that when company decision makers consider the governance choice for different activities, i.e. make or buy, the determinants implied in traditional TCE are not the only relevant factors. Transaction or management benefits are also important, and managers also take into account the long‐term effects of boundary choices. The determinants of governance choices depend on the nature and strategic importance of the activity in question: when it is a question of outsourcing marginal activities, for example, management costs and dynamic transaction benefits seem to be of most significance. On the other hand, transaction costs and dynamic management benefits have a major role in the definition of boundary choices related to core activities.Research limitations/implicationsThis research paper is explorative. Further quantitative research would enhance the generalizability of the findings.Practical implicationsThis paper demonstrates that the factors managers implicitly take into account when considering firm boundaries could be explicitly assessed through the application of extended transaction‐cost logic. This would help to make the decision making more structured and would highlight the relevant factors affecting these boundaries.Originality/valueTraditional transaction‐cost theory has been criticised for neglecting value‐creation issues that may also be essential in terms of explaining the firm's boundary choices. This study brings not only transaction costs but also the benefits and dynamic aspects of these choices under scrutiny.
A case study for implementing a B2B collaborative information system: a textile case
Authors: Chang Tien‐Hsiang , Fu Hsin‐Pin , Li Shao‐Chang , Lee Hung‐Hsuan 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discover strategic implications and successful factors leading to the development of an attractive model for other firms to follow based on a typical case study.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used a case study methodology to examine the case of a business‐to‐business (B2B) collaborative information system based on the first textile company in Taiwan to implement a RosettaNet‐like for B2B process integration.FindingsThe results showed that some key success factors included: support and understanding from the entire team, simple process redesign, standard process development, government support, distinctive operation collaboration model, total support from top management, and an effective and experienced team.Practical implicationsManagerial implications are as follows: employ vertical process integration to quickly exchange data, establish a platform to share information, establish vendor‐managed inventory (VMI) to lower costs, and a cross‐organization centre to effectively operate the platform.Originality/valueThe complete information structure provided in this case, the distinctive collaborative and the proposed implementation models can all serve as a reference for other enterprises whose size, scope and information technology level are similar to the focal firm in this case.