scholarly journals Service fitness ladders: improving business performance in low cost and differentiated markets

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1266-1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Hill ◽  
Richard Cuthbertson ◽  
Benjamin Laker ◽  
Steve Brown
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Differentiated Services ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Fit ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present 13 propositions about how internal strategic fit (often referred to as fit) impacts the business performance of low cost and differentiated services. It then uses these relationships to develop two “fitness ladder” frameworks to help practitioners understand how to improve fit given their business strategy (low cost or differentiation) and performance objectives (operational, financial or competitiveness). Design/methodology/approach In total, 11 strategic business units were studied that perform differently and provide a range of low cost and differentiated services to understand how changes in internal strategic fit impacted business performance over a 7 year period. Findings The findings suggest aligning systems with market needs does not improve performance. Instead, firms serving low cost markets should first focus managers’ attention on processes and centralise resources around key processes, before reducing process flexibility and automate as many steps as possible to develop a low cost capability that is difficult to imitate. By contrast, firms serving differentiated markets should first focus managers’ attention on customers and then locate resources near them, before increasing customer contact with their processes and making them more flexible so they can develop customer knowledge, relationships and services that are difficult to imitate. Research limitations/implications Some significant factors may not have been considered as the study only looked at the impact of 14 internal strategic fit variables on 7 performance variables. Also, the performance changes may not be a direct result of the strategic fit improvements identified and may not generalise to other service organisations, settings and environments. Practical implications The strategic fit-performance relationships identified and the “fitness ladder” frameworks developed can be used by organisations to make decisions about how best to improve fit given their different market needs, business strategies and performance objectives. Originality/value The findings offer more clarity than previous research about how internal fit impacts business performance for low cost and differentiated services.

scholarly journals Examining the impact of microfinance on microenterprise performance (implications for women-owned microenterprises in Indonesia)

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 962-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adwin Surja Atmadja ◽  
Jen-Je Su ◽  
Parmendra Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Group Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Loan Officers ◽  
Human And Social Capital ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of microfinance on women-owned microenterprises’ (WMEs) performance in Indonesia. It especially observes how financial, human and social capital influences performance of enterprises. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from a survey conducted in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city, covering more than 100 WMEs. The ordered probit technique is applied to estimate the performance vis-à-vis financial, social and human capital relationships. Findings This study finds a negative relationship between performance and financial capital, and positive relationships between performance-human capital and performance-social capital. However, with respect to human capital, the level of education has a marginally significant relationship with performance. Practical implications Microcredit for the purposes of enhancing business performance might not necessarily be a good idea, if it is unable to generate higher returns. As a business develops, the volume of microcredit should be reduced, and replaced by owners’ own savings and retained profits. Regarding the non-financial factors, it might be useful for policy makers to contemplate providing incentives for spouse involvement in microenterprises run by women, and to consider them in designing credit policies. Group meetings activities should be extended to facilitate members to engage in business-related conversations and to develop social relationships. The ability of loan officers and group leaders to facilitate such conversations appears important. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides the first in-depth understanding of the role of microfinance programmes in the case of performance of WMEs in Indonesia, one of the world’s most populous economies.

Social customer relationship management and organizational performance: testing a conceptual model in the North African context

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fares Medjani ◽  
Stuart Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Mediation Process ◽  
North African ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Crm ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

PurposeSocial CRM (SCRM) technologies, as distinct from CRM technologies per se, provide an important new resource for companies to develop their relationships with customers and drive business performance. This research develops and tests an original model exploring the impact of SCRM on firm performance and the relationships between SCRM use, engagement, CRM capabilities and performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collect a sample from 227 companies using a survey and test the model using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe findings reveal that all the hypotheses in our research model are supported: the use of SCRM technologies lead to developing capabilities and engagement. These capabilities and engagement are then transformed into business performance through a mediation process. Overall, these findings are consistent with resource-based view and dynamic capability theories; these new technological and relational resources allow the creation organizational capabilities, which are essential to enable firms to improve their performance.Practical implicationsSCRM does not directly lead to performance but facilitates CRM capabilities and engagement that allow businesses to enhance performance.Originality/valueFirst, the authors conceptualize and operationalize SCRM as a unique concept, distinct in the literature. Second, the authors provide an original conceptualization of SCRM as a combination of CRM capabilities and engagement. Third, the authors study the mediating effect of CRM capabilities and engagement in the relationship between social CRM use and performance. Finally, this research is conducted in three North African countries where there is currently a dearth of understanding of the impact of modern information systems on organizational performance.

scholarly journals MCS package and entrepreneurial competency influence on business performance: the moderating role of business strategy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shafique Ur Rehman ◽  
Hamzah Elrehail ◽  
Kiran Nair ◽  
Anam Bhatti ◽  
Abdallah Mohammad Taamneh
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Administrative Control ◽  
Entrepreneurial Competencies ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper draws on resource-based theory (RBV) to examine the impact of the management control system (MCS) package on business performance through the mediating role of entrepreneurial competencies and the interaction role of business strategy in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachA total of 372 questionnaires were used in this research for analysis purposes using partial least square–structural equation modelling. Cluster sampling was used and nine states out of 16 states were selected randomly, including Kelantan, Johor, Sarawak, Selangor, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perak and Sabah, because the nine states cover 84.4% of the total SMEs.FindingsThe results revealed that only cultural and administrative control has no relationship with business performance. Moreover, in the MCS package, all elements have a significant and positive influence on entrepreneurial competencies. Furthermore, business strategy (cost leadership and differentiation strategy) significantly moderates, while entrepreneurial competencies mediate between, cultural, planning, cybernetic, rewards and compensation, administrative control and business performance.Originality/valueSMEs in Malaysia are contributing 36.6% to gross domestic product. Further, as this sector is important, less attention has been paid to this area of MCS package with business strategies to determine organisational performance. This study fills these gaps, and the recommendations and findings for further research are discussed in detail accordingly. Moreover, the findings of the current research provide guidelines for the management of SMEs.

The impact of improvisation and financial bootstrapping strategies on business performance

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein-Elhakim Al Issa
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Financial Bootstrapping

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the effect of financial bootstrapping strategies (FBS) and strategic improvisation (SI) on business performance (BP). The study enriches our understanding of the contributions of bootstrapping and improvisation strategies toward resource-constrained small businesses during real economic downturns and crises. The potential moderating effect of SI on the relationship between FBS and its dimensions and performance were also examined.Design/methodology/approachUsing the convenience snowball sampling technique, data were collected from entrepreneurs in Tripoli, Libya. Structural equation modeling by means of partial least square bootstrapping resampling was used for the hypotheses testing of the 147 useable responses.FindingsStatistically significant positive relationships were found in the direct relationships between bootstrapping and improvisation with performance. However, there was no significant association found between the delaying payment related bootstrapping and the owner-related bootstrapping with performance. The moderating effect of improvisation had a significant relationship between bootstrapping as an aggregate construct and its dimensions and performance.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the cross-sectional nature of this study which used a small sample that was randomly selected, generalization to the entire population of business ventures should be made with caution.Practical implicationsThe negative moderation effect of improvisation on FBS-BP association suggests that entrepreneurs need to be careful in balancing the two strategies so that efforts are no wasted.Originality/valueWhile business performance has been studied in various organizations, its examination with financial bootstrapping strategies as a predictor and strategic improvisation as a moderator contribute nascent theoretical insights.

Roles of supply chain network centralities on firm performance: an explorative study on Tokyo manufacturing industries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio K.W_ Lau ◽  
An Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Sales Performance ◽  
Supply Networks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to explore the impact of supply chain centralities on sales performance moderated by reputation and stock listing. Design/methodology/approach Empirical data on supply chain relationships were drawn from the context of electronics and electrical appliance industries in Tokyo, sourced from Teikoku Data Bank in year 2017–2018. On average, the authors analyzed an industrial network of 4,181 focal firms with 3.6 and 3.8 supplier and customer ties, respectively, using social networks and moderated regression analyses. Findings The authors find that in-(out-)degree, closeness and betweenness centralities are positively related to the focal firm’s annual sales performance. Hubs and authorities as ways of measuring reputation are found to not directly affect performance; hubs negatively moderate the relationship between betweenness and performance. Stock-listing was also found to negatively moderate the relationship between in-degree centrality and performance. Originality/value This study adds to existing literature by conducting a supply network analysis in a new industrial context, introducing a new method for assessing firm reputation in supply networks and showing how the structural characteristics of supply networks influence business performance.

Impact of additive manufacturing on business competitiveness: a multiple case study

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Khorram Niaki ◽  
Fabio Nonino
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Business Competitiveness

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the impacts of additive manufacturing (AM) in manufacturing, business strategies and business performance and to determine the contingent factors driving performance. Accordingly, this study also clarifies the relationship between these impacts and company and product characteristics. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted an exploratory study using multiple case research methodology, sampling 16 heterogeneous companies based on the theoretical replication approach. The potential impacts of AM were identified by reviewing the previous literature. For the driving factors, the paper follows the literature on AM, as well as the theories arisen from technology management literature. The qualitative information was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis to measure the effectiveness of AM in these aspects. Findings The paper derives and provides empirical insights regarding how this technology affects the industry. This study reveals how the implementation of AM in the Rapid Manufacturing (RM) of products made of metal has boosted productivity. These findings also demonstrate an increasing competitiveness of the early adopter SMEs using RM. Research limitations/implications This empirical research has been conducted by means of qualitative data. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the propositions by quantitative measures. Practical implications The paper provides insights for the adaption of AM and its impacts on business strategies and performance. Originality/value This paper contributes to expanding the literature by depicting explicit links between the implementation of this revolutionary technology and business strategies and performance.

Increasing revenue and attendance in Canadian Baptist churches

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 1071-1089
Author(s):  
Alan Chan ◽  
Bruce G. Fawcett ◽  
Shu-Kam Lee
Keyword(s):  
Church Health ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Baptist Churches ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Simulation Exercises

Purpose – Church giving and attendance are two important indicators of church health and performance. In the literature, they are usually understood to be simultaneously determined. The purpose of this paper is to estimate if there a sustainable church congregation size using Wintrobe’s (1998) dictatorship model. The authors want to examine the impact of youth and adult ministry as well. Design/methodology/approach – Using the data collected from among Canadian Baptist churches in Eastern Canada, this study investigates the factors affecting the level of the two indicators by the panel-instrumental variable technique. Applying Wintrobe’s (1998) political economy model on dictatorship, the equilibrium level of worship attendance and giving is predicted. Findings – Through various simulation exercises, the actual church congregation sizes is approximately 50 percent of the predicted value, implying inefficiency and misallocation of church resources. The paper concludes with insights on effective ways church leaders can allocate scarce resources to promote growth within churches. Originality/value – The authors are the only researchers getting the permission from the Atlantic Canada Baptist Convention to use their mega data set on church giving and congregation sizes as per the authors’ knowledge. The authors are also applying a theoretical model on dictatorship to religious/not for profits organizations.

Evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Eastern Europe since the end of communism

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-100
Author(s):  
Svetoslav Georgiev ◽  
Emil Georgiev
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Product Quality ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Bulgaria since the end of communism. The study examines three specific areas: top management’s understanding of the term “quality”; top management’s understanding of the relationship between quality and business performance; and top management’s understanding of the impact of job position on quality. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on a quantitative research approach by using data from a survey of 186 companies in Bulgaria. Findings The paper suggests that senior managers in Bulgaria continue to base their understanding of “quality” on a single approach (*a characteristic of the communist era), with the product-based and the user-based approaches currently being the two most common ones. At the same time, surprisingly enough, this study claims that senior management in Bulgaria is currently well aware of the importance of quality as a dimension of firm’s competitiveness, and is also highly conscious of its roles’ impact on product quality. Research limitations/implications The results of this study are exclusively based on the case of Bulgaria and must be treated with caution in the case of other former communist states from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region. Practical implications This paper has relevance for both managers and companies doing business in Eastern Europe. Originality/value This is the first paper to provide detailed analysis of the evolution of the understanding of “product quality” in CEE since the end of communism. Moreover, this paper applies, for the first time, Garvin’s five approaches to defining quality within a practical context.

A novel retractable landing gear of a light amphibious airplane design, synthesis, analysis, and implementation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinchai Chinvorarat ◽  
Pumyos Vallikul
Keyword(s):  
Impact Load ◽  
Landing Gear ◽  
Drop Test ◽  
Drop Height ◽  
Core Element ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Correct Path ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a novel retractable main landing gear for a light amphibious airplane, while the design, synthesis and analysis are given in details for constructing the main landing gear. Design/methodology/approach The constraint three-position synthesis has given the correct path of all linkages that suitably fit the landing gear into the compartment. The additional lock-link is introduced into the design to ensure the securement of the mechanism while landing. Having the telescopic gas-oil shock strut as a core element to absorb the impact load, it enhances the ability and efficiency to withstand higher impact than others type of light amphibious airplane. Findings By kinematics bifurcation analysis, the optimized value of the unlock spring stiffness at 90 N/m can be found to tremendously reduce the extended-retracted linear actuator force from 500 N to 150 N at the beginning of the retraction sequence. This could limit the size and weight of the landing gear actuator of the light amphibious airplane. Practical implications The drop test of the landing gear to comply with the ASTM f-2245 (Standard Specification for Design and Performance of a Light Sport Airplane) reveals that the novel landing gear can withstand the impact load at the drop height determined by the standard. The maximum impact loading 4.8 G occurs at the drop height of 300 mm, and there is no sign of any detrimental or failure of the landing gear or the structure of the light amphibious airplane. The impact settling time response reaches the 2% of steady-state value in approximately 1.2 s that ensure the safety and stability of the amphibious airplane if it subjects to an accidentally hard landing. Originality/value This paper presents unique applications of a retractable main landing gear of a light amphibious airplane. The proposed landing gear functions properly and complies with the drop test standard, ensuring the safety and reliability of the airplane and exploiting the airworthiness certification process.

Performance measurement and resource sharing among business sub-units in the presence of non-discretionary factors

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Shakouri ◽  
Maziar Salahi
Keyword(s):  
Resource Sharing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Level ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Decision Making Unit ◽  
Efficiency Estimation ◽  
Overall Efficiency ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to apply a new approach for resource sharing and efficiency estimation of subunits in the presence of non-discretionary factors and partial impacts among inputs and outputs in the data envelopment analysis (DEA) framework. Design/methodology/approach First, inspired by the Imanirad et al.’s model (2013), the authors consider that each decision-making unit (DMU) may consist of several subunits, that each of which can be affected by non-discretionary inputs. After that, the Banker and Morey’s model (1996) is used for modeling non-discretionary factors. For measuring performance of several subunits, which can be considered as DMUs, the aggregate efficiency is suggested. At last, the overall efficiency is computed and compared with each other. Findings One of the important features of proposed model is that each output in this model applies discretionary input according to its need; therefore, the result of this study will make it easier for the managers to make better decisions. Also, it indicates that significant predictions of the development of the overall efficiency of DMUs can be based on observing the development level of subunits because of the influence of non-discretionary input. Therefore, the proposed model provides a more reasonable and encompassing measure of performance in participating non-discretionary and discretionary inputs to better efficiency. An application of the proposed model for gaining efficiency of 17 road patrols is provided. Research limitations/implications More non-discretionary and discretionary inputs can be taken into consideration for a better analysis. This study provides us with a framework for performance measures along with useful managerial insights. Focusing upon the right scope of operations may help out the management in improving their overall efficiency and performance. In the recent highway maintenance management systems, the environmental differences exist among patrols and other geotechnical services under the climate diverse. Further, in some cases, there might exist more than one non-discretionary factor that can have different effects on the subunits’ performance. Practical implications The purpose of this paper was to measure the performance of a set of the roadway maintenance crews and to analyze the impact of non-discretionary inputs on the efficiency of the roadway maintenance. The application of the proposed model, on the one hand, showed that each output in this model uses discretionary input according to its requirement, and on the other hand, the result showed that meaningful predictions of the development of the overall efficiency of DMUs can be based on observing the development level of subunits because of the impact of non-discretionary input. Originality/value Providing information on resource sharing by taking into account non-discretionary factors for each subunit can help managers to make better decisions to increase the efficiency.

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