Exploring the effects of team coordination and power distance on effective software process tailoring: a theoretical perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Chieh Lee ◽  
Chung-Yang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Software Process ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Software Project ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Team Coordination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Tailoring ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

PurposeSoftware process tailoring (SPT) plays a critical role in contemporary software development. Because SPT determines how a software project proceeds, its effectiveness should be investigated. Specifically, SPT is a collaborative yet highly conflictual process, and the existing literature has paid little or no attention to how team members coordinate and to how power distance (PD) influences coordination under this conflictual situation for the purpose of fostering SPT effectiveness.Design/methodology/approachA propositional research method is utilized by reviewing the extant literature regarding SPT, team coordination and PD. Accordingly, several propositions are developed to theorize the contributive and moderating effects of team coordinative capabilities and PD on SPT effectiveness.FindingsThis study advances the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the four distinct coordination capabilities in performing SPT, which will help software firms comprehend the moderating effects of PD on the relationships among coordinative capabilities and SPT effectiveness.Originality/valueThis study extends coordination theory and reveals four coordination capabilities that nurture SPT effectiveness. Moreover, this study demonstrates how power plays a role in the coordination of a team through the collaborative yet divergent SPT decision process to yield an integrative tailoring solution. In particular, we take a fresh viewpoint of PD considering the member-member relationship in exploring its moderating effects in the SPT context.

Exploring an adaptability approach: how creative return processors impact firm performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Espinosa ◽  
James Stock ◽  
David J. Ortinau ◽  
Lisa Monahan
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Product Returns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Returns Management ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe authors explore complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory as an updated theoretical perspective for managing product returns that better matches the chaotic nature of recent consumer behaviors. CAS theory highlights the importance of agents who create and self-organize to help systems adapt in unpredictable environments.Design/methodology/approachThis research utilizes data collected from return managers in an online survey and applies regression analyses to estimate the influence of the focal variables.FindingsEmpirical evidence of the firm flexibility–firm adaptability link is established, and return processor creativity positively relates to this link. The firm flexibility–firm adaptability link fully mediates the relationship between return processor creativity and returns management performance and partially mediates the relationship between return processor creativity and relationship quality. Nonmediated effects were observed for turnover and revenue size.Practical implicationsManagers of returns who embrace an adaptability approach become facilitators of returns by supporting processor creativity. Enhancing the autonomy of processors in their day-to-day work increases the knowledge-creation capabilities of the firm, which helps the firm move forward and adapt in an uncertain environment.Originality/valueThis research presents empirical evidence of the underlying mechanisms of CAS theory in the product returns context by studying processor agents and argues that CAS theory better fits the current dynamics of the product returns environment. Further, this paper extends work by Espinosa et al. (2019) and Nilsson (2019) by studying how a specific human characteristic – creativity – impacts product returns management.

Differential moderating effects of collectivistic and power distance orientations on the effectiveness of work motivators

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 644-665
Author(s):  
Jen-Shou Yang
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
High Power ◽  
Information Integration ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Integration Theory ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Power Distance ◽  
Willingness To Cooperate

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating effects of power distance and collectivistic orientations on the effectiveness of intrinsic, extrinsic and reciprocal motivators in promoting employees’ willingness to cooperate for organizational interest. An integrated theoretical framework which incorporated cultural influence on need priority and on legitimacy of social exchange was established to develop the hypotheses. Design/methodology/approach This study used the methodology of information-integration theory to test the research hypotheses. Findings This study found that power distance orientation enhanced the effectiveness of extrinsic motivator but mitigated that of intrinsic motivator, and was irrelevant to that of reciprocal motivator. In contrast, collectivistic orientation mitigated the effectiveness of extrinsic motivator but enhanced that of reciprocal motivator, and was irrelevant to that of intrinsic motivator. Practical implications Managers may use reciprocal motivators for employees with high collectivism in order to increase their willingness to cooperate for the interest of the organization. Meanwhile, extrinsic motivators may be utilized for employees with high power distance but may not be as effective for those with low power distance. However, managers should not expect intrinsic motivators to be as attractive to those with high power distance as to those with low power distance. Originality/value By integrating multiple cultural orientations and multiple work motivators in one study, this research clarified the differential moderating effects of power distance and collectivistic orientations on the effectiveness of intrinsic, extrinsic and reciprocal motivators in promoting employees’ willingness to cooperate. Potential confounding problems in prior studies derived from the correlation between cultural values and coexistence of multiple motivators were discussed.

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO FORMULATE A VALUE-BASED SOFTWARE PROCESS TAILORING FRAMEWORK

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (12-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noor Azura Zakaria ◽  
Suhaimi Ibrahim ◽  
Mohd Naz’ri Mahrin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Software Development ◽  
Software Process ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Software Project ◽  
Systematic Method ◽  
Software Development Project ◽  
A Value ◽  
Process Tailoring

Software process tailoring is an approach to customise the existing software development process or model that able to meet the software project’s needs. Software development project is unique and identical from one and another whereby the practices and decision should not be equally treated. Software process tailoring requires knowledge and intuition to make decision such as factors involved in the software project, selection of the suitable software process elements and tailoring operations. Software process tailoring practices focusing more on project characteristics factors and employs ad hoc approach in making the decision. In the absent of value-based factors and systematic method in software process tailoring, subjectivity is embedded in decision making process and the software development project suffers from satisfying the stakeholder. This study presents an integrated approach to formulate a Value-Based Software Process Tailoring Framework (VBSPTF) to overcome this problem. The framework is a combination of value-based factors, MoSCoW rules, Quality Functional Deployment (QFD), Activity-Based Costing (ABC), Priority Map, Value Index and Value Graph. This study perhaps can contribute to the software process tailoring practitioners to be exposed with a systematic method to conduct software process tailoring as well as improving the practices and reducing subjectivity in decision making.

Determinants of brand resurrection movements

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 1896-1917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arezoo Davari ◽  
Pramod Iyer ◽  
Francisco Guzmán
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Consumer Participation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Managerial Perspective

Purpose There is a growing trend of brand resurrections that are driven by consumer power. Millennials play a critical role in initiating most of these brand resurrection movements using social media. This study aims to explore the factors that drive consumers’ participation in brand resurrection movements – an outcome of brand cocreation. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using self-administered survey. This study uses the partial least squares-structural equation modeling to empirically examine the factors that motivate consumers to participate in brand resurrection movements. Findings The results indicate that consumers’ beliefs about the functional and value-expressive utilities, and their judgments of the perceived brand superiority of the defunct brand are significantly associated with brand resurrection movements. Nostalgia moderates the relationship between social-adjustive utility and brand resurrection movement, which shows that consumers’ social-adjustive utility becomes relevant when triggered with a strong sense of the past. Research limitations/implications From a theoretical perspective, this study contributes to literature on reviving defunct brands. This study also identifies additional factors that determine the success of brands that are being relaunched. Practical implications From a managerial perspective, the study provides insights into when and how organizations can consider bringing back defunct brands. Future studies should introduce additional variables to the model such as product category involvement that may be associated with consumers’ willingness to bring back defunct brands. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that empirically examines the motivations behind consumer participation in bringing back defunct brands. The importance of this study is highlighted in the fact that several defunct brands are being revived by organizations due to consumer-brand co-creation movements.

Do power distance and market information foster or impede performance of Chinese new ventures?

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 877-894
Author(s):  
Haili Zhang ◽  
Michael Song
Keyword(s):  
New Ventures ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Information Utilization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Growth ◽  
Venture Performance ◽  
New Venture Performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating effects of market growth on the relationships between power distance and new venture performance and between market information utilization in new ventures and new venture performance in China. Design/methodology/approach This study uses content analyses and OLS regressions. Findings First, power distance and market information utilization have positive effects on Chinese new venture performance. Second, in a low market growth environment, increasing power distance increases Chinese new venture performance. Third, in a high market growth environment, increasing power distance decreases, not increases, Chinese new venture performance. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the market orientation literature by examining the moderating effects of market growth on the market information utilization-performance relationship in China. This study also adds to the existing understanding of power distance and market information utilization in contingency theoretical perspective. Practical implications Chinese new ventures operating in a high-growth market should reduce power distance. However, when operating in the low market growth industry, Chinese new ventures should increase power distance. While all Chinese new ventures should use market information to make decisions, the roles of market information are more important for Chinese new ventures operating in high market growth industries than for those operating in low market growth industries. Originality/value This study examines the moderating effects of market growth on the positive relationship between power distance and Chinese new venture performance and the positive relationship between market information utilization on Chinese new venture performance in the same model.

Team coordination and organizational routines: bottoms up – and top down

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 1059-1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Christopher Banks ◽  
Jeffrey M. Pollack ◽  
Anson Seers
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Team Coordination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relational Processes ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Work Coordination ◽  
Explanatory Mechanism

Purpose – Conceptualizations of work coordination historically assumed that work systems are put into place and that these systems shape the ability of workers to accomplish tasks. Formalization has thus long been invoked as an explanatory mechanism for work coordination. Recent studies have extended interest in emergent implicit and relational coordination, yet their underlying mechanisms of bottom-up coordination have yet to be explicated such that formal top-down coordination can be approached as a complementary mechanism rather than an alternative substitute. The purpose of this paper is to integrate the literatures related to coordination and routines, and extend analysis of bottom-up coordination toward an understanding of how it can be complemented by top-down formalized coordination of routines within organizations. Implications of this work, for both theory and practice, are discussed. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual review was conducted. Findings – By integrating the literatures related to coordination and routines, the authors extend analysis of bottom-up coordination toward an understanding of how it can be complemented by top-down formalized coordination of routines within organizations. Research limitations/implications – From a theory-based point of view, in the present work, the authors integrated the literatures related to coordination and routines and arrived at the conclusion that bottom-up coordination can be complemented by top-down formalized coordination of routines within organizations. Practical implications – The authors suggest that there is a need in the contemporary workplace for implicit, relational processes to enable individuals to continuously assess what changes are needed and adapt coordinated routines to accomplish the task at hand. This propensity will continue to increase as technology facilitates even more seamless communication among employees, organizations, and external partners. Originality/value – For the first time the authors integrate the literatures related to coordination and routines, in order to extend analysis of bottom-up coordination toward an understanding of how it can be complemented by top-down formalized coordination of routines within organizations.

scholarly journals What matters in business incubation? A literature review and a suggestion for situated theorising

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Theodorakopoulos ◽  
Nada K. Kakabadse ◽  
Carmel McGowan
Keyword(s):  
Situated Learning ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Business Incubation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to provide a critical assessment of the literature on business incubation effectiveness and second, to submit a situated theoretical perspective on how business incubation management can provide an environment that supports the development of incubatee entrepreneurs and their businesses. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a narrative critical assessment of the literature on business incubation effectiveness. Definitional issues, performance aspects and approaches to establishing critical success factors in business incubation are discussed. Business incubation management is identified as an overarching factor for theorising on business incubation effectiveness. Findings – The literature on business incubation effectiveness suffers from several deficiencies, including definitional incongruence, descriptive accounts, fragmentation and lack of strong conceptual grounding. Notwithstanding the growth of research on this domain, understanding of how entrepreneurs and their businesses develop within the business incubator environment remains limited. Given the importance of relational, intangible factors in business incubation and the critical role of business incubation management in orchestrating and optimising such factors, it is suggested that theorising efforts would benefit from a situated perspective. Originality/value – The identification of specific shortcomings in the literature on business incubation highlights the need for more systematic efforts towards theory building. It is suggested that focusing on the role of business incubation management from a situated learning theory perspective can lend itself to a more profound understanding of the development process of incubatee entrepreneurs and their firms. Theoretical propositions are offered to this effect, as well as avenues for future research.

Human and organizational responses to extreme threats: a comparative developmental approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
pp. 2077-2097
Author(s):  
Murad A. Mithani ◽  
Ipek Kocoglu
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Organizational Crisis ◽  
Organizational Responses ◽  
Developmental Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Face ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

PurposeThe proposed theoretical model offers a systematic approach to synthesize the fragmented research on organizational crisis, disasters and extreme events.Design/methodology/approachThis paper offers a theoretical model of organizational responses to extreme threats.FindingsThe paper explains that organizations choose between hypervigilance (freeze), exit (flight), growth (fight) and dormancy (fright) when faced with extreme threats. The authors explain how the choice between these responses are informed by the interplay between slack and routines.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s theoretical model contributes by explaining the nature of organizational responses to extreme threats and how the two underlying mechanisms, slack and routines, determine heterogeneity between organizations.Practical implicationsThe authors advance four key managerial considerations: the need to distinguish between discrete and chronic threats, the critical role of hypervigilance in the face of extreme threats, the distinction between resources and routines during threat mitigation, and the recognition that organizational exit may sometimes be the most effective means for survival.Originality/valueThe novelty of this paper pertains to the authors’ use of the comparative developmental approach to incorporate insights from the study of individual responses to life-threatening events to explain organizational responses to extreme threats.

The effect of team empowerment on team performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueting Jiang ◽  
Hector R. Flores ◽  
Ronrapee Leelawong ◽  
Charles C. Manz
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Team Performance ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Group Conflict ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Team Empowerment ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – Based on extant literature on empowerment and team management, this paper aims to examine the effect of power distance and collectivism on the relationship between empowerment and team performance through the mechanisms of knowledge sharing and intra-group conflict. Design/methodology/approach – This paper conceptualizes a model depicting the relationship between team empowerment and team performance across cultures. Findings – The authors argue that team empowerment can increase both knowledge sharing and intra-group conflict in working teams. Knowledge sharing facilitates team performance, while intra-group conflict impairs team performance in the long run. Team empowerment yields different team performance across cultures due to the respective moderating effects of power distance and collectivism. Originality/value – This paper explicates the moderating roles of power distance and collectivism on the relationship between empowerment, knowledge sharing, intra-group conflict and team performance. The authors suggest that the effectiveness of team empowerment is contingent on the cultural context that the team operates in.

Exploring the team dynamic learning process in software process tailoring performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Chieh Lee ◽  
Chung-Yang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Learning Process ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Software Process ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Task Orientation ◽  
Dynamic Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Process Tailoring

PurposeSoftware process tailoring (SPT) is a knowledge- and learning-intensive activity in which a software project team customizes its software development processes to accommodate project particularities. Because SPT critically influences how a project is conducted, SPT performance should be investigated, but the extant literature lacks investigations into how team knowledge mechanisms and team environments contribute to SPT performance. To fill this gap, this study looks into a team's absorptive capacity (AC) and combines a transactive memory system (TMS) and team climate inventory (TCI) to develop a theoretical research model to facilitate the understanding of SPT performance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is a conceptual study that uses the propositional methodology with a focused review of existing literature pertaining to SPT, AC, TMS and TCI to develop a theoretical model to foster SPT performance. Because this study is conceptually established, further empirical research and studies are also suggested.FindingsThe proposed model provides guidance for firms conducting SPT. It also contributes to future research aiming to empirically understand the mechanisms behind the identified team-based knowledge and environmental enablers in the dynamic team learning process that lead to superior SPT performance.Originality/valueThe proposed model provides a fresh look at the dynamic capabilities theory in SPT and innovatively identifies a team's dynamic learning process to show how a team can conduct effective SPT through AC and facilitated by TMS. Environmental climates characterized by vision, participative safety, task orientation and support for innovation act as positive moderators in promoting the team dynamic learning process.

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