Redefining the boundaries of the firm: the role of 4PLs

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Cezanne ◽  
Laurence Saglietto
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Organizational Boundaries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Dynamic Relationship ◽  
Specialized Human Capital ◽  
Fourth Party Logistics ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the specific valuable partnership between human capital-intensive firms (HCIFs) and fourth-party logistics (4PLs), and in particular, to explore the way boundaries of HCIFs are changing as a consequence of the growing importance of 4PLs. Design/methodology/approach – The paper represents the viewpoints of the authors as far as the role of 4PLs in the changing boundaries of HCIFs is concerned. It is based on a literature review, especially on the analysis of the recent works on organizational boundaries developed by Garicano, Santos and their co-authors. It establishes the prerequisites on the actors of the phenomenon and provides a knowledge-based conceptual framework to understand their dynamic relationship. Findings – The authors show that the relationship between a HCIF and a 4PL represents a balance of power between two partners based on the co-specialized human capital provided by each of them. From four main propositions, the authors explain that the HCIF extends its boundaries and create more value through the in-house and outside critical human capital it uses. Originality/value – The specific partnership between HCIFs and 4PLs has been rarely mentioned in the economics and management literature. This interdisciplinary viewpoint essentially provides both academics and practitioners with a conceptual map of 4PLs and HCIFs research and also points out opportunities for future research.

scholarly journals The role of knowledge-based networks in the intellectual capital and organizational performance of small and medium-sized enterprises

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-140
Author(s):  
Ricardo Vinícius Dias Jordão ◽  
Jorge Novas ◽  
Vipin Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Growth Efficiency ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the role of a knowledge-based network (k-network) in the intellectual capital (IC) and organizational performance of Brazilian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a descriptive, qualitative and applied case study, developed taking into account the theories of strategy, IC, networks and finance to analyze the relationship between k-network and the generation of IC and organizational performance in a multifocal perspective (observed in terms of financial and marketing results, efficiency and efficacy and innovation and competitiveness) in Brazilian SMEs. Findings The findings showed that k-network plays a crucial role in the generation of the IC and improvements in organizational performance in SMEs. In addition, the results revealed the strategic relevance of the relationship between people and enterprises to master the process of creation and sharing information and knowledge in the analyzed network. Taken as a whole, the conclusions demonstrated the establishment of IC (in its three dimensions) as a consequence of the strategic association of SMEs in k-network, as well as the mediation role of IC as a way to promote improvements in organizational performance, considering the observed amelioration in financial results, marketing growth, efficiency, efficacy, innovation and competitiveness. Research limitations/implications This research provides theoretical contributions by broadening knowledge of the practical relationship between k-network, IC and the multifocal perspective of SMEs organizational performance – a relevant and underexplored issue in the literature, offering several avenues for future research. Practical implications The results highlight the economic, political and social relevance of SMEs and the strategic use of k-network to overcome SMEs organizational, financial and managerial difficulties. In such context, analysts, managers, businesspeople and other decision-makers are expected to use this type of network to improve the IC, in its human, relational and structural dimensions, mastering companies’ knowledge and sustainable organizational performance. Originality/value The paper fills a significant research gap, revealing how k-networks can and should be used as a deliberate strategy by SMEs to create, acquire, use, absorb and share information and knowledge, as well as to generate IC, thus providing organizational, financial, innovative and competitive benefits to these enterprises and their network.

Impact of perceived organizational support and green transformational leadership on sustainable organizational performance: a SEM approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manita Kusi ◽  
Fuqiang Zhao ◽  
Dinesh Sukamani
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Perceived Organizational Support ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Staff Level

PurposeThe study aims to scrutinize the concomitant associations between corporate social responsibility (CSR), perceived organizational support (POS), green transformational leadership (GTL) and organizational performance (OP). This paper aims to explore the role of intervening variable to measure the strength on the relationship between CSR and OP.Design/methodology/approachThis research administered a survey through self-administered questionnaire among the staff-level employees of construction companies of Nepal. Fully filled 305 responses from the participants were analyzed using a structural equation model. The study used self-structured questionnaire as research tool and face-to-face meetings as data collection technique.FindingsThe research indicates that POS showed competitive partial mediation relation between CSR and OP. Besides, a novel exploration of the moderation effect of GTL displays a supportive role in harmonizing the CSR with organizational support to achieve better OP. This study enriches empirical evidence to understand the linkage between CSR and POS in staff-level employees in the construction area. Moreover, the research shed a light on GTL 's moderating influence on the mediated model of CSR, POS and OP.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the results of the study add to the current knowledge base, several limitations highlight avenues for future research. Future studies can explore the relationship in other study areas with added evidence on a similar result with different analysis patterns and study sample. The research model studied in the context of Nepal creating evidence as a representation for the developing countries.Originality/valueThe intervening role of POS and GTL gives new insight for the research-based organization based social behavior and performance

The effect of talent management and human capital on sustainable business performance: an empirical investigation in Malaysian hospitals

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nagwan Abdulwahab AlQershi ◽  
Ramayah Thurasamy ◽  
Gamal Abdualmajed Ali ◽  
Hussein Abu Al-Rejal ◽  
Amr Al-Ganad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine the mediating role of human capital on the talent management in hospitals’ sustainable business performance in the health-care sector of Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach The study used a quantitative approach, with an initial sample of 174 Malaysian hospitals. The theoretical framework was based on previous studies of talent management (TM), human capital (HC) and sustainable business performance (SBP). Partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the study’s hypotheses. Findings Talent management mindset (TMM), but not talent management strategy (TMS), has a significant relationship with HC and SBP. HC has a significant direct relationship with SBP, and also mediates the relationship between TMM and SBP but not between TMS and SBP. Research limitations/implications This work is one of a limited number of studies to empirically address TM, HC and SBP in this context. The study is limited to Malaysian hospitals. It provides theoretical contributions by broadening the knowledge of HC, TM and the multifocal perspective of hospitals’ SBP, a relevant but underexplored issue, offering several avenues for future research. Practical implications The findings have beneficial practical implications for both policy makers and managers. First, focusing on talented people will directly improve sustainable performance in the Malaysian health sector. The findings also have important theoretical implications both for Malaysia and countries in similar situations. The study will serve as a reference point for such countries in trying to understand factors influencing SBP. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the mediating effect of HC on the relationship between talent management and hospitals’ sustainable business performance in Malaysia, or worldwide.

Passive but defiant: the role of innovative capabilities in knowledge management and corporate entrepreneurship

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Azhar Khalil ◽  
Muhammad Khuram Khalil ◽  
Rashid Khalil
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Entrepreneurship ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Innovative Capabilities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to examine the role of organizational innovative capabilities (OIC) on the relationship between knowledge sharing (KS), corporate entrepreneurship (CE) and firm performance (FP). Specifically, this study uses the knowledge-based view to develop a model that examines the mentioned relationship. Design/methodology/approach Using survey data from 520 participants across 75 service sector companies in Thailand, measurement and structure models are tested through structural equation modeling to quantify the impact between constructs. Findings This study shows that KS and CE positively affect OIC and FP. A positive relationship is also found between KS and CE. The mediating impact of OIC strengthens the relationship between KS and CE on FP. Research limitations/implications Like all research using survey methods, the research is prone to respondent biases and generalizability. However, this paper has put the best effort to minimize such effects by rigorous methodological testing to avoid such biases. Practical implications The findings of this study suggest that to improve organizational learning and knowledge-based performance, commitment and understanding of the employees in the entire organization is crucial. KS significantly contributes to developing innovative abilities because of its characteristics of providing firm-specific and socially complex advantages. The way a firm transforms and exploits its knowledge may ascertain its level of innovativeness, such as coming up with certain problem-solving procedures and new product development according to the rapid change in the market demand. However, organizations may only instigate to effectively organize knowledge when their employees are ready to share knowledge. Continuous KS boosts entrepreneurial practices and contributes innovativeness across individuals, groups, units or the entire organization. Originality/value The relationship between CE, organization innovative capabilities and FP in the presence of KS is rarely discussed in both theoretical and empirical literature. This study contributes to the literature by arguing that apart from the direct impact of KS on FP, KS can lead the firms toward generating important competitive advantage by forming innovative capabilities that can significantly influence FP.

The relationship between cooperative and competitive behavioral tendencies and trust in coworkers

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-360
Author(s):  
Ece Ömüriş ◽  
Ferda Erdem ◽  
Janset Özen Aytemur
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Behavioral Tendencies ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the relationship between cooperative and competitive behavioral tendencies and trust of coworkers in organizations. Two main hypotheses were developed. The first hypothesis was that cooperativeness and trust in coworkers is positively correlated. The second hypothesis was that competitiveness and trust in coworkers is negatively correlated.Design/methodology/approachThe sample was 442 Turkish tourism sector employees in a labor-intensive industry. Two scales were used to measure trust in coworkers and cooperativeness/competitiveness. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to understand how individuals' behavioral tendency affects their coworkers' trust in them.FindingsThe findings strongly supported the first hypothesis, in that cooperativeness was positively correlated with trust in coworkers. The second hypothesis was only partially supported because there was no significant relationship between competitiveness and the competency and trustworthiness dimensions of trust. Unselfishness aspect of trust, however, was negatively correlated with competitiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThe main contribution of this study is to show that employee cooperativeness and competitiveness can affect trust in coworker relations. However, the measurement of competitiveness and cooperativeness measurement had limitations due to differences in the culture-specific meanings of cooperation and competition. Future research employing mixed methods research is needed to further explain the content of the two tendencies and the relationship between the concepts.Originality/valueThe literature on trust and employee relations tends to focus more on the issue of trust between managers and subordinates while neglecting the complex and multifaceted structure of trust in employee–employer relations. However, new working forms mean that horizontal relations are increasingly important. Therefore, more research is needed to address the tendencies and structures that affect trust in coworkers. This study draws attention to the potential role of cooperative and competitive behaviors in trust in horizontal employee relations.

Human capital and labor: the effect of entrepreneur characteristics on venture success

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byungku Lee
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
General Education ◽  
Hard Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Venture Performance ◽  
Human Labor ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Industry Experience ◽  
Entrepreneur Human Capital

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer a unique perspective on the role of entrepreneurs’ hard work for the relationship between entrepreneur human capital and venture success. To this end, this study examined whether entrepreneurs with high human capital work harder than entrepreneurs with low human capital, the effect of entrepreneurs’ hard work on venture performance, and whether entrepreneurs’ hard work mediates the relationship between entrepreneur human capital and venture performance.Design/methodology/approachIn this explorative study, the role of entrepreneurs’ hard work as a mediator that transfers entrepreneur human capital into venture success was examined in a sample of 2,648 single-founder startups in the USA and 21,184 observations during the period of 2004-2011.FindingsThe effect of entrepreneurs’ industry experience on entrepreneurs’ hard work was significantly positive, while the effect of entrepreneurs’ general education on entrepreneurs’ hard work was significantly negative. Moreover, entrepreneurs’ hard work was a significant predictor of venture success. Finally, the results showed that entrepreneurs’ hard work partially mediates the positive relationship between entrepreneurs’ industry experience and venture success.Originality/valueOn one hand, the link between human capital and firm performance has been studied thoroughly and findings so far support the positive link between them. On the other hand, there has been continuous criticism that human capital gained much of its attention at the expense of human labor. There is a paucity of research, however, that investigating the dynamics of the relationships between human capital and human labor. This study provides an empirical explanation of such dynamics of the relationships of human characteristics in the context of entrepreneurship.

Direct and indirect effect of entrepreneurial orientation, family involvement and gender on family business performance

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erny Rachmawati ◽  
Suliyanto ◽  
Agus Suroso
Keyword(s):  
Family Involvement ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThis study aims to determine the direct effect of entrepreneurial orientation on family business performance. This study also discusses the role of family involvement as a mediating variable and the role of gender as a moderating variable in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and family business performance.Design/methodology/approachA total of 328 hotels in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, were selected as samples by the convenience sampling method. Primary data is collected through structured questionnaires that are delivered by themselves to key people in the hotel such as owners, directors and key staff (HRD, financial, relationship). Hypotheses are tested by structural equation modeling procedures using AMOS 22.0. Sobel test is used to determine the indirect effect of the mediation variable.FindingsThe results showed that entrepreneurial orientation had no significant effect on family business performance. Family involvement acts as a full mediation in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and family business performance. Gender acts as a moderating variable that can strengthen the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and family business performance. The results showed support for previous research.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the study cannot conclude the national family business because it adopts convenience sampling and the sampling area is limited in Yogyakarta. Future research can use a larger sample. This study only researches hotels managed by family businesses, so it is not feasible to conclude for family businesses in general. Future research may choose to use several types of family businesses so that more varied results can be obtained. Future research could also compare hotels managed by family businesses with non-family businesses. The results also found that in addition to gender roles, respondent heterogeneity was an important component in the study of social identity. Therefore, research examining the influence of different cultures on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and family business performance should be an extraordinary topic for future study. Other results from this study also indicate that there is a role for religion in improving hotel performance. Future research is needed to further explore Islamic business modeling for family businesses.Practical implicationsThis finding has significant implications that can help family businesses in developing strategies that are suitable for business management. Entrepreneurial orientation occupies a strategic position in developing sustainable competitive advantage in the family business of the tourism sector especially the hotel business in Yogyakarta for the better. Besides, the results of the study also showed that entrepreneurial orientation had no significant effect on performance. This relationship becomes significant when combined with active family involvement. This finding also shows that entrepreneurial orientation has the potential to have a more beneficial effect because of the active involvement of the family in helping with business management, alleviating business-related problems, and having a significant influence when the family also acts as management.Social implicationsResearch findings indicate the role of gender in strengthening the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and family business performance. This provides a good position for women in the social environment to show achievement. To place women on the side of gender equality and justice in the family business in Indonesia. By opening wider access for Indonesian women in the realm of business management, expanding women's participation in a family business, increasing the role of control for women, and increasing women's knowledge and skills to increase the benefits in managing family businesses so that they have sustainable resilience in the face of global competition.Originality/valueThe results of this study provide a new model in providing an overview of the direct and indirect roles (mediating and moderating) in the assessment of family business performance. This study uses three variables which are important in performance appraisal, namely entrepreneurial orientation (independent variable), family involvement (mediating variable) and gender (moderating variable). Where research that combines these four variables, directly and indirectly, has never been done before.

Dual path effects of self-worth on status consumption: evidence from Chinese consumers

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1431-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongjing Cui ◽  
Taiyang Zhao ◽  
Slawomir Smyczek ◽  
Yajun Sheng ◽  
Ming Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Distance ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Status Consumption ◽  
Self Worth ◽  
Status Goods ◽  
Threats To Self ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of self-worth on status consumption, focusing on the mediation of self-enhancement and self-compensation and the moderation of power distance belief (PDB) in the relationship of threats to self-worth and consumer choice. Design/methodology/approach Experiments are used to collect data. Three studies are designed to test the relationship between self-worth, self-enhancement and self-compensation, PDB and status consumption. In total, 180 MBA students participate Study 1, 186 and 244 undergraduate students participate Studies 2 and 3, respectively. ANOVA and bootstrapping method are adopted to analyze the data by using SPSS version 19.0. Study 1 tests the influence of self-worth on status consumption; Study 2 examines the mediation role of self-enhancement and self-compensation; and Study 3 tests the moderation role of PDB. Findings Results indicate that situational self-worth perception has dual path effects on status consumption. Both improvements in – and threats to – self-worth have a positive impact on status consumption. Improvements in self-worth affect status consumption through the mediation of self-enhancement motives. Threats to self-worth affect status and non-status consumption through the mediation of the self-compensation motive. In the context of a threat to self-worth, compared with consumers with a low PDB, high-PDB consumers have higher purchase intention for status goods but not non-status goods. Research limitations/implications In this study, improvements in – and threats to – self-worth are momentarily manipulated. The authors present one product in each experiment, but what would happen if both status goods and non-status goods were shown to participants? Which one will the authors choose under different self-worth manipulations? And how long can the effects last? These questions should be answered in future research. Practical implications This research provides a venue for marketers to introduce and advertise status goods. Marketing practitioners should establish the link between self-worth and status consumption appeals. In the Asia-Pacific markets, Confucian value is important to consumers, and high power distance is important in Confucianism. Thus when developing markets in China, international companies should emphasize Confucian values in the design of advertisements or other promotional items. Further, marketing for status goods should attach importance to the expression of their symbolic meanings. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on self-worth and status consumption. It also explores the dual path of the effect of self-worth on status consumption. The motives of self-enhancement and self-compensation are first proposed and tested to explain the mechanism, which differentiates the study from prior work and gives a more reasonable explanation for status and compensatory consumption. The moderation role of PDB delineates the boundary for the effect of a threat to self-worth on status consumption.

When organizational complexity helps corporation improve its performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Liu ◽  
Lu Ma ◽  
Panpan Huang
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Environmental Complexity ◽  
Organizational Complexity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporation Performance ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Shape Curve ◽  
Theory Research ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the assertion that the relationship between corporation performance and organizational complexity follows an inverted U-shape curve, and a corporation gains the best performance when its organizational complexity fits its environmental complexity. Design/methodology/approach – This research did not directly measure environmental complexity to verify the relationship between corporation performance and complex environment, but measured organizational complexity to subtly display the effect of the organizational complexity on the corporation performance while controlled the environmental complexity. To do so, a set of corporations that shared the similar environment was selected, and then these corporations’ performance and organizational complexity were calculated, the related hypotheses were tested empirically. Findings – The paper proved the inverted U-shape relationship between organizational complexity and corporation performance, and also found that different corporation chooses different complex adaptive way, so the inverted U-shape relationship displays hierarchy. Research limitations/implications – Future research should search out to calculate corporation’s environment complexity the fitness of organizational complexity for testing hypotheses. Practical implications – The regularity of relationship between organizational complexity and corporation performance is helpful for managers to understand that a way to improve a corporation’s performance is to enhance the fitness of organizational complexity and environmental complexity. Social implications – Organizational complexity may be competitive advantage, but excessive growth of it will be harmful. Originality/value – Usually organizational complexity is thought of as a negative factor to corporation performance and tends to be constrained, but this research explored the role of organizational complexity to corporation performance and the findings helps managers to understand when to enhance organizational complexity and when to weaken it. The methodology of calculating the fitness of organizational complexity and environmental complexity by fixing environment is a contribution to complexity theory research.

scholarly journals Are altruistic leaders worthy? The role of organizational learning capability

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fermín Mallén ◽  
Ricardo Chiva ◽  
Joaquín Alegre ◽  
Jacob Guinot
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Leader Behaviors ◽  
Learning Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between altruistic leader behaviors, organizational learning capability and organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach – The sampling frame consists of several databases or listings of business that consider people as a key element of the organization and are considered by their employees to be good firms to work for or organizational environments where human resources management has high priority (n=251). The authors use structural equation modeling to test if the relationship between altruistic leader behaviors and organizational performance is mediated by organizational learning capability. Findings – Results suggest that organizational learning capability fully mediates between altruistic leader behaviors and organizational performance. Thus, organizational learning capability plays a key role in explaining how altruistic leader behaviors affect organizational performance, essentially because it facilitates the creation of a creative, participatory and dialogue-based environment that promotes organizational learning. Research limitations/implications – The database used in the study is very heterogeneous. Future research might delimit the database by organization size or sector. Qualitative studies may also improve our understanding of the relationships studied and enable other concepts to be included. Practical implications – This study provides evidence of the positive relationship between altruistic leaders and performance. However, recruiting and fomenting altruistic leaders is not sufficient on its own to improve performance, and should be accompanied by implementing other facilitating factors of organizational learning such as dialogue or experimentation. Originality/value – In recent years some studies have linked leadership with organizational learning. However, this is one of the first studies to concentrate on altruistic leader behaviors as such, a concept that has received scant mention in the literature despite its importance in a number of leadership styles, and its relevance today as an alternative to the egotistic leader. The authors offer empirical evidence of the role of altruistic leader behavior as an antecedent of organizational learning capability and subjective measures of performance.

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