Middle manager capabilities and organisational performance: the mediating effect of organisational capacity for change

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Badri Munir Sukoco ◽  
Yetty Dwi Lestari ◽  
Ely Susanto ◽  
Reza Ashari Nasution ◽  
Indrianawati Usman

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the mechanism that transforms middle manager capabilities (MMCs) into organisational performance (OP). This study proposes that organisational capacity for change (OCC) might mediate the relationship between MMCs and OP.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed hypotheses were tested using data derived from a survey distributed to 89 heads of department of 34 subjects from the 11 top universities in Indonesia.FindingsThe findings indicate that MMCs positively influence OCC and OP and that OCC positively influences the OP. Furthermore, the authors found that OCC mediates the positive effect of MMCs on OP.Originality/valueThe authors empirically investigated the hypothesis that MMCs, in the context of higher education, play a crucial role in determining OCC and OP. Furthermore, the capacity of organisations to adapt to the changing environment mediates the capabilities of the middle managers in relation to OP. In addition, the authors empirically investigated OCC in three dimensions (learning, process and context) that were previously only proposed and discussed conceptually.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunu Widianto ◽  
Yetty Dwi Lestari ◽  
Beta Embriyono Adna ◽  
Badri Munir Sukoco ◽  
Mohammad Nasih

PurposeThe aim of this study is to explore dynamic managerial capabilities (DMCs) and their effect on public organisational performance. While the previous research has focused on how leadership style impacts on organisational performance, the authors have investigated how the dynamic managerial capabilities of middle managers and their organisational capacity for change as well as their attitude towards the change are linked to organisational performance.Design/methodology/approachThe dataset was gathered during the field research carried out in a large public Indonesian government institution. In total, 313 managers and their direct followers participated in this study. The authors have employed structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results of this study demonstrate the role of the dynamic capabilities of the middle managers associated with organisational performance. The results show that dynamic managerial capabilities and organisational performance are mediated by the organisational capacity for change.Practical implicationsMiddle managers should equip and develop their capabilities in order to embrace change in the organisation through the communication between the different staff levels, uniting the vision and mission with the organisational members. Further, the organisation should empower the role of the middle managers by increasing their authority and participation in the policy-making that is part of the change process. In addition, the workplace could implement interventions to optimise the dynamic managerial capabilities held by the middle manager and employees through assessments and mentoring. Finally, particular training programmes could be implemented to boost the employees' skills and flexibility, thereby keeping them agile in the context of the changes in the work environment.Originality/valueThe role of the dynamic managerial capabilities of the middle manager is a prominent factor when facilitating a high level of organisational performance in a public organisation. However, the role of dynamic managerial capabilities does not have a direct effect on organisational performance if the organisation does not have the capacity to change, particularly in the Indonesian context.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1696-1715
Author(s):  
Michael Kwamega ◽  
Dongmei Li ◽  
Eugene Abrokwah

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating effect of information sharing (IS) on the link between supply chain integration (SCI) practices (internal, customer and supplier) and internal process performance (IPP) by using selected agribusiness firms from an emerging economy, Ghana. Design/methodology/approach To determine the effect of IS on the nexus between SCI practices and IPP, a research framework was developed and tested using data amassed from 156 agribusiness firms for the study. The data set was assessed and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. Findings The outcomes revealed that both INI and CI positively and significantly influenced IS. However, the results disclosed that SI has no significant positive effect on IS among the Ghanaian agribusiness firms. The findings of the study further discovered that IS fully mediates the relationship between INI, CI and IPP, whereas SI has a direct interaction with IPP. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing supply chain management research by empirically authenticating IS as the mediator between SCI practices and IPP. From the viewpoint of a developing economy, this paper identifies the significant connection that exists between SCI practices, IS and IPP. The outcomes recommend that IS is a core driving facilitator to reinforce the correlation between SCI practices and IPP.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thammanoon Charmjuree ◽  
Yuosre F. Badir ◽  
Umar Safdar

PurposeThis study is among the very few to examine the firm's simultaneous use of both dimensions of open innovation and its influences on the firm's process innovation performance (PIP). Specifically, the authors consider the relationship between firm's external technology acquisition (ETA) and external technology exploitation (ETE) and examine their direct, indirect and mediating effect on the firm's PIP. The authors also examine the moderating effect of the organizations' unabsorbed slack (UASL) on the relationship between ETA and ETE.Design/methodology/approachAnalyzing data collected from 311 small- and medium-sized software development firms in emerging market; Thailand, we show that both ETA and ETE have a positive effect on PIP and that ETE fully mediates the relationship between ETA and PIP.FindingsThe authors show that both ETA and ETE have a positive effect on PIP and that ETE fully mediates the relationship between ETA and PIP. Moreover, the relationship between ETA and ETE is positively moderated by the firms' unabsorbed slack (UASL) and that the influence of ETA on PIP through ETE is stronger under higher unabsorbed slack.Originality/valueThe authors extend the “traditional” performance outcome of outbound dimension of open innovation concept, which focuses exclusively on commercialization and market (Chesbrough, 2003b), by showing that ETE positively influences the firm's PIP. Moreover, the study explains the mechanism through which ETA influence the firm's PIP by proposing that ETE fully mediates the relationship between ETA and PIP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 721-740
Author(s):  
Jiang Rui ◽  
Lin Xinqi

PurposeConducting research on the relationship between benevolent leadership and unethical employee behavior can help us find solutions to reduce unethical employee behavior. This paper also discusses how the benevolent manager leadership can be transmitted to the employee's unethical behavior through the benevolent supervisor leadership and the moderating effect of LMX and ethical climate.Design/methodology/approachThrough a questionnaire survey of 406 pairs of leaders, supervisor and employees, the authors use data aggregation test, confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistics and multilevel model (HLM) to test our hypothesis.Findings(1) Manager supervisor leadership is negatively related to unethical employee behavior, (2) benevolent supervisor leadership mediates the relationship between benevolent manager leadership and unethical employee behavior, (3) LMX positively moderates the relationship between benevolent manager leadership and benevolent supervisor leadership and moderates the mediating effect of benevolent supervisor leadership, and (4) ethical climate positively moderates the relationship between benevolent supervisor leadership and unethical employee behavior and moderates the mediating effect of benevolent supervisor leadership.Originality/valueFirst, based on previous studies, this study further proves that benevolent leadership is a popular positive leadership among the three dimensions of paternalistic leadership that extends its influence to unethical employee behavior. Second, the study traces the source of the benevolent leadership of employees' supervisors and reveals the action mechanism of how benevolent manager leadership affects unethical employee behavior (trickle-down effect). LMX and the ethical climate provide the organizational context of the trickle-down effect and the occurrence of unethical employee behavior.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 516-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohinur Akter ◽  
Muhammad Ali ◽  
Artemis Chang

Purpose Empirical findings on the link between work–life programmes and organisational performance have been inconsistent, demanding further investigation of contextual factors. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This study uses social exchange theory, strategic human resource (HR) management theory and stakeholder theory to examine the relationship between work–life programmes and organisational outcomes, using three performance measures: perceived organisational performance, financial performance and corporate social responsibility (CSR). It also investigates the moderating effect of HR systems on the work–life programmes–performance relationship. The hypotheses were tested in 192 organisations in Australia, using data from an HR manager survey and archival databases. Findings The findings support the hypotheses that work–life programmes are positively associated with all three measures of performance. The results partially support the moderating effect of HR systems on the relationship between work–life programmes and perceived organisational performance. Originality/value This study provides pioneering evidence for the moderating effect of HR system on the work–life programme–performance relationship. It also includes the rarely studied CSR as an outcome of work–life programmes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 564-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
María-Luz Martín-Peña ◽  
José-María Sánchez-López ◽  
Eloísa Díaz-Garrido

Purpose This paper aims to present a comprehensive framework that integrates the emerging trends of servitization and digitalization in manufacturing. The influence between digitalization and servitization is defined and quantified. Their contribution to firm performance is analyzed. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a theoretical model that captures the relationships between the analyzed variables. Drawing on the Spanish Business Strategy Survey, hypothesis testing is conducted using data on 828 Spanish industrial firms. Linear regression models are built to capture the effect of each variable on firm performance and the type of interaction between the variables. Findings Servitization and digitalization are positively related to firm performance. Digitalization positively mediates the relationship between servitization and firm performance. The mediating effect of digitalization contributes to differentiating between the direct and indirect effects of servitization on firm performance. Practical implications The paper provides a useful analysis framework for firms to evaluate servitization and digitalization as success strategies. It is proposed that firms must simultaneously commit to digital transformation and the incorporation of services to create value, especially in business-to-business settings. Servitization and digitalization interact to exert a greater influence on performance. Originality/value The paper contributes to the theory on service strategy by providing an analysis model that includes digitalization as a mediator of the relationship between servitization and firm performance. Digitalization may provide a mechanism to unlock the benefits of servitization and thereby enhance firm performance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changwei Pang ◽  
Qiong Wang ◽  
Yuan Li ◽  
Guang Duan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how business model innovation (BMI) mediates the relationship between integrative capability, business strategy and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach A literature review provides the model and hypotheses. Using a sample of 165 Chinese firms, the authors conduct the examination using a theoretical model and hypotheses following standard analysis methods. Findings The results show that BMI positively mediates the relationship between integrative capability and firm performance. Moreover, a differentiation strategy positively moderates the link between BMI and firm performance, while a cost leadership strategy presents a significantly negative moderating effect. Research limitations/implications First, the authors test the hypotheses using data from China; thus data from other emerging economies should be tested. Second, the authors use cross-sectional data in this study making it impossible to verify the dynamic developed in the process of BMI; a longitudinal study could provide a more comprehensive understanding. Third, the authors consider one intermediate mechanism to test the relationship of integrative capability and firm performance; additional factors may link integrative capability and firm performance. Practical implications The mediating effect of BMI suggests managers should pay more attention to BMI to improve firm performance, and they should understand that BMI’s role varies across different business strategies. Originality/value The paper is original in its investigation of the effect of integrative capability and BMI on firm performance using data from China and demonstrates the mediating effect of BMI on the relationship between integrative capability and firm performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Moyer ◽  
Shahnaz Aziz ◽  
Karl Wuensch

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among workaholism, psychological capital (PsyCap), and burnout, as well as investigate the potential mediating effect of PsyCap on the relationship between workaholism and burnout. Design/methodology/approach Data on workaholism, PsyCap, and burnout were collected, through administration of an online survey, from 400 faculty and staff at a large Southeastern university. Findings Workaholism is negatively related to PsyCap and is positively related to burnout, while PsyCap is negatively correlated with burnout. Moreover, while tested in a mediation model, PsyCap appeared as a significant mediating variable for all three dimensions of burnout (i.e. emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment). Research limitations/implications Future researchers may benefit from examining a sample outside an educational institution. Also, both workaholism and burnout may be better suited for studies utilizing longitudinal designs. That said, the data reveal information about the process whereby tendencies indicative of heavy work investment lead to burnout within employees. That is, workaholism leads to lower PsyCap, which then results in burnout. Practical implications The results suggest that employers may benefit from considering the negative effects of heavy work investment and maintaining a culture that discourages such behavior. It might also be beneficial for employers to ensure that employees have a heightened PsyCap and, therefore, are safeguarded against burnout. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the influence that employee PsyCap has on the development of workaholism and burnout by examining its role as a mediator.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Bum Choi

Purpose – Importer commitment is important to the improvement of exporter performance. More committed importers contribute more to the exporters’ performance than do less committed importers. The purpose of this paper is to examine one of the factors that motivate importers to be committed to their overseas exporters: exporter fairness. Specifically, this study examines the role of exporter fairness in developing importer commitment. Fairness is conceptualized as three dimensions: distributive justice, procedural justice, and interactional justice. Design/methodology/approach – The relationship between the three dimensions of exporter fairness and importer commitment is empirically examined using data collected from 120 Korean importers. Partial least squares technique was employed to test the hypotheses. Findings – It was found that importers’ perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice contribute to increasing or decreasing importer commitment. Furthermore, when a sample of Korean importers was split into two groups, the three dimensions of justice were positively related to commitment for importers facing a highly volatile business environment, while only interactional justice significantly affected commitment for importers facing a low-volatile environment. These findings indicate that importers facing a highly volatile environment are much more sensitive to exporter fairness than are those facing a low-volatile environment. Originality/value – The study demonstrates that importer commitment can be developed, particularly in highly volatile environments, if vulnerable importers are treated fairly by their more powerful exporters. Volatile environments offer more opportunity for overseas exporter opportunism than stable environments do, aking importers vulnerable to the opportunistic behaviors of overseas exporters. Such importers are likely to respond sensitively to exporter fairness in the form of increased or decreased importer commitment.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Badri Munir Sukoco ◽  
Zuyyinna Choirunnisa ◽  
Mohammad Fakhruddin Mudzakkir ◽  
Reza Ashari Nasution ◽  
Ely Susanto ◽  
...  

Purpose Changes are inevitable and organisations should develop their organisational capacity for change (OCC) to survive. This paper aims to test the effect of market orientation on OCC (learning, process and context), as well as the impact of OCC on organisational performance. Design/methodology/approach This research used a survey of 314 heads of study programmes in Indonesia’s highest-ranked universities to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results of this research demonstrate that OCC is determined by customer orientation and cross-functional coordination (market orientation), while competitor orientation influences the learning dimension of OCC. Moreover, only the context dimension of OCC positively influences organisational performance in addition to serving as a mediator between market orientation (customer orientation and cross-functional coordination) and organisational performance, whereas competitor orientation positively influences organisational performance. Originality/value This paper empirically tested the three dimensions of OCC (learning, process and context) that had previously been discussed only conceptually. Furthermore, the organisation should be market-oriented to possess the capacity for change. Finally, the paper proposes and demonstrates that organisational context (culture) plays a significant role in OCC in developing organisational performance.


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