bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do popular management techniques improve performance?
Authors: İşeri‐Say Arzu , Toker Ayşegül , Kantur Deniz 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to determine whether the adoption of management techniques influences organizational performance and to determine the antecedents of adoption.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a survey method to collect data from 106 large businesses in multiple industries.FindingsThe findings suggest that the adoption of management techniques influences organizational performance, especially when supported by clear vision and mission statements. Organizational and environmental characteristics act as antecedents for adoption.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research should focus on efforts for explaining the complex link between adoption and performance.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to knowledge on adoption of management ideas in less developed contexts.
The impact of transformational leadership on organizational and leadership effectiveness
Authors: Erkutlu Hakan 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of leadership behaviors on both organizational and leader effectiveness at boutique hotels.Design/methodology/approachA total of 722 subjects (60 managers and 662 non‐managerial employees) participated in this study from 60 boutique hotels. Participants were told that the study was designed to collect information on the leadership styles used by managers and on the satisfaction and commitment of employees in the hospitality workforce. Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, Organizational Commitment Questionnaire and Job Descriptive Index were used to assess leadership behaviors of the boutique hotels' first‐line managers and commitment and satisfaction levels of employees, respectively.FindingsThere are significant relations between leadership behaviors and both organizational and leadership effectiveness. The findings support the suggestion in the literature that transformational leadership behaviors stimulate organizational commitment and job satisfaction in the hospitality industry.Research limitations/implicationsThere are several limitations that could be future research topics, such as hotels' source of funding, demographic characteristics of the participants. There is a question about the generalizability of these findings to other hospitality organizations such as four or five‐star hotels.Originality/valueThis paper explores an aspect of leadership in the hospitality industry that is often neglected. It provides compelling evidence for the importance of continuing the efforts to understand the nature of the leadership behaviors‐effectiveness connection.
Competitive strategy choices of Turkish manufacturing firms in European Union
Authors: Demirbag Mehmet , Tatoglu Ekrem 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider competitive strategy choices of Turkish manufacturing firms operating in EU markets and their action programs in responding to emerging opportunities and threats led by recent developments in Turkey‐EU relations.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on a sample of 79 large size Turkish manufacturing firms, the relative use of competitive strategies and action programs by sample firms operating in EU markets was examined by undertaking both descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses.FindingsThe most heavily used competitive strategy choices were found to be growth strategies aiming to extend current product lines with related products through enabling standardization and technology sharing. The highest ranked action programs implemented by Turkish manufacturing firms focused on enabling integration. The findings of the study indicated that the relative use of competitive strategy options varied to a certain extent between the market entry modes of Turkish firms (equity based and non‐equity based) serving the EU markets. However, no variation was found between the implementation level of action programs and the choice of a particular market entry mode by sample firms.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the variation in the implementation level of several of the competitive strategies appears to be readily justifiable, the reason for the variation is not always clear. It is also necessary to extend the analysis to consider the relative use of strategy options and action programs along with other variables, such as the governance and transaction cost variables.Originality/valueBased on a sample of large size manufacturing firms, this study is the first attempt to identify, classify and explain the key competitive strategy choices and action programs implemented by Turkish firms in EU markets.
Firm‐specific capabilities and foreign direct investment activities of Turkish manufacturing firms
Authors: Kaya Harun , Erden Deniz 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the capabilities and characteristics of Turkish manufacturing firms that engage in outward FDI activity. To this end, the paper aims to explore how these firms' capabilities vary with the sample characteristics including subsidiary age, size, sector, host country location, ownership pattern and market entry mode.Design/methodology/approachThe data were gathered via cross‐sectional survey from a sample 94 Turkish manufacturing firms (TMFs) that have subsidiaries based in 28 different countries. Both univariate and multivariate tests were used to analyze the data.FindingsFindings show that sample firms had strong firm‐specific capabilities when they started to expand their business activities through foreign direct investment (FDI). The firm‐specific capabilities were grouped into four categories as operation‐related, product‐related, marketing‐related and management‐related. While the capabilities of the sample firms varied to a moderate extent with their age and size, and to a limited extent with market entry mode, no significant differences were noted with respect to the industry, host country location and ownership pattern.Research limitation/implicationRelying on the perceptual assessment of single respondents constitutes the main limitation of this study. There is also a need to collect data from other emerging or developed countries to enable comparisons between Turkey and other countries.Originality/valueThis is one of the few studies which attempt to examine the firm‐specific capabilities of FDI firms from an emerging country.
Communicating the ethos of codes of ethics within the organization
Authors: Ulgen Aydinlik Arzu , Donmez Dilek , Svensson Göran , Wood Greg , Callaghan Michael 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to examine the ways that the largest private sector organizations in Sweden and Turkey communicate the intent of their codes of ethics to their employees.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were obtained via a self‐administered mail questionnaire distributed to a census of the top 500 private sector organizations based on revenue in each country.FindingsThe research identified some interesting findings that showed that the small group of companies in Turkey that have a code may appear to be more “advanced” in ethics artifacts usage than Sweden. Such a conclusion is counter‐intuitive as one would have expected a developed nation like Sweden to be more advanced in these measures than a developing nation such as Turkey. Culture may play a large role in the implementation of ethics artifacts in corporations and could be a major reason for this difference.Research limitations/implicationsAs this is such a new area of investigation in Turkey, the responses amount to only 32 companies that have a code. The small sample is indicative of the formative evolution toward having codes of ethics within companies operating within Turkey.Practical implicationsThis study enables those organizations that comprise corporate Turkey to view the current state of codes of ethics in Turkish companies and to compare these with the responses of a developed country of the European Union.Originality and valueA review of the literature indicates that this is the first time that such an international study specifically focused upon codes of ethics and the artifacts to inculcate the ethos of the code into every day corporate affairs has included Turkey as one of the participating countries.
A qualitative investigation into leader behavioural flexibility
Authors: Sumner‐Armstrong Crissa , Newcombe Peter , Martin Robin 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe current research aims to determine to what extent Australian managers are behaviourally flexible and to identify what factors are associated with the development of leader behavioural flexibility (LBF) and its contribution to positive organisational outcomes.Design/methodology/approachBecause of the exploratory nature of the questions to be addressed, a qualitative approach to data collection was selected. In particular, the grounded theory methodology was utilised due to its ability to aid with the theory building process. Semi‐structured interviews based on the critical incident interview technique were used as the data source.FindingsThe findings illustrate that the Australian managers who participated in this study exhibited significant degrees of LBF. The results also suggest that education level and group size may be antecedents to LBF. In addition, it appears that leader‐member exchange may mediate the relationship between LBF and positive organisational outcomes, while social intelligence may moderate this relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe current research makes several contributions in terms of theoretical development and reveals a richer insight into the underlying processes associated with the relationship between LBF and positive organisational outcomes.Practical implicationsAs the current research was conducted in the field with 20 practising organisational managers, the findings also highlight some important practical applications regarding LBF.Originality/valueAlthough previous studies have been able to establish a relationship between LBF and positive organisational outcomes, they have explained very little about the processes associated with this relationship. The present study attempted to uncover some of these processes.
Managerial competencies and marketing effectiveness in corporate organizations in Nigeria
Authors: Gladson Nwokah N. , Ahiauzu Augustine I. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of managerial competencies on the marketing effectiveness of the organization. While many empirical works have centered on marketing effectiveness, the generalizability of its relationship to managerial competencies in the Nigerian context has been under‐researched.Design/methodology/approachA 27‐item survey questionnaire was developed and 84 corporate organizations in Nigeria were selected from the 2005 edition of the Nigerian stock exchange gazette as a sample of this study. A hand‐delivered survey was conducted from key informants in the organizations. Returned instruments were analyzed using non‐parametric correlation through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10.FindingsThe results of the study reported in this paper validated the earlier instruments and find a strong association between managerial competencies and marketing effectiveness of corporate organizations in the Nigerian context. The main finding of this study is that managerial competencies lead to marketing effectiveness in corporate organizations in Nigeria.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of the results of this study are clear for scholars and managers. For managers this paper has implications on the investigation of the link between managerial competencies and marketing effectiveness of corporate organizations in Nigeria. In the first place, this paper provides a direct test of the applicability of a western paradigm to the Nigerian economic system, which is different from the other culture.Originality/valueThis paper significantly refines the body of knowledge concerning the impact of managerial competency on marketing effectiveness in the Nigerian context. This paper will no doubt contribute to the body of existing literature on managerial competency and marketing effectiveness.
Reflexive and critical views of leadership performance in corporate accomplishment
Authors: Svensson Göran , Wood Greg , Roger Mathisen Bror 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper intends to shed some light on the relationship between leadership performance and corporate accomplishment through the aid of complexity sciences. The objective is to describe leadership performance in corporate accomplishment using different teleological approaches.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses the underlying criteria of the relationship between leadership performance and corporate accomplishment. Case illustration and narrative analogy are also provided.FindingsThe authors believe that the discussion highlights a potential downside of leadership performance in corporate accomplishment and its precision rarely highlighted in practice and literature.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a reigning assumption in management practice that is based on the belief that a top‐down approach of leadership performance in management and business practices is superior to the bottom‐up approach. It proffers the assumed importance of strategic management issues, but neglects the knowledge, experience, competence and awareness inherent among employees at tactical and operational levels of business practices. It also proffers a mechanical view of employee performance and ignores the worth of the generation of ideas from subordinates in management and business practices that contribute to corporate achievements. Furthermore, it neglects the fact that it is not possible to know the future nor it is predictable.Practical implicationsThe paper contends that the importance of top management tends to be inflated in respect to corporate achievements in the management/leadership literature. It also contends that it should be questioned as to whether the top management of corporations are largely responsible for the corporate results on which they attempt to justify their salaries and other benefits. Furthermore, the paper contends that it also should be questioned as to what extent corporate accomplishment may be derived from the performance of the top management in organizations.Originality/valueThe paper strives to contribute to the ongoing discussion of leadership performance in corporate accomplishment in various ways. The principal contributions are: a set of teleological sub‐processes of leadership performance and a case illustration and narrative analogies of teleological leadership performance patterns, in respect to corporate accomplishment in management and business practices. These contributions provide theoretical and managerial ideas and insights to anticipate and avoid deficient or erroneous grounds of leadership performance evaluation in corporate accomplishment.
Use of PC elements for waste minimization in the Sri Lankan construction industry
Authors: De Silva Nayanthara , Vithana S.B.K.H. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeIn the construction industry, it is well known that there is a relatively large volume of material being wasted due to a variety of reasons. The problem of material waste on construction sites is not an isolated issue and is of environmental concern. Therefore, waste minimization has become an important issue in the construction industry. The aim of this research was mainly to identify the pre‐cast contribution to the construction waste minimization in the Sri Lankan construction industry, through a comparison of material waste arising from pre‐cast, ready‐mixed and site‐mixed concrete.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 27 building construction projects and three concrete elements: slabs, beams, and columns, were considered to quantify construction waste. To compare the wastage due to pre‐cast involvement with other types, three categories of building projects were used, including projects using pre‐cast concrete elements, in situ concrete elements – site mix, and in‐ situ concrete elements – ready mix.FindingsThe study found that mean wastages of cement, sand and metal in PC elements amounted to 5.34 per cent, 13.86 per cent and 7.62 per cent respectively showing lower values compared with the material wastages in the other two technologies (in situ concrete elements – site mix, and in situ concrete elements – ready mix). Further, statistical t‐test and ANOVA were carried out to ascertain whether these results were significant. Results revealed that there is a significant waste reduction when pre‐cast concrete is used.Originality/valueThe paper provides useful information on pre‐cast contribution to the construction waste minimization in the Sri Lankan construction industry.
Towards building information modelling for existing structures
Authors: Arayici Yusuf 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe transformation of cities from the industrial age (unsustainable) to the knowledge age (sustainable) is essentially a “whole life cycle” process consisting of planning, development, operation, reuse and renewal. During this transformation, a multi‐disciplinary knowledge base, created from studies and research about the built environment aspects is fundamental: historical, architectural, archeologically, environmental, social, economic, etc., and critical. Although there are a growing number of applications of 3D VR modelling applications, some built environment applications such as disaster management, environmental simulations, computer‐aided architectural design and planning require more sophisticated models beyond 3D graphical visualization such as multifunctional, interoperable, intelligent, and multi‐representational. Advanced digital mapping technologies such as 3D laser scanner technologies can be enablers for effective e‐planning, consultation and communication of users' views during the planning, design, construction and lifecycle process of the built environment. These technologies can be used to drive the productivity gains by promoting a free‐flow of information between departments, divisions, offices, and sites; and between themselves, their contractors and partners when the data captured via those technologies are processed and modelled into building information modelling (BIM). The use of these technologies is a key enabler to the creation of new approaches to the “Whole Life Cycle” process within the built and human environment for the twenty‐first century. This paper aims to look at this subject.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the research towards BIM for existing structures via the point cloud data captured by the 3D laser scanner technology. A case study building is used to demonstrate how to produce 3D CAD models and BIM models of existing structures based on designated techniques.FindingsThe paper finds that BIM can be achieved for existing structures by modelling the data captured with 3D laser scanner from the existing world. This can be accomplished by adapting appropriate automated data processing and pattern recognition techniques through applied science research.Practical implicationsBMI will enable automated and fast data capture and modelling for not only in design and planning, building refurbishment, effective heritage documentation and VR modelling but also disaster management, environmental analysis, assessment and monitoring, GIS implementation, sophisticated simulation environments for different purposes such as climate change, regeneration simulation for complexity and uncertainty and so on. As a result, it will increase the capability for fast production of virtual reality models and comprehensive and sophisticated simulation platforms.Originality/valueThe paper provides useful information on BMI for existing structures.
The influence of soluble salts on the decay of Moenjodaro, Pakistan
Authors: Fodde Enrico 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe World Heritage site of Moenjodaro, located in the Indus flood plain and dating to the early Bronze Age, is believed to be the most important urban centre of the Indus valley culture. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the main conservation threats and the mechanisms of decay affecting the site and to understand the influence of soluble salts on materials such as fired brick and soil. Furthermore, the paper aims to describe the repair methods employed against salt attack and provides a scheme for site management.Design/methodology/approachIn the paper a literature review is followed by laboratory experiments.FindingsThe main result is the experimental assessment of the repair materials and methods traditionally employed in Moenjodaro. No evaluation was undertaken prior to this study and this makes the work the more relevant.Research limitations/implicationsA more complete and detailed study of the materials examined here might have been achieved if more samples had been analysed. The present study is therefore characterised by this limitation which, however, does not undermine the significance of the work.Practical implicationsThe results have practical applicability to the conservation of Moenjodaro in a variety of ways. The experimental analysis of materials will be essential to determine the type of intervention required for conserving the site.Originality/valueThe value of this paper derives from the originality of the work done, being the first of its kind for Moenjodaro. It will be especially useful to those conservators working in the site, but also in similar sites. It stresses the importance of testing before any conservation work is carried out.
Business metrics of laboratory space utilization
Authors: Unwin Stephen D. , Fecht Barbara A. , Bergsman Theresa M. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish novel business metrics of laboratory space utilization for a large, multi‐client R&D organization and to describe their use in space planning to meet strategic objectives. The paper aims to show that traditional methods for measuring and managing laboratory space utilization are impractical in a dynamic environment where there are frequent and significant changes in the use of the space.Design/methodology/approachThe integration of disparate databases – financial, facilities management, and project R&D – enables financial performance data to be explicitly resolved to individual laboratory resources. In turn, this allows determination of the efficiency with which laboratory space is being utilized in meeting the organization's financial and strategic objectives.FindingsUnique and actionable insights were generated in applying the methodology. It provided bases for the identification of both over‐ and under‐utilized laboratory spaces, as well as the means of assessing the efficacy with which space assets are being used in achieving the organization's strategic missions.Practical implicationsThis departure from more conventional concepts of occupancy‐based metrics of space utilization treats R&D laboratory space explicitly as a business resource.Originality/valueThe emerging business‐based metrics of lab space utilization are proving to be increasingly valuable tools in both short‐term and strategic space planning.