bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Public and private sector entrepreneurship: similarities, differences or a combination?
Authors: Kearney Claudine , Hisrich Robert D. , Roche Frank 
Published: February 2009

PurposeWhile the term “entrepreneurship” is not exclusively a private sector phenomenon, it is usually associated with private sector business activity and more specifically with small to medium enterprises. However, over the last two decades it has appeared in the public administration literature with increasing frequency. The recent research in public sector entrepreneurial activity makes an exploratory comparative analysis of the key components that are applicable from private sector entrepreneurship timely as the topic is emerging as an area of academic inquiry and research. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of private and public sector entrepreneurship using an analytical model from private and public sector entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachA clear understanding of the research issues involved requires an appreciation of the nexus between private sector entrepreneurship and the more limited research field of public sector entrepreneurship. The paper identifies and examines the historical and evolutionary research on entrepreneurship as a basis for analysis of public and private sector entrepreneurship.FindingsThe paper provides a comprehensive analysis that highlights key similarities, differences or a combination between public and private sector entrepreneurship and develops an existing model and framework for a systematic approach to the public sector entrepreneurial process.Originality/ valueBased on this exploration, new insights about public sector entrepreneurship are developed, practical implications for public sector entrepreneurs on how to approach public sector entrepreneurship more systematically and effectively are presented and opportunities for further research are identified.
Export challenges and potential strategies
Authors: Kalafsky Ronald V. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the case of Canadian manufacturers involved in the Chinese market. In particular, it seeks to look at the challenges of entering a new export destination, including access to market intelligence. It also aims to analyze recent performance.Design/methodology/approachA postal survey of Canadian manufacturers that examined the myriad challenges and strategies for manufacturers serves as the basis for this research.FindingsThe findings show that, for these manufacturers, face‐to‐face contact is important in the Chinese market. The group of exporters, on average, was not as dependent on the US market. Perhaps most importantly, export success is not limited solely to larger manufacturers.Research limitations/implicationsThe small sample size and survey structure limited statistical analysis. Firm‐level interviews need to be conducted in order to examine unique export success strategies in this booming market.Practical implicationsThe findings show that in‐person business relationships are important in the China market. Also, export success is not limited solely to larger manufacturers. Companies involved in implementing lean techniques tended to view China as an opportunity (rather than a threat) at a much higher rate than other manufacturers.Originality/valueThe paper provides an examination of manufacturers attempting to enter a relatively new market after years of regionally focused sales to a mature customer base.
The level of information systems integration in SMEs in Irish manufacturing sector
Authors: Woznica Jaroslaw , Healy Ken 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper seeks to investigate the role of information systems integration in Irish small and medium‐sized enterprises operating in the manufacturing sector.Design/methodology/approachResearch was conducted through a review of literature and subsequent primary research involving qualitative (semi‐structured interviews) and quantitative (questionnaires) research strategies.FindingsThe paper reveals the sophistication of internal IT infrastructure within Irish manufacturing SMEs and whether the IT systems are integrated with one another, and, if so, how well that integration is done. Moreover, the owner‐managers' and senior managers' attitude to IS integration issues is explored, including the reasons that prompt them to integrate IT systems within their businesses, their expectations of IS integration, the challenges they recognise when integrating the systems and their criteria regarding IS integration.Research limitations/implicationsThe research focuses on manufacturing SMEs operating in Ireland; other sectors are not investigated.Practical implicationsThe paper helps the owner‐managers and senior managers to understand the issues of IS integration and points towards possible solutions to the problem of disparate IT systems.Originality/valueThe negative impact of disparate systems and the benefits of integrating them in an SMEs environment have not been thoroughly examined to date.
Does the firm size matter on firm entrepreneurship and performance?
Authors: Ha‐Brookshire Jung E. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and performance is dependent on firm size within a small and medium‐size enterprise (SME) population, using non‐manufacturing, industry‐specific empirical data.Design/methodology/approachSurvey methodology was employed, using a national sample of US apparel import intermediary (AII) SMEs. Regression analysis was performed to determine the type of the moderator variable, firm size, and to test statistical significance of the firm size effect on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and performance measures.FindingsThe paper's results suggested that the firm size effect was present on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and SMEs' longevity performance; however, there was no statistical significance of the firm size effect on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and SMEs' creative contribution or profitability performance.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the study results were based on randomly selected nation‐wide surveys, the findings should be viewed as industry‐ and time‐specific; generalization to a larger population, or to other firms, must be undertaken with caution.Practical implicationsThese findings help to recognize and understand the heterogeneity of the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and performance even within a population of SMEs. Therefore, the results suggest that AII SME managers should put different emphasis on firm entrepreneurship, depending on specific goals and the firm size.Originality/valueThe paper shows that different approaches to SME entrepreneurship research are needed to recognize diversity within an SME population. The study also supports the view that performance measures are not necessarily correlated; thus justification of selection is critical.
Globalization, US foreign investments and accounting standards
Authors: Akisik Orhan , Pfeiffer Ray 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the relation between the proportion of direct investment to US total – direct and portfolio – investment abroad and their country‐specific determinants in developed and developing countries between 1997 and 2005, emphasizing the role of high‐quality accounting standards and corporate governance.Design/methodology/approachThe study covers 46 developed and emerging market countries that are classified into four groups: Advanced, Asian, Central and Eastern European and Latin American. In order to eliminate the adverse effects of possible outliers in some observations on regression results, fixed effect robust regression (RR) techniques were conducted, in addition to fixed effect ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation using panel data.FindingsIt was found that the proportion of direct investment to US total investment abroad is strongly and negatively related to both high‐quality accounting standards and effective corporate governance, even after controlling for a number of variables found in previous research to be important: inflation, stock market capitalization, per capita gross domestic product, openness of destination countries’ economies and tax rates.Research limitations/implicationsOne major problem in international accounting research is the difficulty in obtaining of data. This problem was encountered in this study, too. Therefore, some emerging market countries are necessarily excluded from the sample.Originality/valueThe main focus is the contributions of accounting standards and corporate governance to explaining tradeoffs between US direct and portfolio investment in developed and developing countries. In this sense, this is – to the authors’ knowledge – the first study in this area.
Organization technologies, AMT and competent workers
Authors: Cordero Rene , Walsh Steven T. , Kirchhoff Bruce A. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which firms staffing with competent workers (CW), in addition to adopting organization technologies (OT) (which include total quality management and just‐in‐time techniques) and advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) change manufacturing performance.Design/methodology/approachThe literature is reviewed to hypothesize relationships. The data are obtained with a questionnaire from 89 manufacturing managers in the micro electro‐mechanical systems industry. Factor analysis of indicators of manufacturing performance reveals two broad dimensions: manufacturing effectiveness and manufacturing flexibility. To test the hypotheses, these dimensions of manufacturing performance are regressed on measures of OT, AMT, CW and their pair‐wise interactions in a hierarchical fashion. The analyses are then repeated for the indicators of the two dimensions of manufacturing performance.FindingsStaffing with CW fully increases both manufacturing effectiveness and manufacturing flexibility. The adoption of AMT partially increases manufacturing effectiveness, and partially increases manufacturing flexibility in the presence of CW. The adoption of OT fully increases manufacturing effectiveness, but partially decreases manufacturing flexibility in the presence of CW.Originality/valueThe paper provides a valuable study of the extent to which firms adopting OT and AMT, and staffing with CW change two broad dimensions of manufacturing performance and their indicators through both additive and synergistic effects.
Critical success factors for TQM implementation and their impact on performance of SMEs
Authors: Ismail Salaheldin Salaheldin 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the critical success factors of TQM implementation, to evaluate their impact on the primary measures as expressed by the operational performance and the secondary measures as expressed by the organizational performance, and to find out the effect of the operational performance on the organizational performance of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Qatari industrial sector using the structured equation modeling (SEM) approach.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was designed and distributed to 297 SMEs in the Qatari industrial sector. Of the 297 questionnaires posted, a total of 139 were returned and were used to test the theoretical model. In particular, hypotheses were developed to evaluate the impact of TQM implementation on the operational and organizational performance of the SMEs.FindingsThe empirical analysis demonstrates several key findings: data analysis reveals that there is a substantial positive effect of the TQM implementation on both the operational and the organizational performance. The findings confirm the significant relationship between operational and organizational performances of the SMEs. Overall, the results showed the central role of the strategic factors in the successful implementation of the TQM programs within the SMEs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is subject to the normal limitations of survey research. The study is using perceptual data provided by production managers or quality managers which may not provide clear measures of performance. However, this can be overcome using multiple methods to collect data in future studies. Interestingly, the findings here may be generalisable outside Qatar, i.e. a similar country to Qatar such as the GCC countries.Practical implicationsQatari SMEs should consider TQM as an innovative tool for improving operational and organizational performance in today's dynamic manufacturing environment. The findings suggest the notion that the TQM critical success factors (CSFs) should be implemented holistically rather than on a piecemeal basis to get the full potential of the TQM. Moreover, the study emphasizes the need to link operational performance to organizational performance to achieve the success of TQM implementation.Originality/valueThe study integrates the CSFs of TQM practices, i.e. strategic, tactical and operational factors, with operational and organizational performances as related drivers of the effectiveness and success of TQM practices in the SMEs. Very few studies have been performed to investigate and understand this issue. Therefore, the research can make a useful contribution.
Using DMAIC Six Sigma to systematically improve shopfloor production quality and costs
Authors: Kumar Sameer , Sosnoski Michael 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis study sets out to highlight how a leading manufacturer of tooling, with its continuous improvement drive, has leveraged DMAIC Six Sigma potential to realize cost savings and improved quality on their shopfloor. The study examines one of the shopfloor chronic quality issues which deals with finding a way to reduce the amount of warp incurred in Amada A‐Station punches during the heat‐treat process.Design/methodology//approachThe goals of this specific study were achieved by utilizing Six Sigma tools such as “brainstorming, process mapping, fish‐bone diagrams, histograms, and control charts”.FindingsThe analysis resulted in a number of findings and recommendations. A major contributor to the warp was the method used to fix the parts. It was found that, by using a new fixture to hang the parts, the amount of warp could be greatly reduced. The major recommendation was that the new heat‐treat fixture design be implemented as soon as a reliable fixture design has been proven. The value of implementing this new fixture design equates to roughly $10,000 per year in savings, which is due to the elimination of a secondary grinding operation and elimination of scrap parts. The company expects millions of dollars in annual savings as DMAIC Six Sigma process is rolled out to areas on the shopfloor.Originality/valueThe case study shows DMAIC Six Sigma process is an effective and novel approach for the machining and fabrication industries to improve the quality of their processes and products and profitability through driving down manufacturing costs.
Six Sigma vs TQM: some perspectives from leading practitioners and academics
Authors: Antony Jiju 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to present the fundamental and critical differences between two of the most powerful philosophies of modern quality management.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken was to form a panel of leading academics and practitioners who are familiar with both the Six Sigma and Total Quality Management (TQM) topics.FindingsThe findings of the panel discussion were quite stimulating in the sense that the paper demystifies the myth that Six Sigma is an old wine in a new bottle or that it is another hot topic or flavour of the month. The author believes that this will be extremely useful to many practitioners and researchers in these fields.Research limitations/implicationsThe viewpoints expressed here are based on many practitioners and academics in a few countries such as the USA, Singapore, India, the UK and Korea. It is essential to collect data on this topic from a number of leading researchers and practitioners in the field from other countries and to set out a research agenda in the future.Originality/valueThe paper provides an excellent resource for those people who are currently carrying out research in Six Sigma. Moreover, it is equally useful to practitioners and academics to understand the critical differences between these two powerful approaches to quality management.
Lean information management: the use of observational data in health care
Authors: Castle Andrew , Harvey Rachel 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast traditional data collection methodologies employed in health care with more practical observational methods which are closely aligned with Lean thinking. When combined with problem solving, observational approaches achieve demonstrable improvements in clinical outcomes, productivity and efficiency. The paper aims to describe the changes in mindset and behaviour that are required to adopt the observational methods.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is to describe and evaluate case study examples on the use of observational data in the National Health Service in the UK. This is then used to derive generic principles about the wider application of observational data in health care.FindingsTraditional data collection methodologies are often insufficient to expose the root cause of a problem and therefore may result in little or no action. The observational methods identify the root cause and as such offer a much more practical and real‐time way of solving process‐related problems.Practical implicationsThe observational methods of collecting data described here offer staff at all levels of the organisation practical approaches to preventing mistakes and errors in health care processes.Originality/valueThe case studies described here support the reintroduction of observational techniques used by the early pioneers of productivity. The originality of the paper is in the use of these observational methods in a wide range of clinical settings to provoke changes in working practices.
Understanding the demand for social housing in the United Kingdom
Authors: Monk Sarah 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether the continuing decline of the social rented sector in England implies increased residualisation of the sector, to estimate who is likely to be living in social housing in the future, and to explore the policy implications in terms of the future role of social housing.Design/methodology/approachThe paper addresses these aims by analysing secondary data on the characteristics of current tenants and changes in these as the sector has become smaller. It applies the results of this analysis to demographic projections to determine the likely future profile of social housing tenants and to assess the implications of this for the future management of the sector.FindingsAnalysis results suggest that the sector will house three main groups of households in the future: those for whom it provides a secure home for life; those for whom it is a temporary tenure; and a smaller group who enter for the first time in old age.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of this approach is that it assumes that the future will be like the past, whereas changes in policy and economic circumstances could produce a different outcome. However, recent trends reflect the outcomes of economic variables and policy changes take time to have an impact, therefore the analysis has practical applications in the short term.Originality/valueThe method, findings and policy implications in this paper all provide value for policy makers, as well as contributing to the wider debate about the role of social rented housing.
What we need is an “entrepreneurial society”
Authors: O'Regan Nicholas , Maclean Mairi 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to determine the views of Professor David Audretsch.Design/methodology/approachThe article takes the form of an interview.FindingsProfessor David Audretsch shares his thoughts and advice on an “entrepreneurial society” where there is a rethinking of fundamental economic and business ideas, where innovation and entrepreneurship emerge as the driving forces of competitiveness and growth, but institutions and public policies facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship play a key role.Originality/valueThe aricle provides valuable insights from one of the world's most frequently cited economists.
My life on Mt Olympus
Authors: Hollander Stanley C. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to recount Stanley C. Hollander's own educational experiences and career paths. This is a reprint (with permission) of Stanley C. Hollander's article which first appeared in the Journal of Macromarketing in 1995.Design/methodology/approachAn autobiographical description of the author's early years.FindingsThe paper reveals many of Stanley C. Hollander's personal thoughts, reflections and some regrets.Originality/valueThe paper provides valuable personal insights from the late Stanley C. Hollander.
Stanley C. Hollander and the Conferences on Historical Analysis & Research in Marketing
Authors: Brian Jones D.G. , Shaw Eric H. , Goldring Deborah 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the history of the Conferences on Historical Analysis & Research in Marketing (CHARM) from their inception in 1983 through 2007 focusing on the influence of Stanley C. Hollander, who co‐founded the CHARM conference and whose drive and determination fueled its growth for the first 20 years.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses traditional historical narrative based on personal interviews, archival research, and content analysis of CHARM Proceedings.FindingsThe history of CHARM is described and Hollander's role in developing the conference is highlighted.Originality/valueThere is no written history of CHARM. This story is a major part of Hollander's legacy.
Competition, cooperation and open price associations
Authors: Tadajewski Mark 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to rethink the historical emergence of relationship marketing using the work of an early economics writer.Design/methodology/approachThe approach of the paper is a historical review.FindingsIt is demonstrated that Eddy's major publication,The New Competition, articulates an argument central to relationship marketing, in terms of the value accorded to inter‐firm relationships. In doing so, this paper extends the work of Keepet al.on relationship marketing and Hollander's own reflection on the nature of competition.Practical implicationsCommensurate with studies that explore the “dark‐side” of relationship marketing, this paper shows how close organizational relations do not necessarily increase the efficiency of the market.Originality/valueThis paper undermines the argument that relationship marketing emerged in the 1970s. It thereby adds further weight to the idea that relationship marketing is not a new paradigm in marketing theory or business practice.
Hollander's doctoral seminar in the history of marketing thought
Authors: Brian Jones D.G. , Keep William 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe Stanley C. Hollander's doctoral seminar in the history of marketing thought and offer some insights into its uniqueness.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a combination of personal reflections, personal interviews, and documentation from the final offering of the course.FindingsHollander's course was distinctive among such efforts at doctoral education and probably one of the last such seminars in North America.Originality/valueThere has been little written about teaching the history of marketing thought and to date no published account of Hollander's seminar.