Competence and capability in quality in the high-tech sector: an international comparison

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1184-1209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damien J. Power

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare Chinese high-tech firms with other international firms in terms of quality capability and competence. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses data from the GMRG fourth round survey and provides a method for differentiating and empirically measuring quality competence and capability using a sample of 343 plants in 17 countries in the high-tech manufacturing sector. Findings – It is shown that the theory of performance frontiers can be used to explain differences in levels of investment in quality management, as well as competence and capability, in plants across regions with varying levels of economic development. Further, it is shown that plants in China provide an example of a special case in that they do not display the same characteristics as plants in other emerging economies. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to the high-tech sector and is also constrained by the countries in which the GMRG data has been gathered. Practical implications – Investment in quality management methods may not always result in discernible variance in quality indicators. In this study this has been shown to be the case in plants in the industrialized world, highlighting the importance of developing a requisite proficiency in innovation. For the plants in China leverage may lie in focussing on how and where resources are being invested, and how quality management is actually valued within a plant. Social implications – The study indicates that although some economies in the world may experience rapid growth this also needs to be tempered by a requisite investment in building human capability. Originality/value – The evidence indicates that the plants in China in this study do not possess similar levels of quality competence and capability, and struggle to make investment in quality management alter outcomes.

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debabrata Ghosh ◽  
Peeyush Mehta ◽  
Balram Avittathur

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the practices and policies unique to high-tech manufacturing start-ups in emerging economies, such as India. The study analyzes the main features and challenges of the high-tech manufacturing sector, and the way in which enabling environment including policy making, supply chain capability and related technologies through Industry 4.0 could be leveraged to foster growth. Design/methodology/approach The paper undertakes an exploratory approach through in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with high-tech manufacturing firms in various stages of their growth. The paper provides evidence of the challenges that high-tech manufacturing firms face in India, the strategies they adopt and highlights the role of institutional structures and policies. Findings Findings show that high-tech manufacturing start-ups in India face various challenges in the upstream, production and downstream supply chain processes. Further, issues related to availability of quality material, quality suppliers, contracts, funding and access to markets remain. Results also show that enabling operational and financial levers could be created by policy makers and other stakeholders to help the high-tech manufacturing start-ups scale faster and create value. Originality/value This paper contributes to the R&D intensive industry and high-tech manufacturing literature in the context of emerging economies, such as India, and provides a rigorous overview of the start-up ecosystem in high-tech manufacturing.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sucheta Agarwal ◽  
Veland Ramadani ◽  
Leo-Paul Dana ◽  
Vivek Agrawal ◽  
Jitendra Kumar Dixit

Purpose The ascent of women enterprising community (WEC) in a couple of decades draws the attention of various government and non-government bodies. Literature has mentioned various studies that focus on the factors affecting the success or failure of women entrepreneurs (WEs), but understanding of the ranking of the factors depending on the experiences of different WEs is needed. This study aims to identify the significant factors essential for the growth of WEC. Design/methodology/approach This study examines the factors through interview of 33 WEs having different entrepreneurial experiences (less than 1 year, more than 1 year but less than 10 years and more than 10 years of experiences) from different regions of Uttar Pradesh, India, and with the help of analytical hierarchical process, ranks the factors affecting the sustainable growth of WEs. Findings Through analysis, significant factors have been identified such as determination, education, entrepreneurial resilience, personal satisfaction and provide employment, and these factors have been analysed according to the different experiences of WEs. An investigation of ranking these factors of WEC, especially in the emerging nations, can assist policymakers in designing projects that improve the mindfulness associated with women enterprise and define the compelling methodologies. Practical implications The growth of the WEC is significantly affected by gender orientation ways of thinking as driven by entrepreneurship models. Originality/value This study gives a direction to policymakers by emphasizing on significant factors of various stages of enterprise development for the encouragement of WEs in the emerging economies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 12-14

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings High-tech new ventures are typically beset by significant challenges in their marketplaces. Using effectuation, innovation strategy and the moderating force of opportunity shaping, they are able to gain competitive advantage. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-25

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings International firms looking to move into the Chinese domestic market face significant challenges. Through innovation and targeted business strategies, these firms are able to find success. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 12-14
Author(s):  
Sue Perry

Purpose – The article aims to convey the experiences of installing an Espresso Book Machine (tm) into Windsor Public Library. It relates how an extremely high-tech, mechanical and new process was received in a very traditional field. Design/methodology/approach – Windsor Public Library acquired an Espresso Book Machine, and built around it a Self-Publishing Centre which included iMacs loaded with software, a scanner, a comfortable area and a dedicated staff member. Findings – The creativity that arose from the Self-Publishing Centre was not limited only to individual, solitary authors who wanted just to produce their own works. A network of like-minded people formed to give encouragement and support developed, increasing the opportunities for elevating literacy in our community. Research limitations/implications – Limitations are obviously that we are one small community enjoying the benefits of this machine. It is impossible to predict if other communities and geographic locations would enjoy the same success. Practical implications – Practical implications are that even with the advancing tide of ebooks and non-print matter, patrons are still very eager to consume and produce printed materials. Social implications – The technological marvels of the high-tech gear that have been installed would be lost without the people forming communities around the technology. Originality/value – The results of installing the Self-Publishing Centre were very different from what we anticipated. The products and community established here are as awe-inspiring as the machine at the heart of the Centre.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-106
Author(s):  
Radhika Pandey ◽  
Amey Sapre ◽  
Pramod Sinha

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the changes in the new 2011-12 base year series of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) to determine whether the new series has improved the understanding of the growth in the manufacturing sector. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops a simple framework to separately estimate the contribution of value- and volume-based commodities in the growth of the manufacturing index. The authors present a case study by analysing the growth performance of IIP drugs and pharmaceuticals sector by comparing it with real net sales of a common sample of firms in this segment. Findings The authors find that growth in value-based commodities contributes significantly in moving the index in either direction, and that high growth in value-based commodities coincides with periods of low inflation. On comparability, using real net sales as an alternate indicator of industrial output for the pharmaceuticals sector, the authors find that IIP and real net sales show contrasting trends, thereby raising issues of reliability. The authors also find that the IIP shows a disconnect with growth rates from Annual Survey of Industries for several industries. Practical implications The divergence between two measures of industrial activity raises crucial questions on the representativeness of the IIP. Originality/value The study builds a framework to separately estimate the contribution of value- and volume-based commodities in the growth of the manufacturing index.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 26-28

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings That whilst there are similarities between Strategic Quality Management (SQM) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), one is not dependent on the other. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilker Yilmaz

PurposeThe purpose of the article is to examine the relationship of corporate sustainability to firm financial performance by presenting international data.Design/methodology/approachThe sample includes non-financial companies from five emerging economies known as BRICS for a five-year period of 2014–2018. The study uses the ESG (environmental, social, governance) scores from Sustainalytics database and financial data from company reports. Panel regression models are developed to figure out the relationship.FindingsThe results of the article revealed that there is a positively significant relationship between sustainability performance and financial performance. Total ESG score has produced significant results while the individual scores of environmental, social, and governance have produced insignificant results; implying that the components of total ESG score have a joint effect on the financial performance.Practical implicationsThe results of the article have important practical implications for companies. Engagement in sustainable business practices will help improve the financial performance. In addition, the companies should be active in all components of sustainability.Originality/valueThe article contributed empirical evidence for sustainability-financial performance relationship by using the international evidence from five emerging economies.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anni Rajala ◽  
Annika Tidström

Purpose The purpose of this study is to increase understanding about vertical coopetition from the perspective of interrelated conflict episodes on multiple levels. Design/methodology/approach The empirical part is based on a qualitative single case study of a coopetitive buyer-supplier relationship in the manufacturing sector. Findings Conflicts in vertical coopetition evolve from being merely functional and task-related to becoming dysfunctional and relationship-related, as the level of competition increases. The nature of conflict episodes influences the development of vertical coopetition, and therefore, the interrelatedness of conflict episodes is important to acknowledge. Practical implications Although a conflict is considered functional within a company, it may still be dysfunctional as far as the coopetitive relationship with the buyer or seller is concerned. Competition may trigger conflicts related to protecting own technology and knowledge, which may lead to termination of the cooperation, therefore coopetition should be managed in a way that balance sharing and protecting important knowledge to get advantages of coopetition. Originality/value The findings enhance prior research on vertical coopetition by offering new perspectives on causes of conflicts, their management, outcomes and types. The value of taking a multilevel approach lies in the ability to show how conflicts occur and influence other conflicts through the interrelatedness of conflict elements on different levels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 12-14

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. 10; Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper concentrates on how an evolutionary game framework uncovers the competitive dynamics that high-tech firms experience as they innovate for survival in their risk-filled market. The main findings are that where the late entering agent chooses to pursue an R&D innovation strategy, this becomes the dominant pan-market strategy. Furthermore, when competition between agents intensifies, innovation activity becomes more rapid because the players then apply all their energy into maximizing any form of competitive advantage in a race to avoid elimination from the market. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


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