bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Customer‐focus and business performance: the study of food and beverages organizations in Nigeria
Authors: Gladson Nwokah N. , Maclayton Darego W. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of customer‐focus on the performance of the organisation. While many empirical works have centered on customer‐focus, the generalisability of its impact on performance of the food and beverages organisations in the Nigeria context has been under‐researched.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopted a triangulation methodology (quantitative and qualitative approach). Data were collected from key informants using a research instrument. Returned instruments were analyzed using non‐parametric correlation through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10.FindingsThe paper validated the earlier instruments but did not find any strong association between customer‐focus and business performance in the Nigerian context using the food and beverages organisations for the study. The reasons underlying the weak relationship between customer‐focus and business performance of the food and beverages organizations are government policies, new product development, diversification, innovation and devaluation of the Nigerian currency. One important finding of this paper is that customer‐focus leads to business performance through some moderating variables.Practical implicationsThe paper recommends that the Nigerian Government should ensure a stable economy and make economic policies that will enhance existing business development in the country. Also, organisations should have performance measurement systems to detect the impact of investment on customer‐focus with the aim of knowing how the organization works.Originality/valueThis paper significantly refines the body of knowledge concerning the impact of customer‐focus on the performance of the organization, and thereby offers a model of customer‐focus and business performance in the Nigerian context for marketing scholars and practitioners. This model will, no doubt, contribute to the body of existing literature of customer‐focus.
Money laundering: towards an alternative interpretation – Chapter one
Authors: Bosworth‐Davies Rowan 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo provide an alternative viewpoint about the issues surrounding money laundering.Design/methodology/approachThe paper combines narrative with argument and analysis in an attempt to deconstruct and re‐evaluate the reasons why international money laundering legislation has reached its present stage of development, and, of more concern, why there is still more room for it to grow.FindingsThe facts and the fantasies surrounding money laundering have become interchangeable, depending on whose agenda is being best served. This is largely due to the fact that governments on a global basis have so far found no substitute for the value possessed by their ability to instil in the mind of the public, the fear of the actions of the “international cartels of organised crime gangs and terrorists” a series of moral panics which they are anxious to emphasise and at pains to amplify.Originality/valueThe paper invites the reader to exercise skill and judgement to decide whether this is a realistic analysis of the real reasons which lie behind the introduction of the international laws and regulations which purport to deal with money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Organised crime today: the evolution of the Sicilian mafia
Authors: Balsamo Antonio 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to focus on the Sicilian mafia, exploring its evolution and the challenges it poses today for the economy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes the form of a discussion of the issues.FindingsThe present situation of Sicilian organised crime is the result both of a long historical evolution and of the modern development of the economy in the era of globalization. The modern Sicilian mafia represents a threat to democracy, operating both as an enterprise syndicate, in the context of economic globalization, and as a power syndicate, that exacts extortion tax from all the businesses in a given area.Originality/valueIllustrates the new challenges launched by “Cosa Nostra” and the key role to be played by the development of common evidentiary processes across the common law and civil law systems of criminal procedure in Europe.
Recovering the proceeds of corruption
Authors: Rider Barry A.K. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeUntil very recently there was little real concern in governments and inter‐governmental organisations to address the problems and issues of corruption in the context of sustainable development and stability. This article aims to focus on the present situation with regard to asset recovery in the domestic and international arena.Design/methodology/approachThe article takes the form of an analysis and discussion of the present situation.FindingsThe new United Nations Convention on Corruption represents a significant achievement in the on going fight against those who seek to corrupt societies. It does not and cannot provide a panacea. There are numerous compromises, fudges and lacuna. However, it does point in the right direction in regard to many issues and provide a vehicle for those pursuing the fight against corruption.Originality/valueThe article provides some pointers for the interdiction and recovery of the proceeds of corruption.
An evaluation of the recovery of criminal proceeds in the United Kingdom
Authors: Kennedy Anthony 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how effective the four mechanisms of UK criminal asset recovery are – confiscation, cash forfeiture, civil recovery and taxation – and whether they, or their application, might be enhanced.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on both the author's own practical experience of involvement in criminal asset recovery in the UK, and other published material in the field.FindingsWhile an increasing amount is being recovered from criminals by the various agencies involved in the recovery of criminal assets, there is clearly more that can be achieved with the tools provided. In order to do so, there requires to be change at a number of levels, including legislative, structural and cultural.Practical implicationsThe paper identifies a number of challenges, which need to be met if asset forfeiture is to fulfil its potential to reduce crime.Originality/valueThe paper combines a strategic overview as to whether the mechanisms of asset recovery are accomplishing what they are designed to do with a practitioner's grasp of what is occurring at a practical level.
The fight against money laundering
Authors: Geiger Hans , Wuensch Oliver 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo provide an economic view on the costs and benefits of anti‐money laundering (AML) efforts.Design/methodology/approachBased on a international, comparative study conducted in Switzerland, Singapore and Germany, the authors outline the impact of AML measures on banks and the financial services industry. The paper discusses possible reasons for the failure of AML to fight the predicated crimes. It also discusses the collateral damage caused by AML.FindingsCompared with the monetary and non‐monetary costs of money laundering prevention for the society and the economy, the benefits are small. Instead of broadening and deepening the current AML framework, a thorough review of the current approach should take place.Research limitation/implicationsCosts and benefits of AML measures are hardly quantifiable. The authors resort to a qualitative approach, stylising possible outcomes and side effects of money laundering prevention.Practical implicationsUseful set of arguments for discussing the benefits and shortcomings of the current and upcoming AML measures.Originality/valueMoney laundering measures and their impact are examined using basic laws of economy and financial intermediation.
The anti‐money laundering activities of the central banks of Australia and Ukraine
Authors: Van der Zahn Mitch , Makarenko Mikhail I. , Tower Greg , Kostyuk Alexander N. , Barako Dulacha , Chervoniaschaya Yulia , Brown Alistair M. , Kostyuk Helen 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to provide a textual analysis of the anti money laundering practices of the central banks of Australia (Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)) and Ukraine (National Bank of Ukraine (NBU)).Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is performed two ways by both calculating a disclosure index and through use of textual analysis.FindingsThe results show very low levels of anti money laundering disclosures by both NBU and RBA with NBU usually showing more. Textual analysis reveals that the NBU is prepared to internalise its discussion on anti‐money laundering discussing wide‐ranging topics. There appears to be a concerted communication effort by NBU to tackle the issues of money laundering head‐on. Textual analysis of the RBA's four annual reports show a clipped discourse on anti‐money laundering, treating it as if it were a distant concern. Over the four year period, there is little acknowledgement in the way of RBA textual discourse that Australia is a jurisdiction of primary concern.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is that, it emphasizes that, if the globalised activity of money laundering is to be crushed further energies are needed to woo central banks from varied backgrounds into exerting their considerable resources toward anti‐money laundering enforcement.
Management control transformations
Authors: Almqvist Roland , Skoog Matti 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to clarify ongoing transformations in an organisation's management control systems (MCSs) by investigating the nature and emergence of internal change mechanisms.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses an inductive methodological approach. Data were obtained from focused interviews with managers at different levels in one public and one private Swedish organisation. Various internal and external documents were also analysed.FindingsThe findings indicate that one starting point for achieving continuous MCS transformation in organisations is to select specific transformation mechanisms. These mechanisms appear capable of linking various aspects of organisational time and place, and turning general expectations of continuous change into coordinated action through accountability and organisational learning.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on enablers rather than barriers in MCS transformation processes. Selection of the specific organisations studied was based partly on how well established their practices were in relation to new MCS aspects.Originality/valueThe approach of the paper, which goes beyond a rational outcome orientation, focuses on internal mechanisms of change that contribute to an understanding of how and why MCS become dynamic in effect.
How to increase work autonomy in workflow management systems?
Authors: Vanderfeesten Irene 
Published: January 2007

PurposeCurrent workflow management systems (WfMS's) are often too rigid and lead to “chain production” in the office. The paper proposes a number of “tuning measures” to reconfigure an implemented WfMS in such a way that it is more agreeable to the needs of its users.Design/methodology/approachThe “tuning measures” are generated through a creative process that is founded on two theoretical pillars: the job characteristics model, from the domain of job design theory and work psychology, and the assignment and synchronization policies, from the area of workflow management.FindingsBy combining theories from both job design theory and workflow management we have developed a number of measures to “tune” WfMS's in a human oriented way. An expert panel has selected the six most promising of these measures. These six measures have been used in the evaluation of three contemporary WfMS's. From this evaluation we concluded that current workflow technology is only partly able to support our measures.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the limited system evaluation, it would be valuable to do a more thorough evaluation of the three systems, have a closer study of the other generated ideas, and to broaden the scope of systems we considered. Additionally, it seems worthwhile to perform an actual validation in practice, i.e. an experiment with real workflow users in a realistic setting.Originality/valueNew in this paper is the focus on people working with WfMS's. The paper tries to go beyond the traditional borders of finding a good support for a business process. It highlights the importance of the human factor in the success of the implementation of a workflow system in a company and gives directions for concrete improvement in order to make working with a WfMS more enjoyable to its users. The proposals stated in the paper are of value to workflow designers, managers and workflow researchers.
Engineering change request management in a new product development process
Authors: Nadia Bhuiyan , Gregory Gatard , Vince Thomson 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe objective of this research was to compare the behavior of two methods of managing an engineering change request (ECR) process, namely, perform changes as they occur or in a batch.Design/methodology/approachThis comparison was accomplished by creating a computer model of a new product development (NPD) process and simulating ECR management. The model connects process design and process characteristics (teamwork, parallel activities) to process outcomes (development time, effort). The first method executes the ECR promptly and the rework is done as soon as the ECR is initiated. In the second method, ECRs are batched; in other words, a number of them are accumulated, and processing of the ECRs takes place when a batch of a certain size has accumulated. Thus, the change requests are grouped into a batch, and then, the section(s) of the process to effect the change(s) is (are) reworked.FindingsBatching ECRs was found to be superior to doing them one at a time.Research limitations/implicationsFuture work should focus on refining the computer model and differentiating ECRs by assigning priorities to incoming ECRs.Practical implicationsFor product development managers, processing ECRs in batches is preferable than attending to them on an individual basis. Nevertheless, in some situations ECRs require immediate attention. A mechanism will always be needed to deal with situations directly. Also, in terms of batching, ECRs could be processed in groups on a periodic basis. Periodically performing ECRs due to new design versions or prototypes in a timely manner is a good compromise between a random batch mode and doing them individually.Originality/valueThe paper shows that batch processing is superior to executing ECRs promptly as they are received. This result has been shown through the use of a computer model of NPD. To the authors' knowledge, no other studies have used computer modeling to study this problem.
Fading eco‐benign networks
Authors: Williander Mats 
Published: January 2007

PurposeMost research on greening of industry using a network approach has the firm as smallest unit of analysis. In addition, few have focused on technological regimes. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues through research on the firm‐internal network of two automotive firms, the actors, resources and activities of their networks, and how change initiatives in the firm forge and dissolve external networks of alternative regimes.Design/methodology/approachThe case study is based on an insider/outsider research methodology. The specific issues of contextual and temporal boundaries in case research with a network approach were addressed through a relatively open‐ended process of inquiry during which these boundaries emerge and unfold. In terms of data collection, interviews with project team members in the two focal companies were conducted.FindingsFailure or success is not only a matter of how the alternative regime fits into its cultural ambience in society and how successful that mutual adaptation is, but also equally of how it fits into the firm and the firm‐internal mutual adaptation. Particularly established companies may experience alternative regimes as threats to the established business, even when these regimes are developed inside the firm. In addition, the actors‐resources‐activities model reveals important resource dependencies between established technologies and the alternatives to them. Most likely, such dependencies constitute important complementary causes as to why eco‐ordering endeavors often fail.Originality/valueThe network approach having a mesh that goes into the firm reveals important factors to the outcome of eco‐ordering efforts. The actors‐resources‐activities analyzing tool helped find important non‐human resource dependencies.
Sensemaking throughout adoption and the innovation‐decision process
Authors: Seligman Larry 
Published: January 2007

PurposeCurrent technology adoption research focuses on relationships between attitudes, intentions, behavior, and their various antecedents, but little is known about how these relationships develop and the processes by which adoption actually takes place. The purpose of this paper is to use Karl Weick's description of sensemaking from his book Sensemaking in Organizations, as a starting point for a sensemaking‐based perspective on adoption.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes sensemaking, explains why it is an appropriate perspective for studying IT adoption, and discusses it briefly in terms of existing adoption‐related models and perspectives. The paper then discusses seven properties of sensemaking and their roles in the adoption process. A comparison of the sensemaking perspective of adoption to Rogers' innovation‐decision process model is presented. Finally, questions to guide future development of the sensemaking perspective on adoption are highlighted.FindingsSeven properties of sensemaking are discussed with regard to technology adoption. These discussions produced a substantial number of research questions.Originality/valueThis perspective provides the opportunity for a much richer understanding of how adoption occurs and how it can be influenced.
Influence of the business technological compatibility on the acceptance of innovations
Authors: Hernández Ortega Blanca , Jiménez Martínez Julio , José Martín De Hoyos Mª 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe objective of this study is to analyse the influence exerted by technological compatibility upon the intensity of use of the new online management programs made by information technology (IT) sector (new technology companies).Design/methodology/approachThe concept of perceived compatibility, first defined by Rogers, has been adapted to the specific characteristics of the company as the user of technology, subsequently testing its dimensionality through confirmatory analyses. Additionally, a causal study was made in order to determine the importance of technological compatibility in the intensity of use of online business management. The statistical techniques employed are based on structural equation methodology.FindingsThe results demonstrate that the concept of technological compatibility is composed of several dimensions, which these differentiate the technologies previously applied by the company on the basis of their level of complexity; the overall concept achieves an explanatory power of 56 per cent with regard to subsequent technological development.Practical implicationsKnowledge derived from technological compatibility permits the correct evaluation of whether to accept a new IT application, providing the company with a series of positive synergies which increase the advantages of its online business management.Originality/valueThe originality of this study stems from its innovative treatment of the company as the IT user, adapting to this end the concept of compatibility hitherto exclusively applied to the analysis of the individual. Similarly, in distinction to the unidimensional approach of other research, this study has taken into account the need to establish different constructs for the measurement of technological compatibility and has demonstrated its importance in company technological development.
Do organisational factors support creativity and innovation in Polish firms?
Authors: Zdunczyk Kasia , Blenkinsopp John 
Published: January 2007

PurposeMartins and Terblanche developed a theoretical framework of the organisational factors that support creativity and innovation, and the current study aims to provide an empirical test of this framework.Design/methodology/approachBased on a review of existing literature on national culture and previous research into Polish organisations, we developed hypotheses as to the likely position of Polish organisations on these four dimensions. These predictions were tested via a survey of Polish managers from a diverse range of companies.FindingsThe key findings related to ownership – partly or fully foreign‐owned companies operating in Poland appeared to be much more enabling of creativity and innovation than their wholly Polish‐owned counterparts.Research limitations/implicationsNicholson suggested that Polish businesses would benefit greatly from the adoption of at least some western methods, but that there would be significant constraints to their adoption. This research strongly supports this, but being based solely on a Polish sample, requires further research in order to be able to make direct comparison between firms in Poland and firms elsewhere.Practical implicationsOne conclusion of this study is that Polish organisations can draw significant benefits from further effective assimilation of western management philosophy and methods.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the growing literature on organisational determinants of innovation, and on the transfer of western methods to the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe. It offers insights of interest to managers in Polish businesses and to potential investors in Poland.
The lure of simplicity: learning perspectives on innovation
Authors: Kalling Thomas 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss obstacles to innovation, by using organisational learning and knowledge management theory. The logic behind this purpose is that understanding obstacles enhances our understanding of what may drive innovation.Design/methodology/approachWhile organisational learning and knowledge management tend to focus on cognitive factors this paper focuses on contextual factors such as organisational structure and institutional factors. The method applied follows the case study approach, where a theoretic frame of reference is studied in a one case setting and findings are generalised by means of so‐called analytical generalisation. A total of 86 managers and employees were interviewed in one large multinational corporation within the paper packaging sector, to unveil their experience from specific attempts at being innovative and from the general climate of innovation within the company.FindingsThe empirical findings support that understanding the significance of the organisational context, particularly the structure and control of the line organisation, the interface between the line and the R&D organisation, the availability of slack resources, and the presence of an effective capital application procedure, is important. They also suggest that institutional forces at the market, corporation and individual level are interdependent and impact the propensity to innovate. Findings indicate that understanding innovation requires understanding the roles of institutional forces and organisational context – not just cognitive explanations.Originality/valueIn that respect, the originality of the paper lies in its addressing these factors not just as prerequisites to cognitive issues but as parallel explanatory factors behind innovation.