Why suppliers struggle to deliver defect-free products to buyers: a buyer–supplier dyadic perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imranul Hoque
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Free Products ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
To Receive

PurposeThis study explores the challenges of garment suppliers in delivering defect-free products to their buyers and how buyers play a role in overcoming the challenges.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a qualitative research approach and a multiple case study method, quantitative and qualitative data were collected from the four garment suppliers and buyer's representatives. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques were applied to understand the challenges in delivering defect-free products.FindingsThe study findings show that garment suppliers' main challenges in delivering defect-free products are unsystematic quality control, informal root cause analysis, limited education and training facilities, dearth of a learning culture, limited quality control capability, lack of cross-functional team, inadequate modern technologies, workers' resistance to change and poor performance evaluation. Moreover, this study demonstrates how buyers can enhance their support to suppliers to receive defect-free products.Research limitations/implicationsWhereas the garment industry has more than four thousand suppliers, this study considers only four suppliers. Therefore, the generalisability of the study may be questioned. Furthermore, as this study considers only a single sewing line in each factory, future studies could incorporate more lines for a holistic understanding.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study could help the managers of supplier firms understand how to tackle the hurdles of defect-free garment production and give buyers a guideline about what role they need to play to receive defect-free garments from suppliers.Originality/valueFor the first time, this study presents how garment suppliers and their lead buyers play significant roles in satisfying end consumers' demand by overcoming the challenges of defect-free garment production.

Buyer-assisted lean intervention in supplier firms: a supplier development approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imranul Hoque
Keyword(s):  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Capability Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Production Capability ◽  
Lean Tools ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how buyer-assisted lean intervention in garment supplier factories affects garment suppliers' productivity and production capability development.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a qualitative research approach and a lean intervention design, a multiple case study method was adopted for this study. Quantitative data on productivity performance and qualitative data on production capability development were collected from a Danish buyer and their four corresponding garment suppliers. Collected data were analysed using standard lean measurement tools and qualitative data analysis techniques.FindingsThis study demonstrates that buyer-assisted lean intervention is a useful strategy for garment suppliers to enhance their productivity and production capability. However, suppliers need to select the right lean tools, ensure seriousness and commitment to lean initiatives, substantial involvement of top management and workers, arrange formal and informal training, provide performance-based financial/non-financial incentives and nurture a learning culture to facilitate suppliers' production capability development.Research limitations/implicationsThis study implemented few lean tools in a single sewing line in four supplier factories for a short intervention duration. Thus, there is a scope for future studies to investigate the impact of the lean intervention on a large scale.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study might bring new insights to the management of buyer and supplier firms concerning how buyers could involve in suppliers' lean intervention initiatives and what suppliers need to ensure to develop production capability.Originality/valueFor the first time, this study engaged a buyer in suppliers' lean intervention initiatives to improve productivity and production capability in the garment industry of a developing country.

Corporate governance in Kenya's public universities

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 342-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Mwanzia Mulili
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the corporate governance practices adopted by public universities in Kenya, itself a developing country. Corporate governance practices in Africa, especially the sub-Saharan part, are weak and limited research has been done in this area. Design/methodology/approach – The researcher adopted the realism paradigm and relied on qualitative data obtained from five case study organizations. A total of 15 informants were interviewed. The data were recorded, transcribed and subjected to content analysis using the NVIVO software. Findings – The researcher established that the governance of the said institutions is constrained by numerous challenges that include, among many others, large student numbers, overstretched facilities, insufficient government support, inadequate induction of new staff, resistance to change and cultures that support impunity on the part of some non-performing employees. Practical implications – This research recommends several strategies that can be used to improve the governance of the said institutions and, by extension, that of similar institutions in developing countries. Originality/value – The study provides empirical evidence to support the proposition that different corporate governance theories, such as the stakeholders theory, political theory and resource dependency theory, can be used simultaneously by the same firm. On this basis, the research suggests the adoption of a combined theory of corporate governance.

Evolution of hospitality and tourism technology research from Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology: a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minwoo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Research Trends ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Technology Research ◽  
Qualitative Data Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism

Purpose Information and communication technologies have been widely implemented and made radical changes for several decades in the hospitality and tourism industry. This rapid development also generates considerable data in social media. This trend opens the door to analyze unstructured data and gain increased attention of a qualitative research approach from hospitality and tourism researchers and industry professionals. Therefore, this paper aims to describe how a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis (CAQDA) approach can be used in the hospitality and tourism technology literature to uncover the trends and thematic concepts of hospitality and tourism technology research and their dynamics in Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology (JHTT) Design/methodology/approach To achieve the proposed research goals, the current study used CAQDA software, Leximancer, to analyze 218 articles published in JHTT between Volume 1(1) in 2010 and Volume 10(4) in 2019. Based on the rigorous CAQDA processes, the study performed the thematic analysis using all articles and subgroup analyses in the five-year periods. Findings Using CAQDA, the study reveals the critical research trends and insights on hospitality and tourism technology for 10 years in the JHTT. The findings of this study can provide strong evidence of what hospitality and tourism technology research topics have been examined and how these topics were connected and changed over time. More importantly, the current study illustrates how the CAQDA approach can be applied to uncover the hidden trends and thematic concepts from text data in the hospitality and tourism literature. Originality/value This study is the first attempt to apply CAQDA software to identify research trends and thematic concepts and gain insights from past JHTT’s articles. Moreover, this study applies this software to describe how hospitality and tourism researchers can use one of the modern computer-assisted qualitative techniques. Based on the findings of this study, theoretical and methodological implications for hospitality and tourism researchers are provided. More importantly, the current study presents the specific guidelines of how the CAQDA approach can be used for the literature review.

Schemata and creative thinking ability in cool-critical-creative-meaningful (3CM) learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Wahyudi Wahyudi ◽  
Stevanus Budi Waluya ◽  
Hardi Suyitno ◽  
Isnarto Isnarto
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Learning Model ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Thinking Ability ◽  
Creative Thinking Ability

Purpose This study aims to describe how creative thinking ability could be improved through correcting the thinking schemata using cool-critical-creative-meaningful (3CM) learning model. Design/methodology/approach This study implemented mixed methods with explanatory sequential, which means a study that was conducted by collecting quantitative and qualitative data, consecutively. The creative thinking ability was measured through tests and then triangulated with the student teachers answers in the interviews. The qualitative data consisted of creative thinking schemata that were collected with task analysis and think aloud method. The data were analyzed in two stages. Quantitative data analysis was used to identify the effectiveness of 3CM learning. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using Miles and Huberman’s analysis. Findings The findings presented that 3CM learning model is significantly effective to improve the creative thinking ability of pre-service primary teacher; students with formal, content and linguistic schemata that are good and complete will also have good mathematical creative thinking ability; the mathematical creative thinking ability of student is determined by the completeness of their schemata; and a good and complete schemata (formal, content and linguistic) will help the students to produce several problem-solving alternatives. Research limitations/implications Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further. Practical implications The results of this study suggest lecturers to give their students a great opportunity to develop their creativity in solving mathematical problems. Lecturers could give the students the opportunity to think systematically by beginning by criticizing the interesting contextual problems and ending with meaningful reflection with adequate learning resources. Originality/value 3CM learning model is a model that is proven to be effective in helping the students in shaping the thinking schemata well and able to improve the creative thinking ability of the students.

Performance dialogue

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome Couturier ◽  
Nikolaos Sklavounos
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measurement System ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Communication Model ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Top Executives ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Action Research Approach ◽  
Implementation And Dissemination ◽  
Dialogue Process

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines for improving performance dialogue with a specific process and framework, leveraging existing literature.Design/methodology/approachBuilding upon Mengis and Eppler’s (2008) framework for conversation management, this study follows an action research approach, involving a process of co-creation, split into several distinct stages including two series of 20 semi-structured interviews with top executives of a major pharmaceutical company. These executives were directly involved in using the performance measurement system (PMS) in order to provide guidelines for improving performance dialogue. The data were analysed using content analysis, and the authors helped to develop a solution.FindingsThe analysis reveals a variety of recurrent communicative challenges and practices, which all appear to be characteristic for the performance dialogue process. The proposed framework consists of four separate phases, namely: data collection and identification of the main under and over-performance gaps, root cause analysis and action plans formulation, dialogue and solution implementation and dissemination of best practices.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature by introducing work on organisational communication into the field of PMS, by proposing a communication model for performance dialogue implementation. Furthermore, it addresses companies’ issues on how to successfully use their PMS and proposes a framework with specific prerequisites to be put into practice. Finally, this study offers a different explanation in the form of the lack of performance dialogue for the failure of PMS, compared to the current explanations found in the literature.

scholarly journals Re-branding the High Street: the place branding process and reflections from three UK towns

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikos Ntounis ◽  
Mihalis Kavaratzis
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Place Branding ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
High Street ◽  
The Right ◽  
Research Stage

Purpose The main aim of this paper is to develop a holistic understanding of place branding and reflect on its practical value and implications, by drawing evidence from the rebranding process of three UK towns (Alsager, Altrincham and Holmfirth) that participated in the HSUK2020 project. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive place branding process that includes the interrelated stages of research, deliberation, consultation, action and communication is presented. The practical value of this theoretical proposition is linked to the experiences of three UK towns that participated in the HSUK2020 project. Findings The importance of research, the challenges of participation and the role of communications in place branding processes were identified as primary issues in all towns. The results of the project demonstrate the significance of the initial research stage of the place branding process and show that the process as a whole is valuable in helping places deal effectively with identity issues. Research limitations/implications Participatory place branding processes can flourish when place stakeholders are engaged in the right context and are encouraged to work together. In addition, place brands are important cues and empower stakeholders’ participation in all stages of place brand processes. Practical implications Knowledge exchange projects that have the potential to engage a plethora of place stakeholders should be considered by practitioners for future place branding strategies. Originality/value The paper offers a refreshing practical grounding on participatory place branding concepts and theories. The value of knowledge exchange strategies for examining the field of place branding is also highlighted and can become a useful research approach for future research.

A personal narrative on understanding and navigating transitional change: lessons learned by an accounting academic amidst COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christo Ackermann
Keyword(s):  
Work Performance ◽  
Personal Narrative ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Accounting Education ◽  
Academic Departments ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transition Change ◽  
Change Response

Purpose This paper aims to present the personal narrative of an accounting academic, seeking to make sense of his transition change-response to online accounting education, through the thematic lens of the transition cycle of change. Design/methodology/approach The research approach falls under the umbrella term of autoethnography. An autoethnography is presented as a personal narrative that focused on a specific event in life. Findings The author found that gaining awareness of how resistance to change manifests itself in the early stages of transition allows us to move forward, rather than remaining “stuck in transition”. Furthermore, the author found that transition cycles can be looped; in other words, we find ourselves starting transition anew if circumstances change again. Thus, transition should not be seen as linear but cyclical. Practical implications This research could be useful to other accounting academics by fostering an awareness of individual change-responses during times of crisis, thereby enabling better self-management of change. For heads of accountancy academic departments, it is important to take note that change amidst crisis can sap morale and diminish work performance. The management of staff, and understanding their transition change-responses during crisis, is therefore critical to ensure that staff are navigated through change arising from crisis. Originality/value This paper answers the question what can we learn by understanding our transitional process of change by drawing on change theory? To this end, this paper presents and starts this conversation, through a personal narrative bringing to life the transitional change journey of an accounting academic during crisis. This study lays a foundation for further empirical and theoretical enquiry into accounting education change processes during crisis.

scholarly journals More Is Not Always Better: Coinfections with Defensive Symbionts Generate Highly Variable Outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Weldon ◽  
J. A. Russell ◽  
K. M. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Single Infection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pea Aphids ◽  
Low Diversity ◽  
Hamiltonella Defensa ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Pathogen Exposure

ABSTRACT Animal-associated microbes are highly variable, contributing to a diverse set of symbiont-mediated phenotypes. Given that host and symbiont genotypes, and their interactions, can impact symbiont-based phenotypes across environments, there is potential for extensive variation in fitness outcomes. Pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, host a diverse assemblage of heritable facultative symbionts (HFS) with characterized roles in host defense. Protective phenotypes have been largely studied as single infections, but pea aphids often carry multiple HFS species, and particular combinations may be enriched or depleted compared to expectations based on chance. Here, we examined the consequences of single infection versus coinfection with two common HFS exhibiting variable enrichment, the antiparasitoid Hamiltonella defensa and the antipathogen Regiella insecticola, across three host genotypes and environments. As expected, single infections with either H. defensa or R. insecticola raised defenses against their respective targets. Single infections with protective H. defensa lowered aphid fitness in the absence of enemy challenge, while R. insecticola was comparatively benign. However, as a coinfection, R. insecticola ameliorated H. defensa infection costs. Coinfected aphids continued to receive antiparasitoid protection from H. defensa, but protection was weakened by R. insecticola in two clones. Notably, H. defensa eliminated survival benefits conferred after pathogen exposure by coinfecting R. insecticola. Since pathogen sporulation was suppressed by R. insecticola in coinfected aphids, the poor performance likely stemmed from H. defensa-imposed costs rather than weakened defenses. Our results reveal a complex set of coinfection outcomes which may partially explain natural infection patterns and suggest that symbiont-based phenotypes may not be easily predicted based solely on infection status. IMPORTANCE The hyperdiverse arthropods often harbor maternally transmitted bacteria that protect against natural enemies. In many species, low-diversity communities of heritable symbionts are common, providing opportunities for cooperation and conflict among symbionts, which can impact the defensive services rendered. Using the pea aphid, a model for defensive symbiosis, we show that coinfections with two common defensive symbionts, the antipathogen Regiella and the antiparasite Hamiltonella, produce outcomes that are highly variable compared to single infections, which consistently protect against designated enemies. Compared to single infections, coinfections often reduced defensive services during enemy challenge yet improved aphid fitness in the absence of enemies. Thus, infection with multiple symbionts does not necessarily create generalist aphids with “Swiss army knife” defenses against numerous enemies. Instead, particular combinations of symbionts may be favored for a variety of reasons, including their abilities to lessen the costs of other defensive symbionts when enemies are not present.

Responsible tourism in Cyprus: the rhetoric and the reality

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Farmaki ◽  
Panayiotis Constanti ◽  
Irene Yiasemi ◽  
Phidias Karis
Keyword(s):  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourism Management ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism Industry ◽  
Responsible Tourism

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an overview of the approaches that industry stakeholders follow towards responsible tourism in Cyprus and to address the challenges that responsible tourism management faces in a mass tourism destination. Design/methodology/approach – In doing so, the paper discusses the concept of responsible tourism and its application in the hospitality and tourism industry. A qualitative research approach was followed whereby roundtable discussions between industry leaders and hospitality educators were initiated in order to identify key challenges. In addition, secondary research was performed with relevant data presented in the paper being previously collected by the CSTI (Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative). Findings – Findings reveal that responsible tourism adoption in Cyprus is minimal. Several challenges have been identified as barriers to adoption and successful implementation including poor understanding of the concept, lack of awareness, limited budget, lack of coordination of activities and the absence of an integrated system to ensure cooperation and of a monitoring mechanism. Practical implications – The paper will be of immense value to industry practitioners as it represents a holistic understanding of the challenges facing hospitality and tourism industry stakeholders in terms of the implementation of responsible tourism practice. Propositions are made regarding the maximisation of the benefits of responsible tourism. Originality/value – The paper draws on sustainability issues in an attempt to shed light on the role of responsible tourism in the hospitality and tourism industry in Cyprus and consequently advances knowledge on responsible tourism management offering value to academics practitioners and students alike.

Professional employees’ strategic employment of the managerial logic in healthcare

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Gadolin
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Everyday Work ◽  
Professional Employees ◽  
Professional Power

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze how physicians and nurses strategically employ the managerial logic.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative case study incorporating interviews and observations.FindingsNeither physicians nor nurses were prone to strategically employing the managerial logic. However, when doing so nurses were able to acknowledge the legitimacy of managerial impact on practice, whereas the physicians were not. Consequently, physicians might find other, more subtle, ways to strategically employ the managerial logic.Originality/valueThis paper argues for and makes explicit the applicability of qualitative methods in order to delineate actors’ strategic use of available and accessible institutional logics, the conditions for such usage, as well as the multiplicity of actors’ interactions that needs to be taken into account when conducting qualitative data analysis of such occurrences. By the merits of the qualitative research approach utilized in this study, novel insights concerning the strategic use of the managerial logic in the everyday work of physicians and nurses were obtainable. These insights emphasize the necessity of acknowledging situational, organizational and institutional context, incorporating inter-professional power discrepancies and relationsvis-à-vismanagers.

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