Construction of structural dimensions of organizational human capital competitive advantage

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenchen Guo ◽  
Mengxin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Investment Planning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structural Dimensions

PurposeThis paper aims to clarify the factors that affect the formation of organizational human capital competitive advantage (OHCCA) and construct its structural dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThis research method adopted grounded theory using 20 interviews of managers from 10 companies. Relevant literature was reviewed to conduct open coding, Axial coding and selective coding to ensure OHCCA concept and dimensions.FindingsStudies have shown that OHCCA formation of results from investment and collaboration of three levels: organization, teams and departments and employees. OHCCA formation is composed of three dimensions of organizational human capital investment: planning, practice and stock.Research limitations/implicationsThis research enriches the organizational human capital and competitive advantage theories.Practical implicationsThe practical significance is to provide theoretical and practical guidance for organizations in creating OHCCAs.Originality/valueThis research is the first to propose and define the OHCCA concept and construct a three-dimensional structure model. Furthermore, this research has revealed the leading factors that affect OHCCA's formation process.

Could CSR improve the financial performance of developing countries’ firms? Analyses of mediating effect of intangible resources

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Hamdoun ◽  
Mohamed Akli Achabou ◽  
Sihem Dekhili
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intangible Resources ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to examine the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance in the context of developing countries. More specifically, the mediating role of a firm’s competitive advantage and intangible resources, namely, human capital and reputation are studied. Design/methodology/approach The study considered a sample of 100 Tunisian firms. The analysis makes use of the structural equation modelling method to explore the relationship between CSR and financial performance, by including mediator variables. Findings The results confirm that CSR has no significant direct effect on financial performance. In particular, they indicate that the social dimension of CSR has a negative impact on performance. However, CSR does have a positive impact on competitive advantage via the two intangible resources considered, human capital and company reputation. Research limitations/implications The research fills a gap that occurred in the previous literature. In effect, previous studies focussed only on the direct link between CSR and financial performance. In addition, it enriches the limited literature on CSR strategies in the context of developing countries. However, further studies should explore the opposite relationship, i.e. the impact of financial performance on CSR strategy. In addition, the authors believe that amongst other potential research avenues, it would be interesting to study the moderating role of the activity sector. Practical implications From a practical point of view, this study suggests new applications with respect to the link between CSR and financial performance. To enhance their company’s financial performance, managers need to ensure that intangible resources are managed efficiently. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature by examining how a firm’s intangible resources mediate between CSR and competitive advantage and how competitive advantage mediates between intangible resources and financial performance. Second originality is related to the study of the link between CSR and the financial performance of business organisations in the context of a developing country.

scholarly journals A multi-dimensional approach for managing open innovation in NPD

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1366-1385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Bahemia ◽  
Brian Squire ◽  
Paul Cousins
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
New Product ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Longitudinal Impact ◽  
Product Innovativeness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose This paper explores openness within new product development (NPD) projects. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of breadth, depth and partner newness on product innovativeness and product competitive advantage. The authors also seek to examine the contingent effects of the appropriability regime. The authors make suggestions to academics and practitioners based on the findings. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a structured survey instrument producing an empirical analysis of 205 NPD projects in the manufacturing sector in the UK. The authors use an ordinary least squares regression model to test hypothesised relationships between openness (breadth, depth and partner newness), product innovativeness, product competitive advantage and the appropriability regime. Findings The authors find that each of the three dimensions of openness, depth, breadth and partner newness, have a significant but differing impact on product innovativeness. Specifically, the study indicates that breadth has a positive effect but only in the presence of a strong appropriability regime, partner newness has a direct positive effect, and depth a direct negative effect. The authors also find that product innovativeness has a positive impact on product competitive advantage. Research limitations/implications Further research should focus on replicating the findings in other countries, search for further moderating factors, such as the stage of the NPD process, and analyse the longitudinal impact of openness within NPD projects. Practical implications Organisations are encouraging managers to be more open in their approach to NPD. The authors’ findings suggest that managers need to think about the three dimensions of openness, breadth, depth and partner newness. Their engagement with each of these dimensions depends on the desired outcomes of the innovation project and the strength of patents. Originality/value The research extends the extant supplier involvement in new product development literature to examine the effect of up to 11 types of external actor in NPD projects. The authors test a new multi-dimensional measurement scale for the openness construct. The authors show that each dimension has a different relationship with product innovativeness.

scholarly journals Competitive Advantage Based on Human Capital and its Impact on Organizational Sustainability: Applied Study in Jordanian Telecommunications Sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Azeez Badir Alnidawi ◽  
Abdul Sattar Husien Alshemery ◽  
Manal Abdulrahman
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Organizational Sustainability ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Continuous Change ◽  
Business World ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Telecommunications Companies

The current situation facing business organizations is characterized by diverse work environments with continuous change and development. Todays organizations seek to keep pace with this continuous development and operate to maintain their current business through the ability to effectively respond to change, and to create competitive advantage based on the existence of qualified human capital that contribute to the creation of organizational sustainability in the business sector. Talented human capital, with special skills, has the potential to create confidence and integration among the staff and top management, leading to organizational growth and continuation (Kurucz, 2013). The emergence of a set of challenges in the knowledge economy has had a clear reflection on business organizations which have begun to search for new mechanisms to compete and insure their existence in the business world. Hence, the importance of the concept of competitive advantage, based on human capital, as a necessary requirement to deal with the challenges faced by local, regional or international organizations (Global Institute, 2011). Where competitive advantage based on human capital is the main generator of new ideas, development of old ideas, and contribution to aid in organizational abilities to expand their current market share as well as maximizing value. Competitive advantage based on talented human capital allows organizations to be able to seize new opportunities and achieve permanence and future continuity (Thomas, 2014). This study aimed to look at the impact of competitive advantage through intellectual capital investment as one of the elements in the creation of organizational sustainability in the Jordanian Telecommunications Companies sector. Simple and Multiple regression was used for data analysis and testing the hypotheses of this research .This study has reached a set of results that previous studies reinforced in this area such as: Competitive advantage based on a distinct capital is the optimum method that should be used in telecommunications companies since it contributes to the optimal investment of human capital. This leads to optimum organizational sustainability for companies in various fields and also contributes to the achievement of a company’s mission and vision of the future. 

University brand image as competitive advantage: a two-country study

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-251
Author(s):  
Swati Panda ◽  
Satyendra C. Pandey ◽  
Andrea Bennett ◽  
Xiaoguang Tian
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Brand Image ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Reputation ◽  
The Usa ◽  
University Brand

Purpose Given the competitive landscape in the higher education setting, it is important that universities adopt strategies that create competitive advantage for them. Universities must leverage their resources efficiently to address this goal. Creating a positive brand image is one such strategy. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize university brand image as its heritage, service quality and trustworthiness and investigate their relationship with student’s satisfaction. It also investigates the role of university reputation as a mediating variable. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a mixed method approach. The first stage involved qualitative interviews and focused group discussions with students to understand the factors responsible for student satisfaction with their respective universities. The second stage involved administering a survey questionnaire in two geographies – the USA and India to investigate the hypothesized relationship. The authors use regression analyses to test these relationships. Findings Findings indicate that a distinct brand image plays an important role in students’ level of satisfaction across both the USA and India. Service quality has a greater impact on student satisfaction levels across both contexts (as compared to university heritage and trustworthiness). The authors also find a positive mediating effect of university reputation in the relationship between university brand image and student satisfaction levels. Originality/value The current research contributes to the services marketing literature in the university context. It offers a framework for decision making in universities. It suggests that universities must work toward developing their brand image by focusing on its three dimensions – heritage, trustworthiness and service quality.

Exploring the role of transformational leadership in human capital effectiveness

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shahid Khan ◽  
Ilham Sentosa ◽  
Faryal Salman
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Codification

Purpose Malaysia has set year 2020 as a targeted year to become the most developed nation and to transform the economy into knowledge based. Issue is to become developed nation, but without human capital development (HCD) process, the achievement of this vision would be difficult. Numerous studies articulated the direct impact of human capital on the country economic growth. Human capital is a significant factor to get competitive advantage, which is the need of the day for all countries as well as for organizations to survive in today’s tough competitive environment. Major objective of this research was to find the role of transformational leadership (TL) in human capital effectiveness with the effect of knowledge management (KM) strategies. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A mixed research method is deployed in this study. Data are collected with the help of self-administrated questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The structural equation modeling technique is used in the data; data are analyzed with the help of AMOS and Nvivo software. Findings The results revealed that transformation has a positive effect on KM strategies. Further, this study also identified that knowledge codification strategy and personalization strategy have a positive impact on human capital effectiveness. Research limitations/implications The results revealed that KM strategies play a vital role in human capital effectiveness. Therefore, the Malaysian healthcare industry should introduce KM strategies in order to enhance employees’ knowledge skills and ability. This study is only conducted in Malaysia; the future researcher can use a different method to test the current research model. Practical implications Knowledge codification and knowledge personalization strategy can contribute to the HCD process. This study can be generalized in the Malaysian healthcare industry. This kind of effort will add value into human capital. Hence, organization can get a competitive advantage with the help of human capital. TL style is the most appropriate style in the current era; this leadership has the ability to transform the system, which is the need of the day. Due to rapid changes in technology, a leader who believes in change can meet the challenges of twenty-first century. Originality/value KM strategies and their use have been a research issue for some time. Companies have also adopted knowledge management strategies tools to support and stimulate knowledge sharing in their organizations and to help employees to find the expertise they are looking for. But no research has been performed on the importance of KM strategies. This paper describes a unique and new framework that the authors devised to help companies to do just that.

Network activities as critical sources of creating capability and competitive advantage

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 544-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Hsing Liu ◽  
Angela Ya-Ping Chang ◽  
Yen-Po Fang
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Ties ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Business Ties

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a new integrated model that combines the concepts of network ties (e.g. political ties and business ties), the organization of internal critical attributes (such as social capital, human capital and innovation capability) and analyses of how those critical attributes influence organization performance and competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach A structural equation model and three-way interactions in moderated multiple regressions was used to test the hypotheses on a sample of 621 cultural and creative industry (CCI) managers in Taiwan. Findings The results indicate that human capital mediates the relationship between social capital and innovation capability. Furthermore, innovation capability also plays a mediating role in connecting the relationships between human capital, competitive advantage and organizational performance. The findings indicate that business ties strengthen the relationship between social and human capital. The level of human capital is at its peak when social capital, business ties, and political ties considerably interact with one another. Research limitations/implications The present study conceptualized the topic and systematized the questionnaire design and data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing. This study performs a systematic analysis to present the research but does not employ in-depth qualitative interviews to analyse the essential attributes of the different entrepreneurial styles. In-depth interviews enable the interviewees to completely depict their feelings, experiences, motivations, emotions and attitudes. Thus, this method can provide an in-depth analysis. Studies can be conducted to analyse the complexity of the processes involved. Practical implications This study determines and emphasizes that networking with various factors to create innovation is the key to enhancing competitive advantage and organizational performance. Innovation is a unique characteristic and a basic kinetic energy that affects various strategic organizational behaviours that positively influence competitive advantage and facilitate organizational performance. Hence, CCI firms need to consider market orientation and innovation in this highly competitive environment. Originality/value To the best of the knowledge, how CCI firms use networking sources to create competitive advantage and organizational performance, thereby promoting the development of the CCIs of Taiwan, has not been analysed in the tourism-related literature. Thus, the present study provides a significant contribution to the human capital literature, in which empirical research analyses the three-way interaction and demonstrates the empirical insights that may be used to study human capital. The findings reported in this study will encourage future researchers to employ multilevel human capital perspectives.

scholarly journals “Coke on Tick”: exploring the cocaine market in the UK through the lens of financial management

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Hall ◽  
Georgios A. Antonopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Financial Management ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Organised Crime ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Integral Feature

Purpose This paper aims to offer detailed preliminary data and analysis that focuses specifically on the structures and financial aspects of the UK cocaine market. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on in-depth interviews with – among others – four active criminal entrepreneurs involved in powder cocaine supply in the UK. Furthermore, along with a review of relevant literature and open sources, in-depth interviews were undertaken with a range of experts with knowledge of the cocaine market. These experts include law enforcement agents and independent academics/researchers who have researched the cocaine market in the UK and internationally. Findings The cocaine market is a fragmented business dependent on networks of individual entrepreneurs and groups. At the core of collaborations often lie family, ethnic or kinship relationships and relationships forged within legal businesses and in prison. Capital investment practices in this market are flexible, “messy” and mutating, and money comes from a range of different sources. Credit is an integral feature of the cocaine business in the UK. The financial management of the cocaine trade is a result of (and reflects) a number of factors, such as the fragmented and decentralised nature of the trade. Originality/value Empirical research into financial aspects of organised crime manifestations is important for the assumptions that are part of public debate to be tested. In addition, understanding the broader range of financial aspects of organised crime is an important component of the process of crimes for gain and can contribute to both better investigation and better prevention.

scholarly journals Capacity building for sustained competitive advantage: a conceptual framework

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 671-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Riad Shams
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustained Competitive Advantage ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Socio Economic Development

Purpose – Capacity building is a crucial antecedent for socio-economic development. However, an enhanced capacity that is difficult to develop could quickly be eroded, because of rapid changes in competitive forces in industries and markets. Therefore, this paper intends to analyse the extant strategic management and relationship marketing (RM) literature that deal with competition. Eventually, the purpose of this paper is to develop an alternative route for capacity building process that could sustain competitive advantage in a market or industry, which encounters rapid changes in business competition. Design/methodology/approach – An inductive constructivist approach is followed to support arguments, in order to develop a synthesis from the relevant literature to reinforce the current understandings on capacity building and sustained competitive advantage. Findings – An influence of RM on strategic organisational dynamic capabilities (DCs) is recognised, which appears as significant to sustain DCs and subsequent competitive advantage. Based on this influence, this paper proposes a conceptual framework of capacity building that could survive through the “valuable, rare, inimitability and non-substitutability” test, which is fundamental to sustain competitive advantage. Some empirical insights are developed, in support of this conceptual framework. Practical implications – For research and practice, these insights will be useful to focus on specific attributes in capacity building to sustain the enhanced capacity’s competitive advantage over time, across industries and markets. Social implications – Similarly, the insights will be instrumental to sustain the benefit of capacity building to underpin socio-economic progress. Originality/value – The paper proposes a much needed initial conceptual framework for capacity building to sustain competitive advantage of a hard-earned capacity for socio-economic development.

scholarly journals The Effect of Intellectual Capital on Competitive Advantage in the Jordanian Telecommunication Sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Raed Kareem Kanaan ◽  
Ulya Nawaf Obeidat ◽  
Bader Yousef Obeidat ◽  
Mohammad Orsan Al-Zu'bi ◽  
Mohammd Abuhashesh
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sampling Techniques ◽  
Relational Capital ◽  
Telecommunication Sector ◽  
Structural Capital

This paper sought to examine the effect of intellectual capital on competitive advantage in the Jordanian telecommunication sector. Indeed, intellectual capital is generally assumed to be an important aspect of the organization and one of the most conducive to innovative activity and unrestrained competition. The paper finds that the tripod of intellectual capital, namely, human capital, structural capital, and relational capital has a significant influence on achieving a competitive advantage. Among these three dimensions, relational capital is the most influential component in enhancing the competitive advantage. Considering these results, the research presented many recommendations for future research, the most important ones is implementing this study on other sectors, resort to multi-method of data collection, and the use of probability sampling techniques.

Measurement development for eco-innovation capabilities of Malaysian oil and gas firms

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Tatenda Munodawafa ◽  
Satirenjit Kaur Johl
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Pollution Prevention ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Measurement Development ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Oil And Gas Firms

PurposeTo combat concerns over the state of the natural environment, energy security and deteriorating air quality, the oil and gas sector needs to implement eco-innovations. Interest in eco-innovation is growing, as its implementation facilitates the transition toward sustainable development and a circular economy, while enabling firms to attain a competitive advantage vis-à-vis capabilities that foster sustainable economic and environmental development. However, literature on eco-innovation capabilities construct development, measurement and validation is scant. This study, therefore, develops an Eco-innovation Capabilities Scale for oil and gas firms.Design/methodology/approachThree dimensions of Eco-innovation Capabilities are identified through an extensive literature review and qualitative interviews. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis is applied to data collected from managers of Malaysian Oil and Gas Services and Equipment (OGSE) companies.FindingsResults reveal a parsimonious three-dimensional structure with nine items. The construct of eco-innovation capabilities is manifested by Product Service Stewardship, Environmental Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Development Commitment dimensions. Reliability analysis confirms the reliability and validity of the scale.Originality/valueThe eco-innovation capabilities scale should be useful to researchers in exploring dimensions, factors and outcomes of eco-innovation capabilities. Oil and gas firms play a key role in the global energy mix; hence managers of oil and gas firms may also find this scale useful in measuring their eco-innovation implementation.

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