bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Managing strategic planning paradigms in China
Authors: Liu Hong , Roos Lars‐Uno 
Published: September 2006

PurposeTo review the importance of the Chinese cultural phenomenon, guanxi, and the marked difference in both consumer behaviour and management practices between China and the West, all from the perspective of market entry by multinational firms.Design/methodology/approachGeneral conclusions are drawn and strategic imperatives inferred from a review of the relevant literature and a set of case histories based on personal interviews with key executives in the Chinese operations of six large overseas consumer‐goods companies.FindingsThe undoubted strategic significance of guanxi has been diluted recently among joint ventures designated as “encouraged” by the Chinese government, and is being replaced by a market‐driven paradigm of marketing operations. The guanxi‐driven paradigm remains a crucial factor in planning and managing effective working relationships when the Chinese partner is one officially classified as “restricted”. Case histories show that early success is no guarantee of continuing dominance, as indigenous competition intensifies and Chinese corporations become larger and better resourced.Research limitations/implicationsForeign multinational entrants to the Chinese market must remain sensitive to characteristically Chinese business and consumer behaviour, but can successfully adopt a more Western approach to marketing strategy in certain situations. It is essential to use marketing intelligence effectively, and to plan well beyond the short term.Originality/valueThe authors' expert view of the current situation fro multinationals in China adds a useful extra dimension to the received wisdom.
Market orientation in Nigerian companies
Authors: Osuagwu Linus 
Published: September 2006

PurposeTo investigate the practice of market orientation, with a specific focus on the extent to which Nigerian marketers place emphasis on the different dimensions of market orientation, customer satisfaction, competitiveness, market intelligence, and assessment of the effectiveness of the strategies adopted.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a contextualized and literature‐based research instrument to measure the applications of market orientation “constructs” by 697 small and large manufacturing and service companies operating in Lagos State of Nigeria. The research instrument showed encouraging evidence of reliability and validity. Data were interpreted by factor analysis.FindingsIt was found that market orientation is practised to a reasonable extent among the surveyed companies, and tentatively concluded that market orientation practices were related to the category of business (service versus manufacturing) and its size. The principal focus was on the gathering, interpretation and implementation of market intelligence, and on measuring the effectiveness of the outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are limited to some extent by the confounding effect of variation within and between types of firm and industry sectors, and the use of respondents' own assessments of performance (i.e. respondents' evaluations of organizational effectiveness with regard to market orientation practices). The Nigerian setting and cross‐sectional design limit the generalizability of the findings to other contexts/environments. Continuing research is under way to address these limitations.Originality/valueExpands the body of knowledge about market orientation in practice by extending an established research formula beyond the usual context of developed western economies, and thereby potentially contains lessons for practitioners and researchers in other developing countries.
Optimization of residential property management
Authors: Klingenberg B. , Brown R.J. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe paper aims to provide an analysis of the principle‐agent relationship between owner (principal) and manager (agent) of investment properties by: developing an optimization model for the net profit scenario that any third party manager of properties in multiple locations faces; and describing the principal's (or owner's) problem and likewise developing an income optimization model. The model allows illustrating the misalignment of incentives and compensation arrangements common to the business of managing small investment properties.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides an in depth review of literature on the agency problem, both in general as well as in real estate research and compares the qualitative findings with analytical results provided by the model. The latter is developed by applying a transaction cost framework to the context of income structures in investment properties and their management.FindingsThe optimization model shows that profit maximization for the manger (agent) depends on an optimum number of properties to be managed. It is further shown that the compensation methods customary in small real estate management contracts are inappropriate for the manager to control and cover the transaction costs, which result from the fact that more than one location is managed. The result is a kind of impossibility theorem, stating that management of small investment properties based on customary compensation structures is unprofitable as the number of properties and their distance rises.Practical implicationsThe analysis shows that industry practice for the compensation of management of small investment properties does not address the inherent principle‐agent problem. Consequently, additional compensation and incentive mechanisms as well as control structures need to be employed by the owner. The paper, therefore, provides a starting point to review and improve industry practice.Originality/valueThe paper expands the existing literature of the agency problem in real estate by providing an optimization model for management of investment properties. The model and findings are of interest to academics for its analytical treatment of agency relationships; as well as to practitioners, as the analysis reveals inefficiencies in industry practice.
Offer price, transaction price and time‐on‐market
Authors: Björklund Kicki , Alex Dadzie John , Wilhelmsson Mats 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate whether or not the offer price affects the transaction price and the number of days the property is on the market. Specifically, is it possible for the broker to use the offer price as an instrument for obtaining a higher transaction price?Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypothesis the general hedonic model is used, where the deviation of the transaction price and expected price from the offer price is a function of time on the market.FindingsThe results indicate that a high offer price is more likely to result in a high ratio of transaction price to expected price compared to a low offer price.Research limitations/implicationsHowever, the overall conclusion is affected by the state of the market, that is, whether the market is static, rising or falling.Practical implicationsThe best selling strategy in a rising market seems to be set a high offer price compared to the expected sale price.Originality/valueThe main contribution is that the paper not only analyzes the relationship between offer and transaction price, but also its relationship to expected price. It also tests for the existence of spatial autocorrelation, which is unique in this type of study.
Developing a digital library on ceramics
Authors: Patra Chandana 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe objective of the present study is to discuss the need for developing a digital library on ceramics.Design/methodology/approachThe rapid growth of digital libraries together with professional publications and the popular press have created a lot of hopes as well as myths about digital libraries. Research on digital libraries began about a decade ago and a number of digital libraries were created as a result. The article begins with giving an overview of digital libraries, and then discusses the need for a digital library on ceramics, highlighting the importance of ceramics on society.FindingsThe paper shows that a digital library on ceramics is needed to provide students, scientists, artist and industrial community with an open and interoperable platform to help facilitate research and education, to promote ceramic art, to promote global cooperation, to foster economic development – including rural development, and to help facilitate archaeological research.Originality/valueIt is a paradox that, under circumstances where economic activity takes place at an increasingly global level, individual countries must give increased attention to their performance at the national level so that they can find a favored position within the world community. Since there has been little or no discussion on a digital library on ceramics in the library literature, the study would help developed and developing countries to develop digital library on ceramics.
Document supply and open access: an international survey on grey literature
Authors: Boukacem‐Zeghmouri Chérifa , Schöpfel Joachim 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThis article seeks to investigate the impact of the open archive initiative on the document supply of grey literature.Design/methodology/approachThe article is based on a comparative survey of five major institutions: The British Library (UK), CISTI (Canada), INIST‐CNRS (France), KISTI (South Korea) and TIB Hannover (Germany).FindingsAll major document suppliers are more or less deeply involved in the open archive movement, and this involvement has an obvious impact on the policy of acquisition, archiving and supply of grey literature (dissertations, reports, conferences, etc.).Originality/valueEven if the impact of increased access to digital resources on document supply is relatively well documented, little is known about the specific effect on grey literature, especially in the OA environment. This study provides some evidence concerning this effect.
A substructured version of the variational theory of complex rays dedicated to the calculation of assemblies with dissipative joints in the medium‐frequency range
Authors: Dorival O. , Rouch P. , Allix O. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThis paper deals with numerical techniques dedicated to the predictive calculation of complex structures undergoing medium‐frequency vibrations. This field presents challenging difficulties. The first difficulty is the development of an efficient computational method because with the traditional finite element method (FEM), as the frequency increases, it becomes more expensive to control the pollution error. The second difficulty is the availability of sufficiently realistic joint models to take into account damping phenomena because in vibration problems dissipation controls the magnitude of the response directly.Design/methodology/approachWe use the Variational Theory of Complex Rays (VTCR), an approach which effectively avoids the difficulties encountered with traditional FE techniques. Using two‐scale shape functions which verify the dynamic equation and the constitutive relation within each substructure, the VTCR can be viewed as a means of expressing the power balance at the different interfaces between substructures in variational form. New joint models which include heterogeneous mass, stiffness and damping are introduced to deal with the second difficulty.FindingsThis paper focuses on a new, substructured version of the VTCR which enables us to separate the realistically modeled substructures from the less accurate joints. The equations of the substructures are enforced exactly, whereas the interface equations are verified approximately through the minimization of an L2 residual. We show that this new formulation gives good results compared to the traditional VTCR or the FEM.Practical implicationsAlthough the examples presented in this paper are very simple, this new formulation shoult encounter no difficulties when dealing with more complex assemblies composed of several plates, beams, shells,…Originality/valueThis new, substructured VTCR approach provides more flexibility in the improvement of joint models, for example by carrying out experimental measurements on real structures.
Optimisation of design and operation parameters for ternary batch distillation with fixed product demand
Authors: Miladi M.M. , Mujtaba I.M. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeTo determine optimum design and operation parameters for ternary batch distillation under fixed product demand.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, two different scenarios are considered. In the first scenario, the column specification (in terms of number of plates and vapour load) and product demand are given and the optimum operation policy is determined. In the second scenario, with a fixed batch time and product demand, the optimal design (in terms of number of plates and vapour load) and operation policy (in terms of reflux ratio profile) are determined. In both scenarios, maximisation of a profit function reflecting capital cost, operating cost and penalty due to under/over production and customer dissatisfaction is considered. A detailed dynamic model consisting of mass and energy balances with rigorous thermodynamic property calculation model is used. The optimisation problem is solved using modified simulated annealing algorithm.FindingsTwo ternary mixtures leading to easy and difficult separation were considered. The off‐cut production and recycling has been found to be more beneficial for difficult separation mixture than that for easy separation mixture. The net profit increases with over production more than under production of the products. This is because of the penalty imposed for customer dissatisfaction. It is better to over produce, as that will achieve the maximum profit and (at the same time) satisfy the customer. Finally, for a typical case study, the net profit with optimum design is found to be about 25 per cent more compared to the net profit obtained with fixed design.Originality/valueOptimal design and operation of multicomponent batch distillation has received limited attention in the past. Also, these studies were not geared for fixed product demand scenario. The optimisation problem formulation considered in the past, led to unlimited production of products (based on the assumption that all products produced are saleable) to maximise the profitability. Also, there were no penalties for over or under production of the desired products, production of off‐cuts and customer dissatisfaction due to not meeting the order (amount of products and delivery time, etc.). In this work, for the first time, these issues are addressed in the optimisation problem formulation.
Natural convection‐radiation cooling of a vertical divided vented channel
Authors: Mezrhab A. , Bouali H. , Amaoui H. , Abid C. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the radiation‐natural convection interactions in a vertical divided vented channel. The effects of the surface emissivity, the vent opening position and size on the heat transfer and the flow structures inside the channel were studied.Design/methodology/approachThe governing differential equations are solved by a finite volume method, with adopting the SIMPLER algorithm for pressure‐velocity coupling. The view factors were determined by using a boundary elements approximation and a Monte Carlo method.FindingsThe effect of the radiation exchange is very important, it increases the average hot wall Nusselt number by more than 100 per cent. The contribution of the channel wall emissivity in the heat transfer is more important than that of the plate emissivity. The average hot wall Nusselt number increases with increasing the vent opening size, only in presence of the radiation exchange, and this increase is more pronounced, particularly when the vent opening is located near the channel inlet.Research limitations/implicationsThe flow is assumed to be incompressible, laminar and two dimensional. The radiative surfaces are assumed diffuse‐grey. The working fluid, air, is considered as transparent with respect to the radiation.Practical implicationsThe industrial applications of this study are solar collectors, thermal building, electronic cooling, aeronautics, chemical apparatus, nuclear engineering, etc.Originality/valueIn comparison to the preceding studies, the originality of this paper is the taking into account of the radiation exchange in a vented and divided channel.
Location, industrial concentration and the propensity of small US firms to export
Authors: Mittelstaedt John D. , Ward William A. , Nowlin Edward 
Published: September 2006

PurposeTo examine the effects of urbanization and industrial concentration on the propensity of firms to export, and to determine whether these aspects of geography affect smaller firms differently than larger ones.Design/methodology/approachBased on expectations from economic geography and organizational learning theories, logistic regression was used to assess the effects of firm size, urbanization and industrial concentration on the export choices of 43,707 manufacturing firms located in the Southeastern USA.FindingsResults indicate that geography affects choices to export, and that these choices differ with firm size. The smallest manufacturers (fewer than 20 employees) were most likely to export from urban areas and in concentrated industrial sectors. Industry‐specific differences were also found.Research limitations/implicationsResults from the Southeastern USA are consistent with findings from China, though caution should be used in generalizing from these findings. The findings suggest that both internal and external scale economies must be considered in order to understand the export success of small firms.Practical implicationsThese findings suggest that factors external to the firm affect the learning and decision process of smaller firms in very different ways than larger firms. Small firms are more dependent on their geographic environments than larger firms, when engaging the global economy.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to examine the simultaneous effects of internal and external scale economies on the propensity of firms (and particularly small firms) to engage in export activities.
A comparative investigation into the internationalisation of Canadian and UK high‐tech SMEs
Authors: Spence Martine , Crick Dave 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide comparative data from a two‐country study; specifically, into the internationalisation strategies of Canadian and UK high‐tech small and medium‐sized enterprises.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology employed involves 24 in‐depth interviews, 12 in each country.FindingsThese suggest that the differences between the firms in the two countries were limited; more similarities were identifiable. Specifically, strategy formation is not as systematic as some previous studies, notably those that focus on the “stage” models, suggest. Entrepreneurs and management teams recognise and exploit opportunities in different ways, ranging from planned strategy formation through to opportunistic behaviour; as such, no single theory could fully explain international entrepreneurial decisions.Research limitations/implicationsThe implication of the findings is to offer support to the literature that has suggested a more holistic view should be undertaken in international entrepreneurship research.Originality/valueThe main aspect of originality outside of the comparative data involves accounting for the role of serendipity in unplanned overseas market ventures, an issue lacking in much of the earlier literature.
Sense of community: an exploratory study of US consumers of financial services
Authors: Fraering Martin , Minor Michael S. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to develop and test a sense of consumption community measurement scale. The concept is examined in an exploratory study in the context of the perceptions of customers of financial services firms.Design/methodology/approachThis research consults the marketing, banking, psychology, and public policy literature. A sense of consumption community scale is tested for validity via exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Scale reliability analysis is also conducted.FindingsThe result is a second‐order construct composed of the first‐order constructs, camaraderie and communality, and social capital. The construct is found to be a means of measuring the strength of consumers' perceptions of consumption community. Additional evidence of its practical value is demonstrated in four findings. First, partial support is found that men perceive a greater sense of community than women. Second, there is a positive relationship between age and perceived sense of community. Third, no significant relationship was found between the various types of financial institutions and customers' sense of consumption community. Fourth, an identical finding was obtained for the relationship between sense of community and longevity. And fifth, this research also documents limitations of the Sense of Consumption Community Construct due to the exploratory nature of this research effort.Originality/valueThe scale formulated in this research is the first to measure a sense of community among the customers of financial institutions.
The application of TQM: organic or mechanistic?
Authors: Moore Brad , Brown Alan 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) in five organizations in light of the assumption that its implementation is an ongoing negotiated order rather than an objective reality as often accepted by the literature. Guided by a theoretical framework identified by Spencer (1994), the perceptions of a cross‐section of managers and employees in these organizations are used to establish the nature of applied TQM in terms of mechanistic and organic “mental models” of organization.Design/methodology/approachThe paper shows that research methodology is qualitative, and evidence was collected primarily through semi‐structured in‐depth interviews. A non‐quantifying general analytic methodology was used to analyse the evidence collected via convenience sampling.FindingsThe findings in this paper indicate that, in three of the organizations, TQM is being applied in generally organic ways. In the other two organizations, strong influences of the mechanistic model were detected. In many cases, elements of both mechanistic and organic approaches can be found in the same organization.Research limitations/implicationsThe research in this paper is qualitative and exploratory in nature and, as such, does not attempt to investigate the implementation of TQM across a large number of organizations nor generalize the findings.Originality/valueThe research in this paper has significant originality as there is little research, to date, evident on the alternative view, of the implementation of TQM, espoused by Spencer (1994). The research contributes to the literature by demonstrating that the application of TQM can be both mechanistic and organic, encouraging the debate to focus on the nature of the variation of implementation as a subject of discussion in its own right.