bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
African culture and business markets: implications for marketing practices
Authors: Darley William K. , Blankson Charles 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to focus on the key underpinnings of African culture and its implications for business marketing practices.Design/methodology/approachUsing Kluckholn and Strodtbeck's and Hofstede's conceptualizations as a backdrop, the paper provides a synoptic view and modal focus of African culture. Covered are the culture's implications for organizational behavior, buyer‐seller interactions, collaborative partnerships and negotiations.FindingsThe study shows that African culture promotes the principle of reciprocity. In buyer‐seller interaction, respect for the elderly is an important guiding principle. In collaborative partnerships, preference is for the terms of the collaboration to be reached through consultation and consensus. The foreign company needs to pay attention to the softer issues surrounding the relationship and to send a high‐ranking employee‐team. In negotiations, long‐term relationship and win‐win outcome are preferred and encouraged.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper uses the term “African culture” as an overarching concept. However, the fact that to propose a monolithic African culture may be inaccurate because of strong national differences is acknowledged. Nonetheless, there are some cultural dimensions common to the sub‐region, including a hierarchical social structure, the importance of kinship, the primacy of the group, the belief in ancestry and existence of a supreme being, and the value attached to the extended family.Originality/valueThe study provides useful and candid insights into African culture that international marketers may take into consideration when dealing with African business markets. It also responds to Nakata and Sivakumar's suggestions for marketing researchers to deepen the study of culture and its implications for marketing in view of the increasing globalization of markets. It is to be hoped that this study leads to further discussion and research on African culture and its implications for marketing.
Culture and design in emerging markets: the case of mobile phones in Russia
Authors: Salmi Asta , Sharafutdinova Elmira 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to focus on interactions between old and new cultural influences, investigating consumer preferences for a new type of product – the mobile phone – by looking at the cultural and socio‐economic factors that affect these preferences.Design/methodology/approachA total of 22 Russian experts in design and marketing were interviewed in the spring of 2005. The paper takes the viewpoint of Western firms interested in Russian (mobile phone) markets.FindingsThe study shows that the general features (high power distance, femininity, high uncertainty avoidance) characterizing Russian culture affect preferred mobile phone design. Long‐term values are seen, for example, in family orientation, which affects the use of mobile phones. Changing cultural and socio‐economic features are seen in the strict division of consumers into distinct segments. Current aspects of society, such as high level of street crime, are apparent in the desired features of products. The emerging Russian markets seem to consist of very different consumer groups and simultaneously represent both old and new cultural features and norms. Design has become a central tool for affecting product marketing, and an influential community of designers and a design industry are emerging.Practical implicationsCooperation with the local designers can provide an important competitive edge and support when promoting both industrial and consumer goods in Russia's emerging markets.Originality/valueDesign was earlier neglected and it has only recently started to play a more significant role in production and marketing of products in Russia. Designers can now act as important intermediaries between Russian markets and Western marketers.
Segmentation strategies for non‐profits: mining the emerging market of “black gold”
Authors: McKinley‐Floyd Lydia , Shrestha Nanda 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to present a strategic conceptual framework for targeting and mining the emerging market segment of Black philanthropy (black gold).Design/methodology/approachThis strategic and normative conceptualization utilizes a socio‐historical and socio‐cultural perspective to posit the black gold construct and recommend tactics for mining it.FindingsBlack communities have historically engaged in social justice and self‐help activities for racial equality and advancement and with increasing levels of wealth accumulation now comprise a significant market for philanthropic giving for domestic and global non‐profit organizations. However, in light of Black America's tortured socio‐historical experience and racial/cultural identity, non‐profits must devise a historically‐informed and culturally‐nuanced strategy of relationship marketing to mine the emerging market of black gold.Practical implicationsDomestic and international non‐profits can utilize the proposed strategic conceptual framework to increase their donor and volunteer participation in segmented or minority philanthropy markets.Originality/valueThe proposed framework is strategic in nature, original in conceptualization, and socio‐historical and cultural in its methodological analysis. It can serve as a model, with some contextual modification if necessary, to tap other minority philanthropy markets.
Measuring and reporting public sector outputs/outcomes
Authors: Hoque Zahirul 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on a study of performance measurement and reporting practices of four government departments in Australia.Design/methodology/approachRelying on the “context” and “content” aspects of the institutional and strategic choice literatures, the paper suggests how external institutions such as government regulatory frameworks and internal organizational contexts such as strategic plans may shape the design of performance measurement and reporting of government departments. Texts and contents from archival sources such as published annual reports and department web sites provided insightful and interesting findings.FindingsThe paper reveals that performance measurement systems design as a central thrust to the subject government departments' strategic planning and management framework. Furthermore, content analyses of the data indicate a clear linkage between the recently introduced “managing for outcomes” framework and performance measurement practices of government departments.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploratory study based on archival documents only, thereby provides limited insights into how organizational managers perceived the relevance and usefulness of performance measurement data. However, textual analysis from archival documents provides a rich description of how measuring and reporting of the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of today's government organizations could be the interaction of both internal and external contexts within which they operate.Practical implicationsThe paper adds to the existing public sector management and accounting literatures by suggesting that the construction and reporting process of performance measurement are crucial and relevant in today's government organizations facing a significant reduction in government funding with increased community demand for quality services.Originality/valueExperiences in subject government entities will provide a platform for academic researchers and/or practitioners from multiple disciplines to disseminate information on accounting and performance management in the changing public sector worldwide.
Organisational status and efficiency: the case of the Spanish SOE “Paradores”
Authors: Cayón Costa Magda , Vergés I Jaime Joaquim 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to provide new evidence on the effect of changes in public enterprises' (PEs) management on their economic performance.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is case study type and relies on comparative efficiency literature. The paper identifies relevant changes in the organisational status of a large state‐owned group during a period of 20 years; next it measures its annual efficiency indicators, and then evaluates to what extent the observed changes in economic performance can be attributable to the corresponding management reforms carried out.FindingsIt is found that the “corporatisation” (the public entity becoming a limited company) did not produce a significant improvement in its economic performance, even though the change involved a substantial increase in the company's autonomy. This is a finding which is contrary to what is expected from the reading of business economics literature, since corporatisation is considered to be one of the most relevant changes in organisational status of a PE. In contrast, the second relevant organisational change here analysed (1996) when both principal and agent (CEO) were replaced, appears to have really produced an improvement in efficiency indicators. Therefore, the change of both principal and agent seems to have been a determining element to put into effect the possibilities of more company autonomy which were established five years earlier, and including in these possibilities more freedom on output pricing policies.Research limitations/implicationsWhen analysing performance improvements brought about by a change in organisational status of a PE, a maturing period should be taken into account, for company efficiency to actually improve. Besides, for longitudinal assessment of company efficiency aimed at evaluating an “event's impact”, it would be convenient to rely more on economic efficiency indicators than on productive efficiency indicators if we are concerned with company competitiveness.Practical implicationsBetter knowledge of the conditions for a PE's organisational status change should actually be effective in order to improve its efficiency. As one relevant condition, we argue that a given time span should be allowed for some changes in the attitudes and practices of the public company managers as far as the ways of managing and running the company are concerned.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the comparatively scarce literature available of in‐depth longitudinal analysis of the impact of management reforms on PEs, and it is the first in‐depth study of the impact of organizational status changes on efficiency of a large Spanish PE which still pertains to the public sector.
Civic entrepreneurship in Australia
Authors: Rowe Patricia A. , Christie Michael J. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to expand on previous research conducted by Hornsby et al. that examined the corporate entrepreneurship internal factor of managerial attitude.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops and tests a group level factor of knowledge, the explication of tacit knowledge and a factor of managerial attitude, namely leadership support that is inherently multi‐level in nature.FindingsLeadership support is significant at both the dyad level and at the group level of analysis. Ordinary least squares regression supported the main hypothesis, that leadership support has a direct positive impact on explication of tacit knowledge.Research limitations/implicationsSuccessfully testing the group level significance of leadership support has implications for future research because it is considered an individual level variable. Developing and testing the explication of tacit knowledge construct contributes to research on knowing in organisations because it provides a metric that is an indicator of the explication of tacit knowledge.Practical implicationsThese research findings have management implications for the way local government creates innovative top management teams to facilitate local economic and community development.Originality/valueThis paper represents an early contribution to the literature.
Environmental management system adoption by government departments/agencies
Authors: Zutshi Ambika , Sohal Amrik S. , Adams Carol 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the adoption of an environmental management system (EMS) in government departments involved in one Australian state and identify the key factors that contribute to successful adoption.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through semi‐structured interviews conducted with environmental coordinators involved in the EMS adoption. The external consultant appointed by the Environmental Protection Authority who provided the training on behalf of the government departments was also interviewed.FindingsThe results from the analysis shows that environmental coordinators valued the training as it enhanced their knowledge and skills. They experienced a combination of both tangible and intangible benefits. The lack of contribution and support from top management; difficulty in accessing resources; and resistance from employees were the main challenges experienced during EMS implementation. Recommendations made by the interviewees included: providing training to top management to increase their understanding of the EMS process and its benefits; selection of the right champion; provision of adequate resources; and, training of employees.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are based on interviews conducted in only one Australian state and no follow up interviews could be undertaken to track the progress made by various departments.Originality/valueThe findings of this paper are original as no other similar study has been undertaken in this Australian state documenting the experiences of environmental coordinators when implementing an EMS. Our findings have practical implications for public sector organisations and government departments implementing EMS.
Procurement as a shared service in English local government
Authors: Gordon Murray J. , Rentell Peter G. , Geere David 
Published: August 2008

PurposeSmall councils may not have access to professional procurement resources – one potential solution is to create a procurement shared service with another council. The purpose of this paper is to focus on evidence of the emergence and existence of inter‐organisational procurement shared services and its benefits; a structural approach significantly different from the intra‐organisational centralised/decentralised organisational models and the use of consortia.Design/methodology/approachCase studies, making use of stakeholder, semi‐structured interviews, were used to probe the experience of six English procurement shared‐services covering 15 councils.FindingsThe findings demonstrate evidence of that some smaller councils are benefiting from collaborating in inter‐organisational procurement shared service. The collaborations were engaged in strategic procurement initiatives which would not have otherwise been possible through the use of consortia. However, there was an absence, within the cases, of formal business cases and strategy.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides evidence that procurement shared services can be inter‐organisational delivering the benefits of intra‐organisational “hard core/soft core” procurement structures and inter‐organisational consortia. The paper also suggests that the benefits gained from procurement shared services have more akin to inter‐organisational collaboration than intra‐organisational shared services. This research is limited in that it only relates to the experience of a purposive sample of small councils that had already decided to pursue a procurement shared service. The research limitations also include the absence of a political perspective.Practical implicationsA procurement shared service appears a viable structural option for smaller councils, whether they have, or have not currently, access to a procurement professional. The research highlights the need to adopt an incremental approach and also sets out suggestions for a strategic approach to shared services procurement strategy.Originality/valueThere is an absence of literature on delivering procurement as a shared service, and shared services in general – in that respect this paper represents research into a new emerging procurement structural model, not previously reported.
Public sector governance reform: the World Bank's framework
Authors: Kulshreshtha Praveen 
Published: August 2008

PurposeGood governance is often regarded as essential for a country's economic development. The World Bank's governance framework has guided development projects and governance reform in many developing nations over the past few decades. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the World Bank's approach towards governance reform in the public sector, especially in developing economies of the world.Design/methodology/approachThe paper highlights various aspects of good governance that are relevant to the delivery of social and infrastructural services in developing countries. The paper also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the World Bank's governance framework, especially pertaining to social and infrastructure sectors in developing economies.FindingsIn light of its past experience, the World Bank has expanded the reach of its developmental activities to incorporate governance reform in accordance with the institutional realities prevailing in a developing economy, instead of following a “one‐size‐fit‐all” approach to public sector governance reform. The bank has also encouraged the use of decentralized decision making and private sector participation to achieve greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in the delivery of social and infrastructural services.Originality/valueThe paper provides a useful contribution to the literature concerning the role of international development organizations in formulating strategies that developing economies can follow to pursue public sector governance reform.
Accountability re‐examined: evidence from Hull House
Authors: Oakes Leslie S. , Young Joni J. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to re‐examine accountability in a concrete historical context from the perspective of pragmatism and feminist theory.Design/methodology/approachAn archival case study of Hull House.FindingsBoth pragmatism and feminist theory of Benhabib provide new insight into alternative conceptions of accountability, conceptions at odds with the prevailing and dominant emphasis on quantitative measures of performance. Further, this paper suggests that this limited view severely narrows the understanding of organizational “success.”Research limitations/implicationsWhile this research serves to problematize notions of accountability further, it leaves the task of developing alternative practices to future researchers.Originality/valueThis paper contributes in two ways: first, there is a paucity of research linking pragmatism to the actual workings of concrete organizations. This paper begins to fill that gap. Second, this work draws the attention of accounting and other organizational researchers to the important role played by the settlement movement, and particularly Hull House, in the development of contemporary organizations.
Rhetoric, repetition, reporting and the “dot.com” era: words, pictures, intangibles
Authors: Davison Jane 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to add to theoretical and empirical work on the rhetoric of narratives and pictures in annual reporting by using the lens of repetition to examine the Annual Reviews of British Telecommunications (BT) plc.Design/methodology/approachThe study constructs a conceptual framework of repetition in signifiants (from rhetoric) and signifiés (from philosophy, notably Barthes, Deleuze, Eliade and Jankélévitch). Signifiants are established by reference to rhetorical figures based in repetition: anadiplosis, anaphora, alliteration/rhyme and lists. Signifiés are indicated as conscious rhetorical emphasis, and unconscious reflections of sameness and difference; networks and links; and, of particular interest during the “dot.com” years, exuberance and compulsion; differentiation, ritual and reassurance. The framework is used to analyse BT plc's Annual Reviews from 1996‐2001.FindingsThe application of the framework is enlightening: repetition is shown to be prevalent in BT plc's Annual Reviews, especially during the “dot.com” years. Repetition emphasises BT plc's intangible assets; less consciously, repetition reflects BT plc's corporate identity and its participation in the “dot.com” era.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides a model which may be applied to the wealth of discretionary narratives and pictures in contemporary annual reporting. It would also benefit from the assessment of readership impact.Practical implicationsThe analysis is of interest to accounting researchers, practitioners, trainees, auditors and any user of accounting and accountability statements. It illuminates the way in which discretionary words and pictures highlight and supplement accounting information.Originality/valueThe paper augments theoretical and empirical work on the significance of narratives and pictures in accounting.
Disciplinary action against members of the founding bodies of the ICAEW
Authors: Chandler Roy , Edwards John Richard , Anderson Malcolm 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to present an analysis of the disciplinary action taken against members of the founding bodies of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). This exercise illuminates an aspect of accounting's past which has tended to be overlooked in conventional histories of the profession.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of the internal records of the ICAEW has been conducted. In addition, the archives of the ICAEW's predecessor bodies, entries in various censuses and contemporary sources have been reviewed for relevant material.FindingsAnalysis of the records of the ICAEW and its founding bodies reveals a number of cases where disciplinary action was taken for breaches of ethical principles. The expulsion of a member, however, was always preceded by an external “prompt” such as the member's conviction on criminal charge, his disappearance or bankruptcy. This perhaps suggests that the early professional bodies were more inclined to protect the private interests of their members rather than the public interest.Originality/valueThe paper's findings add to the literature on the professionalisation of the British accountancy profession. By focussing on the less‐celebrated aspects of the founders' behaviour, this paper puts the success of the profession in achieving public acceptance into sharper perspective.