Developing a framework for the performance evaluation of sorting and grading firms of used clothing

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Kumar Paras ◽  
Daniel Ekwall ◽  
Rudrajeet Pal
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Transaction Cost ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Transaction Cost Economics ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Base Of The Pyramid ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis paper aims to propose a framework for evaluating the performance of reverse value chain activities in the clothing industry operating at base of the pyramid. Specifically, the research explores firm and supply chain factors influencing clothing reverse value chain activities with a focus on developing economies.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted an explorative technique using direct observations and semi-structured interviews to collect information from eight companies and two traders. Internal resources and value chain capabilities were examined using theoretical underpinnings of resource-based view, transaction cost economics and base of the pyramid.FindingsThe paper identified multiple benefits of offshoring reverse value chain activities to the developing countries (at the base of the pyramid). Low operation cost, skilled manpower, business knowledge and location are found to be internal success factors. While favourable government legislation and domestic recycling markets are important external factors contributing to the success. Developing economies such as India contribute to firm performance by integrating, transforming, acquiring and co-creating the resources at base of the pyramid. Further, it was found that to achieve higher assets specificity, a few companies have opened their own shops in African countries, while others have opened sourcing branches in Canada or the USA to ensure good quality of raw materials. Collaboration and coordination among different value chain partners minimise cost and increases profitability. Innovation in the process such as clothes mutilation for recycling has created new business opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsInformation was collected from only eight organisations and two traders from India. Future scholars may extend the research to generalise the findings by documenting similar phenomena.Practical implicationsThe proposed framework can serve a basis for the practitioners to evaluate firm performance, and the insights can be used to achieve sustainability by engaging producers, employees, consumers and community using base of the pyramid approach.Originality/valueThe study provides unique insights into the prevalent export and re-exports phenomena of used clothing. The resource-based view, transaction cost economics and base of the pyramid strategy underpinned together to develop a framework for understanding reverse value chain activities of clothing.

What drives the disintegration of the loan origination value chain in the banking business

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-311
Author(s):  
Enzo Scannella
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Integration ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Transaction Cost Economics ◽  
Bank Lending ◽  
Bank Loan ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vertical Disintegration ◽  
Banking Business

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the vertical disintegration of the bank loan origination value chain. This paper conducts a study on the credit information market from the perspective of the bank’s decision to vertically disintegrate the loan origination value chain. The main aim is to identify the relevant drivers of the decision to vertically disintegrate the credit assessment phase in the lending business. Design/methodology/approach – Transaction cost economics and information asymmetry are the typical perspectives of analysis of the vertical scope of business value chains. Findings – This paper argues that in order to capture the drivers underlying the dynamic evolution of the vertical scope of bank loan origination business models, the above perspectives must be combined and integrated further with a resource-based view and the modularity perspective. Combining managerial and financial perspectives, this paper offers an examination of the drivers of vertical disintegration in the lending value chain and, specifically, in the credit assessment phase. Originality/value – Although the existence of substantial research on value chain vertical integration/disintegration in the literature, none has directly focussed on the credit assessment value chain. It leaves a gap that the paper aims to overcome. The value chain disintegration has deep managerial and financial implications at firm and industry levels, and the comprehension of the rational underlying it is critical to maintaining competitive business model configurations in the bank lending industry.

scholarly journals The long tail thesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-454
Author(s):  
Shuanping Dai ◽  
Markus Taube
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Base Of The Pyramid ◽  
Long Tail ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Business Approach ◽  
Long Tail Phenomenon

Purpose This paper aims to explore the functionality of long tail markets (LTM), where the consumers cannot be reached or are ignored by the traditional mainstream businesses, in new products and business development. Design/methodology/approach First, the authors review two Chinese entrepreneurial practices in the Fintech sector and low-speed electric vehicles (LSEV) and describe their stylized facts; second, they explore a possible theoretical LTM framework to underscore these practices; third, they make a connection between LTM and existing business models and analyze its significance and practical implications in business, in particular, in developing economies. Findings The LTM business approach has helped Chinese companies in the Fintech sector and LSEVs gain global attention. The success factors of LTM for businesses are identifying a specific customer base, being aware of localization products and playing skillfully with regulations; the LTM approach has several overlaps with existing studies on niche products and base of the pyramid market. Originality/value Based on some emerging and attractive business practices in China, this paper offers a valuable attempt to theorize them as long tail phenomenon. The LTM thesis provides a potential framework to reference for similar methods elsewhere and may illuminate entrepreneurship to be explored in similar markets.

Broaden the Pathway to Inclusive Entrepreneurship: A Transaction Cost Proposition

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Du ◽  
Jie Lu ◽  
Yanbing Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Transaction Cost ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Transaction Cost Economics ◽  
Inclusive Growth ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Base Of The Pyramid ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Personal Competence

Abstract Since entrepreneurship was conceptualised as a panacea for achieving inclusive growth in the “base of the pyramid” (BoP) regions, various ways have been explored to leverage this powerful tool, such as helping potential entrepreneurs build the resource base and capabilities. However, given the severe resources constraints in the BoP regions, such a goal is difficult to achieve. Besides, due to the high demands on personal competence, only a few people can benefit from this method, which fails to solve the problem of social exclusion in the BoP regions. Therefore, we aim to find a better way to leverage entrepreneurship to tackle the problem of the BoP regions by calling for more attention to the inclusiveness of entrepreneurship. Based on data of inclusive entrepreneurs in Zhejiang, China, we construct a three-stage model for inclusive entrepreneurship. We also apply Transaction Cost Economics to look for determinants that foster inclusive entrepreneurship and validate our main assertion that decreasing transaction cost significantly helps to increase the inclusiveness of entrepreneurship, and different phases of inclusive entrepreneurship (i.e., opportunity inclusiveness, participation inclusiveness, and sharing inclusiveness) are influenced by different sets of determinants of transaction costs.

Determinants of the firm performance of returnee entrepreneurs in Somalia: the effects of external environmental conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed-Abdullahi Mohamed ◽  
Asmat-Nizam Abdul-Talib ◽  
AfifahAlwani Ramlee
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Future Research ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Somali Diaspora ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Perceived Environmental Uncertainty

Purpose This study aims to examine the role of returning Somali diaspora entrepreneurs on firm performance and their perceived environmental obstacles. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on a broad literature review and covers a theoretical background to develop a research framework. It presents several propositions to be empirically tested to determine the influence of returnee entrepreneurs’ success and the challenges they face in the process. Findings The paper offers an overview of how Somali diaspora returnee entrepreneurs can use their resources to succeed in their business and the possible environmental uncertainties that could hinder them. The study highlights some under-researched areas and provides future research directions. Research limitations/implications A research investigation is needed to test the proposed conceptual framework empirically. Further research is also recommended to use other predictors when investigating the perceived environmental uncertainty faced by returnee entrepreneurs. Practical implications In the diaspora entrepreneurship literature, returnee entrepreneurs in post-conflict African countries did not get enough attention. Hence, the study will contribute theoretically to the literature. Originality/value The paper provides a conceptual framework that will help understand returnee entrepreneurs in post-conflict states in Africa, paving the way for empirical studies on the topic.

A jack-of-all-trades or a master of none: the performance effects of balancing exploration and exploitation within vs across alliance portfolio domains

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Penney ◽  
James G. Combs ◽  
Nolan Gaffney ◽  
Jennifer C. Sexton
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Exploration And Exploitation ◽  
Specific Domain ◽  
Alliance Portfolio ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alliance Portfolios

Purpose Theory predicts that balancing exploratory and exploitative learning (i.e., ambidexterity) across alliance portfolio domains (e.g. value chain function, governance modes) increases firm performance, whereas balance within domains decreases performance. Prior empirical work, however, only assessed balance/imbalance within and across two domains. The purpose of this study is to determine if theory generalizes beyond specific domain combinations. The authors investigated across multiple domains to determine whether alliance portfolios should be imbalanced toward exploration or exploitation within domains or balanced across domains. The authors also extended prior research by exploring whether the direction of imbalance matters. Current theory only advises managers to accept imbalance without helping with the choice between exploration and exploitation. Design/methodology/approach Hypotheses are tested using fixed-effects generalized least squares (GLS) regression analysis of a large 13-year panel sample of Fortune 500 firms from 1996 to 2008. Findings With respect to the balance between exploration and exploitation within each of the five domains investigated, imbalanced alliance portfolios had higher firm performance. No evidence was found that balance across domains relates to performance. Instead, for four of the five domains, imbalance toward exploration related positively to firm performance. Originality/value An alliance portfolio that allows for exploration in some domains and exploitation in other domains appears more difficult to implement than prior theory suggests. Firms benefit mostly from using the alliance portfolio for exploratory learning.

Constrained purchase decision-making process at the base of the pyramid

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanda Choudhury ◽  
Srabanti Mukherjee ◽  
Biplab Datta
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Transaction Cost ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Consumer Decision Making ◽  
Base Of The Pyramid ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Consumer Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Vulnerability

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors affecting decision-making at the BoP and propose a framework of the consumer decision-making process at the base of the pyramid (BoP). Design/methodology/approach The qualitative research design was adopted to collect primary data. Data collected through the in-depth semi-structured interviews of the 48 BoP consumers in Kolkata and Kharagpur (India) were subjected to grounded theory analysis for theory development. Findings This study reveals that consumer vulnerability affects the decision-making process and the transaction cost at BoP level. It was observed that the consumers at the BoP make constrained choices due to their vulnerability and try to minimise transaction cost while selecting the retails. The constrained retail choice leads to a limited selection of products and brands. Originality/value This study, for the first time, has investigated the decision-making process for BoP consumers in detail. As a pioneering attempt, it sheds light on some new factors including consumer vulnerability and transaction cost that have an impact on the consumer decision-making process.

Distribution of agricultural productivity gains in selected Feed the Future African countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles B. Moss ◽  
Andrew Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Traded Goods ◽  
A Value ◽  
The Future ◽  
Cassava Production ◽  
Feed The Future ◽  
Productivity Gains

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine investments in selected Feed the Future countries in Africa. Design/methodology/approach The authors examine three investments in Feed the Future countries (e.g. Rwanda and Uganda) in the context of non-traded goods, exports and imports. These investments include research and development in Ugandan cassava production, a value chain intervention in the coffee market channel in Rwanda and a program to increase the use of fertilizer for maize production in Rwanda. The authors also stress the importance of distributional impacts in terms of policymaking. Findings The results show that while there can be net gains from each investment discussed, the distributional effects of each are very different. Originality/value The findings will be useful for the development community and agribusiness policymaking.

The impact of institutional voids on risk and performance in base-of-the-pyramid supply chains

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 829-863
Author(s):  
Attique ur Rehman ◽  
Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq Jajja ◽  
Raja Usman Khalid ◽  
Stefan Seuring
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Product Market ◽  
Base Of The Pyramid ◽  
Institutional Voids ◽  
Supply Chain Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Bop Markets ◽  
Supply Chain Risks

PurposeBase-of-the-pyramid (BoP) markets are frequently characterized by institutional voids. However, it remains unclear how institutional voids impact corporate and supply chain risk and performance. This intersection will be analyzed in this paper.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a systematic literature review of 94 BoP papers published between 2004 and 2019 in peer-reviewed, English-language journals available on Scopus. Drawing upon established frameworks for examining institutional voids, supply chain risks and BoP performance, frequency, and contingency analyses are conducted. Contingencies are established to provide insights into the associations between different constructs from the selected frameworks.FindingsSupply chain risks are pervasive in the BoP discourse, especially when BoP markets are characterized by institutional voids. The frequency analysis of the constructs suggests that the key supply chain risks discussed in the BoP literature include social risk, credit risk, product market and operating uncertainties, knowledge and skill biases and decision-maker risks due to bounded rationality. The contingency analysis suggests that institutional voids are associated with supply chain risks that affect performance.Research limitations/implicationsA theoretical framework aligning three research streams in the context of BoP calls for future studies to test the causality of highlighted constructs that are significantly associated. The analysis is confined to the constructs that are taken into account based on specific conceptual frameworks.Practical implicationsThe study provides practitioners with a framework to manage supply chain risks in BoP-related firms to enhance firm performance. Managers can use key dimensions of supply chain risk, such as the product market, the input market and operating uncertainties, to evaluate performance in the BoP context.Originality/valueSpecifically, this research has strengthened the inquiry of supply chain risks in the presence of institutional voids that may have an impact on firm performance

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