The impact of lean practices on the operational performance of SMEs in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Yadav ◽  
Rakesh Jain ◽  
Murari Lal Mittal ◽  
Avinash Panwar ◽  
Andrew Lyons

PurposeAlthough lean thinking is deemed to be a gold standard of modern production management, a lot of scepticism still remains regarding its applicability in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper is to understand the perception of lean in SMEs and establish the relationship between lean adoption and operational performance.Design/methodology/approachWith the help of a survey, data were collected from 425 SMEs in India and analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsOperational performance of the firms was found to be positively related to lean implementation.Originality/valueThis study also furnishes practitioners with a better understanding of lean thinking in SMEs and its impact on performance.

Author(s):  
Jose Benedicto Duhaylongsod ◽  
Pietro De Giovanni

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether implementing certain innovation strategies and adopting a portfolio of innovations improve the relationship between supplier integration (SI) and operational performance (OP). Design/methodology/approach The authors test several research hypotheses by using a data set of 173 firms. Data were collected by interviewing managers, presidents and directors, from ten European countries and across nine different industries. The authors use structural equation modeling to estimate the relationships between SI and OP. The authors apply multi-group analysis to test the effects of certain innovation strategies and a portfolio of innovations on these relationships. Findings The authors show that SI improves internal OP but has no direct effect on external OP. The latter can only be improved through well-performing internal operations. The adoption of an incremental product innovation strategy improves the relationship between internal and external OP and leads to more effective SI. Other types of innovations do not help in improving the impact of SI on OP. Finally, the adoption of a portfolio of innovations does not enhance the influence of SI on OP. Thus, firms should focus on a small number of innovations rather than expanding their innovation portfolio to improve the effectiveness of SI on OP. Practical implications When firms aim to improve the impact of SI on OP, they should concentrate on incremental product innovations. Other strategies obtained by combining process, incremental and radical innovations are not adequate for that purpose. An expanded portfolio of innovations does not improve the effect of supplier innovation on OP. Originality/value This research suggests how the impact of SI on OP can be improved by adopting certain innovation strategies and without diversifying the portfolio of innovation projects.


IMP Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wita Efanny ◽  
Jony Haryanto ◽  
Muhammad Kashif ◽  
Hanif Adinugroho Widyanto

Purpose A huge investment launching the marketing program is made by the manufacturers to establish brand loyalty with retailers and other supply chain partners; however, what is the impact of these efforts on retailer-perceived brand equity (RPBE) is scarcely investigated in a business-to-business (B2B) context. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of Nu Green – a brand of tea as a manufacturer’s marketing efforts on RPBE. Design/methodology/approach Based on the positivist paradigm, the authors followed a survey-based approach to collect data from 125 retailers of Nu Green Tea brand from Indonesia. The collected data were rigorously analyzed by means of structural equation modeling. Findings The results reveal that elements of marketing efforts such as supplier image, distribution strategy, and push and pull promotions have a significant impact on the RPBE of Nu Green. Originality/value This research extends the understanding of retail marketing in a B2B context by investigating the impact of marketing efforts on RPBE.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Badraoui ◽  
Ivo van der Lans ◽  
Youssef Boulaksil ◽  
Jack G.A.J. van der Vorst

PurposeThis study investigates the impact of agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) characteristics on the antecedents of horizontal logistics collaboration (HLC). Specifically, the study compares the relationship between collaboration activities and outcomes for companies in and outside AFSCs.Design/methodology/approachFirst, a survey was used to collect data from different industries. Second, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to compare the measurement and structural models from different industry categories.FindingsThe results support the premise that collaboration improves trust and commitment in the relationship, which in turn enhance satisfaction. The results also show the existence of a minor influence of AFSCs characteristics on HLC antecedents, in the form of an indirect impact of dedicated investments on commitment.Practical implicationsThe factors having a significant influence on the collaboration outcomes and their respective effects are generally similar across food and nonfood supply chains, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary and collaboration experiences.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the body of knowledge on interfirm collaboration by considering the specificities of HLC. It also highlights the importance of conducting contingency research on collaborative experiences, as firms from different industry contexts operate under distinct operational conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahadur Ali Soomro ◽  
Naimatullah Shah

PurposeThe present study attempts to identify the predictive power of technopreneurial-related activities (TRAs), technopreneurial self-efficacy (TSE) and technopreneurial motivation (TM) on technopreneurial intention (TE) among the nonbusiness students.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is developed for investigation. A quantitative approach is adopted for this research, and the data are collected from the 282 students of the different public sector universities with a survey questionnaire. The application of structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied to investigate the impact of TRAs, TSE and TM on TE.FindingsThe results of SEM found a positive and significant impact of TRAs, TSE and TM on TE among the nonbusiness students of Pakistan.Practical implicationsThe study would be beneficial for the planners and policymakers of universities to improve modes of technopreneurship. The findings may encourage the students to develop strong beliefs, abilities and skills to start a new venture. The literature of entrepreneurship and technopreneurship may further enrich with empirical evidence of the present study.Originality/valueThe study would make technopreneurs able to deal with society's challenges.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 787-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wantao Yu ◽  
Roberto Chavez ◽  
Mark Jacobs ◽  
Chee Yew Wong ◽  
Chunlin Yuan

Purpose It remains unclear how environmental scanning (ES) can generate firm performance through supply chain management (SCM) practices. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of ES on operational performance through supply chain integration (SCI) and supply chain responsiveness (SCR). Design/methodology/approach The scanning–interpretation–action–performance (SIAP) model and organization information processing theory (OIPT) are used to explain the ES–SCI–SCR–performance (S–I–A–P) relationships, which were tested by structural equation modeling of survey data of 329 manufacturing firms in China. Findings The results indicate that ES has a significant positive effect on SCI and SCR. SCI is significantly and positively related to SCR. SCR partially mediates the relationship between ES and operational performance, and fully mediates the relationship between SCI and operational performance. Practical implications Supply chain managers should collaborate with senior executives to obtain signals from ES activities, as input for building SCI and SCR and use SCI as a joint interpretation mechanism of ES signals for developing SCR to reap operational advantages in the rapidly changing business environment. Originality/value Strategic management academics and practitioners have explicitly emphasized the importance of ES in developing strategic plans but are unsure about the role of SCM in creating operational advantages through ES. Using the SIAP model, this study theorizes and demonstrates how SCI and SCR transform signals from ES into operational performance. In doing so, a more precise application of OIPT is explicated in the supply chain context.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-87
Author(s):  
Harsandaldeep Kaur ◽  
Kanwalroop Kaur

Purpose Although the prominence of brand logo for companies is widely acknowledged, a close examination of the literature reveals lack of empirical research pertaining to effect of brand logo on consumer perception toward brand. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in marketing studies concerning the effect of a logo on consumer evaluations. The research addresses two questions: first, how brand logo favorability helps to increase brand image; and second, how brand logo form consumer perceptions toward brand through brand personality dimensions and brand familiarity? Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from 816 respondents using mall-intercept technique. Structural equation modeling via AMOS was conducted to test the proposed model to gain insight into the various relevant influences and relationships. Findings The findings revealed the importance of the company’s brand logo in enhancing the brand image. The results further highlighted that brand personality dimensions and brand familiarity mediate the relationship between brand logo and brand image. Practical implications The study offers managers a new perspective for building strong brand identity with the help of logos along with the brand personality dimensions and brand familiarity to enhance brand image. Originality/value This study provides novel insights on the impact of brand logo on brand image. This is the first study to determine the mediating role of brand personality in the relationship between brand logo and brand image. It thereby adds to the literature of visual identity by developing the sphere of influence of brand logo and its effects toward brands.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shalom Levy ◽  
Hayiel Hino

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between customers’ emotional attachment toward bank service providers and bank loyalty. In particular, the study examines the impact of the emotional attachment factor while treating established effecting variables by employing a new conceptual framework that integrates these variables. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs data collected from a survey involving 436 participants. The study employs Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis methods following a path analysis method and structural equation modeling for testing research hypotheses. Findings – The empirical results support the claim that the conceptual framework applied in this study better explains the relationship between customers’ emotional attachment toward bank service providers and bank loyalty. Specifically, the findings show a significant, direct and positive relationship between the customer’s emotional attachment and bank loyalty; an indirect positive relationship also exists through the connection of customer satisfaction. The study distinguishes between two integrated pathways consumers possibly follow when making decisions about services: the conscious decision-making process path and the emotional process path. Practical implications – The paper provides managerial and planning implications to bank service providers who seek to achieve excellent performance and a positive brand personality, thus maintaining long-lasting relationships with their customers. Originality/value – The study is among the few empirical works to specifically examine the impact of customers’ emotional attachment on bank loyalty and contributes to the available literature in that it suggests a systematic conceptual framework that evaluates the impact of key factors on bank loyalty.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Paolillo ◽  
Silvia A. Silva ◽  
Margherita Pasini

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of diversity climate and inclusion climate on safety participation behaviors through the mediating effect of the motivation to actively promote safety at work. Design/methodology/approach Participants were 491 workers employed in four Italian metal-mechanical companies. They completed a paper questionnaire containing measures of psychological diversity climate, psychological inclusion climate, safety motivation participation and safety participation behaviors. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling. Findings Results showed that safety participation motivation fully mediates the relationship between diversity climate and safety participation behaviors, whereas it partially mediates the relationship between climate for inclusion and safety participation behaviors. Practical implications The present findings can help managers to motivate employees in pursuing safety goals independently of compensation or obligation by creating an organization in which the main concern is caring for each other’s well-being. Originality/value This is the first study which has empirically tested the relationships between diversity climate, inclusion climate and safety behaviors. It has extended previous research which simply tested the effects of objective types of diversity on safety performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 709-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namho Chung ◽  
Hyo Geun Song ◽  
Hyunae Lee

Purpose First, this paper aims to investigate the impact of impulsiveness on two types of shopping value (e.g. utilitarian and hedonic value) and the urge to buy restaurant products and services impulsively in social commerce environments. Second, the study assesses the impact of situational factors (e.g. scarcity and serendipity) on individuals’ shopping values. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 332 participants. By using PLS-graph 3.0, structural equation modeling was conducted. Furthermore, a hierarchical regression model was conducted for testing the mediating and moderating effects. Findings The results indicate that impulsiveness is a strong predictor for two types of shopping value (hedonic and utilitarian) and the urge to buy impulsively. While the hedonic shopping value was found to have a significant influence on the urge to buy impulsively, utilitarian value was not. Scarcity was moderator in the relationships between impulsiveness and both types of shopping value, whereas serendipity was found to moderate only the relationship between impulsiveness and the utilitarian shopping value. Practical implications The findings show that the marketing managers and application developers of social commerce should place their focus on scarcity and serendipity to stimulate consumers in having a hedonic shopping value so to have an urge to buy impulsively. Originality/value First, although most previous studies focused on only rational or planned consumption, this study focused on irrational and unplanned consumption as well. Second, the authors assessed the role of situational factors (scarcity and serendipity) occurring in social commerce and asserted that these factors moderate the relationship between consumers’ shopping values and their urge to buy impulsively.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavia Cavazotte ◽  
Sylvia Freitas Mello ◽  
Lucia B. Oliveira

PurposeThis study analyzes the impact of purpose-oriented leadership and leader cultural intelligence on engagement and burnout among expatriates undertaking long-term corporate assignments, grounded on social psychology frameworks on interpersonal bias.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted with corporate expatriates from 21 different nationalities, who work for large multinational companies and were on assignment in 23 distinct countries – including Brazil, China, Japan and the UK Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was used to evaluate the proposed hypotheses.FindingsResults indicate that leader cultural intelligence is associated with lower burnout and higher engagement among expatriates, and that purpose-oriented leadership is associated with higher expatriate engagement but not with lower burnout.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the field by highlighting specific leader attributes that can foster successful expatriation: cultural intelligence and purpose-oriented leadership. The study adds to knowledge on leader–follower relationships amid national and cultural diversity by pointing to actionable leader qualities that can foster expatriate engagement and prevent his/her burnout.


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