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Purpose: Customer-obsessed organizations put customers first, create exceptional value and enhance business performance. This paper aims to offer a framework for implementing the customer obsession construct. Design/methodology/approach: Using relevant customer value literature, syndicated research and a qualitative analysis, customer obsession insights are offered. Findings: Customer-obsessed companies know their customers' needs and engage with them to offer the best solutions. Four customer-centric stages are evaluated, and applications of customer obsession in the Now Economy are discussed. Research limitations/implications: This analysis of customer obsession is largely conceptual and presents a case study in one metropolitan statistical area. Although the findings are insightful, it may not be representative of the US or global health-care market. Practical implications: Strategic implications relate to a bias for action, types of business obsessions, values alignment and benchmarking. This paper features an in-depth case study on Baptist Health South Florida which assesses customer obsession using a customer value framework. Originality/value: Customer obsession is a strategic mindset built upon strong leadership, a sound business culture and superior value. While critical to business success, there has been limited scholarly work in this area. This paper fills that gap by providing a managerial approach for understanding this key business priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Digitalization and multi-channel strategy have appeared as recurrent themes in retailing for years, yet some major international as well as domestic mass retailers have chosen to retain a single, physical channel focus for customer transactions. These retailers, despite the digital mindset preoccupying the retailing sector, have chosen to rely fully, or predominantly, on their stores to generate revenues. A number of questions arise from this approach. This paper aims to understand the rationale for marketing and strategic practices which appear to go against the dominant, strongly digitally oriented, discourses and practices in the field of retailing. Why do some retailers choose not to add a digital transactional channel? Are there defensible reasons for this choice? Can such a strategy successfully create value? Design/methodology/approach: This research is based on a qualitative, multiple case study of the strategies adopted by Primark (fashion) and Aldi (food), two major retailers that retain a largely single-channel transaction focus, in France and the UK. Findings: This research suggests that some retailers may still be able to succeed by maintaining a single-transactional physical channel to avoid a cost trap which extensive moves towards digitalization of transactions might mean for them. In such circumstances, refusing to adopt a digital value proposition may be a means of preserving the success of their original business model. Originality/value: Despite the weight of academic and practitioner discourses on the urge to undertake digital transformation, this work provides a comprehensive illustration of the rationale for sticking to a single physical channel to preserve the profitability of a traditional store-based business model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative leadership development program, which forms part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) outreach. The program aims to develop the leadership of school principals in under-resourced communities in South Africa, while simultaneously developing the business partners paired with these principals. Through creatively combining various leadership development interventions, the human and social capital of the school principals and collaborating leaders are expanded to prepare them for an uncertain, volatile environment. This paper focuses on the learning experiences of the business partners. The program exposes business leaders to scenarios that develop unique leadership skills. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical study was conducted with a purposive sample of 73 business leaders who completed the 12-month leadership development program. A qualitative approach was followed, consisting of an online survey that predominantly required a narrative description of leaders' perceptions and experiences. The qualitative feedback was thematically analyzed. Findings: The findings indicated that the use of combined leadership development interventions is important in adequately preparing leaders for the challenges of a changing and unpredictable environment. Research limitations/implications: The findings of the research are limited by the small sample of 73 business leaders from a population of 294. Inferential statistics could not be conducted and responses to the survey cannot be regarded as representative of the total population. Possible bias may exist through utilizing a purposive sampling technique; however, this was counteracted through rigorous research, cross-checking and quality assurance initiatives. Practical implications: The presented program innovatively combines the benefits of a CSR program with shared value in human and social capital. Business leaders are exposed to various leadership development interventions. This approach effectively prepares business leaders to deal with multifaceted contextual issues within a diverse, complex and volatile environment. The present paper shows that through successfully cultivating better leadership development initiatives and adopting appropriate and pertinent development programs, human and social capital available for economic progress are appropriately managed and channeled. Furthermore, resource exchange is enhanced through establishing strong interpersonal relations. This collaboration acts as a forerunner to business success. Hence, through adopting such intervention programs and teaching their processes and procedures, the development and implementation of positive public policy can be assisted. Social implications: The value of the current research on public attitude is that its results imply and create the belief and acceptance that uncertainty and disparity can be alleviated through developing strong interpersonal relations that improve the exchange of resources through the collaboration of public and business stakeholders. Originality/value: This paper introduces an innovative leadership development program, which, as part of a CSR initiative, aims to improve the leadership of school principals in under-resourced schools, while simultaneously developing the business leaders involved in the initiative. This is done through partnering a school principal with a business leader in a formal participatory leadership development program. Research shows that the unique combinations of leadership development interventions cultivate school principals and business leaders who are emotionally and culturally intelligent, resilient and well prepared to push willingly beyond and across boundaries in unfamiliar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the dimensions that foster the accomplishment of goals of business ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: The paper reviews recent contributions to business ecosystems and identifies the key pillars that support the achievement of good results. Findings: The paper suggests that entanglement with the customers, value sharing based on a holistic win-win approach, organizational entrepreneurship alignment and continuous smart learning are four dimensions of criticality for designing an effective business ecosystem. These four dimensions nurture the relationships between participants and external actors to make ecosystems successful. Entanglement with the customer is critical to the long-term relevance of the value proposition that reinforces companies' relationships within the second pillar of value sharing in a win-win system. The development is structured in an organizational alignment where entrepreneurship is the engine, from the employees themselves to the largest corporations, and is enriched with continuous learning based on the exploitation of knowledge and big data. Research limitations/implications: The paper identifies a set of four pillars of business ecosystem design for further empirical analysis by ecosystem researchers. Practical implications: The paper provides managers and professionals with strategies to develop effective growth within business ecosystems. Originality/value: The authors contribute a fresh perspective to the business ecosystems literature by identifying four key pillars of success in the current business landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Marketing performance assessment has been a major concern and remains a vital issue for companies and professionals. This paper aims to revisit the theme of marketing audits and propose a methodological approach aimed to evaluate marketing practice at the light of the processes involved. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is structured in three parts. It begins with an overview of marketing audit's theoretical domain. Then, the rationale, content and implementation of the instrument are presented. Finally, the work's main motivations and implications are discussed. Findings: To turn assessment into a useful exercise, it is necessary the existence of a framework allowing a common language for describing marketing practice. The author believes that a structured approach for evaluating marketing processes can decisively influence marketing effectiveness. Research limitations/implications: This work provided a theoretically anchored methodology for evaluating marketing practice. As such, it lays down the foundations for further research on the relevance of the selected processes and how they translate in future consequences for the business. Practical implications: The view presented is intended to draw attention to the need for assessing the way marketing is executed, providing an instrument that helps professionals to better develop their activity and improve their contribution to business success. Originality/value: Most existing marketing performance measures focus on outputs. However, results, per se, say little about the reasons of success or failure. This paper reinforces the importance of marketing audits as a tool to evaluate the way marketing processes are developed within an organization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a mediational model of small businesses success. In this paper, the authors investigate how the human, social, and financial capital of entrepreneurs influences the capacity of small business to succeed. The objective through this model is to demonstrate that it is through the process of innovation these capitals are converted into success. Design/methodology/approach – The paper suggests an original, conceptual framework for how small businesses can succeed. Findings – To validate this mediational model, the authors used the conditions/steps proposed by Baron and Kenny (1986). Research limitations/implications – The results of this study have implications for both research and practice. This study provides a new contribution to the existing literature by introducing the innovation in the explanation of the links between these capitals and small business success, i.e. business with greater access to human and financial resources are more likely to undertake an innovation, which, in turn, ensures small business success and access to more financial capital facilitates the pursuit of resource-intensive success strategies because, it is argued, that slack resources can be used for experimentation with new strategies and practices, allowing the business to pursue new opportunities of success. Practical implications – The proposition is consistent that managers with considerable human capital, social, and finacial capital know where to look for opportunities, can more accurately assess the value of potential opportunities, and have the ability to exploit these opportunities, which encourages innovation. It is this innovation that then facilitates small business success. These resources are important to achieve small business success, but primarily because they encourage innovation, and it is the innovation that drives the small business success. Originality/value – In this paper, the authors extend the entrepreneurial literature by developing a mediation model of small business success. To the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study that examined the indirect effect of human, social, and financial capital of entrepreneurs on small business success through the mediation of innovation. This model has the indirect effect of human, social, and financial capital on success through their impact on innovation, i.e., through the innovation process such capital is converted into success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to move beyond the limits of creating shared value (CSV) by presenting a norms-driven framework for creating shared value.Design/methodology/approach This paper combines insights from organizational studies and philosophy to critique CSV and to articulate an alternative model for integrating the pursuit of profit with social needs and demands.Findings CSV poses significant challenges for managers due to the problem of bounded rationality. Rather than merely engaging in a logic of consequence, this paper argues that managers should integrate norms-based reasoning within the cognitive process of strategic management.Originality/value This paper critiques an existing framework for creating shared value and proposes a new framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present empirical evidence about the roles of leaders and how those roles mesh with transformative leadership as a new theory of ethical stewardship. Design/methodology/approach – Statistical methods are implemented to test the associations between specific leadership roles and six transformative leadership perspectives. Data are collected from Likert-type responses from a survey of 399 faculty, staff, and students of a Catholic University in South Florida. Findings – Analysis results indicate that there are significantly positive associations between six leadership perspectives of transformative leadership and the five roles of leadership in the Kouzes and Posner (2012) model. Originality/value – This paper contributes to empirically transformative leadership, a new theory that incorporates six highly regarded leadership perspectives. It provides a framework for understanding the ethical duties of leaders and affirms the importance of those duties as they correlate with Kouzes and Posner’s highly regarded five-role model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Learning and development are critical to a business's success. This paper aims to focus on organizational factors at multiple organizational levels that facilitate learning culture in a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) in northwestern China. Design/methodology/approach: This study is qualitative in nature. A single case study method is used to explore an SME's organizational factors that facilitate learning culture. Findings: This paper categorizes the organizational factors into seven dimensions: shared vision, creating continuous learning opportunities, informal learning that promotes inquiry and dialogue, collaboration and team learning, knowledge management systems, work–family enrichment and encouragement and support. This paper also compares the findings with learning culture models from Western research. Research limitations/implications: Chinese culture has far-reaching and fundamental effects on many East Asian countries and regions. For SMEs in similar cultural settings with a collectivist orientation, future research may focus on the effect of the work–family enrichment on learning culture. Originality/value: Work–family enrichment was found to be an important factor that influences learning effectiveness in this Chinese small business based on traditional values in Chinese culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Based upon a survey of 87 companies having used the services of business coaches, this paper considers the extent to which coaching is likely to be beneficial to a leader's business success as well as that of the respective company. Design/methodology/approach: The research methodology is mixed methods and survey-based combining quantitative Likert scaling with open-ended questions. Findings: At the 99 percent confidence level, surveyed respondents believe that, on average, the coaching process has provided results above the investment required and has led to progress for them and their organizations. Of the six targeted areas, five showed a very positive relationship between the coaching experience and the results from its clients. Research limitations/implications: As the research is based on a convenience sample it has shortcomings relative to probability sampling. However, it is widely recognized that such samples can be attained more easily, more rapidly, and at less cost than probability-based samples. On the other hand, it is understood that inferences to broader populations of interest are limited. Practical implications: The results confirm findings from past research such as that reported by the Institute of Coaching (2018), that managers should not undervalue potential contributions to individual and company attributes from coaching. Originality/value: The motivation for this paper is to bring together both academic and practitioner experience to provide more evidence and understanding related to the coaching definition, its implementation, and effectiveness. While not conclusive in the absolute sense, the original data original collected and analyzed for this research is based on known client contacts in close time proximity to the coaching engagement and delivers added insight to current research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop an exclusive review framework for the Performance Prism. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive literature survey on performance measurement is used to identify the main aspects of the review in such systems. Various dimensions related to the characteristics of Performance Prism are explored. All the findings are then rationally put together to develop the proposed conceptual framework. Findings – The paper presents a conceptual model to review performance measurement systems (PMS) which are designed based on Performance Prism. The presented framework categorizes review processes and tools into two main categories; Business Performance Review (BPRw) and Performance Measurement System Review (PMSR). In BPRw, a loop is presented in three levels – with regards to the five facets of Performance Prism – which indicates the performance management process. PMSR deals with reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of the design and implementation of the PMS itself. Several methods and tools have been gathered from the literature (e.g. relevance test, measures profile, etc) in this section to examine the relevance of measures, and some have been introduced (including a method to determine inconsistencies in organization's performance trends between stakeholder, strategic and operational level) to study and challenge the validity of strategic assumptions and strategies, and appropriateness of infrastructure. Implications of various factors such as organizational culture, change management, and characteristics of the measures (level of the measure, managers who receive reports including the measure, and supporting infrastructure) are highlighted. Research limitations/implications – In contrast to PMS design and implementation, research on PMS review is limited. This is more evident in the literature concerning Performance Prism. The empirical evidence of usefulness is beyond the scope of this article. Practical implications – The framework provides a procedural action for reviewing both business performance and PMS performance when applying the Performance Prism in practice and provides a foundation for further empirical research. Originality/value – The paper adds to the body of literature, by proposing a comprehensive review framework to be used in Performance Prism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics of critical thinking (CT) in contrast with Six Sigma and the "5 Whys" approach that is used by many managers to conduct "Root cause analysis" in business process improvements. Design/methodology/approach -- The research integrates principles of traditional literature review with a reflective inquiry of a practitioner. Findings -- Six Sigma and its "5 Whys" methodology is insufficient in root cause analysis unless coupled with CT. The paper demonstrates that some extraordinary business successes were achieved by CT, while catastrophic failures were often the result of selective biases, rigid thinking, and/or tendencies to deal with steps of processes, isolated processes, and/or independent situations. Consequently, the paper identifies a new domain that can be added to training in Six Sigma and 5 Whys. Research limitations/implications -- The study does not address specific ways to integrate CT into Six Sigma, 5 Whys, and/or root cause analysis in business process improvement initiatives. Future research is needed in this area. Originality/value -- The paper explores a new perspective to convalescing Six Sigma and 5 Whys methods. It provides a specific example and suggestions to help practitioners avoid faulty conclusions, while conducting investigations to improve business processes. It also opens the door for encompassing aspects of CT in Six Sigma training. As such, it benefits both practitioners and academics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - China has become an economic powerhouse in historic terms but there are a number of challenges to its continued prosperity. The aim of this paper is to more fully understand China's propensity for creative innovation, which is seen as an important next stage in its continued development. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is conceptual but uses historical and secondary data to support its assumptions. The paper was written in conjunction with the 1st Global Peter F. Drucker Forum (celebrating 100 years since his birth) and attempts to continue his challenge of "the hard work of thinking". Findings - China has a long history of successful innovation. However, Confucian belief, a single despot and a closing off to the rest of the world have thwarted its innovative edge. The key to rekindling the entrepreneurial spirit is seen largely as an internal battle based on the state's ability to balance the institution of government with the needs of a burgeoning prospective creative class. This paper identifies that much of this change will rely on quality-related developments rather than simply investments of financial capital. Originality/value - The ability to create new things is a challenge to developing economies that rely on low cost and imitation. China's success in innovation will have substantial implications for developed nations both economically and geo-politically. China wants to be a significant player on a global scale and this paper sheds light on its potential to achieve such an objective. Through traversing China's innovative landscape, this paper also enlightens the field of management on key aspects of China's innovative past, present and future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper takes a holistic and process-based view on agility from a Middle Management (MM) perspective. Its purpose is to identify subjective factors of agility emerging from people's interpretations and perceptions and to integrate them into the process of agile strategy-making. Design/methodology/approach: To provide a theoretical foundation, literature was reviewed in the area of agile diversity and strategy-making. A qualitative study based on interviews was conducted to uncover the hidden subjective factors from the personal experiences and perceptions of the participants. Findings: The study has revealed that individual opinions in terms of agility can originate from three sources: individual understandings, contextual drivers and personal beliefs. Research limitations/implications: The research contributes to dynamic capability theory by providing a better understanding of agile diversity at the MM level. The findings can help mid-level executives to cope with the complexities and ambiguities in managing agility by aligning the different understandings and people's perceptions. This is crucial, as missing alignment of team members can lead to poor dynamic capabilities of business entities and thus threatens overall organisational agility. Originality/value: A model was developed to align the subjective factors of agility during the process of agile strategy-making at the MM level. The framework allows a flexible adaptation to the individual demands of organisational units, as well as concentrated measures for effective agile management. It contributes to organisational agility and business success by scaling the dynamic capabilities of MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present challenges in leadership performance today, as well as leadership styles that have potential, given the contemporary shifts in performance climate. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on empirical research, obtained through methodological triangulation, partly through critical literature review, and partly through the author’s ongoing leadership studies during the past ten years, to be subdivided in three phenomenological studies, and 72 structured leadership interviews. Findings – There is a multitude of factors that keep changing the leadership landscape, and there is a series of leadership skills that suffice well given the parameters of today’s work environments. Nine of these leadership styles are presented, including their main characteristics and contemporary usefulness. Research limitations/implications – The studies reviewed, although in-depth, applied to a limited set of options. Because leadership is such a broad and dynamic topic, neither literature review nor qualitative studies and interview series provide an entirely comprehensive overview, especially when conducted in one part of the world. Practical implications – Leaders may reconsider the skills required for themselves and their workforce to guarantee successful performance in an increasingly interconnected world. Leaders may engage in reflection and work toward stronger emphasis and development of skills in which they consider themselves weak. Leaders may examine their work environment and consider how to apply the factors that could facilitate one or more of the presented leadership styles in their organization. Originality/value – The leadership styles presented are multi-applicable and are mainly based on inter-human respect, so leaders may reflect and consider the style they feel most attracted to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a guest editorial in the European Journal of Management & Business Economics that focuses on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge. It discusses the diverse set of determinants that can influence innovation and business performance while optimizing social welfare and utility. The research in this special issue covers various topics, including individual and learning factors, business factors, regional factors, and their effect on the global business environment. The article also provides a synopsis of several research articles included in the special issue, covering topics such as reinsurance contracts, internal audit quality, debriefing in organizations, brand equity of NGOs, mindfulness in decision-making, and municipal solid waste management. The authors highlight the relevance of these contributions for organizational and societal progress and management. Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of adapting organizations to the changing needs of society and technology and promotes conscious management of organizations. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: There is noted emphasis on the role of small businesses as conduits for economic development especially in emerging economies. Given this, there is need for constantly seeking for ways to assist small businesses achieve success. Calls exist in the literature to investigate the combined role that strategy and human resource management practices can play leading to efforts of financial success. Design/methodology/approach: A structured questionnaire was utilised and data collected from 401 small businesses operating in the Eastern Province of South Africa. Pearson product–moment correlation and hierarchical regression were used in the data analysis. Findings: The results confirm that a direct relationship exists between strategy and financial performance. Further, the relationship is made significant only through the mediation effect of human resource management practices. Practical implications: To fully realise the enactment of strategy within small businesses there is need to pay attention to the role that human resource management practices may potentially have on financial performance. Small business owner-managers need to ground their strategies with sound human resource management practices. Through this, firm financial performance can be attained. Originality/value: The paper sheds light and presents a model that illustrates the mediating role of human resource management practices on the relationship between strategy and financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The current credit rationing strongly influences the viability of SMEs innovation projects. In this context, the practice of screening borrowers by project success probability has become a paramount consideration for both lenders and firms. The aim of this paper is to test the screening role of loan contracts that consider collateral-interest margins simultaneously. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents an empirical analysis that uses a unique data set composed of 323 bank loans granted by 28 banks to SMEs backed by a Spanish Mutual Guarantee Institution. Findings – The results show that appropriate combinations of collateral and interest rates can distinguish between borrowers with different project success probability: low success probability borrowers finance its projects without collateral and with high interest rates, whereas high success probability borrowers accept loans with real estate collateral and low interest rates. Practical implications – This screening mechanism reduces credit rationing, thus increasing good projects' access to credit. Originality/value – This study provides the first empirical evidence on the effectiveness of collateral-interest pairs as a self-selection mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Given the importance of immigration and immigrant entrepreneurs in advanced economies, the authors take an entrepreneurial ecosystem perspective to study the home-country benefits possessed by immigrant entrepreneurs and how home-country entrepreneurial ecosystem factors affect immigrant entrepreneurial motivations, activities and outcomes. Design/methodology/approach - This conceptual research paper follows McGaghie, Bordage and Shea's (2001) four-step new theory creation process, which suggests that new theories can be created through facts extraction from the extant literature. Findings - The authors propose that although immigrant entrepreneurs are unable to take full benefit of the host-country entrepreneurial ecosystem due to blocked mobility, they do have capabilities to access and use their home-country entrepreneurial resources and opportunities. The authors further propose that homecountry entrepreneurial capital can be systemically analyzed through the framework of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The results imply that immigrant entrepreneurship as a social and economic phenomenon can be studied more holistically from both host- and home-country perspectives compared to the traditional research boundary of the host-country only. Research limitations/implications - The research focuses on the identification of home-country effects on immigrant entrepreneurship through the lens of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Testable propositions provide directions for future empirical research on the field of immigrant entrepreneurship from a home-country perspective. The research concludes that a holistic immigrant entrepreneurship study should consider dual (host- and home-country) entrepreneurial ecosystems. Practical implications - Immigrant entrepreneurs benefit from both host- and home-country entrepreneurial ecosystems. This paper suggests co-effects of dual entrepreneurial ecosystems lead to a high rate of entrepreneurship and business success within some immigrant groups. Policymakers can increase economic activities by developing and deploying programs to encourage immigrants to embed in host- and home-country entrepreneurial ecosystems. Originality/value - Based on the framework of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, this paper brings a novel perspective to examining home-country effects on immigrant entrepreneurship. It theoretically conceptualizes that immigrants have higher entrepreneurship rates than native-born populations because they have access to extra home-country entrepreneurial capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how product knowledge is utilised by specialist independent grocery retailers (SIGRs) and how it can enhance competitive advantage for these firms. Design/methodology/approach - A case study approach was deemed most appropriate to gain insight into an unexplored area of study. A total of 30 in-depth interviews were conducted over a six-month period supported by the collection of observation data and documentation. A purposive sampling method was adopted and the owner managers of the chosen retailers were interviewed as key informants for the study. Findings - It was found that four main resources created the concept product strategy and ultimately explained the success of SIGRs. These relate to knowledge of how to provide a unique product; knowledge of identifying and sourcing from quality suppliers; knowledge of recipes, preparation and storage methods; and knowledge of how to merchandise products. Practical implications - It is argued that if these specialist grocery firms can achieve sustained competitive advantage from building and exploiting product knowledge, so too can other independent retailers in the sector. Originality/value - This paper provides empirical evidence and theoretical understanding of product knowledge as a competitive advantage for SIGRs, which is a neglected area of study in the retail literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper seeks to provide an exploratory empirical study of the variables that are part of the return on trade show information (RTSI) concept, which is based on the use and value of information gathered at a trade show. Design/methodology/approach – The research is designed to explore relationships and identify those variables that are a particularly important part of the RTSI concept. The paper provides an exploratory test of the relationship between a series of variables that are related to the value of information gathered at trade shows. Data were collected from trade show attendees approximately 60 days after the trade show. A multiple regression model was developed that explores the relationship between the dependent variable that focuses on information value and the independent variables on various aspects of information acquisition, information dissemination, and information use. Findings – The final multiple regression model found a significant relationship for several variables and has an adjusted R2 value of 0.552. Four significant independent variables were identified – one each in the information use and the shared information categories and two in the information acquisition category. These findings present an interesting picture of how information is used within an organization after it is acquired at a trade show. Research limitations/implications – The research is limited by the multiple regression model used to explore the relationships in the data. Also, data from only one trade show were used in the model. Practical implications – This paper focuses on the intangible, longer-term benefits as important considerations when determining the value of new trade show information to the firm. The evaluation of trade show information also should include these intangible benefits, such as improved interdepartmental relations or interactions as well as discussions with other trade show participants in finding new uses for information that impacts the company's future success, as well as shorter-term benefits such as booth activity. Originality/value – The paper offers a unique approach for determining the value of information acquired at trade shows. Though information gathering has been included as an outcome variable in previous trade show studies, no other research has studied the value of this new trade show information to the company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Alliances are unstable and while a number of explanations have been offered for understanding instability a motivational oriented approach remains underdeveloped. This paper seeks to provide a motivational oriented explanation for understanding alliance instability. Firms may enter into an alliance either with a promotion or a prevention mind set and this can be consequential for alliance development.Design/methodology/approach – The authors draw upon regulatory focus theory and its applications in an alliancing context to derive implications for alliance management. Regulatory focus theory is now increasingly being used to explain various types of organizational phenomenon (e.g. contracting, leadership, alliances). The paper distinguishes between a promotion oriented and a prevention oriented mind set and explores the impact of the different mind sets at the alliance formation, operation, and the outcome stage.Findings – A key finding is that different mind sets (promotion vs prevention) affect alliance formation, operation, and outcome. At the formation stage the mind sets may determine the success or failure of negotiations; at the operational stage they may determine if conflicts escalate or deescalate; while at the outcome stage they may determine whether the partners continue with or seek to exit from the alliance.Practical implications – The different motivational orientations have implications for alliance negotiations, the management of the alliance during the operational phase, and/or the decisions that are made by alliancing firms at the outcome phase of the alliance. The paper develops implications for how alliances should be managed for attaining success.Originality/value – The paper should be of interest to alliance managers as it will give them a new lens for understanding the drivers of alliance success and failure. The impact of motivation on alliance success and failure has not been studied to date and this paper provides a novel approach to assessing its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper analyses firms, which survived in a collapsed regional cluster. The target is to analyze whether the principles for enduring success identified researching success factors of very old firms also apply in such an environment.Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct a series of contrasting case studies, embedded in cluster theory and enduring success research.Findings – Firms survived with very different strategies and levels of outsourcing. However, surviving firms were congruently very conservative in their finances and in innovation behavior. Risk aversion and an early detachment from the declining cluster were found as success patterns for survival.Research limitations/implications – Owing to the disappearance of most other firms in the cluster, it was not possible to evaluate their unsuccessful strategies, which means that they cannot be excluded for sure if failed firms applied similar tactics than the surviving firms. This study is focused on one cluster in one industry. Future research could feel encouraged to test the enduring success principles on large scale, multi-industry surveys.Practical implications – The conclusions from this research stress the merits of a conservative approach to corporate management, which contrasts with a more risk-taking attitude managers may feel tempted to take in order to satisfy some (financial) stakeholders.Social implications – The "conservatism hypothesis" discussed in this research complements the discussion on corporate ethics.Originality/value – This paper adds to existing enduring success literature by applying it to the extremely challenging environment of a declining industry. It contributes to cluster theory, in particular to cluster life cycle research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The paper was written with the intention of drawing attention to a fundamental dysfunction that is widespread in large organizations today – a myopic focus on maximizing shareholder value.Design/methodology/approach – The paper identifies the source of the dysfunction, the reasons why it has spread, and explains the corrective measures required, namely, a shift in goal from maximizing shareholder value to delighting the customer.Findings – The dysfunction is widespread and dangerously counterproductive to long-term business success.Research limitations/implications – Further quantification is needed, both of the business results over time of firms that have failed to make the shift and of those firms that have made the transition.Practical implications – The paper proposes transformation of business practices throughout the world – the adoption of radical management and goals that produce stakeholder value.Originality/value – The findings and implications of the paper, which draw on recent work by writers such as Roger Martin, will be controversial to many business executives and academics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the important factors that influence foreign retailers' expansion in China. By doing so the paper proposes business strategies for foreign retailers to be successful in China and other emerging economies.Design/methodology/approach – A case study approach is employed to build theory. Five case studies were chosen, including the world's four largest retail firms: Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Metro and Tesco, as well as the Japanese department store Heivado.Findings – The paper identifies six important activities in successful retail expansion: adaptation to the external environment; responses to psychic distance; establishment of business networking; localization; entry strategies into new areas; and the role of local management team. A new framework articulates the interdependent relationships between various factors embedded in retail internationalization, including external environment, internal drivers, psychic distance, and expansion strategies.Practical implications – The findings provide directions to managers of international retail firms on how to expand successfully in an emerging market.Originality/value – This paper offers an exploratory framework on post-entry expansion, which provides an indispensable link between previous research on pre-entry and entry stages of retailer expansion and future research on foreign retailers' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to determine factors that have an influence on human resource management and entrepreneurial success in the context of European innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach – A primary test questionnaire was tested with 50 Spanish entrepreneurs. The feedback from this study was used to improve the survey for a final test. Multivariate regression analysis was used to differentiate the factors that allow the explanation of the variables to be studied and factors that, a priori, seem to be the most relevant in explaining entrepreneurial success. Findings – The study allows the determination of what factors make the European entrepreneur successful on his or her business. Research limitations/implications – Limitations are the sample used in the study and the magnitude used to analyse entrepreneurial success. Future research on the topic of the paper can develop and qualify the variables used. Originality/value – European innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are analysed from countries belonging to the European Union to determine the factors that have an influence on human resource management and entrepreneurial success. The results of the paper serve as a tool to develop a model to predict relevant factors of entrepreneurial activity and which have implications for development policy makers and for entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper attempts to shed light on the effect of educational programmes aimed at entrepreneurs on innovation and business success. Design/methodology/approach - We use as theoretical framework the theory of planned behaviour. We use a sample of 354 entrepreneurs from Castile and Leon, Spain. To estimate the model we use a path analysis (AMOS 7). Findings - Individuals who are concerned about further management education and entrepreneurship education show themselves to be more innovative. Moreover, indirectly, by means of the relationship between innovation and success, specific entrepreneurship education contributes to obtaining better business results. However, to have reached high levels of formal education makes entrepreneurs less conformist regarding the activity of innovation. The existence of a direct effect of innovative behaviour on business success is confirmed. Research limitations - The limitations which our study presents are principally related to the measurement of the variables. Some of the characteristics of education should be studied more deeply. Practical implications - The results obtained lead us to recommend that the educational centres and institutions which organise the programmes should give preference to specialised education and less to entrepreneurship education when seeking to reinforce the innovative spirit of the entrepreneurs. Originality/value - The debate concerning the effectiveness of entrepreneurship educational programmes is still undecided, so much so that both supporters and detractors of entrepreneurship education exist. For that reason, this paper aims to shed some light on the effects of the educational programmes aimed at the entrepreneur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The concept of employer branding has drawn the attention of both academicians and practitioners over a decade. However, inaction, the objective of the employer brand managers were hardly tapped. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the views of HR manager on employer branding activities and its implementation. Design/methodology/approach: This study is a case research of three multinational companies in India. A semi-structured interview method has been adopted to collect the data and a content analysis technique was used for analyzing the data into identified themes. Findings: The HR managers of the studied company were discussed with multiple activities related to employer branding practice and implementation in their workplace. The key observations and discussions from the interviews were themed after the analysis as meaningfulness and visibility, employer brand awareness and differentiator and human resource development (HRD) parameters. Research limitations/implications: The combined effect of branding theories and HRD practices will establish the most attractive and successful employer brand building process in place. Involving the potential and existing employees in the psychological contract formation; consistency among the internal and external communication systems; and top management approach with the brand highlighted the need for research and theory development in employment branding. Practical implications: Communication breakdown, strategic mismatch, long-term disconnects and sustained success are the strategic concerns that every company who believe in the idea of employer branding may face and need to well-handled. Originality/value: The study concluded with the belief of the human resources managers from all the three organizations as stated – adopting a community based strategic approach to the organization's brand and clear about what the employer brand stand across the employment lifecycle drives businesses into success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The paper aims to explore the role of market orientation in the multinational company's subsidiary's business performance. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on a questionnaire survey/analysis of a sample of 252 foreign subsidiaries in the UK. Findings - The paper finds that market orientation is a key driver for business performance at foreign subsidiaries. However, the strength of its impact on performance depends on the subsidiary role. Originality/value - This is the first systematic investigation of the role of market orientation in multinational companies' subsidiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The paper seeks to present research that examines the success factors for key accounts within firms, i.e. what factors lead to successful versus unsuccessful key accounts. Design/methodology/approach - Data from a consulting firm are analyzed to examine the success factors for key accounts within firms. Findings - The results suggest that marketers' relational assets, personal/social bonds, dissatisfaction, and change in environment are the primary drivers of key account success. Research limitations/implications - The paper summarizes one's understanding in this area and provides additional data that will allow firms to re-evaluate their strategies regarding success of specific key accounts. In the light of the sample, additional studies are suggested. Practical implications - Marketers need to invest more in relational assets, personal/social bonds, and satisfaction activities as well as monitor changes in the environment. Originality/value - Key accounts have become an integral part of most business firms, as key account teams are created to provide extra attention to important customers and to allow a consolidation of selling activities to geographically dispersed large customer firms. Previous research has examined the success factors of key account programs between firms and this paper provides data on the success factors of key accounts within firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Attempts to investigate the perceived advantages and risks associated with online pharmaceutical transactions, and on this basis, to propose a specific segmentation of consumers. Design/methdology/approach - Analyses the marketing procedures applied by pharmaceutical sites to emphasise the specific advantages and to minimise the perception of transactional risks, as well as the segmentation techniques applied online. Findings The results of the study indicate the existence of four main consumer categories. This schematic categorisation needs further development, in order to define more precisely the decision taking process and the online shopping behaviour for each customer segment, as well as the level of post-purchase satisfaction. On the other hand, the paper demonstrated that the marketing approach of various online pharmacies is determined by the transactional model applied. Originality/value The empirical analysis presented in this paper should be complemented by future qualitative study, in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of the factors determining the growing success of online pharmacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a coherent and effective enterprise risk management (ERM) framework that includes necessary steps and processes for integrating reputation risk management into an organization’s overall ERM approach which is intended to support corporate strategic success. In particular, reputation creation, enhancement, and protection are critical to an organization’s success, yet highly challenging given the wide ranging and somewhat opaque nature of the concept. These qualities call for a strong ERM approach to reputation that is holistic and integrative, yet existing knowledge of how to do so is limited. Design/methodology/approach – The paper evaluates and synthesizes existing reputation literature in developing an enterprise-wide reputation risk management framework incorporating necessary steps, processes, and considerations. We address risk strategy, risk assessment, risk governance, and risk culture as key elements of ERM and conclude with suggestions for future research. Findings – The results suggest several important ideas which are of great relevance when integrating reputation risk management into an ERM framework. Among these are the importance of: identifying and understanding the purpose of key stakeholders, appreciating the multidimensional and layered effect of events on organizational reputation and monitoring the influence of technological advances. Originality/value – The authors contribute to the literature by developing a framework for enterprise-wide reputation risk management that applies across industries. In contrast to previous work, the authors offer a broader perspective on the underlying causes and consequences of reputation damage based on empirical evidence and insight from the academic literature and provide additional detail in identification of reputation determinants, antecedents, and drivers. While much of this information exists in various places in the literature, it has not been organized into a cohesive framework nor used in developing an ERM strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a deeper understanding of the scope of talent development (TD) strategies and practices in tourism and hospitality industry contexts. Design/methodology/approach: Because the literature on talent management and TD in tourism and hospitality is limited and fragmented, an integrative literature review method was used to identify and analyze relevant studies to create a more comprehensive representation of the industry's talent strategies. Findings: Findings from the literature review showed that by nature, the context of tourism and hospitality is complex and the meaning of talent in this industry is not necessarily comparable to other industry sectors (Baum, 2008). While most industries adopt a more exclusive approach to develop talent, an inclusive approach may be more ideal for tourism and hospitality especially in light of the importance of frontline employees for business success. More robust management structures and human resource systems are needed especially in small and medium tourism enterprises to aid the facilitation of TD. A partnership approach involving strong commitment between education, industry and government should be necessitated to implement and sustain TD considering the importance of the industry to nation's economic and social advancement. Research limitations/implications: This study adds to the body of literature on TD in tourism and hospitality. Future research opportunities should explore both qualitative and quantitative methods to provide empirical evidence and to further build on the literature. Practical implications: Generally, organizations place emphasis on the development of technical skills, however, managers and leaders of tourism organizations should focus on developing both technical and generic competencies especially for frontline employees to ensure that a positive image of the organization is consistently demonstrated. TD can influence employees' emotional labor; therefore, increased and quality emotional labor training can impact the types of strategies that employees use during guest encounters to promote quality service. Originality/value: The paper contributes a comprehensive review of the literature on TD in the tourism and hospitality context. The TD map provides more focused direction and will aid in the establishment of TD strategies and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore hidden wellsprings of risk-taking in family firms. Design/methodology/approach: The high tolerance for risk shown repeatedly by the famous family firm Hipp of Germany is documented. Three major risk-taking episodes at Hipp are examined. Findings: Counterintuitively, conservative values were actually a major facilitator of risk-taking at Hipp. Research limitations/implications: The ramifications for other family firms, especially in Germany's so-called Mittelstand, are examined. An open question is whether the relevant scope of the foregoing analysis may be confined to national contexts like German Mittelstand with its highly developed sector of family firms. Practical implications: Contrary to received wisdom, family firms with conservative values may actually have certain advantages in their capacity not only to assume certain types of risks but also to mitigate such risks. Especially the communitarian embeddedness of such values may provide a layer of risk mitigation. Social implications: At least in some countries, such as Germany, family firms are indeed willing to engage in substantial risk-taking. With their approach of combining conservative values and risk-taking, they contribute to considerable wealth and societal development. Originality/value: Conservatism in management and risk-taking propensity are usually thought of as antipodes. However, it is necessary to distinguish between conservatism (which usually equates to risk aversion) and conservative values (which, as shown, may be highly compatible with a willingness to engage and succeed in risky undertakings). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of human resource management (HRM) systems (expressed by content, process and climate) on organizational performance through the mediating role of psychological contracts (expressed by employer and employee promises fulfilment). Design/methodology/approach – The study examines theoretical relationships in the Greek context, based on structural equation modelling (SEM) estimation, using a sample of employees from both private and public sector organizations. Findings – The study finds that the impact of HRM content on organizational performance is less strong compared to its impact through HRM process. Additionally, the study finds that psychological contract partially and positively mediates the HRM – performance relationship, where the impact of HRM on organizational performance through employee promises fulfilment is stronger than that through employer promises fulfilment. Research limitations/implications – The study does not allow for appropriately investigating dynamic causal inferences due to the cross-sectional nature of data. Additionally, considering that Greece is experiencing a severe economic and financial crisis, the findings from this unique context may not generalize across borders. Practical implications – For improving organizational performance, managers and decision makers should make their HRM systems more visible, understandable, legitimate and relevant. At the same time they should make HRM systems more instrumental, valid and consistent of HR messages. Originality/value – Investigations into the relationship between HRM systems and organizational performance have become increasingly common. Nevertheless, empirical studies that measure the influence of HRM systems, which integrate both content and process, on organizational performance are still rare. This paper partially fills this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of the relationship between firm-level governance mechanisms and firm performance using a contingency framework. The contingency framework is based on an integration of agency theory, stewardship theory, resource dependence theory and stakeholder theory of firm governance. Design/methodology/approach – The authors test the arguments on a sample of all the listed firms on the New Zealand Stock Exchange between 2004 and 2007. Given the longitudinal nature of the data, the authors employ random effects, generalized least square estimation to run the regression models. Findings – The authors find that the presence of internal directors, CEO duality, board size and presence of professional directors leads to superior firm performance. A lack of ownership concentration leads to agency problems resulting in inferior performance. However, the positive effect of board independence on firm performance reduces in firms that have a high-ownership concentration. Additionally, a high-ownership concentration attenuates the positive effects of board size and board competence. Originality/value – This study helps reconcile some of the conflicting findings on firm governance-performance relationship. As the findings suggest, the effectiveness of a particular governance mechanism (such as board members) may depend on the presence or absence of another governance mechanism (such as ownership concentration). The integrative, multi-theoretic model that the authors propose in this paper is a unique contribution to the governance literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purposes of this paper are to develop a more complete understanding both of the characteristics of innovation within retail firms and of the ways in which retailers perceive innovation and measure its effectiveness. Whilst there is a broad consensus that innovation is an application of new ideas that stimulate economic performance, the term attracts a wide range of interpretations that are largely contingent upon the context within which innovation occurs. Design/methodology/approach -- These aims are achieved through analysis at the level of the firm by means of qualitative research in the form of a series of in-depth interviews with more than 50 senior retail executives and other industry experts internationally. Findings -- The research results show that whilst retailers clearly recognise the important role of innovation for successful business performance, innovation in retailing nevertheless possesses a range of sector-specific meanings and measurement approaches that are distinct from more generic understandings of the phenomenon. Originality/value -- Whilst the paper summarises relevant literatures and presents the results of the primary research it also sets out a number of novel conceptual frameworks, which seek better to categorise the perceived meanings of retail innovation and the measurement tools most frequently employed to determine innovation effectiveness in retail firms. The proposed frameworks facilitate future scholarly exploration but are also of use to practitioners as a means of better understanding the nature of innovation within their businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for understanding the learning outcomes of strategic alliances. Design/methodology/approach – On the basis of two dimensions of any strategic alliance – that is, similarity or dissimilarity of contribution of partners and explorative or exploitative nature of alliance – the author proposes a framework that recognizes four types of learning outcomes. Findings – The distinction of four types of alliance enables the author to identify their distinctive characteristics and learning outcomes. Originality/value – The paper increases the awareness of managers about the learning outcomes of strategic alliances, which helps managers to consider intended learning outcomes not only in planning, managing and evaluating any individual alliance but also in managing the alliance portfolio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of information technology competency (ITC) on internal and external learning competency and the relations among ITC, internal and external learning competency and the commercial success of innovation (CSI) Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses survey data from 186 companies. Through structural equation modeling the paper assesses the links between ITC, internal and external learning competency and the CSI. Findings – First, this study finds that ITC plays a critical role in internal and external learning competencies. Second, internal and external learning competencies are directly related to the CSI. Third, internal and external learning competencies mediate the relation between ITC and the CSI. Research limitations/implications – The research is cross-sectional, so cause-effect relation cannot be definitively inferred from the results. Originality/value – This study contributes to organizational learning research, identifying a key antecedent of internal and external learning competencies – ITC – and analyzing the link between internal and external learning competencies and the CSI. Moreover, this study is relevant to IT literature because it shows that ITC, on its own, is insufficient to generate and maintain a competitive advantage. Firms need complementary strategic capabilities such as learning competencies to strengthen the effect of ITC on firm performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to examine technology-based firms that successfully turned around a decline in performance, to report what they did and what characterized the firms themselves, relating those actions and characteristics to effective rebounds.Design/methodology/approach The authors use published data, including financial data, to examine 59 successful rebounds, and then apply regression analyses to relate firm actions and characteristics to performance.Findings Strategic moves by these firms included layoffs, new products and new inter-company relationships. However, none of those actions predicted rebound success, either individually or in combination. Successful rebounds were associated only with smaller size and a deeper decline – from exceeding the industry performance median to falling far below it.Research limitations/implications Technology firms may or may not represent all middle-aged companies in terms of authors’ implications, that a one-size-fits-all turnaround formula is unavailable.Practical implications Wise managers will therefore consider various scenarios to prepare for decline and test several if possible. Further, the finding that dramatic drops in performance are associated with successful rebounds should warn managers who think that a competitor’s major problems mean they will disappear; they may be likelier to rebound than a competitor experiencing only a mild performance decline.Originality/value Managers who think they have THE answer to decline can profit from the news that one cannot count on layoffs, on new products or on new relationships to turn around performance decline. And, the small-is-beautiful (for rebounds) result suggests rethinking the assumption that bigger is better and making organizational changes in large organizations to allow them to imitate the flexibility advantages that a smaller firm achieves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for predicting three facets of employee performance (quality, innovation and efficiency) based on the evaluation of individual (self and occupational), group (collective) and organizational (means) efficacies.Design/methodology/approach A sample of 109 managers employed mainly in high-tech industries evaluated their employees’ quality, innovation and efficiency performance. The employees’ efficacies were also evaluated on three organizational levels.Findings Evaluation of employees’ self-efficacy accounted for most of the explained variance for all performance facets. Evaluation of group efficacy added incremental explained variance to the general performance as well as to the innovation performance and efficiency performance. Evaluation of means efficacy (provided to employees) added incremental explained variance to the general performance as well as to the innovation performance and the efficiency of performance. Male managers differed from female managers in their predictions of employees’ performance.Originality/value This is the first study to examine the concurrent effects of four types of efficacies, based on three organizational levels, in predicting performance. It also examines three facets of performance instead of only a general performance measure. It presents a model of the relative importance of these efficacies in predicting facets of performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend existing and motivate future sustainable supply chain management (SCM) and logistics research by examining a structure-conduct-performance framework linking resource commitment to sustainable SCM, reverse logistics, and operational performance. A sustainable reverse logistics capability is investigated as mediating the performance benefits associated with resource commitments to sustainable SCM.Design/methodology/approach Survey methods and structural equation modeling were used to collect and analyze data from 180 supply chain professionals.Findings The results of a mediated model suggest that resource commitments may be used to develop a sustainable reverse logistics capability, reducing the environmental impact of reverse logistics activities. A strong sustainable reverse logistics capability results from resources committed specifically to sustainable reverse logistics and a commitment to the sustainability of the supply chain.Research limitations/implications This study applied a purposefully general sampling procedure. Specific industries may have additional constraints (e.g. risk, transparency, governance factors) that directly impact reverse logistics. These constraints are limitations of the study as well as opportunities for future research. Resource commitment is critical to the success of an overall firm strategy to build a sustainable supply chain, especially when considering reverse logistics.Practical implications As managers examine the benefits of sustainable SCM, they must consider the resources required. For firms engaging in sustainable SCM, developing a sustainable reverse logistics capability is a key success factor for improved performance.Originality/value Given the growing acceptance and importance of sustainable SCM, this research provides insights to managers and academics regarding the key mediating role of a sustainable reverse logistics capability when integrated into existing and future supply chain research frameworks and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how movie studios develop an integrated social media strategy to achieve box office success. Departing from prior studies which focus on single social media platforms, this study examines the role of integrated social media promotion strategy using multiple social media platforms on movie success in the Bollywood movie industry.Design/methodology/approach This study adopts an in-depth and comprehensive case study approach to examine the promotional strategies adopted through YouTube, Facebook and Twitter throughout the life cycle of the movie and its impact on the box office success of the movie.Findings The study provides three major findings. First, the social media promotional strategy was centred on developing appropriate content to match the unique characteristics of the social media platforms. While Facebook was utilised primarily to connect audiences through organising fun events, Twitter was used to retweet the positive word-of-mouth generated from the audiences. Second, emphasis on promotional strategy through social media platforms in the post-release stage of the movie was found to be equally important as the pre-release stage. Finally, the social media platforms were utilised to develop emotional connection with the audience by promoting the content through which the audience identified themselves with the main protagonist of the movie.Originality/value This study is among the very few studies which examines the role of integrative social media strategy on the box office success in the movie industry. This study emphasises the way firms can utilise the synergies across different social media platforms to achieve success in the movie industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the key factors affecting the success of women entrepreneurs who own and manage Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in UAE. The extant literature on the relationship between determinants of entrepreneurial success points to a lack of clarification of the link between success factors (Personal, environmental and other) and performance of women-owned SMEs particularly in UAE.Design/methodology/approach A self-administered questionnaire, through mail survey, is used to collect the data. Cronbach’s α test and factor analysis have been carried out to test the reliability of data and validate the hypothesis.Findings The results suggested that the personal, environmental factors and government support affect positively and significantly to the success of women-owned SMEs in UAE.Research limitations/implications The study has some limits as to its potential for generalization owing to the sample size, wide geographic spread of respondents and time limitations with the respondents.Practical implications The results indicate that several factors including personal, environmental and government support are linked with the success of women entrepreneurs of UAE. The results of this study will provide some insights to policymakers and business practitioners to formulate the strategies intended to promote unveiled potential among women entrepreneurs in UAE.Originality/value Most of the studies focused on women entrepreneurship have taken either their motives or the hurdles faced by them into consideration. Moreover, only a few studies have been carried out in Arab world particularly in UAE. Therefore, this study is an attempt to fill the gap and contribute to a better understanding of UAE’s women-owned SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of social capital with new venture creation, and whether self-efficacy plays a role in mediating the association between social capital and new venture creation.Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 375 entrepreneurs through cross-sectional survey in India. The study used partial least square path modeling to assess the relationships among the variables.Findings Findings reveal that social capital is positively related to new venture creation. The association of social capital and new venture creation is fully mediated by entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy.Originality/value The role of social capital in the success of new venture creations through self-efficacy is useful to the potential entrepreneurs and people who facilitate new venture creation in Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; The purposes of the study are to understand ICT workforce employability in Malaysia, to identify the causes that influence the growth of skill gaps in the ICT workforce, and to determine ways to reduce these gaps. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; The methodology of the study comprised project reports and a literature review. Findings |!|#8211; The findings show that not only Malaysia but also Australia and India are facing the challenges of demand-supply gap as regards a quality ICT-related workforce. The study also indicates that these countries do have similar obstacles and issues of sufficiently trained and experienced ICT graduates. Practical implications |!|#8211; This study suggests that in the light of the skills demanded by industries and organizations, ICT workers could be trained through an updated course curriculum in line with the needs of industry. Originality/value |!|#8211; The employability of the workforce in general has been discussed in many papers. This paper specifically discusses employability issues of the information and communication technology (ICT) workforce, and provides values to ICT educators and employers, as well as to potential ICT graduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The main purpose of this paper is to introduce a comprehensive model explaining what affects the scope of the firm and also to find out its impact on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach - This paper is based on an empirical analysis of a sample of 312 hardware manufacturing companies in Taiwan. Findings - The research findings indicate that capability exploitation and upgrading will exert a positive influence on corporate diversification. In addition, corporate diversification will exhibit a curvilinear effect on firm performance. Practical implications - Under the logic of capability-based growth, managers should manage portfolios of capability upgrading and capability exploitation; and then, managers have to conduct econometric analyses to find out a firm's optimal level of corporate diversification for performance maximization. Originality/value - This study attempts to propose a dynamic capabilities perspective, which suggests that the successful growth of a firm hinges on a strategic logic of capability-based growth management containing both capability exploitation and capability upgrading, for exploring the antecedents and consequences of corporate diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]