Examining the links between logistics outsourcing, company competitiveness and selected performances: the evidence from an emerging country

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebenezer Afum ◽  
Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah ◽  
Innocent Senyo Kwasi Acquah ◽  
Charles Baah ◽  
Essel Dacosta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Additional Contribution ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Logistics Outsourcing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emerging Country

PurposeThis study examines the mediation effects of time-based competitiveness, cost-based competitiveness and customer performance between logistics outsourcing and financial performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study relied on a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument and further employed partial least squares structural equation modelling technique to test all formulated hypotheses.FindingsThe results demonstrate that logistics outsourcing has a significant positive impact on time-based competitiveness, cost-based competitiveness, customer performance and financial performance. Time-based competitiveness and cost-based competitiveness were both found to have a significant positive impact on financial performance; however, customer performance had no significant impact on financial performance. The mediation analysis further indicates that while both time-based competitiveness and cost-based competitiveness play mediation effects between logistics outsourcing and financial performance, customer performance plays no mediation effect between logistics outsourcing and financial performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe sampled firms for this study came from a single emerging country; hence, the results cannot be generalized or imported to reflect the results that may be obtained from other emerging geographical settings.Practical implicationsThe results provide sufficient evidence for managers to turn their attention to logistics outsourcing, as a transformative business initiative, to gain time-based and cost-based competitiveness so as to improve financial performance.Originality/valueThe study provides significant insight and makes an additional contribution to literature in the area of logistics outsourcing, especially by collecting data from an emerging country. Modelling time-based competitiveness, cost-based competitiveness and customer performance as mediating variables between logistics outsourcing and financial performance make this work relatively different from other studies.

The impact of within-industry diversification on firm performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1475-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varaporn Pangboonyanon ◽  
Kiattichai Kalasin
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Institutional Perspective ◽  
Product Lines ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Linear Pattern ◽  
Coordination Costs ◽  
Industry Diversification ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how within-industry diversification affects the financial performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets (EMs). The authors draw on both the resource-based view and the institutional perspective and argue that within-industry diversification can enhance the financial performance of SMEs in EMs. Due to institutional voids in emerging economies, SMEs can gain additional benefits from scope economies, as well as from market returns, by filling product market voids and gaps in business ecosystems, while also enjoying low input and labor costs that reduce the coordination costs of diversification. This, in turn, enhances benefits of within-industry diversification, thereby resulting in higher financial profitability. Design/methodology/approach This study employs panel data econometrics to estimate the model. The authors test hypotheses on 195 firms, originating from five countries in Southeast Asia, during the period of 2009–2014. Findings The empirical results support the arguments. Within-industry diversification has a positive impact on the performance of SMEs in EMs. These effects become weaker when the institutional contexts are more developed. Nevertheless, such effects become stronger when SMEs in EMs are more efficient. Research limitations/implications The relationship between within-industry diversification and performance is a positive linear pattern, which differs from the pattern in advanced economies. In addition to unrelated diversification, the related diversification is preferable for firms in EMs. Practical implications The paper provides implications for SMEs that aim to enhance their performance by engaging in single product lines and within-industry diversification. Originality/value This paper examines the different ways within-industry diversification can enhance SMEs performance in EM contexts.

scholarly journals The role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in sharing economy post-adoption

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Oliveira ◽  
Iolanda Barbeitos ◽  
Antonela Calado
Keyword(s):  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Private Property ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Continuance Intention ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Intrinsic And Extrinsic Motivations

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine use and sharing economy (SE) continuance intention, and the mediation effects of use between individuals' motivations and SE continuance intention. A theoretical model is developed to explain use and SE continuance intention as intrinsic and extrinsic motivated behaviour, as proposed by self-determination theory. Factors are derived from SE context and supported by published research on SE.Design/methodology/approachThe partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) technique is used to test the model in a quantitative study involving 256 users of SE services.FindingsFindings suggest that use and SE continuance can be explained by concurrent intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Moreover, high environmental concerns may restrain the use of SE services. Findings show that continuance intention is influenced by current use of SE services. Moreover, the study emphasizes the mediation effect of use between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and SE continuance intention.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis of use behaviour should be complemented with other measures of use and with data provided by qualitative methods of research. Further research should also consider the effect of different control variables and mediation effects.Practical implicationsBrand managers and companies providing services through digital platforms should address individuals' needs in order to stimulate voluntary engagement in persistent SE practices.Social implicationsThis study informs the consumer in general so that the SE can develop its potential alongside an economy based on the ownership of private property.Originality/valueThis study extends findings on continuance intention research by offering internal motivation factors as predictors of post-adoption behaviour and emphasizes the role of use on SE continuance intention.

The verification of effective leadership style for TQM

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 822-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Sik Cho ◽  
Joo Y. Jung
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Effective Leadership ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to verify the universal applicability of total quality management (TQM) across national boundaries. Specifically, the authors examined the validity of the isomorphic nature of TQM leadership style by comparing survey samples from both USA-based firms (n=112) and China-based firms (n=121). Design/methodology/approach – The authors collected the primary data through a survey research method. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were adopted to test the hypothesized research model. Findings – The study results did not support the universality of TQM practices. For example, the results reveal that in the USA-based firms, transformational leadership has a more significant positive influence on TQM practices, while in the China-based firms, transactional leadership has a more significant positive impact on TQM practices. Originality/value – Most of the existing literature on TQM assumed that the most effective TQM leadership style would be universal across organizational or international boundaries. However, our findings imply that the effective leadership style for successful implementation of TQM practices could be contingent on the cultural background embedded within the firms. Therefore, the authors anticipate the findings of the study will guide future research on TQM and create a new path to find solutions not only for optimizing the successful implementation of TQM, but also for minimizing the current high level of TQM failures.

The bright and dark sides of green customer integration (GCI): evidence from Chinese manufacturers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taiwen Feng ◽  
Hongyan Sheng ◽  
Minghui Li
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Information Sharing ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Resource Dependence Theory ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Opportunistic Behavior ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Customer Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeBased on resource dependence theory and transaction cost economics this study explores how green customer integration (GCI) affects financial performance via information sharing and opportunistic behavior, and the moderating effects of dependence and trust.Design/methodology/approachThis study develops a theoretical model and tests it using data from two-waved survey data of 206 Chinese manufacturers. The hypotheses were tested using hierarchical linear regression analysis.FindingsThe results show that GCI has a significant and positive impact on information sharing, but its impact on opportunistic behavior is insignificant. Notably, information sharing has a significant and positive impact on financial performance, while opportunistic behavior has an insignificant impact on financial performance. In addition, dependence negatively moderates the impact of GCI on information sharing and positively moderates the impact of GCI on opportunistic behavior. Trust negatively moderates the impact of GCI on opportunistic behavior.Originality/valueAlthough GCI has received widespread attention, how it affects a firm's performance remains unclear. Most previous studies have focused only on its bright side and ignored its dark side. This study highlights how GCI affects financial performance through information sharing and opportunistic behavior, and the moderating effects of dependence and trust. This enriches the understanding of how and under what conditions GCI affects a firm's performance.

Corporate governance and performance of medium-sized firms in Nigeria: does sustainability initiative matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-427
Author(s):  
Babatunji Samuel Adedeji ◽  
Tze San Ong ◽  
Md Uzir Hossain Uzir ◽  
Abu Bakar Abdul Hamid
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The non-existence of the corporate governance (CG) concept for practices by non-financial medium-sized firms (MSFs) in Nigeria informed. This study aims to determine whether CG practices influence firms’ performance and whether sustainability initiative (SI) mediates the relationship between CG and MSFs’ performance in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach A total of 300 firms were selected on convenience sampling basis from South Western Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. The authors used Statistical Package for Social Sciences for exploratory data analysis and hypotheses were tested using covariance-based structural equation modelling. Findings The results show that CG has a significant positive effect on performance [financial performance (FNP) and non-financial performance (NFP)] and SI. SI has a mixed impact on performance, e.g. a significant positive impact on NFP but insignificant negative impact on FNP. Similarly, SI has a combined mediating effect in the relationship between CG and performance, e.g. fully mediates CG → NFP and does not mediate CG → FNP. Firms are to invest in social and environmental initiatives substantially. CG codes will complement the International Financial Reporting Standards for MSFs. Research limitations/implications This study supports the assumptions of theories (institutional, stakeholder and agency) as the basis for the usage of multiple approaches to determine the outcome of hypotheses, especially in developing climes. Practical implications The study contributes to CG and performance literature by examining the mediating effects of SI. The paper also shows the necessity to emphasise NFP aspect. Policymakers should evolve CG codes to encourage stakeholders to believe more in the corporate existence of MSFs for strengthening capital-base and quality personnel engagement. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first empirical attempts showing the evidence on the relationship between CG and NFP in Nigeria.

Comparative study

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sri Indarti ◽  
Yulia Efni
Keyword(s):  
Risk Taking ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Attitude ◽  
Partnership Program

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding through Partnership and Development Nurturing Program (PDNP) in the development of entrepreneurial attitude and the small and micro entrepreneurs’ (SMEs’) income in Pekanbaru. Design/methodology/approach Primary data were obtained from the SMEs’ response to the development of entrepreneurial attitude, income of sales and expenses before and after getting PDNP fund. Secondary data were obtained from the publication of firms and relevant authorities. The sample used in this study comprised 95 respondents, including the SMEs in Pekanbaru who received PDNP fund in 2013 and who were selected by purposive sampling. Generalized structural component analysis (GSCA) was used to analyze the data for inner model (hypothesis testing for structural model) and outer model (measurement model for unobservable variables). Sobel test (under GSCA model) was used to test whether a variable is a mediating variable that assesses the relationship between endogenous variables and exogenous variables. Findings CSR funding (by PNBP fund) is significantly effective for entrepreneurial attitude. The higher value of CSR funding (by PNBP fund), which is reflected in the high values of turnover (X1), marketing coverage (X2), partnership program (X3) and sales (X4), will lead to a higher value of entrepreneurial attitude, which is reflected in the high value of planning (M1), confidence (M2), orientation to task (M3), risk taking (M4), leadership (M5) and honesty (M6). Entrepreneurial attitude significantly affects the income of SMEs. The higher value of entrepreneurial attitude, which is reflected in the high value of planning (M1), confidence (M2), orientation to task (M3), risk taking (M4), leadership (M5) and honesty (M6), will lead to a higher value of income of SMEs, which is reflected in the high value of effectivity (Y1), efficiency (Y2) and economist (Y3). CSR funding (by PNBP Fund) has a significant effect on the SMEs’ income with a mediation effect of entrepreneurial attitude. A high value of CSR funding (by PNBP Fund), which is reflected in the high values of turnover (X1), marketing coverage (X2), partnership program (X3) and sales (X4), will lead to a higher value of income of SMEs, which is reflected in the high value of effectivity (Y1), efficiency (Y2) and economist (Y3), if the value of entrepreneurial attitude is higher, which is reflected in the high values of planning (M1), confidence (M2), orientation to task (M3), risk taking (M4), leadership (M5) and honesty (M6). Originality/value A gap exists between the expected goals of SMEs, which is to increase people’s income through the development of their entrepreneurship, and the realization of the program. Hence, it is necessary to improve the implementation of the partnership program, which needs improvement in planning, process and the evaluation of the program. This phenomenon motivated the researcher to conduct this study so that the partnership and the community development program, as a form of CSR, benefit SMEs to increase their income.

Joint venture survival in China: the importance of tangible and intangible trust

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley James Koch ◽  
Pamela L.T. Koch
Keyword(s):  
Trust Management ◽  
Joint Venture ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
A Current

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among joint venture survival in Sichuan and two types of trust: intangible trust and tangible trust. Intangible trust encapsulates the internal affective aspects of trust, whereas tangible trust captures the external and more easily visible willingness to commit resources to the partnership. Design/methodology/approach The primary data used in this research are based on surveys conducted in 2002-2003 of 274 foreign invested firms in Sichuan province and are from a follow-up investigation of firm survival in 2009. Findings The results show that both intangible trust and tangible trust are significant in predicting survival in joint ventures seven years into the future. In addition, the authors explore determinates of intangible and tangible trust. Management control had no impact on intangible trust, but it had a significant positive impact on tangible trust via the presence of a foreign general manager. Cultural distance had the expected negative effect on intangible trust, but an unanticipated positive influence on tangible trust. Originality/value The main contribution of this research is establishing a link between measures of trust taken in 2002 with a performance measure from 2009. Trust today, whether it is tangible or intangible, predicts performance in the future. The majority of prior research linked a current measure of trust with a current measure of performance, which blurs the trust and performance relationship, as it is likely that the relationship is reciprocal and higher levels of trust may be the result of good performance just as much as good performance is a result of higher levels of trust.

Transformational leadership and innovation in teaching and learning activities: the mediation effect of knowledge management

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sugunah Supermane
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Clinical Training ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Education institutions persist by transforming leadership skills to manage their knowledge resources efficiently as well as enhance the lecturer’s teaching and learning innovation capabilities. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether knowledge management plays a role of mediator between transformational leadership and teaching and learning innovation in teacher education. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect the primary data from 359 teacher educators across Malaysia. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all the samples, and the collected data was analysed using structural equation modelling approach. Findings The data analysis indicated that knowledge management did not play the role of a mediator in this study because the direct effect of transformational leadership on teaching and learning innovation was stronger than the indirect effect of transformational leadership through knowledge management. Practical implications From the aspect of implications on the practice, it was suggested that all lecturers and head of departments attend clinical training and workshops on knowledge management to further understand the knowledge management processes that could enhance the quality of teaching in teacher education institutes. Originality/value This study is perhaps the first study to investigate the role of knowledge management as a mediator between transformational leadership and teaching and learning innovation in teacher education.

Gaining satisfaction: the role of brand equity orientation and failure type in service recovery

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 2317-2342
Author(s):  
Ke Ma ◽  
Xin Zhong ◽  
Guanghui Hou
Keyword(s):  
Brand Equity ◽  
Service Recovery ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Failure Type ◽  
Recovery Strategies ◽  
Recovery Satisfaction ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to examine the role played by brand equity orientation and failure type in service recovery. Specifically, through the lens of forgiveness, the way brand equity orientation and failure type influence consumer response to recovery is revealed. Design/methodology/approach This research tests a novel model using data collected from 1,589 consumers in two scenario-based experimental studies. The statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) program with the PROCESS tool was used to test the mediation and moderated mediation effects. Findings The research findings suggest that forgiveness plays a mediation role in the relationship between recovery and satisfaction. Brand equity orientation moderates the mediation effect of forgiveness on the relationship between recovery and recovery satisfaction. In addition, failure type also plays an important role and there is a significant three-way interaction effect (service recovery × brand equity orientation × failure type) on recovery satisfaction under certain circumstances. Research limitations/implications Building on the extant literature which focuses on the cognitive process when investigating recovery and consumer reaction, this research advocates the significant role played by the psychological process, namely, the feeling of forgiveness, in explaining the effect of distinct recovery strategies on consumer satisfaction. This research also unveils the effects of brand equity orientation and failure type on recovery outcomes. Practical implications When addressing performance failure, brand equity orientation and failure type need to be identified. Businesses could develop recovery strategies to arouse consumer forgiveness, which would lead to increased recovery satisfaction. When designing recovery strategies, managers need to be mindful of the effects of brand equity orientation and failure type. Originality/value This research is one of the few which reveals the mediating role played by forgiveness on the effect of recovery. Taking brand equity orientation and failure type into consideration, the findings of this research provide new insights into the recovery literature.

scholarly journals International diversification and firm’s value: evidence from developing nations

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.N. Bany-Ariffin ◽  
Bolaji Tunde Matemilola ◽  
Liza Wahid ◽  
Siti Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Multinational Firms ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
International Diversification ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Reverse Causality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the impact of international diversification, through the investment abroad activities of the Malaysian multinational corporations (MNCs), on their financial performance. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies the panel generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique that gives better results. Findings The empirical findings show that the move to invest abroad has brought a positive impact on Malaysian MNCs’ financial performance. However, in terms of a firm’s risk, the results contradict the general internationalization-risk hypothesis. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on the top 100 multinational firms; future researchers may extend the time period and use the entire sample of all the multinational firms. Practical implications Foreign investments offer rewarding returns due to cheaper labour and raw materials, competitive edge in terms of technological advancement and larger market opportunities. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature using the panel GMM’s estimation that effectively control for reverse causality and serial correlation problem. The paper also contributes to the international diversification and performance relationship, in a fast-growing Malaysia.

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