bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The “telescopic observations” framework: an attainable strategic tool
Authors: Panagiotou George , van Wijnen Riëtte 
Published: April 2005

PurposeProposes a radical alternative to SWOT analysis. Without rejecting the value of that venerable framework, it re‐focuses it in such a way as to enhance intelligence gathering and improve strategic marketing planning in practice.Design/methodology/approachAfter a thorough review of the relevant literature and a balanced critique of the SWOT framework, a composite “telescopic observations strategic framework” is built step‐by‐step by integrating available conceptual frameworks and models in new relationships.FindingsThe new framework is described, explained, and illustrated by a hypothetical application. It is noted that it has been applied in real‐world practice since its initial formulation in 1999 and throughout its subsequent continuous development.Practical implicationsThe authors believe that their framework can generate a more comprehensive output and a better focussed strategic direction than other available tools in the field, but do not claim it as a once‐only panacea. Users are enjoined to commit to a dynamic yet structured programme of continuous situational monitoring, organisational learning, and strategy reformulation, at regular intervals. Thereby, the new framework will double as a performance measurement and control instrument.Originality/valueThis paper offers an entirely original proposal for general and specific marketing strategy formulation to practising intelligence gatherers and planners and their academic advisors.
Enterprise resource planning and organisational innovation: a management perspective
Authors: McAdam Rodney , Galloway Alan 
Published: April 2005

PurposeTo explore the organisational issues involved in implementing an enterprise resource Planning (ERP) system as the main approach to change management within a large global organisation, from a management perspective.Design/methodology/approachA case based research approach is used which includes participant observation and semi structured interviews with all of the case management team.FindingsThe findings indicate that ERP should be incorporated within a wider change programme, with changes to people management and cultural practices, in addition to process change. Much more consideration should be given to organisational change issues prior to design and implementation of ERP.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to that of a management perspective.Practical implicationsThe findings can be used to guide management teams in designing and implementing ERP as part of a wider approach to organisational change.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the need for ERP studies that go beyond technical implementation issues and which address associated complex change management.
An integrated framework for eChain bank accounting systems
Authors: Lin Fengyi , Sheng Olivia R.L. , Wu Soushan 
Published: April 2005

PurposeThe eChain type of bank accounting information system (eCBAS) is proposed to facilitate standard business document electronic exchanges between banks, central factories, and their satellite vendors in the virtual world. This framework integrates various software applications, running on a variety of platforms and/or frameworks facilitating the electronic exchange of standard business documents.Design/methodology/approachInstead of scrapping legacy systems, this framework takes advantage of web services, XBRL, web intelligent, pre‐warning systems and security technologies to improve the quality and accuracy of accounting information, supporting continuous monitoring and auditing.FindingsThrough eCBAS, financial institutes can now closely monitor the cash or production flows of their satellite vendors. Commercial banks can shorten the loan application periods and also offer quick loans with low‐cost capital to domestic small and medium satellite vendors at different operating stages.Originality/valueThis framework integrates a value chain product view to stress that all value chain activities be coupled together including account activities and fund capitalization. For concept verification, this paper presents a HNCB prototype bank accounting system based on the eCBAS framework. The successful implementation of eCBASs will provide banks/customers an increased level of comfort allowing transaction processing to be continued in an accurate, complete and highly controlled environment.
The impacts of establishing enterprise information portals on e‐business performance
Authors: Yang Shu‐Min , Yang Ming‐Hsien , Ben Wu Ji‐Tsung 
Published: April 2005

PurposeTo investigate the relationship between organizational characteristics and enterprise information portal (EIP) adoption, and the relationship between EIP implementation and e‐business performance.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses questionnaire survey method to collect data for statistical analysis.FindingsThe result of analysis shows that: between organizations that have and those that have not adopted EIP, significant differences exist in the maturity and familiarity of information technologies, and firm size; the implementation of EIP in terms of application degree, implementation type, integration ability, and users of EIP, will significantly influence e‐business performance; the relationship between the application degree of EIP and e‐business performance will be enhanced by higher e‐business implementation; the relationship between the implementation type of EIP and e‐business performance will be intervened by higher e‐business implementation.Practical implicationsCorporations may create great business value by establishing EIP project.Originality/valueThis paper provides a model to understand the relationship between EIP implementation and e‐business performance and helps corporations evaluate EIP project.
An intelligent forward quality enhancement system to achieve product customization
Authors: Ho G.T.S. , Lau H.C.W. , Lee C.K.M , Ip A.W.H. 
Published: April 2005

PurposeThis paper proposes an infrastructural framework, involving various emerging technologies, for the development of an agent‐based quality enhancement system with the distinct feature of the ability to cope with the potential quality problems from various customers' requirements.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed system is equipped with the “distributed problem solving” feature which automatically identifies and divides the potential quality problems into sub‐problems and directs straight to the associated agents that are capable of interacting and negotiating with each other to support customer needs. The new feature of this agile quality enhancement system is characterized with the incorporation of the quality mining engine through the capabilities of the online analytical processing, case‐based reasoning, fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks, achieving the optimization of the performance of organizations.FindingsIn this paper, the detailed architecture and the components included in the proposed system are described with a case study to validate its feasibility of application in actual environment.Originality/valueThe proposed system is to enhance customer satisfaction by automating problem solving procedures in all business processes.
Consumer demand for informative labeling of quality food and drink products: a European Union case study
Authors: Dimara Efthalia , Skuras Dimitris 
Published: April 2005

PurposeThe purpose of this work is to examine the range of information consumers seek on labels of quality products and construct an indicative check‐list of various types of informational labeling as well as to examine whether quality of information demanded segregates the market‐creating segments to be targeted by firms.Design/methodology/approachAn extensive interdisciplinary literature review based on findings in marketing, economics, geography and sociology reveals the often neglected range of factors forcing consumers to place importance on regionally denominated food and drink. The European Union (EU) has responded to growing consumer trends towards regional and traditional food and established special schemes regulating the production of such food and drink. A survey of 640 consumers of quality wine carried out within the framework of an EU‐funded program provides the empirical material of this work.FindingsThe study records the range of informational labeling sought by consumers as well as critical factors influencing their consuming behavior. Informational labeling linking product to place ranks top among a wide set of information sought on labels. A Poisson count data model reveals that consumers’ willingness to acquire information from labels is influenced by various socio‐economic characteristics and, in general, high demand for information is associated with higher expenditures for wine.Originality/valueInformational labeling is a significant step for place revalorization and cultural relocalization and provides significant prospects to enterprises marketing local culture. Research should be extended to the examination of other products and the comparative assessment of the findings.
Hotel yield management using different reservation modes
Authors: Sanchez Jean‐François , Satir Ahmet 
Published: April 2005

PurposeThis paper explores the implementation of yield management using different reservation modes at a global hotel network (referred to as the “Group”).Design/methodology/approachThe Group operates close to half‐a‐million rooms in about 4,000 hotels world‐wide. Following an overview of yield management in hotel industry, the two reservation modes used in the Group are presented. The performance of Group's online and off‐line reservation modes globally over a two‐year period is then discussed in terms of three yield management performance measures, namely: average price (AP), occupancy rate, and average revenue per available room.FindingsThe findings indicate that the online mode outperforms the off‐line mode with respect to performance measures of AP and average revenue. Further to a global‐based comparison, a localized evaluation of these two modes is also presented for two sub‐groups of hotels clustered in a given region. Statistical analysis of findings is provided, pointing to a substantial revenue increase for the hotel sub‐group that switched from the off‐line to the online reservation mode, compared with the hotel sub‐group that continued to operate off‐line. The paper concludes with a brief discussion on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with the online reservation mode.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could look into the impact of specific macro and micro economic conditions on the three yield management performance measures defined.Originality/valueThe research reported is of value to hotel executives who want to pursue online reservations.
Following the pathway of female entrepreneurs
Authors: McClelland Emma , Swail Janine , Bell Jim , Ibbotson Patrick 
Published: April 2005

PurposeThere has been increased policy and research interest in the growing number of female entrepreneurs and their potential contribution to both the local and global economy. Nevertheless, the extant literature on female entrepreneurship is often limited to the start‐up phase of business. An important gap in the literature is an enquiry into the development of these female‐owned organisations from inception to maturity, and their growth in domestic and/or international markets. This paper therefore aims to address key themes such as motivation to start‐up, growing the business, gender issues and the challenges faced by these women.Design/methodology/approachAn innovative, internet‐based methodology was employed to collect the data in the chosen locations. Using internet resources such as online media, company web sites and other pertinent sites, a significant volume of information was gathered. Any information gaps or issues requiring further clarification were then addressed via e‐mail exchanges with the individual entrepreneur.FindingsInitial findings demonstrate threads of commonality between female entrepreneurs in different countries. It also highlights differences in the experiences of these women, not only across countries but also within certain countries. A comprehensive discussion of these findings is contained in the paper.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has highlighted a number of issues which merit further investigation; however, the issue of social responsibility within this sample of female entrepreneurs would indicate that women have much more socially‐oriented motives for starting and developing a business. The authors would like to investigate this further using qualitative investigation of a larger sample within one country before drawing any definitive conclusions.Originality/valueGiven a limited understanding of such issues mentioned above, this contribution seeks to provide an insight into the heterogeneous experiences of female entrepreneurs using cross‐national data rather than a one‐country study.
Entrepreneurial women and private capital
Authors: de Bruin Anne , Flint‐Hartle Susan 
Published: April 2005

PurposeTo explore the demand and supply of private capital for successful women entrepreneurs in New Zealand. To obtain and interpret fine‐grained information in order to mitigate the research gap on growth finance for women‐led businesses in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachMultiple approaches for data collection and analysis. Includes interviews with key decision makers in the private capital industry and an e‐mail survey of venture capitalists (supply‐side) and the narrated experiences of women entrepreneurs (demand‐side).FindingsQuantifies the degree of women's current participation in the venture capital (VC) industry and delineates key considerations in the private capital investment decision‐making process. Confirms the absence of overt gender discrimination in the VC market but draws attention to the presence of other – some of which are more hidden – considerations which affect mobilisation of private capital by women entrepreneurs.Research limitations/implicationsHighlights that a combination of supply‐side (private capital) and demand‐side (entrepreneurs) influences, as well as country‐specific structural and policy factors, needs to be considered when seeking explanations for the lower incidence of private capital to women business owners.Originality/valueMitigates the large research gap on women's entrepreneurship in New Zealand and supplements the literature on the private capital and women's business nexus. Signals the importance of policy considerations in growing the role of private capital.
Careers in overlapping institutional contexts
Authors: Kaulisch Marc , Enders Jürgen 
Published: April 2005

PurposeStudying academic careers can be particularly useful for discussions about new forms of professional careers. This conceptual paper seeks to shed light on academic careers by discussing the (changing) multiple contexts governing academic careers.Design/methodology/approachA neo‐institutional framework for analysing academic careers is developed that treats them as outcomes of overlapping institutions belonging to the different social contexts in which academics simultaneously act. This approach allows one to locate academic careers in the context of new and traditional career literature and to address changes in the institutional context of academic careers.FindingsShows how traditional structures and mechanisms of academic careers are interwoven with the overall patterns of national higher education systems and their societal embeddedness. Empirical evidence was found that academic careers are becoming more boundaryless. But evidence was also found that academic careers are more bound to the organisation due to recent changes in university policies and practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is limited to the discussion of overlapping institutional contexts governing academic careers. Further international comparisons could deepen understanding of specific formal and informal rules. Future macro‐micro research enables one to show how the career models can be traced to the career experiences and practices. Micro‐macro research allows one to see how the aggregate outcomes of individual actions can be traced to the overall performance of a given higher education system.Originality/valueThis conceptual paper proposes a neo‐institutional framework for analysing academic careers. This approach is useful for cross‐national comparisons, the study of emerging new career models and practices in academe, and the study of macro‐micro‐links in career research.
Connecting career management to repatriation adjustment
Authors: MacDonald Susan , Arthur Nancy 
Published: April 2005

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an examination of Black et al.’s theoretical framework of repatriation adjustment as it relates to career planning for employees with international work experience.Design/methodology/approachThe approach combines narrative with argument and analysis.FindingsThis paper expands on re‐entry adjustment to include additional research on repatriation, and discusses the utility of these theoretical propositions for individual and organizational career planning.Research limitations/implicationsSuggestions for future research include repatriation strategies, incorporating concepts from the literature on other life transitions, and the importance of recognizing psychological variables in work adjustment.Originality/valueImplications for career development are also discussed to help employees and career counsellors understand the impact of working internationally and to help organizations design ways to help employees integrate their expertise and experience through proactive and supportive repatriation practices.
A teddy bears' picnic or the lion's ring?Do non‐executive directors add value?
Authors: Chambers Andrew 
Published: April 2005

PurposeAims to consider whether non‐executive directors add value.Design/methodology/approachA discussion based on current and recent trends in thinking about the role of non‐executive directors.FindingsConsidering the effect of the non‐executive director is not quite the same as addressing “the effective non‐executive director”. Do non‐executive directors have any effect and, if so, what are the effects and to what extent? Of course, positive answers to these questions would suggest tests to apply in determining whether someone has what it takes to make an effective contribution as a non‐executive director. This would also assist in determining the scope of the evaluation of the performance of each non‐executive director – which is now very much part of the 2003 Combined Code on Corporate Governance.Originality/valueThis paper offers useful insights into the roles of non‐executive directors.
Corporate social responsibility: modern vis‐à‐vis Vedic approach
Authors: Sharma A.K. , Talwar Balvir 
Published: April 2005

PurposeWith increasing competitiveness today's business scenario has become highly complex. Aims to focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR), which has become increasingly important in the modern era.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual discussion and approach are taken.FindingsCSR encompasses a wide variety of concerns such as ethical values in business, welfare of society, awareness, respect and protection of the natural and built environment as regular action that business can take to solve the problems being faced by the Society. CSR is an integral part of Vedic philosophy. Vedic philosophy emphasizes that those actions, which are coming from the core of heart, will provide the long lasting results. Veda advocates for minimum accumulation, mutual cooperation and maintenance of natural harmony. Veda reiterates non‐centrality of money in human life, but for corporations money is the real nerve of business systems. Vedic economic philosophy is pure and focused on “Prosperity for all”. The present study attempts to critically evaluate the modern concept of CSR and enrich it with the path described by Vedic philosophy to attain the corporate excellence.Originality/valueFocuses on issues such as corporate accountability, corporate ethics and disclosure of relevant corporate information which are increasingly becoming important centres of attention in business.
Towards a framework for benchmarking ICT practice, competence and performance in small firms
Authors: Wainwright David , Green Gill , Mitchell Ed , Yarrow David 
Published: April 2005

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a review and critique of the benchmarking literature with respect to information and communication technology (ICT) adoption and usage within small firms. This is used as the basis for developing a competence based model contingency framework to be used for comparing practice and performance with respect to ICT within small firms.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical approach is proposed whereby the key metrics and questions related to the development of an ICT benchmarking framework are derived from recent empirical research reported in the literature.FindingsThe main findings indicate a paucity of empirical research with respect to benchmarking ICT and also underdeveloped theory in terms of IT adoption in small firms. The ICT competence and capability approach is proposed as a viable research avenue for investigating IT performance within small firms.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of this research are related to its current phase as work in progress. Testing of the theoretical framework and its development within the context of comparing ICT performance across small firms has yet to be carried out.Practical implicationsPractical implications of the research are very high as there could be a direct link between adoption and use of the benchmarking tool and improved ICT performance.Originality/valueThe development of an ICT benchmarking framework and tool that is directly focused on improving small firm performance – linked to a human and organisational competence approach as opposed to only measuring technological capability.
A novel and accurate guide to customer satisfaction
Authors: Thornton S.A. 
Published: April 2005

PurposeAims to provide a quantifiable metric for a library management activity.Design/methodology/approachA light‐hearted view of a serious and commonly undertaken library management activity. For the last nine years the author has been trying to identify effective and easily quantifiable metrics for customer satisfaction for special libraries.FindingsThis has proved far more difficult than the author had hoped, as customers always seemed perfectly satisfied, and even when they were not, they usually blamed themselves. Following the creation of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) after the partial privatisation of the UK's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, the drive for more accurate satisfaction measurement became more urgent, and became a personal performance target on the author's annual review.Originality/valueA light hearted view of a topic of concern for all library professionals.