bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of upward feedback on leadership behaviour toward subordinates
Authors: van Dierendonck Dirk , Haynes Clare , Borrill Carol , Stride Chris 
Published: March 2007

PurposeTo investigate the influence of participating in an upward feedback program on leadership behaviour, both as indicated be self‐ratings and subordinates' ratings.Design/methodology/approachThe research design consisted of two measurement points within six months. The program included managers receiving an upward feedback report and a short workshop to facilitate interpretation. A sample of 45 managers and 308 staff members of a community health care organization took part.FindingsThe study showed three results. First, managers lack insight into the real impact of their behavior. Second, only a small positive effect was found of the upward feedback program on the leadership behaviour as rated by their staff in terms of valuing diversity. Third, the managers' self‐ratings of Presenting feedback, Fairness and Integrity & respect decreased between Time 1 and Time 2.Originality/valueThe study points towards the need for HRM professionals to carefully implement upward feedback programs in order to have a real impact on the development of managers.
Integrating leadership development and succession planning best practices
Authors: Groves Kevin S. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeOrganizations often fail to utilize managerial personnel effectively for leadership development and succession planning systems, and many execute these critical practices through separate human resource functions that shift the responsibility for leadership development away from line managers. The purpose of this article is to present a best practices model for optimal development of the leadership pipeline and a series of practical recommendations for organizations.Design/methodology/approachA group of 30 CEOs and human resource executives across 15 best practice organizations were asked via semi‐structured interviews to describe the content and delivery of their respective organizations' leadership development and succession planning practices.FindingsAnalysis of interview data indicated that best practice organizations effectively integrate leadership development and succession planning systems by fully utilizing managerial personnel in developing the organization's mentor network, identifying and codifying high potential employees, developing high potentials via project‐based learning experiences and manager‐facilitated workshops, establishing a flexible and fluid succession planning process, creating organization‐wide forums for exposing high potential employees to multiple stakeholders, and establishing a supportive organizational culture.Research limitations/implicationsThe interview data are drawn from a relatively small number of executives and from a single industry, which may limit the overall utility of the findings.Originality/valueThis study offers needed empirical support for the value of integrating leadership development and succession planning practices through utilization of managerial personnel. Management development practitioners will benefit from assessing their respective organizations' current practices vis‐à‐vis those discussed here, while scholars may utilize the best practices model for generating further research on the role of managerial personnel in talent management systems.
Strategic marketing plans and collaborative networks
Authors: Fava Neves Marcos 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to propose a new framework for the marketing planning process that is better adjusted to the modern operational environment, with particular emphasis on the exploitation of collaborative “company networks” in optimising the potential of the plan.Design/methodology/approachA review of the academic literature of marketing planning, three participant‐observation case studies and a focus group, the latter two in Brazil, provided the conceptual input for a very detailed stepwise model for marketing planning in a network environment.FindingsThe new model, including its focus on collaborative action, earned considerable support among participants in the second and third phases of the research. The plan itself was found to be applicable in practice. Obstacles to the achievement of collaborating networks were identified, and solutions are proposed.Research limitations/implicationsThe study proposes and tentatively tests a systematic, sequential framework for marketing planning. It also casts light on networks and working relationships from an unusual angle, which may be transferable to other contexts. Suggestions for further research mainly concern the application and testing of the new model in practice. Limitations concern the representativeness of the case‐study and focus‐group respondents, and the timescale.Practical implicationsThe major managerial implication of this research study is the planning instrument it proposes and, tentatively, tests. It holds the promise of more making marketing budgets work harder, via more systematic planning and exploitation of the power of networks.Originality/valueThe proposed model differs from other marketing planning frameworks in treating the company to which it is applied as member of a network, not an individual. The study took place in a very large “second‐world” economy, a setting very different from those in which conventional marketing plans have been proposed and applied.
RFID‐enabled traceability in the food supply chain
Authors: Kelepouris Thomas , Pramatari Katerina , Doukidis Georgios 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to study the main requirements of traceability and examine how the technology of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology can address these requirements. It further seeks to outline both an information data model and a system architecture that will make traceability feasible and easily deployable across a supply chain.Design/methodology/approachThe design research approach is followed, associating traceability requirements to a proposed system design.FindingsThe technological approach used has great implications in relation to the cost associated with a traceability system and the ease of its deployment.Research limitations/implicationsValidation of the proposed information data model and system architecture is required through practical deployment in different settings.Practical implicationsThe paper provides practitioners with insight on how RFID technology can meet traceability requirements and what technological approach is more appropriate.Originality/valueFood quality has become an important issue in the last decade. However, achieving end‐to‐end traceability across the supply chain is currently quite a challenge from a technical, a co‐ordination and a cost perspective. The paper contributes by suggesting a specific technological approach, exploiting the new possibilities provided by RFID technology, to address these issues.
Intelligent topology analyzer for improved plant operation
Authors: Gabbar Hossam A. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a design of intelligent model‐based topology analyzer that can be used to improve plant operation.Design/methodology/approachPOOM process modeling methodology is proposed to model and partition plant topology so that plant operation can be designed in effective manner as mapped to plant topology partitions. Plant topology is divided into areas based on the operation required and material flow and isolation paths are identified automatically using intelligent algorithm.FindingsIt is possible to define hierarchical plant structure (topology) partitions that can be mapped to plant operation levels, which are described by ANSI/ISA‐S88. In addition, the use of design knowledge can be useful to define conceptual partitions such as Block, which is essential to link design and operation knowledge. Plant operation (jobs) can be flexibly defined in view of plant structure partitions in terms of resources (materials, plant structural areas) required and operation scheduling.Research limitations/implicationsIt is important to link to production scheduling to ensure effective use of topology partitions in real time based on available resources. The proposed approach can be improved via the integration with intelligent production scheduling.Practical implicationsProduction and manufacturing plants will be able to use the proposed approach to design and validate plant operation and to improve plant maintenance while reducing operation risks by identifying plant structures required for each operation task. The proposed technique can be helpful to engineers and R&D members to consider in their design and investigation for process safety, risk management, and plant operation and management.Originality/valueThe idea of topology analysis is quite new where it is usually implemented using search algorithms without considering domain knowledge and operation structures. This paper proposes a valuable technique to link plant structure with plant operation hierarchies, which is important for design and engineering practices and R&D activities for plant operation.
Resource‐based approach to IT shared services in a manufacturing firm
Authors: Goh Mark , Prakash Satya , Yeo Roland 
Published: March 2007

PurposeDriven by cost reduction and improved quality of service, some firms have adopted shared services as a governance model to manage their staff functions. This paper seeks to explore this behavior using the resource‐based view.Design/methodology/approachThe case of an information technology (IT) unit of a multinational manufacturing firm is presented to provide insight into the issues involved when adopting and migrating an IT resource system to a shared services model. The analysis is extended using conceptual models of the relevant sub‐systems developed through the soft systems methodology (SSM), using a set of root level definitions that are intended to express the transformation to a shared services model.FindingsThe results suggest that the major changes involved when transitioning to shared services are process and communication related. Aligning the team members and gaining their commitment are necessary for success.Practical implicationsThe case analysis and SSM models provide some insight into the important issues to be considered when moving to a shared services model.Originality/valueWith the growing practice of shared services, it is important to understand how a shared services model fits successfully into the overall business strategy of the firm. This study will spawn further research into the evaluation and control techniques for the different types of IT capabilities under a shared services model.
Standard costing in Japanese firms
Authors: De Zoysa Anura , Kanthi Herath Siriyama 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review literature on standard costing in Japanese manufacturing environment. It examines the changes in the manufacturing environment in Japan that has lowered the significance of standard costing in Japanese firms and investigates the current level of its applicability in Japanese firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper systematically categorizes the relevant literature and reviews it methodologically.FindingsThe paper finds that standard costing is still being used by a large number of firms both in developing and developed countries. Overall, the research suggests that the importance of standard costing has not declined to such a low level despite the technological changes. In Japan standard costing is still used for different purposes despite its apparent weaknesses.Research limitations/implicationsThis is not an empirical investigation of standard costing in Japanese manufacturing firms.Originality/valueThe paper will be useful to researchers, cost accountants and others concerned with product costing to understand the importance of standard costing. It is also expected that the current research will help reveal whether or not one should continue teaching standard costing in the classroom.
Managing risk in software development projects: a case study
Authors: Dey Prasanta Kumar , Kinch Jason , Ogunlana Stephen O. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe main objective of the paper is to develop a risk management framework for software development projects from developers' perspective.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a combined qualitative and quantitative technique with the active involvement of stakeholders in order to identify, analyze and respond to risks. The entire methodology has been explained using a case study on software development project in a public sector organization in Barbados.FindingsAnalytical approach to managing risk in software development ensures effective delivery of projects to clients.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed risk management framework has been applied to a single case.Practical implicationsSoftware development projects are characterized by technical complexity, market and financial uncertainties and competent manpower availability. Therefore, successful project accomplishment depends on addressing those issues throughout the project phases. Effective risk management ensures the success of projects.Originality/valueThere are several studies on managing risks in software development and information technology (IT) projects. Most of the studies identify and prioritize risks through empirical research in order to suggest mitigating measures. Although they are important to clients for future projects, these studies fail to provide any framework for risk management from software developers' perspective. Although a few studies introduced framework of risk management in software development, most of them are presented from clients' perspectives and very little effort has been made to integrate this with the software development cycle. As software developers absorb considerable amount of risks, an integrated framework for managing risks in software development from developers' perspective is needed.
Intrapreneurship: a comparative structural equation modeling study
Authors: Antoncic Bostjan 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate the intrapreneurship construct with its predictors and consequences via a model. Previous studies in intrapreneurship have been predominantly concerned with patterns of relationships (coefficients of the model) as opposed to the level of intrapreneurship and other constructs (latent means) in the intrapreneurship model. This study aims to examine both the patterns of relationships and the levels (means) across two countries (the USA and Slovenia) by testing two models (the zero‐means model and the latent‐means model).Design/methodology/approachMailed structured questionnaire data for this cross‐sectional study were collected from firms in the USA and Slovenia (192 usable responses). Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the models and compare coefficients and latent means.FindingsThe model hypotheses on the relationships among environment, organizational characteristics, intrapreneurship, and performance were mainly supported across both countries and by both models. However, results may differ upon the selection of the measurement model.Research limitations/implicationsThe latent‐means model may be considered superior to the zero‐means model.Practical implicationsIntrapreneurship can have beneficial effects on the firm's growth and profitability, in both absolute and relative terms.Originality/valueThis study proved a latent‐means model of intrapreneurship.
Global manufacturing strategies require “dynamic engineers”?
Authors: Takala Josu , Hirvelä Jarkko , Liu Yang , Malindžák Dušan 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study multifocused global manufacturing strategies under the influence of “China effect” taking the dynamic, complex and situational business strategies into account.Design/methodology/approachThis study compares the competitive priorities of manufacturing strategies in four different types of companies with some international comparisons and one longitudinal case study for benchmarking. The analytical hierarchy process method also made it possible to compare inconsistencies in the answers between the companies.FindingsAs a result of these case studies, it is possible to understand the competitive priorities of manufacturing strategies for the case companies, to show the other companies the route for developments.Practical implicationsAll four types of companies should grow internationally and utilize the developing countries as a means of lowering costs. Each type of company has its own special strategies to suit their markets. Companies in Western countries should utilize multifocused manufacturing strategies based on their business strategy in a holistic way, e.g. through responsiveness, agility and leanness concept, and to specialize through quality, e.g. by differentiating product and service technology for global high dynamic and complex business. Global sourcing in purchasing shall also be more and more used effectively for cost and productivity competitiveness.Originality/valueThe development steps, from technology specialist to problem solver, are proposed in this paper. Human resources have to be trained to be more “dynamic engineers,” all the time more also in industrial engineering and management.
Key issues and challenges of risk management and insurance in China's construction industry
Authors: Liu Junying , Li Bingguang , Lin Binshan , Nguyen Vanthuan 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the key issues and challenges in risk management and insurance in the Chinese construction industry and propose solutions to improve risk management.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on surveys which target people who have direct or relevant experience of risk management and construction insurance in China. Surveys were conducted by e‐mail, mail and fax to selected clients, contractors (project director, project managers, and contract managers/administrators), insurers, brokers, consultants, claim advisors, and academics; and e‐mails to Chinese researchers in the construction management field. Descriptive analysis is used for data analysis.FindingsIt is found that cultural considerations inhibit proper implementation of risk management in China's construction industry. It is also found that the perception and attitude of contractors play an important role in developing risk management. Accordingly, an organizational learning of a risk management model is designed and proposed as an organizational learning process through collaborative teamwork to improve risk management and create a learning organization.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation is the sample size. A much larger sample size allows comparisons among different groups of contractors, regions, etc.Originality/valueThis empirical research identifies the real challenge of application of risk management in China's construction industry. It proposes a realistic organizational learning model through collaborative teamwork which could help Chinese contractors to improve their risk management.
Exploring organizational culture for information security management
Authors: Ernest Chang Shuchih , Lin Chin‐Shien 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the influence of organization culture on the effectiveness of implementing information security management (ISM).Design/methodology/approachBased on a literature review, a model of the relationship between organizational culture and ISM was formulated, and both organizational culture characteristics and ISM effectiveness were measured empirically to investigate how various organizational culture traits influenced ISM principles, by administrating questionnaires to respondents in organizations with significant use of information systems.FindingsFour regression models were derived to quantify the impacts of organizational culture traits on the effectiveness of implementing ISM. Whilst the control‐oriented organizational culture traits, effectiveness and consistency, have strong effect on the ISM principles of confidentiality, integrity, availability and accountability, the flexibility‐oriented organizational culture traits, cooperativeness and innovativeness, are not significantly associated with the ISM principles with one exception that cooperativeness is negatively related to confidentiality.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is limited to the organizational factors in Taiwan. It is suggested to replicate this study in other countries to reconfirm the result before adopting its general implications. Owing to the highly intrusive nature of ISM surveys, a cautious approach with rapport and trust is a key success factor in conducting empirical studies on ISM.Practical implicationsA culture conducive to information security practice is extremely important for organizations since the human dimension of information security cannot totally be solved by technical and management measures. For understanding and improving the organization behavior with regard to information security, enterprises may look into organizational culture and examine how it affects the effectiveness of implementing ISM.Originality/valueA research model was proposed to study the impacts of organizational factors on ISM, after a broad survey on related researches. The validated model and its corresponding study results can be referenced by enterprise managers and decision makers to make favorable tactics for achieving their goals of ISM – mitigating information security risks.
An empirical assessment and application of SERVQUAL in mainland China's mobile communications industry
Authors: Lai Fujun , Hutchinson Joe , Li Dahui , Bai Changhong 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the SERVQUAL instrument reliability and validity and apply the SERVQUAL instrument in China's mobile communication setting.Design/methodology/approachA mail survey was conducted at a major mobile communications company in mainland China. Instrument reliability and validity were examined. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted.FindingsThe adapted SERVQUAL instrument is a valid and valuable tool to measure service quality. Service convenience is an important additional dimension of service quality in China's mobile communications setting. The dimension of “empathy” may need revision.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research involves assessment of the service convenience dimension and examination of the relative importance of SERVQUAL dimensions in other settings.Practical implicationsSERVQUAL is a valid instrument to measure service quality in China's mobile communications setting. Providing convenience to customers also is critical for service quality improvement. Improvements to some SERVQUAL dimensions may be more beneficial than improvements to others.Originality/valueThis is a pioneer study of the SERVQUAL scale in China's mobile communications setting. This study provides useful insights and guidance for managers to measure and improve service quality.