An integrative approach for structuring and prioritising eco-innovation determinants with a survey in knowledge-based companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aryana Shahin ◽  
Narges Imanipour ◽  
Arash Shahin ◽  
Lincoln C. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Statistical Population ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
Main Determinants

PurposeThis study aims to develop a comprehensive set of determinants and sub-determinant of eco-innovation (EI) and to propose an approach for their structuring and prioritisation.Design/methodology/approachA framework was developed based on a literature review, interpretive structural modelling (ISM) was used to structure the main determinants and the results were transferred into a six-phase quality function deployment (QFD) for prioritising the sub-determinants. The statistical population included 15 experts and the middle/top managers of 130 knowledge-based companies.FindingsBased on the results of the driving power and dependence diagram from the ISM, a seven-level classification of the main determinants has been used. The QFD results indicated ‘meeting environmental law standards’; ‘scale to support innovative strategies’; ‘commitment to continually improve and make eco-innovations’; ‘technological advisory oriented to environment’; ‘product and process EI oriented methods’; ‘improvements in energy efficiency across the company and the market’ and ‘reputation, brand image, and profit margin’ as the priorities of the sub-determinants of eco-innovation in the phases of the developed QFD.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide evidence of the usefulness of decision-making approaches such as ISM and QFD in resolving environmental problems, which is helpful to analysts and practitioners in the field of EI.Originality/valueThe novel ISM+EID2 approach proposed distinguishes this study from previous studies. The approach allows elaboration on the model presented by de Pacheco et al. (2017) by adding nine empirically derived sub-determinants.

Developing a QFD model for prioritizing the CSFs of ERP based on the enablers of organizational agility

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Ahmadzadeh ◽  
Abbas Sheikh Aboumasoudi ◽  
Arash Shahin ◽  
Hadi Teimouri
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Structure ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Organizational Agility ◽  
Technology Infrastructure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Enterprise Resources Planning ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Top Managers

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to develop a model for prioritizing the critical success factors (CSF) of enterprise resources planning (ERP) based on the enablers of organizational agility (OA).Design/methodology/approachFirst, the CSFs of ERP and the enablers of OA have been identified and classified using Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and then a three-phase quality function deployment (QFD) model has been designed to prioritize the influencing and influenced criteria. The proposed approach has been examined in the banking sector.FindingsMajor findings indicated that organizational structure, IT technology infrastructure, and commitment and support by top managers were selected as indicators with top priority.Research limitations/implicationsResearch variables were limited to the enablers of OA and the CSFs of ERP; analysis was time-consuming due to the interconnected multiple QFD phases, and findings were limited to the selected branches of a bank. The bank managers were suggested to enhance their commitment and support toward ERP. Also, it was recommended to the managers to evaluate their organizational structure and empower it as much as possible toward the fulfillment of customers' requirements and customers' expected agility.Originality/valueThe development of the QFD matrices and dividing the factors of each research variables into influencing and influenced factors distinguished this study from the literature.

Firms’ reaction to threats from informal firms: exploring the roles of institutional quality and technical gap

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 1887-1899
Author(s):  
Guoyou Qi ◽  
Hailiang Zou ◽  
Xie X.M. ◽  
Saixing Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Innovation ◽  
Institutional Quality ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Technical Capability ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Threats from the informal sector have become an important concern among formal firms. As a response to these threats, formal firms can adopt product innovation (PI) and marketing innovation (MI) strategies to differentiate themselves. The purpose of this paper is to examine how firm-level technical capability and external institutional quality affect firms’ reactions to the threats from informal firms by adopting innovative activities. Design/methodology/approach Based on attention-based view (ABV), an empirical study is conducted by using firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey in 2013. Findings The findings indicate that when faced with competition from informal firms, formal firms will intensify their innovation activities in both MI and PI, and their technical capability mitigates the competitive threats from informal sectors and thus weakens the impact of informal competitors on the level of product and marketing innovations. Moreover, it is found that the improvement of institutional quality reduces formal firms’ urgency to introduce new products when facing informal competitors. However, this improvement strengthens the impact of informal rivalry on formal firms’ innovation in marketing methods. Originality/value Previous studies that investigate the influence of informal threats are focused on technological innovation (e.g., PI and process innovation) strategies, but little knowledge is provided on non-technological innovative strategies, such as marketing strategies (e.g., MI and organizational innovation). This study contributes to the innovation literature by delving into the circumstances under which PI and/or MI is adopted to counter informal rivals. The findings enrich ABV by investigating how inter-firm resource similarity and marketing commonality strengthen top managers' attention to competition from informal firms.

scholarly journals Diverging assessments of learning organizations during reform implementation

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 399-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baard H. Borge ◽  
Cathrine Filstad ◽  
Trude Høgvold Olsen ◽  
Per Øyvind Skogmo
Keyword(s):  
Middle Managers ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Organizational Size ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Reform Implementation ◽  
Learning Practices ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
Supportive Learning Environment

Purpose This study aims to explore whether hierarchical position and organizational size affect perceptions of a learning organization (LO) during reform implementation. Design/methodology/approach An electronic survey was distributed in four Norwegian police districts at an early stage of reform implementation. One of the objectives of the reform was to develop the police toward being more knowledge-based, and there had been specific calls for the police to become a LO. The 753 respondents were top managers, middle managers and employees. Findings Respondents rated their organizations lower than benchmark scores on supportive learning environment, learning processes and practices and leadership that reinforces learning. The perceptions diverged across hierarchical levels: middle managers and top managers gave higher scores to the organization as a learning one than employees did. Respondents from large police districts gave higher scores to their organizational units as LOs than respondents from small police districts. Research limitations/implications The study captures perceptions of characteristics of a LO at one point in reform implementation, and further studies are needed to fully understand explanations of diverging views within an organization as to whether it can be characterized as a LO. Practical implications Actual differences in local learning practices or different assessments of learning practices within the organization should be considered when developing LOs. Originality/value The study contributes to our knowledge of LOs by showing diverging views within the same organization in a context of reform implementation.

Decomposition of inequality determinants of stressful events in Tehran; Oaxaca–Blinder analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fateh Tavangar ◽  
Hassan Rafiey ◽  
Farhad Nosrati Nejad ◽  
Ahmad Ali Noorbala ◽  
Gholamreza Ghaedamini Harouni
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Cluster Method ◽  
Statistical Population ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Poor Group ◽  
Experience Of Stress ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
Education And Development

Purpose Social determinants of stressful events (SE) play an important role in justifying the cause of inequality in the experience of SE. The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants that impact on inequality in the experience of SE. Design/methodology/approach The statistical population of this study includes all residents of Tehran. The statistical sample was 5,895 people who were selected by multistage cluster method and were proportional to the population size. The research tool is a researcher-made questionnaire designed to measure SE in Tehran, which includes 11 psychological stressors. The Oaxaca–Blinder decomposing method was used to analyze data. Findings In a total of 11 psychological SE, in 6 of those events, there was significant inequality in the experience of SE. Concentration Index (CI) of political SE is (CI = −0.27, 95% CI: −0.47, −0.07) and in favor of the rich (pro-rich). Education (OR = 1.60) in poor group and region development in poor and rich (respectively in all of the following) (OR = 0.42–0.73) are the main determinants of inequality in this stressor. CI of neighborhood underdevelopment SE is (CI = −0.47, 95% CI: 0.66, −0.28) and pro-rich. Education (OR = 1.26–1.27) and region development (OR = 1.18–2.24) are the main determinants of inequality in this stressor. CI of livelihood problems SE is (CI = −0.58, 95% CI: 0.68, −0.32) and pro-rich. Education (OR = 1.40) and health status (OR = 1.63) in poor group are the main determinants of inequality in this stressor. CI of future uncertainty SE is (CI = −0.12, 95% CI: 0.34, −0.08) and pro-rich. Gender (OR = 1.22) in poor group and region development (OR = 0.24–0.58) are the main determinants of inequality in this stressor. CI of education problems (CI = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.32) and pro-poor. Age (OR = 0.32–0.34) and education (OR = 3.65–3.30) are the main determinants of inequality in this stressor. CI of housing problems is (CI = −0.29, 95% CI: −0.49, −0.08) and pro-rich. Education (OR = 1.31) and region development (OR = 1.64) in poor group are the main determinants of inequality in this stressor. Research limitations/implications The first limitation is related to the level of data analysis, and the second limitation is the lack of comprehensive data on social determinants. Practical implications Social determinants affecting the formation of inequality in the experience of SE. Some social determinants, such as the level of education and development of the region, play a more prominent role in justifying inequality in the experience of stress between rich and poor groups. Social implications Inequality in the experience of SE is a serious threat to mental and social health. One of the ways to reduce the experience of psychological and social stress is to pay attention to social determinants that play a role in the formation of stress. Originality/value This original paper was conducted by examining the effect of social determinants on the formation of inequality in the experience of stress, which draws the serious attention of policymakers.

Internal customer satisfaction improvement with QFD technique

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 957-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatice Camgöz-Akdağ ◽  
H. Pınar İmer ◽  
K. Nazlı Ergin
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Textile Industry ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Customer ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
Weight Score ◽  
Percent Improvement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to employ quality function deployment (QFD) method for translating internal customer needs and expectations into appropriate service specifications to perform existing process assessments in relation to quality characteristics for increasing internal customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – The integration of SERVQUAL into QFD has been used to set the success factors to improve quality in the textile industry. One of the largest textile companies in Turkey provided the sample. A SERVQUAL-type of questionnaire was used and a total of 32,938 questionnaires were distributed both manually and online, 24,551 usable were received, comprising a response rate of 77.31 percent. Findings – Findings of the QFD application suggest internal customer focus as having the highest weight score of almost 12 percent improvement. In addition, improvements in technical requirements of politeness and process communication have a 9 percent impact each on internal customer satisfaction criteria. Research limitations/implications – QFD technique is able to provide companies with a better understanding of internal customer expectations and translate these into appropriate service specifications and perform existing process assessment. Originality/value – This paper is a first attempt that applies this integrative approach to a different type of industry, thus offering practical and applied information for professionals engaged in academia and as practitioners.

The functioning of dynamic capabilities: explaining the role of organizational innovativeness and culture

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Somonnoy Ghosh ◽  
Bhupen K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moderating Variables ◽  
Organizational Innovativeness ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Product And Process

PurposeUsing the knowledge-based view of the firm, dynamic capability literature and known dimensions of organizational innovativeness (OI), this article develops two testable models that attempt to explain: (1) how innovativeness functions as a source of capability dynamization and (2) how organizational culture (OC) critically determines this function of innovativeness.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a cross-sectional design and maximum variation sampling to identify organizations from the population of formal Indian business firms with the aim of controlling the effects of moderating variables such as their size, age, nature of business and ownership. Measurement instruments are borrowed from the literature. The cleaned dataset (n = 453 cases from 13 organizations) is randomly split into two-halves, which are used separately for extracting and confirming underlying factors. Rigorous procedure for assessing scale psychometric properties has been followed. The hypotheses are tested using structural equation modelling (SEM).FindingsExcept for a couple of paths that turned out insignificant, the data by and large support the study hypotheses. While market innovativeness failed to emerge as a factor, the capability dynamizing dimensions of innovativeness significantly predict its outcome dimensions of product and process innovativeness. Barring the effect of “trust”, they also fully mediate the effect of the rest of the culture factors on these outcome dimensions. Importantly, they are substantively determined by the culture factors, suggesting that the capability dynamizing dimensions are embedded in culture.Originality/valueThe primary contribution of this study is that besides accounting for how firm innovativeness can possibly explain the dynamism in dynamic capabilities, the results indicate a critical influence of culture in determining the potency of the dynamizing mechanisms. This has important implications for theory and practice.

The mediator role of KM process for creative organizational learning case study

VINE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rouhollah Bagheri ◽  
Mohhamad Reza Hamidizadeh ◽  
Parisa Sabbagh
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Performance Framework ◽  
Technology Park ◽  
Top Managers

Purpose – The current study aims to investigate the existing relationship between knowledge management (KM) infrastructures, KM process capabilities, creative organizational learning (OL) and organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach – Statistical population includes executives of knowledge-based companies in Tehran Science and Technology Park of Iran. The 68 questionnaires were distributed among the census, of which 60 questionnaires were completed correctly. The research data were analyzed by SPSS and PLS software. The unit of analysis is a company that has adopted a knowledge management system (KMS). Target population of the research consisted of 85 top managers of knowledge-based companies in Tehran Science and Technology Park of Iran (N = 85). Random sampling method was applied in this study, and 71 top managers were considered as the statistical sample based on the “Morgan Table”. One standard five-point Likert questionnaire was adopted and distributed between top managers in the park; 62 questionnaires were returned, among which 60 were statistically investigated. The structural relations among variables were tested using the partial least squares method. Findings – This study shows that the KM processes can mediate between creative OL and factors in the KM infrastructure. The results of the study demonstrate that KM process capabilities have the most crucial role in creative OL. The results indicate a significant influence of the infrastructure capabilities on the process capabilities, also the impacts of KM process capabilities on creative OL and the impacts of creative OL on organizational performance was confirmed. Research limitations/implications – Using a holistic view of the KM performance framework, this study has provided insights to KM for researchers because it explains the integrated aspects of KM performance by examining the relationships between the KM infrastructure, knowledge process capabilities, and organizational outcomes. Previous studies on KM have been fragmented because they only consider some aspects of KM performance rather than using a holistic view of the KM performance framework: they have examined the relationship between one or two facets of KM enablers and process capability, or between KM process capabilities and organizational performance. Practical implications – In order to manage rapid change and global competition in business environments, knowledge workers should create new business opportunities and continuously question what and how they can contribute to these chances. Organizational KMS should support the learning processes of their knowledge workers. Social implications – The continuous learning and experiments are necessary in order to produce new ideas and products: it is critical to emphasize the importance of a KM infrastructure that supports and encourages learning in organizations. The creative learning in turn affects organizational performance indicating that without learning, organizations cannot overcome the boundary of old business practices and adjust to change in environments. Originality/value – Previous researches did not appraise the effect of KM and its capabilities on organizational performance, and the specific influence of creative OL was disregarded. The present study demonstrates the mechanism of KM effect on organizational performance and describes the comprehensive dimensions of KM performance.

Knowledge transfer roles of subsidiaries in MNCs’ networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cigdem Baskici
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Knowledge Flows ◽  
Consumer Electronics ◽  
Knowledge Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based

Purpose Although there have been a considerable number of studies regarding subsidiary role typology in multinationals’ management literature, there appear to be few studies that consider knowledge-based role typology from the network-based perspective. The purpose of this study is to fill this gap and extend the study of Gupta and Govindarajan (1991). Thus, the study focuses on answering the following research question: Do subsidiaries have different roles in terms of knowledge flows within a multinational company (MNC)? Design/methodology/approach This empirical study has been carried out as an explorative single case study. An MNC with 15 foreign subsidiaries headquartered in Turkey, which operated in the manufacturing of household appliances and consumer electronics, has been selected as the case. Knowledge transfer is analyzed in this MNC from the network perspective. Findings Four role typologies are detected for subsidiaries of the MNC: collector transmitter, collector diffuser, converter transmitter and converter diffuser. Research limitations/implications Findings of this study are specific to this case. Testing the findings in a sample consisting of subsidiaries of MNCs producing transnational products may contribute to the generalizability of these roles. Practical implications This study offers potentially important findings for MNC managers to use. First, in this study, knowledge flows' route could be defined within MNCs’ dual network. Second, role typologies could inform MNC managers to design their MNCs’ knowledge network. Originality/value The suggested typologies are expected to more accurately define the roles of subsidiaries within contemporary MNCs which are accepted to be transformed from hierarchical structures to network-based organizations.

Evolution of financial inclusion in Latin America

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-276
Author(s):  
Lisana B. Martinez ◽  
Valeria Scherger ◽  
M. Belén Guercio ◽  
Sofía Orazi
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Credit Cards ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
Binary Probit ◽  
Positive Evolution ◽  
Latin American Countries

PurposeThis paper analyses the evolution of the financial inclusion and its main determinants in seven Latin American countries.Design/methodology/approachThe database used is the Global Findex from the World Bank for the latest data released that includes the years 2011 and 2014. The variables used are formal financial accounts, formal savings and formal credit as proxies of financial inclusion for the years of study. Moreover, the use of debit and credit cards is considered. The methodologies applied are the mean difference tests, in order to contrast the hypotheses of the inclusion evolution and binary probit regressions models.FindingsThe results of the analysis show that there is a positive evolution in the use of financial instruments in the countries of the sample, especially in the use of formal accounts. On the other hand, considering the characteristics of the individuals, age, level of education and income positively affect their financial inclusion.Originality/valueThere are no similar works for the region of study that allow us to evaluate the evolution of financial inclusion considering the variables selected in the literature. It is possible to clearly fulfil the proposed objective, highlighting the importance of implementing financial inclusion policies in view of the low percentage of use of the instruments in the analyzed countries.

scholarly journals Understanding Quantitative Circadian Regulations Are Crucial Towards Advancing Chronotherapy

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debajyoti Chowdhury ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Ai-Ping Lu ◽  
Hai-Long Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Temporal Stability ◽  
Biological Rhythms ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Neural Connections ◽  
Core Components ◽  
The Brain

Circadian rhythms have a deep impact on most aspects of physiology. In most organisms, especially mammals, the biological rhythms are maintained by the indigenous circadian clockwork around geophysical time (~24-h). These rhythms originate inside cells. Several core components are interconnected through transcriptional/translational feedback loops to generate molecular oscillations. They are tightly controlled over time. Also, they exert temporal controls over many fundamental physiological activities. This helps in coordinating the body’s internal time with the external environments. The mammalian circadian clockwork is composed of a hierarchy of oscillators, which play roles at molecular, cellular, and higher levels. The master oscillation has been found to be developed at the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain. It acts as the core pacemaker and drives the transmission of the oscillation signals. These signals are distributed across different peripheral tissues through humoral and neural connections. The synchronization among the master oscillator and tissue-specific oscillators offer overall temporal stability to mammals. Recent technological advancements help us to study the circadian rhythms at dynamic scale and systems level. Here, we outline the current understanding of circadian clockwork in terms of molecular mechanisms and interdisciplinary concepts. We have also focused on the importance of the integrative approach to decode several crucial intricacies. This review indicates the emergence of such a comprehensive approach. It will essentially accelerate the circadian research with more innovative strategies, such as developing evidence-based chronotherapeutics to restore de-synchronized circadian rhythms.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document