An empirical study on relationships amongst success in benchmarking, success in Kaizen, people mindset and organizational dimensions

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 3505-3518
Author(s):  
Joklan I.C. Goni ◽  
Fransisca Tharia ◽  
Nugroho Suryo
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Group Company ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that most strongly influence success in benchmarking as attempted by Indonesian manufacturers and service companies. It investigates the impacts of success in Kaizen, people mindset and organizational dimensions with success in benchmarking. Design/methodology/approach A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed to senior managers at an 87 percent response rate. Findings This study reveals that success in benchmarking that companies undertake correlates positively with their success in Kaizen, people mindset and organizational dimensions. Research limitations/implications As an empirical study, this work has some limitations that need to be recognized. First, the sample only includes Indonesian companies. Second, as the small sample size resulted in only indicative outcome, more research is needed in this area. Furthermore, there may also have been other factors affecting success in benchmarking. It is, therefore, recommended that the framework be extended to include more variables such as information-technology competency, company status (being a single or group company) and to use other methodologies, such as multiple regression. Practical implications A company can achieve success in benchmarking through implementing success in kaizen, people mindset, formalization, centralization and integration. Industry-wise, formalization and centralization are the variables that impact the success in benchmarking significantly. For services companies, formalization and centralization is the significant variable affecting, whereas, for manufacturing companies success in Kaizen is the significant variable for success in benchmarking. Therefore, for services companies, having documented and implementation policies, regulations and procedures will influence success in benchmarking. The involvement of the top management, budgeting for every functions and unit performance evaluation will result in success in benchmarking. On the other hand, top management commitment and worker involvement are necessary to drive success in Kaizen in manufacturing companies. Originality/value Unlike most of the previous studies on a manufacturing company, this paper examines both manufacturing and services companies especially in Indonesia.

Identifying the determinants of Malaysian corporate Sukuk rating

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 432-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Amirah Borhan ◽  
Noryati Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rating Agencies ◽  
High Level ◽  
Rating Category

Purpose This study aims to identify the determinants of Malaysian corporate Sukuk rating and attempts to find out which determinant has the most significant impact. Design/methodology/approach The framework tries to establish a relationship between firm’s size, profitability, Sukuk guarantee status and types of Sukuk with Sukuk rating from the perspective of Agency Theory and Information Asymmetry Theory. The data consist of 43 Sukuk issuances from 2006 to 2015. Multinomial Logistic Regression Model is then used to find out the significant determinants of Sukuk rating. Findings The study found that only three variables significantly impact Sukuk rating. The results show that a guaranteed Sukuk Ijarah or a guaranteed Sukuk Musyarakah that is issued by a highly profitable firm has a higher likelihood of getting rating AAA or rating AA as compared to getting rating A. A type of Sukuk, particularly Sukuk Murabahah, is the most significant variable influencing Sukuk rating. However, firm size is not a significant determinant of Sukuk rating in the context of this study. Research limitations implications The first limitation of the study is the relatively small sample size. Second, the study only tested four independent variables. Practical implications Several implications are derived from the results of the study. First, new firms that are planning to issue Sukuk should consistently maintain a high level of profit and consider issuing debt-based Sukuk to ensure that the issued Sukuk have higher rating. To increase the likelihood of getting higher rating, they should also consider providing a third-party guarantor. As for existing Sukuk issuers that are in lower rating category, they should increase their profitability to be upgraded to higher rating category. Second, risk-adverse investors should invest in highly profitable, guaranteed and debt-based Sukuk, as these Sukuk are likely to be in higher rating category and provide guarantee in terms of capital payments during liquidation or bankruptcy. Third, to reduce information asymmetry, policymakers should make it compulsory for all Sukuk issuers to have their Sukuk rated annually and make it mandatory for all rating agencies in Malaysia to publish their Sukuk rating methodologies. Originality/value This paper helps to expand the limited existing literature about the determinants of Sukuk rating, particularly for the Malaysian corporate Sukuk.

scholarly journals Identity, glass borders and globally mobile female talent

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-299
Author(s):  
Susan Kirk
Keyword(s):  
Single Case ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Identity Work ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Single Case Design ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Global Mobility ◽  
Identity Narratives

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the interplay between identity and global mobility in the careers of senior, female talent, uniquely taking into account the perceptions of both female and male participants. In addition, the role organisations can play in enabling women to overcome these identity constraints is identified. Design/methodology/approach This interpretivist study draws on data from 38 in-depth interviews with senior managers in a large, multinational organisation to elicit a rich picture of how such careers are enacted. Findings Findings reveal how identity conflicts function as a glass border for globally mobile, senior female talent. Ways in which talent can access positive identity narratives to inform global mobility choices are identified. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study include the relatively small sample size and the single case design of this research. The findings, however, offer insights into the identity work of globally mobile, female talent across different contexts. Practical implications Organisations can facilitate access to identity narratives through mentoring, face-to-face forums and via the internet to enable globally mobile, female talent to make more informed global mobility choices. Originality/value Drawing on identity theory, this paper examines how identity work for globally mobile, female talent has more fluid interpersonal boundaries than for men, creating on-going identity struggles. In highlighting how identity narratives can act as a means of breaching the glass border and facilitating global mobility for female talent, a contribution is made to existing debates in the fields of identity, gender studies and global talent management.

Project barriers to Green Belts through critical success factors

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Laux ◽  
Mary Johnson ◽  
Paul Cada
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Management Responsibility ◽  
Manufacturing Location

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to utilize critical success factors (CSF) and identify items Green Belt (GB) practitioners note as barriers to completion of Six Sigma (SS) projects in a major manufacturer setting. Design/methodology/approach – The design of this paper is a descriptive study of a single location of a global manufacturer’s internal data and survey of accredited GBs who have completed an SS project for company accreditation utilizing company focus on CSFs. Findings – The results demonstrate the GB practitioners have competing priorities, have time constraints and lack project management skills that reduce timely completion of SS projects. Top management responsibility for SS GB projects are defined through the CSFs of leadership, project management and project selection. Research limitations/implications – This study pertains to the single manufacturing location of a major, multinational company. The survey of SS GBs is limited to those individuals who have become accredited to company requirements, in the initial stages of strategic implementation, resulting in a small sample size. All GB projects follow the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) methodology. The implications may be reproduced in similar environments where GBs conduct SS projects to test the robustness of the study. Practical implications – This study underscores the importance of proper coaching and mentoring of SS practitioners, especially those who are expected to contribute as GBs in a part-time manner. Implementation of SS goes beyond initial deployment and requires active mentoring of GB practitioners to make sure that SS projects get proper focus. The results are relevant to both researchers and practitioners. Originality/value – This paper examines SS projects with a GB perspective, an important contribution to SS but lacking in the literature. While GBs are important to SS implementation, and serve as a pathway to fulltime SS personnel, there are few studies that note this work. This study will support practitioners in the importance of wider SS deployment through active support of GBs, where top management responsibility for GB success is defined through CSFs for improvement.

Effects of decision rationality on ERP adoption extensiveness and organizational performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 658-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saira Kharuddin ◽  
Soon-Yau Foong ◽  
Rosmila Senik
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Institutional Pressures ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Erp Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
System Usage

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how decision rationality affects ERP adoption extensiveness and subsequently, organization performance. The mediating roles of system usage and user satisfaction on the relationship between adoption extensiveness and organizational performance are also examined. Design/methodology/approach – This study was based on a questionnaire survey of 976 public-listed companies and 200 unlisted manufacturing companies. Responses of 93 ERP adopters were analyzed. Findings – ERP adoption extensiveness is significantly affected by the overall measure of expected economic benefits, but not by any of the economic benefit type individually. On the other hand, mimetic pressure individually affects ERP adoption extensiveness, but not the overall measure of institutional pressures. ERP adoption extensiveness is significantly associated with organizational performance, and the mediating roles of system usage and user satisfaction are supported. Research limitations/implications – This study has the limitations associated with questionnaire-based research and its small sample size may also limit the generalizability of its findings. Practical implications – The high emphasis on operational benefits of ERP adoption and the significant effect of mimetic pressure on ERP adoption extensiveness imply that organizations in Malaysia are largely “followers” of the technological innovation and generally have yet to exploit the full potentials of their ERP systems. Government agencies may need to play a more active role to facilitate fuller utilization and adoption of the higher end ERP applications. Vendors of ERP systems may need to review their strategies to increase their sales of ERP systems to the smaller business enterprises. Originality/value – The paper addresses the relatively void in literature on the link between decision rationality and technology adoption extensiveness and the subsequent organizational performance in the context of an emerging economy.

Multi-criteria decision framework for supplier classification in collaborative supply chains

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 622-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Hudnurkar ◽  
Urvashi Rathod ◽  
Suresh Kumar Jakhar
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Prior Models ◽  
New Criteria

Purpose – Buyer companies’ engagement with suppliers varies according to their specific business needs. Prior models of supplier classification are based on the dimensions like product specification or criticality of purchase. As the supply chains are embracing collaboration among partners to respond to the dynamic market conditions, it is prudent to study the changes adopted by buyer companies for supplier classification. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This is an exploratory research for identifying the criteria used for supplier classification based on the interviews of practitioners from buyer multinational manufacturing companies operating in India. The content analysis of the subjective responses led to the identification of distinctive criteria. Findings – Although, many of the practitioners were unaware of the model per se, they labelled their suppliers as per the types stated in the Kraljic model. They mentioned twenty six criteria for supplier classification; five of which do not have any reference in the extant literature. The degree of presence of these criteria provides a multi-criteria framework for supplier classification that has been further extended based on prior models. Research limitations/implications – The exploratory nature of the study, its confinement to Indian milieu and small sample size could limit the generality and exhaustiveness of the findings. Practical implications – The framework and its extension can be used by practitioners in assessing and classifying their suppliers for strengthening supply chain collaboration. Originality/value – This research unveils five new criteria used by buyer companies for supplier classification. The multi-criteria framework for supplier classification and its extension give new insights into the supplier characteristics significant for supply chain collaboration.

Critical enablers of changeable and reconfigurable manufacturing and their industrial implementation

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 983-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann-Louise Andersen ◽  
Jesper Kranker Larsen ◽  
Thomas Ditlev Brunoe ◽  
Kjeld Nielsen ◽  
Christopher Ketelsen
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Production Volume ◽  
Reconfigurable Manufacturing ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Make To Stock ◽  
The Right

Purpose During design of reconfigurable manufacturing systems, manufacturing companies need to select and implement the right enablers of reconfigurability in accordance with the specific requirements being present in the manufacturing setting. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate enablers of reconfigurability in terms of their importance in industry, current level of implementation in industry, and significant differences in their implementation and criticality across different manufacturing settings. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey is conducted, in order to provide generalizable empirical evidence across various industries and manufacturing types. Findings The findings indicate that the level of implementation of the reconfigurability enablers is rudimentary, while their criticality is perceived higher than the current level of implementation. Moreover, significant differences regarding implementation and criticality of mobility, scalability, and convertibility were found for companies with varying degrees of manual work, make-to-stock production, and varying production volume, industry type and organization size. Research limitations/implications Main limitations of the research cover the relatively small sample size and non-random sampling method applied, primarily limited to one country, which could be increased to further extent the findings reported in this paper. Practical implications The findings indicate that the importance and implementation of reconfigurability enablers is contingent on the manufacturing setting. Thus, the research presented in this paper provides valuable knowledge in regard to aiding a paradigm shift in industry and help companies design manufacturing systems with the right reconfigurability enablers. Originality/value This paper expands research on manufacturing system design for changeability and reconfigurability, by explicitly considering these as capabilities that can be enabled in various ways for various purposes in different manufacturing contexts.

An empirical investigation on factors affecting perceived learning by training through simulations

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushil Chaurasia
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Collective Learning ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Perceived Learning ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Collaborative Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Learning Satisfaction ◽  
Management Students

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to make an exploratory investigation of the important factors affecting the students’ perception of learning using simulation. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory research focuses on how collective learning, satisfaction, fun, collaborative communication, and time committed for the simulation affect the learning perceived by the students in a business post graduate course. In all, 157 students in a management course were divided in 26 teams of 6 members each. At the end of the simulation, learners were examined through surveys about their perception of different aspects of the simulation. Findings The findings of this research study showed that only four of these factors (collective learning, satisfaction, collaborative communication, and time) affected the students’ perceived learning. Research limitations/implications The exploratory nature of this study, along with the small sample size and the detail that responses were gathered from a single course, limits the extent to which we can make generalizations from the results. Practical implications The results from this research represent an important contribution to the premise of use of simulation in education, broadening the research of perceived learning through the perspective of simulations and opening a path for further research in this field. Originality/value Preparedness of management students with simulation training is of importance to business organizations and B-schools. Simulations permit learners to solve real-world problems, and they offer an opportunity to test recently attained skills without risk. Simulations can permit learners to visualize, discover, and articulate explanations for phenomena that would otherwise be difficult to observe.

Performance measurement and quality costing in Tunisian manufacturing companies

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 588-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nejla Kerfai ◽  
Bahia Bejar Ghadhab ◽  
Dhafer Malouche
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Quality Performance ◽  
Quality Cost ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cost System ◽  
Quality Costs ◽  
General Practices ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an exploratory survey on the implementation of quality costs programmes in Tunisian manufacturing companies. It aims also to observe the impact of quality cost system (QCS) adoption on operational performance by the manufacturing companies. Design/methodology/approach – An interview-based survey was employed in order to investigate the extent and consequences of implementing quality costs programmes in Tunisian manufacturing companies. A questionnaire was developed and used in the interviews across a sample of Tunisian companies. Findings – A factor analysis revealed that companies which adopted QCS have less internal and external failures costs than others. It also revealed that these companies invest more in prevention and appraisal actions than others. It showed that QCS adoption has positive consequences on the companies’ performance. Research limitations/implications – The presented results are limited by the low response rate and the small sample size. Since the respondents belong to manufacturing companies, the research results could be only indicative of this type of companies. Originality/value – The results of the research presented in this paper reflect the general practices and perceptions of manufacturing companies on quality performance measures in Tunisia. It provides a new sight of quality costs programmes practiced in Tunisian manufacturing companies. It highlights the implementation of QCS in manufacturing companies.

Improving new product development performance by risk management

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 418-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehran Salavati ◽  
Milad Tuyserkani ◽  
Seyyede Anahita Mousavi ◽  
Nafiseh Falahi ◽  
Farshid Abdi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Product Development ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
New Product ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Total Performance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Npd Performance

Purpose The principal aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between technological, marketing, organizational and commercialization risk management on new product development (NPD) performance. Design/methodology/approach Based on questionnaire, the data were collected from a sample of general automotive industry in Iran. Based on theoretical considerations, a model was proposed and descriptive statistic and hierarchical regression were used to measure the relationship between risk management factors and NPD performance. Findings Data analysis revealed that if organization can amplify their knowledge and information about risk and main factors that affect NPD process, not only can they do their work better but can also increase their ability to predict future happenings that affect performance. Research limitations/implications First, due to the relatively small sample size, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results. Second, the data were collected from automotive producer in Iran, which may restrict to some extent generalizability of the findings. Practical implications The results suggest that managers should consider more attention to risk management. If managers spread the risk management in all aspects of the NPD project, total performance will be increased and it can develop the probability of NPD success. Also organizations should perform great market research due to best commercialization. Originality/value Past researches have presented complete information about NPD process. But identifying and considering the effect of the risk management parameters that are connected to the NPD process were the main thrusts to perform the study. In this paper, based on past research about risk management of NPD, the extra aspect of process that can improve total performance of NPD has been examined.

The categorization of expatriates and the support offered by host country nationals

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley C. Sonesh ◽  
Angelo S. DeNisi
Keyword(s):  
Host Country ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Host Country Nationals ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Expatriate Assignments ◽  
The Right ◽  
National Stereotypes

Purpose – Although several authors have suggested that host country nationals (HCNs) play an important role in the management of expatriates (e.g. Toh and DeNisi, 2003; Farh et al., 2010), research has also suggested that this relationship is not always good, and the flow of critical information to expatriates can be limited. This is especially true when HCNs categorize the expatriates as “out-group” members. The purpose of this paper is to examine potential determinants of categorization decisions as well as potential outcomes related to expatriate socialization. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a dyadic survey approach to determine the antecedents to expatriate categorization and HCN socialization behaviors from the perspective of both the expatriate and HCN. Findings – The results of survey data from 65 expatriate-HCN dyads indicated that expatriate ethnocentrism and the salience of the expatriates’ nationality were important predictors of categorization, but that categorization was related to only one dimension of socialization. However, affect was found to play a role in predicting socialization behaviors. Research limitations/implications – There is potential selection bias since expatriates chose HCNs as respondents, but results suggested this was not a serious problem. Other limitations include a relatively small sample size and the fact that a number of contextual issues such as national stereotypes and MNC strategy, are not controlled for. Practical implications – Implications of these findings for the successful management of expatriate assignments include sending over expatriates with the right relational skills, and those low in ethnocentrism, rather than just the right technical skills. Originality/value – The present study was one of the first to empirically test the potential role of categorization in the process of socialization.

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