bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corporate self‐presentation on the WWW
Authors: Pollach Irene 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify starting points for improving corporate self‐presentation on the world wide web (WWW) by enhancing site usability, message credibility, and information utility.Design/methodology/approachContent analysis, quantitative linguistic analysis and discourse analysis were used to examine the “About Us” sections of 20 well‐known corporate web sites.FindingsThe findings suggest that companies recognise the challenges provided by WWW‐mediated communication but fail to respond adequately. The companies could enhance their web sites by adopting a more user‐centred approach, constructing more convincing arguments and raising the level of interactivity in order to present their audiences with more relevant information.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study are limited by the fast‐paced nature of the internet. The content and structure of the pages may have changed substantially since the research was conducted.Practical implicationsCompanies need to pay more attention to the fact that the WWW as a pull medium empowers users to choose the material they want to be exposed to. Therefore, companies need to make more efforts to entice users to see material they would otherwise not choose to see.Originality/valueIn view of the small body of qualitative research on corporate web sites, particularly regarding the use of language, the challenges of corporate web communication and the responses identified may provide a framework for future research, e.g. for longitudinal studies. Practitioners may use the findings to redesign the content and structure of corporate web sites.
Integrated internal communications: a multidisciplinary perspective
Authors: Kalla Hanna K. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis article's purpose is to explore the multidisciplinary nature of internal communications, and argue that an integrated approach to internal communications is beneficial when assessing knowledge sharing in organisations.Design/methodology/approachThis article presents a review of relevant current literature, and explores the issue through qualitative interview data from a world‐leading multinational companies (MNC).FindingsThe empirical data provide support for the integrated view, and also enhance our understanding of knowledge sharing as an important and strategic function of integrated internal communications.Originality/valueThe integrated perspective here contributes to the understanding of internal communications in two ways. First, it draws from the domains of business, management, corporate, and organisational communication, which together incorporate both practical and theoretical knowledge. Second, it includes all formal and informal communication that take place inside an organisation.
Managing indigenous relations
Authors: Evuleocha Stevina U. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how shadow constituents are redefining corporate social responsibility (CSR) through activism, and how oil companies in Nigeria are responding to this development.Design/methodology/approachThis paper contributes to the conceptual framework of CSR which asserts that whereas all stakeholders of a company do not have an equal say in its strategic direction, they are affected by such direction, and must hence be considered.FindingsThe findings reveal these points: activists are gaining a strong foothold in forcing oil companies to cooperate with their vision of social change; Nigeria lacks legislation compelling oil companies to contribute to the development of their host communities; and although internal oil company documents suggest efforts to help their hosts communities have been made, no meaningful agreement between the oil companies and the indigenous communities have been reached.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper encourages a broader conception of CSR. Shadow constituents have become such influence wielding stakeholders in organizations today that we need to explore more fully the role they play in dictating public agenda and influencing policy globally.Practical implicationsMultinational corporations can develop a better understanding of strategies and techniques that can enable them to balance the interests of a wider group of stakeholders and manage the interconnected social, environmental and economic impacts of their businesses.Originality/valueThis paper enriches the research database on CSR.
Competition through collaboration: insights from an initiative in the Turkish textile supply chain
Authors: Cetindamar Dilek , Çatay Bülent , Serdar Basmaci O. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo gain an understanding of the benefits, bridges, and barriers associated with supply chain collaboration.Design/methodology/approachInsights from extensive field research of a successful collaboration example in the Turkish dyeing and finishing industry.FindingsThe competition among firms is increasingly shifting from company vs company to supply chain vs supply chain. The insights obtained from the collaborative model in this textile supply chain provide a good understanding of the benefits, bridges, and barriers associated with supply chain collaboration. Benefits can be grouped as customer‐oriented benefits, productivity benefits, and innovation related benefits. Factors supporting collaboration are observed as trust, common goals for cooperation, and existence of cooperation mechanisms, while barriers are related to three factors: lack of trust, risk‐benefit evaluation, and lack of common goals for cooperation.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are based on interviews and questionnaires conducted with the managers of 3T, 30 dyeing and finishing firms (ten are partners) and six technology‐supplying partner firms, from various regions in Turkey.Practical implicationsHighlights the importance of trust and collaboration mechanisms in managing collaborations. As the case of 3T in the dyeing and finishing industry shows, collaborations might significantly contribute to the competitiveness of textile firms.Originality/valueThis paper presents a successful collaboration model in creating new technologies and products by bringing the resources of competing partners together. This collaboration might be a tool for firms in developing countries to become competitive in their respective industries at the global level.
Intelligent matching: integrating efficiencies in the financial supply chain
Authors: Fairchild Alea 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding of supply chain management in the financial services industry by examining information flow in improving efficiencies (i.e. material, information, capital, etc.) via intelligent matching.Design/methodology/approachThe objective was to address the issues specific to financial services organizations in intelligent matching, examining organizational, technological and application aspects. In order to address these issues, we have utilized an exploratory research methodology, based on a literature review and some initial case studies.FindingsDrivers for intelligent matching solutions have been suggested in this research to include the ability to link financial matching activities to other supply chain activities. Further integration of business processes, both within and between enterprises, will require both human and computational intelligence to approach efficiencies in automation.Research limitations/implicationsSupply chain efficiencies enabled by financial products and information give organizations greater visibility over their receivables, working capital needs, and overall financial position. Limitations of this research include a small sampling of case studies; future research will include a wider scope of cases as to test the findings.Practical implicationsInteroperability of information between the physical movement of goods and financial information within supply chains is key to realizing cost‐reduction and revenue‐enhancement advantages.Originality/valueThis paper discusses a potential area for extending our understanding of supply chains and the role of information flow in improving efficiencies, especially in the financial services industry.
Buyer‐seller relationships in the PCB industry
Authors: Theng Lau Geok , Goh Mark 
Published: January 2007

PurposePrior research has suggested that the key to industrial purchasing success lies in the time development and maintenance of long‐term relationships between buyers and sellers. Good relational exchanges can lead to higher product quality and better coordination with the suppliers. As such, the purpose of this article is to explain how the change of these relationships over time is critical to successful purchasing, especially in understanding the factors that influence the relational change.Design/methodology/approachThree mini case studies are presented as an attempt to capture the subtle development of buyer‐seller relationships in the Asian printed circuit board industry. The approach used in this paper is to treat the relationship development as a process through time using Ford's model from 1980. Ford's model is appropriate as it allows the examination of time effects in relationships, factors influencing the change and the implications of having close linkages.FindingsInitial results suggest that technological, social, time and actual distances, other than the quality of the relationships, can impact relationship development.Originality/valueThe results of this study suggest that buyers should consider carefully the influence of the geographical proximity of suppliers. As such, buyers could seek the services of personnel or departments who are more attuned to the supplier's local culture.
Implementation of supply chain management and its impact on the value of firms
Authors: Sridharan Uma V. , Royce Caines W. , Patterson Cheryl C. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine the effect of supply chain implementation issues on firm value.Design/methodology/approachUsing case study methodology, this paper outlines the cases of Hershey and Nike and the impact of supply chain implementation issues on these firms’ value.FindingsDifficulties in the implementation of supply chain management software designed to maximize firm value, can result in a disruption of a firm's supply chain, causing losses for the firm and a decline in firm value; thereby creating much disappointment for the firm's shareholders. Hence, great care should be taken with the implementation of new SCM solutions.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research may be directed at extending this work by examining the changes in the market values of a wide sample of client and provider firms following the implementation of new supply chain solutions.Practical implicationsWhen modifying a standard supply chain template to suit a customer's requirements, particular care should be used in implementation and provider firms should insist that clients follow the provider's implementation methodology. Complex SCM systems designed to track a multiplicity of product varieties, may lead to difficulties in implementation. Prior to switching to a new SCM system there should be adequate testing to see if the system meets the client's requirements. Premature switching can have disastrous consequences.Originality/valueThis research demonstrates the impact of implementation issues on the effectiveness of SCM technology.
Construction supply chain integration: an elusive goal?
Authors: Briscoe Geoffrey , Dainty Andrew 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo empirically investigate the problems encountered in trying to integrate supply chains in the UK construction industry and to set these problems in the context of the extensive literature on supply chain management and partnering.Design/methodology/approachA brief review of current supply chain issues in the construction industry is provided. Three case studies of leading construction clients were carried out and these included public and private organisations from different sectors of the economy, public transport, information and communications technology and vehicle manufacturing. A large number of interviews were conducted with the various clients, their main contractors and key subcontractors and suppliers.FindingsThe findings reveal that the large number of supply chain partners and the significant level of fragmentation limit the levels of integration that are achievable. The interplay of environmental and procurement related factors renders the realisation of truly integrated supply chains very problematic and difficult to achieve. Nevertheless the paper identifies some key principles that do need to be followed if the elusive goal of integration is to be eventually realised.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the present cases were chosen to be representative, they may not necessarily reflect the experiences of all clients and contractors in the construction industry.Originality/valueThis paper adds another dimension to the extensive body of knowledge that already exists on supply chain integration. In particular, it focuses on construction, a large and important sector of the economy but one that does not receive as much research interest as the manufacturing and distribution sectors.
Supply chain integration and performance: US versus East Asian companies
Authors: Zailani Suhaiza , Rajagopal Premkumar 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThough there is a wide acceptance of the strategic importance of integrating operations with suppliers and customers in the supply chain, many questions remain unanswered about how best to characterize supply chain strategies. Is it more important to link with suppliers, customers, or both? Similarly, little is known about the connections between supplier and customer integration and improved operations performance. This article seeks to investigate supplier and customer integration strategies by comparing US and East Asian companies. It is of paramount interest to find out how these strategies actually differ and affect performance of the companies.Design/methodology/approachThis was carried out in three phases. In the first phase, a number of operations‐management related journals were skimmed to select about 30 research articles related to supply chain concepts and practices. In the second phase, investigation efforts narrowed down to supply chain management research conducted in East Asia and the USA. In the third phase, comparisons were made between East Asian and US companies' indicators of supply chain integration and performance.FindingsThe need to react to market changes and the critical role of the supply chain in meeting this need, and the potential benefits of integrating the supply chain, can no longer be ignored. This potential, however, will be realized only if the interrelationships among different parts of the supply chain are recognized, and proper alignment is ensured between the design and execution of the company's competitive strategy.Practical implicationsThe implications for article findings on future research and practice in the new millennium are considered.Originality/valueThe aim is to recommend these findings to companies which are still at the infancy stage when it comes to supply chain management and integration with customers and suppliers.
Systems thinking ability for supply chain management
Authors: Moon Seong‐Am , Kim Dong‐Jin 
Published: January 2007

PurposeIn this study, an attempt is made to explore how individual systems thinking ability impacts on the supply chain.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a range of different research methods including surveys, tests, and simulations.FindingsThe results showed that individual systems thinking ability greatly influences the practice of supply chain management.Originality/valueThis study suggests that the rationality of managers in the decision‐making process is good – for the supply chain. To improve the supply chain efficiency with a more realistic solution, inventory and production managers have to make decisions with the systems' thinking ability and the consistency.
The perceived impact of successful outsourcing on customer service management
Authors: Wei Khong Kok 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the perceived impact of outsourcing on customer service management.Design/methodology/approachThe examination was conducted via a survey on 124 companies in Malaysia. Using the framework from Elmuti, factors manifesting customer service management were regressed on the key factors manifesting successful outsourcing. Hence a model was contrived. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to estimate the model.FindingsThe model was able to provide predictive implications on customer service management, given the activities of key factors manifesting successful outsourcing. In other words to improve customer service management, companies could control their outsourcing activities.Originality/valueThis paper offers an approach to measure the effects of multiple independent variables on multiple dependent variables. Using SEM, multivariate analyses were mathematically represented in a single equation. In this equation, companies could holistically compose strategies to optimise their management in customer service.
Mentoring and career development
Authors: Gayle Baugh S. , Sullivan Sherry E. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis special issue seeks to examine mentoring relationships and offer new perspectives and frameworks, suggesting exciting avenues for future research on mentoring and career development.Design/methodology/approachIn the last two decades, the workplace has been dramatically transformed. Individuals traditionally had careers entrenched in organizations, relying on the paternalistic firm for career development. Increasingly now, individuals are enacting careers outside organizational boundaries, defining career success on their own terms rather than by the organizational measures of salary and rank. Rapid technological change and globalization have intensified the decoupling of individual careers from organizations, putting more emphasis on individuals for their own career development and creating an even greater need for mentoring.FindingsAlthough much research has been done on the impact of mentoring on subjective and objective career success, there are still many unexamined and under‐explored aspects of mentoring. This collection of ten articles tackles some of these areas, providing new insights and offering new avenues for research and practice.Originality/valueThese articles are authored by individuals from a variety of disciplines (e.g. organizational behavior, psychology, health care), and countries (e.g. USA, UK, Nigeria), with each article bringing a unique lens to the study of mentoring and careers. Individually, each article makes a contribution to the better understanding of how mentoring has evolved and is enacted today. Together, this collection of articles provides important insights that it is hoped encourage even further research into the complexities of developmental relationships and their impact on career development.
Exploring mentoring and leadership development in health care organizations
Authors: Scheck McAlearney Ann 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo improve understanding of mentoring and other leadership development practices in health care organizations, focusing on three questions: What has been done? What is being done? What should be done?Design/methodology/approachFirst, 160 key informant interviews explored mentoring and leadership development practices in health care between September 2003 and December 2004. Second, all US hospital chief executives were surveyed between August‐December 2004 (844 respondents) and asked about mentoring and leadership development.FindingsNo interviewed executives and fewer than one‐quarter of chief executive respondents reported participating in formal mentoring programs as a protégé. Nearly one in three executives surveyed reported that a formal mentoring program was available within their organizations; however, only three key informants described programs in existence longer than five years. Issues such as assuring senior leadership support, sustaining budgetary commitment, and dedicating qualified personnel were all reportedly important for health care organizations striving to design and implement mentoring and other leadership development practices.Research limitations/implicationsWhile limited by a modest response rate within a chief executive population, survey results highlight the importance of mentoring in framing perceptions about leadership development. Future research should attempt to better understand how perspectives guide program development decisions.Practical implicationsBy considering opportunities to use mentoring to help employees advance, organizations can build investments in leadership development, ideally helping under‐represented groups to attain higher management ranks.Originality/valueThis paper is among the first to combine qualitative and quantitative methods to explore mentoring and leadership development in health care organizations.
Variation in officer downtime: a review of the research
Authors: Famega Christine N. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo summarize and compare both the methodology and findings of existing studies of patrol officer workload that have contributed to what is known about “downtime” (time not responding to citizen calls for service), and provide more standardized estimates of downtime for comparison purposes.Design/methodology/approachA total of 11 studies of police workload published between 1970 and 2001 that used data collected through either dispatch records or systematic social observations of police officers, and reported information regarding the amount and use of patrol officer downtime, are summarized and compared. The studies report information for 13 different (US) police departments and averages for the 24 departments studied in the Police Services Study (1977). A consistent measure of downtime is estimated for each study.FindingsA consistent measure of downtime estimated for each study yields more similar results across studies than the originally reported findings suggest. For the studies that used data collected through dispatch records, the average amount of downtime is 70 percent of a patrol officer's shift, for the studies that used systematic social observation data 79 percent. Observations regarding the methodologies and contributions of workload studies are discussed.Research limitations/implicationsSuggested changes in the reporting of future workload study findings would provide more accurate information and facilitate comparisons across studies, benefiting both researchers and police administrators.Practical implicationsThese findings suggest patrol officers always have had, and continue to have, a lot of downtime available for restructuring.Originality/valueCompiles, organizes, and compares information regarding what is known about the amount and use of patrol officer downtime, and suggests researchers and administrators consider approaching the study and use of downtime in new ways.