Strategic supplier management in nascent firms: an examination of how nascent firms improve customer attractiveness to obtain strategic supplier collaboration

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Jenkins ◽  
Mary Holcomb
Keyword(s):  
Social History ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Supplier Management ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Resources ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Supplier Collaboration

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the activities that nascent firms undertake to improve customer attractiveness and gain collaborative commitment from strategic suppliers.Design/methodology/approachData from a grounded theory study consisting of 26 participants from 15 firms and a review of extant literature were used to develop a theoretical model that explains how a nascent firm increases its customer attractiveness to elicit commitment and collaboration from strategic suppliers.FindingsThe authors find that social capital, born of close social ties and social history, enhances the effectiveness of a nascent firm's relationship-building practices. This counteracts a supplier's collaborative risk and consequently increases the nascent firm's customer attractiveness, thus enabling it to obtain strategic supplier collaborative commitment.Practical implicationsThis research helps managers by providing direction on what practices nascent firms pursue to gain strategic supplier resources and collaboration. Given the reality of resource constraints in nascent firms, it is suggested that this insight is essential to obtaining crucial external resources needed to survive and grow.Originality/valueExtant research on buyer–supplier collaboration is mostly confined to the context of mature firms and does not account for the unique inter-organizational relational challenges faced by nascent firms. This research uncovers the idiosyncrasies of supplier management in nascent firms, and elucidates on the actions that nascent firm managers take to gain supplier collaborative commitment.

Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative framework for supporting assistive technology decision-making in Singapore schools: perspectives of in-service educators

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Ee Wong ◽  
YingMin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Written Feedback ◽  
Technology Initiative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trial Experience ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study explored in-service educators' experience of using the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) for assistive technology (AT) decision-making within Singapore schools.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a qualitative design. Eight educators across both mainstream and special education schools were introduced to the WATI framework which they subsequently employed as a trial experience for a student under their care. Written feedback gathered from participants was analysed to identify common issues and themes regarding the use of the WATI framework for AT decision-making.FindingsThe comprehensive consideration of a broad scope of different factors, provision of a structured process for AT decision-making, as well as a common language for use by different stakeholders emerged as key benefits of implementing the WATI. Challenges encountered include administrative struggles in gathering different stakeholders together, time and resource constraints and difficulties in loaning AT devices for trial use.Practical implicationsBased on educators' feedback, recommendations to facilitate the adoption of the WATI for AT decision-making within Singapore schools are discussed and considered. This study also highlights the need for greater AT instruction within both preservice and in-service teacher preparation programmes in Singapore.Originality/valueSchools in Singapore currently rarely adopt any frameworks in place to guide educators through a systematic process of AT consideration. It is anticipated that this study will spearhead and drive the adoption of systematic frameworks such as the WATI for better AT decision-making within Singapore schools.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon 10.1108/JET-03-2021-0015

Exploring the influence of doctor–patient social ties and knowledge ties on patient selection

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuqing Chen ◽  
Xitong Guo ◽  
Tianshi Wu ◽  
Xiaofeng Ju
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Patient Selection ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Unstructured Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Consultation ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeWith the advent of the Digital 2.0 era, online doctor–patient (D–P) interaction has become increasingly popular. However, due to the fact that doctors use their fragmented time to serve patients, online D–P interaction inevitably has some problems, such as the lack of pertinence in the reply content and doctors' relative unfamiliarity with their individual patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to excavate whether potential D–P social ties and D–P knowledge ties accentuate or attenuate the influence of patient selection (online and offline selection).Design/methodology/approachThe authors used the methods of text mining and empirical analysis on the structured and unstructured data of an online consultation platform in China to examine the research hypotheses.FindingsThe findings illustrate that the potential D–P social ties increase the influence on patient selection, as do the potential D–P knowledge ties. Specifically, the effect of social ties on patient selection is positively moderated by patient health literacy. Conversely, health literacy weakens the link between knowledge ties and patient selection. In addition, the doctor's title weakens the influence of social ties on patient selection, in contrast to knowledge ties (partially).Originality/valueThis study provides guidance for doctors and patients on how to communicate effectively and alleviate tension within D–P relationships. The study’s findings have both theoretical and practical implications for both doctors' and online platforms' decision-making.

Waste in NPD processes of German SMEs

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 532-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tino Woschke ◽  
Heiko Haase ◽  
Arndt Lautenschläger
Keyword(s):  
New Product Development ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
New Product ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This study deals with waste in New Product Development (NPD) processes of SMEs. The purpose of this paper is to reveal opportunities for SMEs to overcome resource constraints in their NPD process. Design/methodology/approach – The authors employed qualitative key informant interviews. This design was chosen because research in this field is still limited. The authors performed 49 interviews in engineering-oriented German SMEs to examine the dimension of waste in NPD processes. The data were collected by conducting semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Findings – The study highlights substantial waste types such as waiting times, rework and duplication of work. In contrast to contemporary literature, waste of material is considered to be relevant in particular for NPD processes of SMEs. In addition to that, the authors found that waste drivers differ to a great extent between the study and the hitherto literature on larger companies. Research limitations/implications – The overall outcome of this study can help organisations to address waste in NPD more thoroughly. The research presented was not specifically designed to draw statistical generalisations. For this reason, the results may not be applicable to all SMEs. Practical implications – Based on waiting times as the major waste type in NPD processes of SMEs, the authors claim that firms should pay special attention to disruptions of these processes. Originality/value – The paper gives insights into current waste types in the NPD processes of SMEs. Moreover, it uncovers the NPD activities which can lead to waste.

What affects the export entrepreneurship of SMEs?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-278
Author(s):  
Channappa Santhosh
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
International Market ◽  
Engineering Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the different drivers’ and its impact on the export entrepreneurship (EE) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The proposed conceptual framework has been tested through analysis of a sample of 102 internationalized (exports) SMEs of the Engineering industry in the Bangalore district, Karnataka, India. Findings Results reveal that firms with younger entrepreneurs who have industry-specific experience and different social ties are able to achieve higher performance. Practical implications Overall, results facilitate understanding of the importance of entrepreneurial capabilities to successfully formulate and strategize their international efforts to achieve better performance in the international market. Originality/value The study enhances the importance of understanding the role of different drivers on EE in the context of an emerging economy where studies are limited and largely unexplored till date.

Bankruptcy at family and non-family firms: do they fail differently?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Mitter ◽  
Michaela Walcher ◽  
Stefan Mayr ◽  
Christine Duller
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Slowdown ◽  
Bad Debt ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeFamily firms strive for transgenerational survivability. Thus, bankruptcy is a daunting event. Whether family firms fail for other causes than non-family firms has been scarcely researched and is investigated in this study.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on a sample of 459 Austrian bankruptcy cases to examine the effects of the distinct characteristics of family firms on failure causes.FindingsOur results indicate that family firm characteristics impact their failure, as bankruptcy causes differ from non-family firms. While family firms fail less often than non-family firms due to unqualified management and poor business-economic competencies, external bankruptcy causes, in particular bad debt and economic slowdown, are more widespread.Practical implicationsAs our findings suggest that the close social bonds of family firms may become a burden in crisis situations and make them especially prone to external bankruptcy causes, owner-managers should pay more attention to the dependencies, deficiencies and risks that come with their binding social ties. Moreover, they should rely on external advice and appropriate management tools to better recognize and fend off the resulting risks.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that quantitatively examines differences in bankruptcy causes between family and non-family firms.

The dynamics between balanced and combined ambidextrous strategies: a paradoxical affair about the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on SMEs’ performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Delly Nofiani ◽  
Nurul Indarti ◽  
Andy Susilo Lukito-Budi ◽  
Hardo Firmana Given Grace Manik
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Resources ◽  
External Resource ◽  
Relevant Situation ◽  
Mediating Factor ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

PurposeThis study aims to provide empirical findings of the extent to which the ambidexterity found in innovation and social networks will mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance (FP). This study also compares the ambidextrous strategy between the balanced dimension (BD) and combined dimension (CD) and examines their contribution to the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs’) performance.Design/methodology/approachThe current study used an explanatory research design by surveying a total of 205 fashion firms’ owners/managers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Path analysis with mediating tests and independentt-tests were used.FindingsThe results revealed that innovation and social network ambidexterity mediate the relationship between EO and the SMEs’ performance. One ambidextrous strategy, the BD strategy, is superior to the CD one. The study makes an interesting discovery: the CD strategy apparently dominates FP when EO does not exist.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that no ambidextrous strategy (i.e. BD and CD) used by the SMEs can fit all situations. In detail, the study provides four different strategies for SMEs to build organizational ambidexterity, namely, innovate and sustain; elevate; expand; and collaborate and survive. It is also suggested that the SMEs consider two main principles when dealing with an ambidextrous strategy, “anything that is too much is not always good” and “one size does not fit all.” By doing so, the SMEs are expected to be able to use internal and external resources and choose the most appropriate ambidextrous strategy to respond to the relevant situation (e.g. the changes of consumer behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic).Originality/valueUsing a dynamic capability approach by integrating two perspectives, i.e. the internal (resource-based theory) and external (resource-dependency theory) perspectives, makes the study relevant and valuable to better understand the role and type of ambidexterity among SMEs as a mediating factor between EO and FP. This paper breaks new ground by confirming a paradoxical phenomenon concerning organizational ambidextrous practices within SMEs. Additionally, four strategies for ambidextrous were developed to respond to the anomaly.

COVID-19 pivot: a reflection on assessments

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon Wong ◽  
Yichelle Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Personal Experience ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Course Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tasks ◽  
Potential System ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe certain choices in assessments, in the digital pivot in response to COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a discursive reflection about one’s personal experience and response to COVID-19. Findings Communicating suggestions of the changes in advance for feedback, consistency in maintaining the same assessment formats and styles, and being available in real-time during key assessment tasks are important in providing assurance and certainty to students in a time of great uncertainty and stress. Anticipating resource constraints will help to avoid potential system fails. Developing assessments that are authentic in using real-world company filings, the answers to which cannot be readily searched on the internet can significantly reduce the risk of cheating, especially where examination supervision resources are unavailable. Research limitations/implications Course assessment choices may be specific to a particular course and may not be applicable to all courses. Practical implications Course assessment choices and the rationales for them, may be of applicability to other educators. Originality/value This note describes the authors’ personal experiences in adapting to the learning and teaching in the COVID environment.

Reverse mentoring becomes a two-way street: case study of a mentoring project for IT competence

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Burdett
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Project Leader ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the experiences of a large Australian Government department in the successful trialling of a formal reverse mentoring project for developing information technology (IT) competence in executives. Design/methodology/approach – A case study approach was used to collect data from interviews with the organization’s project leader. Data were also sourced from relevant internal documents and appropriate literature. Findings – The results suggest that formal reverse mentoring projects can have additional reciprocal benefits for both parties such as leadership development, knowledge creation and relationship building. Furthermore, it emerged that clear procedures, effective structures and time spent on participant preparation contributed to the project’s success. Research limitations/implications – Findings from a single case study may not be generalizable to all contexts. Practical implications – This paper provides guidance to trainers and leaders in the planning and delivery of an innovative reverse mentoring project for IT competence and beyond. Originality/value – This paper contributes to an understanding of leadership development through mentoring and offers practical assistance to leaders, managers and trainers.

Exploration of “Talking Groups” within a medium secure setting

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-248
Author(s):  
Heather Tolland ◽  
Heather Laithwaite
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Patient Involvement ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secure Unit ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore patient and staff views of a new intervention “Talking Groups” within a medium secure setting. Design/methodology/approach Seven patients and eight members of staff who had attended Talking Groups in the medium secure wards participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings The analysis revealed four key themes related to the aims, content and perceived benefits of Talking Groups: information; relationship building; engagement and patient involvement in developing activities/interventions. Practical implications If Talking Groups are extended to other wards in the medium secure unit, information sessions should continue as part of the groups, as these were valued by patients and provided useful information about transition, human rights and medication. Originality/value The findings suggest that Talking Groups have benefits for patients and staff within this medium secure setting. Findings from this evaluation can be used to inform the development of Talking Groups across different wards in this unit.

CSR, social ties and firm performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1310-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soojeen Sarah Jang ◽  
Hyesoo Ko ◽  
Yanghon Chung ◽  
Chungwon Woo
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to explore the effect of social ties on the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance in Korea. Design/methodology/approach Social ties were measured from firm disclosures of 318 Korean firms from 2012 to 2015. Propensity score matching and regression analysis were used to investigate the moderating effects of social ties on the relationship between CSR and firm performance. Findings The result shows that social ties have more negative moderating effects on the relationship between CSR and firm performance in Chaebol firms than in non-Chaebol firms. Practical implications Firms need to enhance the monitoring of social ties within board members to assure the proper oversight of CSR. Originality/value This paper contributes to the CSR literature by providing empirical evidence of the negative aspects of social ties on the relationship between CSR and firm performance in Korea.

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