bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stakeholder relationships in an international retailing context: an investment bank perspective
Authors: Palmer Mark , Quinn Barry 
Published: January 2007

PurposeIn the stakeholder marketing literature, there have been calls by several researchers to expand the stakeholder domain to incorporate a broader array of stakeholders. In developing this argument in this paper the authors aim to explore a set of stakeholder relationships in an international retailing context, notably those which exist between retail firms and investment banks.Design/methodology/approachTheoretical ideas are subject to empirical scrutiny from 34 in‐depth interviews with investment banks and senior retail executives from two retail multinationals.FindingsExploratory findings suggest that US investment banks' ideals were at odds with European retail firms – and both occupied “different thought worlds”. It is concluded that the relationships between financial stakeholders and the retail firm cannot be explained simply by reference to stylised economic interactions, but must also be examined in the light of the cultural contexts and different forms of market system within which different firms emerge, operate and interact.Originality/valueNew strategies such as internationalisation stretch resources and capabilities to a point where retailers invariably will be exposed to different stakeholder issues and stresses. Towards this end, this paper contends that the significant international re‐orientation under way in retailing must be understood within the wider context of stakeholder theory. The paper argues that the full potential of applying stakeholder marketing theory to the internationalisation process of retailers has yet to be realised. From this exploratory research, five research propositions are put forward that might serve as a guide to future research in this area.
Corporate reputation, stakeholders and the social performance‐financial performance relationship
Authors: Neville Benjamin A. , Bell Simon J. , Mengüç Bülent 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo increase understanding of the role of reputation in the corporate social performance (CSP) and financial performance (FP) relationship, including contingencies.Design/methodology/approachStakeholder theory is drawn on to present a model of reputation's role in the contingent CSP‐FP relationship.FindingsCSP is affected by stakeholders' resource allocation to the organisation. This allocation is based on stakeholders' assessment of the organisation's reputation relative to stakeholders' particular expectations, which may be instrumentally and/or normatively framed. Reputation, therefore, plays a key role in the CSP‐FP relationship. Additionally, the authors propose that the equivocal results of previous research into the CSP‐FP relationship may be partly explained by organisational and market contingencies. Specifically, the authors contend that strategic fit, competitive intensity and reputation management capability moderate the CSP‐FP relationship.Research limitations/implicationsEmpirical measurement issues and future research directions are discussed.Originality/valueThis paper increases the understanding of the role of reputation in the CSP‐FP relationship. Owing to its rich pedigree in research in corporate branding and reputation, marketing is uniquely positioned to contribute toward the better understanding of this issue.
Learning orientation and market orientation
Authors: Mavondo Felix T. , Chimhanzi Jacqueline , Stewart Jillian 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe paper investigates the relationships among learning orientation (LO), market orientation (MO), human resource practices (HRPs) and innovation and their association with organisational performance. The aim is to show that HRPs and innovation are important mechanisms for transmitting the benefit of LO and MO into performance outcomes.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on extensive literature, a model of the relationships is developed and empirically tested using survey data collected from 220 businesses. Data are analysed through structural equation modelling and/or path modelling. The primary aim is to assess direct, indirect and total effects of LO and MO on performance outcomes through HRPs and innovation (conceptualised as administrative, process and product innovation) as mediators. The study carefully traces the effects of each variable to distinguish between indirect effects and mediated effects.FindingsHRPs are a major mechanism for transmitting the benefits of LO and MO. In some models this is even more important than innovation. The results also suggest that LO should be viewed as exploration while MO is the interface between exploration and exploitation and, finally, HRPs and innovation must be viewed as exploitation or implementation issues.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that marketers should include HRPs in models of LO, MO, and innovation to enhance the explanations of these to organisational performance. This study suggests HRPs and innovation are important mediators.Originality/valueThe paper suggests that marketers need to consider the impact of HRPs on achievement of marketing goals and organisational performance.
The artist and the brand
Authors: Schroeder Jonathan E. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to argue that greater awareness of the connections between the traditions and conventions of visual art and the production and consumption of images leads to enhanced ability to understand branding as a strategic signifying practice.Design/methodology/approachSeveral prominent, successful artists served as case studies to illuminate the potential for insights into the interconnections between art, branding, and consumption by turning to art history and visual studies. Discusses the cross‐fertilization of art and branding, focusing on three contribution areas: the interactions between art, brands and culture, the self‐reflexivity of brands, and brand criticism.FindingsSuccessful artists can be thought of as brand managers, actively engaged in developing, nurturing and promoting themselves as recognizable “products” in the competitive cultural sphere.Originality/valueThis paper places brands firmly within culture to look at the complex underpinnings of branding, linking perceptual and cognitive processes to larger social and cultural issues that contribute to how brands work and argues that art‐centred analyses generate novel concepts and theories for marketing research.
Rediscovering consumer‐producer involvement
Authors: Alexander Andrew , Nicholls Alex 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the value of a network perspective in enhancing the understanding of the business to consumer marketing of high‐involvement product categories. This is achieved through the analysis of the development of fair trade marketing in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe paper addresses the research question through an analysis of relevant literatures from both marketing and other disciplinary areas. The paper is thus multidisciplinary in nature. Findings from a series of in depth, semi‐structured interviews with senior representatives of a fair trade wholesaler, of a specialist fair trade brand, of supermarket retailers involved with fair trade and of other fair trade labelling and support organisations are reported and discussed.FindingsThe relevance of an actor network theory (ANT) informed interpretation of the development of the fair trade marketing network is revealed. Its emphases on the processes of exchange and the role of human and non‐human actants in enabling interactions within the network are shown to be important. fair trade marketing is shown as occurring within an unfolding network of information exchanges. Analysis of this emerging network highlights a shift of emphasis in fair trade marketing from the fair trade process to fair trade products and, latterly, fair trade places.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the requirement for further conceptualisation of the business to consumer marketing of high‐involvement product categories, and reveals the potential of ANT as one approach to meet this need. The paper also provides a detailed insight into the development of fair trade marketing in the UK.
Developing strategic alliances in management learning
Authors: Thorne E. Ann , Wright Gill 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe notion of effective strategic alliances provides the basis on which this paper proposes a framework to manage the application and outcomes of management learning. The management of key partner collaboration emerges in this paper as a major success factor in determining effective management learning. A proactive structured approach to partnerships and alliances is proposed as a robust framework for management learning that is based on the advantages and effectiveness of management theories and concepts.Design/methodology/approachThis paper describes the results of a longitudinal research study of an inter‐organisational partnership; this paper explores the contributions, experiences and perceptions of the central stakeholders in management learning (HE, organisations and students). Through a case study approach to three collaborative projects, an analysis of the learning cycle of planning, designing, monitoring and assessing programmes is presented.FindingsThe results demonstrate that, as well as being a diagnostic tool, the framework underpinning strategic alliances – their formation, risks and challenges – provides the basis of an anticipatory and proactive approach to successful management‐learning partnerships. The research shows that, if stakeholders in the management‐learning relationship are to achieve their individual and diverse objectives, managing their interaction with each other and input into the process is essential. The need for partners to be explicit about their collaboration and each stakeholder's objectives is demonstrated. The learning agreement is a mechanism through which these desired outcomes could be made tangible and thus through which the strategic partnership can be managed.Originality/valueThe distinct contribution of this paper is that it brings together different management concepts to make practical use of the ideas of management learning. It provides evidence of successful programme design and delivery for management learning, as well as issues that have not worked well in the development of successful alliances, which underpin these programmes. Finally, the paper contributes to the continuing progression of thinking about the very nature of management learning as a theoretical framework to enhance the link between research, learning and the practice of management.
Human resources policies compared
Authors: Tomé Eduardo 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo compare in a fruitful way the human resources (HR) policies that exist in the European Union (EU) and in the United States of America (USA). Nowadays, the world is evolving to a situation in which big economic spaces like Brazil, Russia, India, China, Japan, the EU and the USA are becoming dominant. Those spaces can learn from one another on how to guide their HR policies. The comparison between the EU and the USA is further justifiable because the EU seeks to become the world leader by 2010, and is facing a strong “neo‐liberal” ideological trend.Design/methodology/approachHaving in mind the known theories on HR, the various types of welfare states that may underlie HR policies and also some basic questions regarding the practical organization of those policies are analyzed.FindingsThe EU comprises five different types of welfare states, the USA one. Regarding specific aspects of HR policies, for example, the role of the Federal authority, redistribution, eligibility and policy priorities and the evaluation procedures, the USA has the edge over the EU.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an initial work. Further analysis could be made both enlarging the analysis to another cases (Brazil, Russia, India, China, Japan) and trying to find more specific and actual data on all the questions addressed.Practical implicationsMuch caution should be taken in comparing HR practices, and transferring them, because E&T systems have historic roots and depend on the economic characteristics of the country in question. The EU should increase and improve its role in the command of HR policies in Europe.Originality/valueAn original study on the way of looking at the EU's HR policy framework and on the way of dealing with the question of the “Americanization” of the world, namely in the HR field.
Individual and contextual influences on multiple dimensions of training effectiveness
Authors: Chiaburu Dan S. , Tekleab Amanuel G. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo investigate individual and contextual antecedents of learning, transfer of learning, training generalization and training maintenance in a work context.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression analysis on data obtained from 119 employees who attended training programs.FindingsThe data supported the relationship between continuous‐learning culture and supervisor support and training motivation. Although training motivation was directly related only to training maintenance, it interacted with performance goal orientation in affecting training transfer and generalization.Practical implicationsPractitioners interested in designing interventions directed at increasing similar training outcomes can use various approaches aimed at assessing and monitoring factors such as continuous‐learning culture, supervisor support and training motivation. More importantly, based on the current results, practitioners can manage selectively the performance goal orientation of their trainees, given its differential relationship with training outcomes.Originality/valueThe findings are valuable for researchers and practitioners. From a theoretical perspective, the study offers a better‐specified model of training effectiveness by including both contextual and individual factors important for improving training effectiveness. Practitioners can use these ideas to design corresponding training and training transfer interventions.
Training leisure centre instructors: client motivational profiles examined
Authors: Kniveton Bromley H. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo investigate the motivations of clients attending leisure centres/clubs. It is noted that training programmes for instructors tend to neglect this, particularly in relation to the gender and age of clients.Design/methodology/approachIn this study 460 recreational athletes including equal numbers of males and females in the two age groups, 17‐27 years and 37‐84, were interviewed and given a short questionnaire concerning their motives for taking part in activities in leisure centres/clubs.FindingsIt was found that both gender and age influenced motivations to participate and reasons for leaving.Research limitations/implicationsThe need for instructors to be made aware of the very different motives driving recreational athletes to attend clubs was stressed, if client wastage is to be reduced.Originality/valueThis study shows that gender and age variables influence motivations for participation, with marked differences in motivations between males and females. This article pin‐points areas that instructors need to take into account when training and will be of interest to instructors in the leisure business.
Creating a profession: suggestions for the licensed trade
Authors: Pratten J.D. , Lovatt C.J. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study some of the business and legal problems experienced by the licensed trade and to explore the need for greater control for entry to the industry.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken has been to use an overview of the function of professional and trade bodies together with a detailed analysis relevant to the licensed trade.FindingsThe findings are that the dangers of anti‐social behaviour resulting from alcohol consumption, coupled with the activities of some licensees, suggest that a more professional group of licensees could benefit employees and consumers.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited by being desk‐based.Originality/valueThe extra demands to gain a licence could be unpopular but, if the proposals led to fewer examples of business failure, a greater proficiency in dealing with customers and a greater awareness of the dangers of alcohol, then it would be of real benefit to the public. Is a Licence to Trade the way forward?
Recruitment and training policies and practices
Authors: Tanova Cem , Nadiri Halil 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo provide information on differences between recruitment methods and training practices used in SMEs and large organizations in Turkey, as a representative of a developing country.Design/methodology/approachA survey as designed by the Cranfield Network on International Human Resource Management (CRANET‐G) was used for this study. The survey aims to obtain data that is based on facts and it does not ask for information based on respondents’ opinions, attitudes or perceptions.FindingsIt provides information about recruitment methods and training practices used in organizations in Turkey. It suggests that, in Turkey, small businesses are more likely to rely on employment agencies, which are considered formal recruitment sources in order to fill managerial positions, contrary to the existing literature and theoretical propositions. Additionally, with regard to training practices, it shows that large organizations use more formal training methods compared with small‐and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).Research limitations/implicationsThis study only includes SMEs and large organizations in Turkey as a representative of developing countries, but the findings may have implications for other developing countries.Practical implicationsA very practical study which provides further insights for academics and managers of both large and small organizations.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils the need of further enhancing the research in the field of HRM in developing countries, and offers practical help to individual managers operating in the same settings as Turkey.
Creating a learning organisation within the family business: an Irish perspective
Authors: Birdthistle Naomi , Fleming Patricia 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how a learning organisation can be created within the framework of the family SME in Ireland.Design/methodology/approachNo comprehensive list of independent family businesses in Ireland was available. To overcome this problem a pragmatic approach was taken in the construction of a sampling frame for this research. Primary data from a stratified random sample of independent unquoted businesses were collected. Data were collected from 121 family SMEs using a postal questionnaire.FindingsThe results indicate that micro, small and medium‐sized family firms display some of the characteristics of a learning organisation, but not all of them. Therefore, with strategic review, systems development and cultural change within family SMEs in Ireland, they have the potential to be learning organisations.Research limitations/implicationsThis study used a single‐respondent, self‐administered questionnaire. Future research should incorporate analysing other members of the family business – family and non‐family members – so as to get a “wider” understanding of the family SME.Practical implicationsA major contribution of this research is the identification of an existing and suitable theoretical background that can be applied to the study of the family SME, thereby providing a frame‐of‐reference for the analysis of family SMEs as learning organisations.Originality/valueThis paper presents original findings in a highly relevant, but under‐researched field – the family SME as a learning organisation.
Management development in health care
Authors: Purcell Laura , Milner Brigid 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the dramatic reforms in the health service in recent years.Design/methodology/approachExamines management development in health care, and explores the experiences of clinical nurse managers.FindingsDuplication of agencies and multiplication of roles have led to tensions in terms of both the management and organisation of the health service and pressures to accommodate local and national agendas have proved difficult and, as such, a complex, bureaucratic organisation is seen to be the resultant outcome.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils the need of exploring the experiences of clinical nurse managers in the NHS.
Towards zero management learning organisations
Authors: O'Keeffe Ted 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis research paper is a distinctive element of an empirical study on learning organisations carried out between 1999 and 2002. It seeks to examine a whole range of issues that seem to permeate higher‐performing organisations.Design/methodology/approachThe study design utilised both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.FindingsThe core tenet of learning organisations is an ability to learn continuously while the subject of learning is learning itself. Within effective organisations the learning process is directed not towards procedures, principles or objectives in themselves, but towards understanding per se. This study found that within learning organisations the entire business ecosystem is one huge classroom and the leader who is capable of effectively harnessing the collective ingenuity of his employees will simply blow the competition away.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was undertaken in large to very large multinational organisations and may not apply equally to those small to medium enterprises struggling for survival.Practical implicationsOne of the outcomes from this research is the development of a new web site that allows individuals, groups or organisations to cost‐effectively identify training and development deficiencies from the comfort of their own office or work stations.Originality/valueThis paper addresses the everyday concerns of companies striving for superior performance and effective utilisation of resources. By comparing a very complex concept like learning organisations with the cross‐functional activity within a beehive, the author hopes to stimulate further debate on the true nature of leadership within high‐performing organisations.
The challenges of training with interpreters and translators
Authors: Cseh Maria , Short Darren 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to present a case study of an HRD team from the UK that delivers training to a large public service Hungarian organization with the aid of interpreters and translators.Design/methodology/approachThe article takes the form of a case study.FindingsThe article acts to illustrate good and ineffective practices, and practical difficulties inherent in the acts of translation and interpretation within an HRD context.Originality/valueThe article helps set the base for best practice in similar situations, and will therefore be useful to practitioners undertaking work through interpreters and translators. Implications for HRD research are also presented.