Survival in fast-changing markets

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-20
Keyword(s):  
Middle Managers ◽  
Business Leaders ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emergent Strategy ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Performance Effects ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
Strategy Making

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to find out if the approach to strategy-making taken by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affects their performance. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reports findings from a longitudinal study of small Austrian manufacturing firms. It investigates their use of deliberate or emergent strategy-making and how this affected market development and product innovation. Findings – When you think about strategy development, perhaps you think of long, serious discussions between groups of managers. But what if the organization is a small business? Leaders of SMEs do not have that option. So if an SME starts a new initiative – product development, say, or a change of marketing approach – how does this happen? Is it planned by the entrepreneur? Or – if you do not have middle managers with time to spend on strategy development – does adopting a “try it and see” approach give better results? Research limitations/implications – It demonstrates the benefits of a longitudinal investigation of the performance effects of deliberate and emergent strategy development. Practical implications – It shows how the use of emergent or deliberate approaches to strategy development is linked to SME performance. Social implications – It highlights the benefits of using diverse information sources – including customers and employees – as an integral part of strategy-making to identify market opportunities and trends. Originality/value – It covers an unusually long time period, enabling researchers to compare firm performance in stable and dynamic market conditions.

The changing pattern of UK strikes, 1964-2014

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 733-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Lyddon
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Strike Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Third ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Legislative Changes ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the changing strike activity in the UK over the last 50 years. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on a wide literature on UK strikes and an extensive trawl of newspaper sources. It is divided into four main sections. The first two summarise, in turn, the changing amount and locus of strike activity between 1964 and 2014. The third discusses the changing relationship and balance between official and unofficial strikes. The last covers the role of the courts and legislation on strikes, highlighting some key moments in this turbulent history. Findings – The period 1964-2014 can be divided into three sub-periods: high-strike activity until 1979; a transition period of “coercive pacification” in the 1980s; and unprecedentedly low-strike activity since the early 1990s. Unions were more combative against the legislative changes of the 1980s than they are normally given credit for. Research limitations/implications – Given its broad scope, this paper cannot claim to be comprehensive. Originality/value – This is a rare study of the changing nature of UK strikes over such a long time period.

scholarly journals An investigation of tin whisker growth over a 32-year period

Circuit World ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 183-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Andrew Ashworth ◽  
Barrie Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Whisker Growth ◽  
Tin Whisker ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intermetallic Formation ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Whisker Length ◽  
Electron Microscopy Analysis ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Tin Plating

Purpose This paper aims to present the results of a 32-year-old laboratory study of whisker growth from tin electrodeposits that was originally undertaken to gain an increased understanding of the phenomenon of tin whisker growth. Design/methodology/approach Whisker growth was evaluated using electroplated C-rings (both stressed and un-stressed) that were stored throughout in a desiccator at room temperature. Analysis has recently been undertaken to evaluate whisker growth and intermetallic growth after 32 years of storage. Scanning electron microscopy analysis has been performed to investigate whisker length and, using polished cross-sections, the morphology, thickness and type of intermetallic formation. Findings Normal tin-plated deposits on brass and steel with a copper barrier layer nucleated whiskers within five months, and in each case, these grew to lengths between 1 and 4.5 mm. For normal tin electroplated onto brass, a one- or two-month nucleation period was needed before whiskers developed. They reached a maximum length of about 1.5 mm after six months, and little or no further growth occurred during the subsequent 32 years. Very few whiskers grew on the tin-plated steel samples and no intermetallic formation was observed. None of the fused tin plating samples nucleated whiskers during the 32-year period. Practical implications Knowledge about vintage whiskers is important to take steps to increase the resiliency of space missions. Similarly, such knowledge is important to engineers engaged in products reaching their nominal end-of-life, but where, for reasons of economy, these products cannot be replaced. Originality/value This study represents a unique insight into whisker growth and intermetallic formation over an extremely long time period.

Project cost control: a new method to plan and control costs in large projects

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1247-1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jayaraman
Keyword(s):  
Cost Control ◽  
Cost Management ◽  
Roll Steel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Steel Sheets ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Salutary Effect ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Control

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reengineer the process of cost management in large projects. Design/methodology/approach Considering the fact most large projects overrun their budgets because of the long time period needed to completion, it was decided to reengineer the cost management. Accordingly costs allocated to packages were reviewed and changed on a dynamic basis. Different types of contingencies were provided. Concepts of package contingency and project contingency were introduced. These were based on the project buffer and feeding buffer concepts popularised by Eliyahu Goldratt. Findings The re-engineered method of cost control worked well and yielded better than expected results, leading to the setting up of a new world record in the completion time for setting up a million tonnes per annum continuous, tandem cold rolling mill to roll steel sheets. Research limitations/implications In view of the total success of the reengineered approach, which was tested out on a large project over three years, it is felt that other projects could also try out this technique, especially since it is along the lines proposed by Eliyahu Goldratt who is an authority on project management. However the success can be better understood if the results of the testing become available. To that extent the contents of the present paper have limitations. Practical implications Large projects can deploy the methodology and complete their projects on time and under budget. Social implications The reengineering of the cost management was done primarily with a view to complete projects under budget. Since many governments spend many billions of dollars on publicly funded projects for the welfare of citizens, the use of this technique could have a salutary effect on the cost. Originality/value The method was innovated in the company by the author’s team and deployed in a live project over four years for the first time to achieve world-class results.

scholarly journals Internet page content analysis of north European Sea ports

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olli-Pekka Hilmola ◽  
Andres Tolli ◽  
Ain Kiisler
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Basic Design ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Sea Ports ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract This study analyses 98 Internet pages of sea ports located in Sweden, Finland and Estonia during years 2017–2019. Aim of the study is to find, how website basic design is completed (colours and languages), how slogans, environmental issues, statistics and hinterland transports are reported. Based on the analysis, it appears as rather common that sea ports follow conservative selection of colours in their websites, where blue and white are clearly most popular. Typically, English and Swedish are as the most common used language, followed by Finnish, Russian and Estonian. In some rare cases, websites are offered in Chinese or German. Larger sea ports do have clear “slogans”, where smaller ones are just having lengthy justification for their existence. Environmental issues are increasing concern among sea ports, and these are mostly mentioned in details within Swedish actors. Providing statistics varies among companies, and in some sea ports these are provided from very long time period, where in others from just previous years or then only from last year (or even at all). It is common for companies to report that they have sustainable hinterland access, railway available.

Emergent strategy development, abduction, and pragmatism: New lessons for corporations

2004 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-91
Author(s):  
Adrian Carr ◽  
Rita Durant ◽  
Alexis Downs
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Complex World ◽  
Communicative Interaction ◽  
Rational Planning ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
Emergent Strategy ◽  
Effective Development ◽  
Insight Into

This paper proceeds from the widespread assumption – apparently, a truism – that the longevity of corporations is very much beholden to the success in their processes of strategic planning and the manner in which they learn from, and adapt to, those processes. The predominant strategic paradigm used in corporations, that of the rational planning school, assumes that language is transparent and time is linear. Such assumptions don't hold up in a complex world. Emergent strategy [8,50,63] has the potential to address the current challenges of organizations by shifting the language and talk about strategizing. Rather than talk about the challenges faced by top managers [14,25], emergent strategizing, for example, talks of “communicative interaction” and “focusing attention on what [is] going on now” [64, p. 158]. Mintzberg's disdain for the divination techniques of the Delphi Oracle [51, p. 238] notwithstanding, we suggest that characteristics of the Delphic Oracle [52] mirror many of those of both emergence and strategy and, therefore, may offer insight into the effective development of emergent strategies at lower and middle levels of the organization. Our method for understanding emergence is abduction, as developed by Charles Franklin Peirce and the pragmatists. A playful reinterpretation of the Delphic Oracle can provide a way to imagine the roles of organizational actors in strategic emergence.

How do resources and diversification strategy explain the performance consequences of internationalization?

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 897-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Chen ◽  
Yiwei Jiang ◽  
Chengqi Wang ◽  
Wen Chung Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Market ◽  
Product Diversification ◽  
Firm Resources ◽  
Diversification Strategy ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Performance Consequences ◽  
Performance Effects ◽  
And Performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how firm resources and diversification strategy explain the performance consequences of internationalization of emerging market enterprises. Design/methodology/approach – The paper conducts a regression analysis by using a novel panel data set comprising of 685 listed Chinese firms over the period of 2008-2011. Findings – The results show that the relationship between internationalization and performance is inverse U-shaped. Further, marketing resources play a greater role in enhancing the performance effects of internationalization than technological resources do. Related product diversification enhances the performance effects, while unrelated product diversification does the contrary. Research limitations/implications – The study focusses on listed firms in one country, and as a result, the findings cannot be generalized to non-listed firms and firms in other countries. Practical implications – This paper offers guidelines for international managers to improve performance of internationalization by developing a particular type of resources and diversification strategy. Originality/value – This paper extends the literature on the functional form of the internationalization-performance relationship, and further suggests that the analysis of the performance consequences of internationalization should go beyond the nexus between internationalization and performance, and focusses on firm-specific resources and strategies that may facilitate or constrain the performance effects of internationalization.

Gonad morphology and gametogenesis in the deep-sea jellyfish Atolla wyvillei and Periphylla periphylla (Scyphozoa: Coronatae) collected from Cape Hatteras and the Gulf of Mexico

2009 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 1095-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy H. Lucas ◽  
Adam J. Reed
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Bell Diameter ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Gonad Morphology ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Cape Hatteras ◽  
Literature Evidence ◽  
Long Time ◽  
North Western

Observations on gonad morphology and the structure of ovaries and testes of the coronate scyphozoans Atolla wyvillei and Periphylla periphylla are described based on samples collected from the Gulf of Mexico and Cape Hatteras (north-western Atlantic). In A. wyvillei, gonads of distinguishable sex were observed in medusae as small as 17 mm bell diameter (BD). Spermatogenesis occurred within follicles (average 366 × 254 μm) that were evenly distributed throughout the gonad. Oocytes in different stages of development were observed in all the females with gonads. Oocytes arise from the gastrodermis and migrate into the mesoglea to develop from early-mid to late vitellogenic oocytes characterized by a large nucleus and granular (organic-rich) cytoplasm. The largest oocytes measured were 543 μm and 263 μm from the Gulf of Mexico and Cape Hatteras respectively. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed. In P. periphylla gonads were also initially observed in medusae 17 mm BD, although not all larger medusae had obvious gonads. Unlike A. wyvillei sperm follicles were arranged in long convoluted rows normally only one follicle thick. The organization of ooytes in female P. periphylla was very similar to A. wyvillei, although the gonads were small and the number of oocytes present in each gonad very low (<22). The largest oocyte measured was 777 μm in a 53 mm BD medusa. Although medusae were collected from one time period only (September) in this study, our findings appear to be in agreement with literature evidence indicating that coronate jellyfish produce few eggs continuously over a long time period. Aspects of gonad development and gametogenesis are discussed with respect to potential differences in site productivity and species identification.

scholarly journals The importance of specificity in occupation‐based social classifications

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 179-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul S. Lambert ◽  
Koon Leai Larry Tan ◽  
Kenneth Prandy ◽  
Vernon Gayle ◽  
Manfred Max Bergman
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Grid ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Specific Occupation ◽  
Data Environment ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper aims to present reasons why social classifications which use occupations should seek to adopt “specific” approaches which are tailored to the country, time period and gender of the subjects under study.Design/methodology/approachThe relative motivations for adopting a specific approach to social classifications are discussed and theoretical perspectives on specificity and empirical evidence on the contribution of specific approaches are reviewed. Also the practical costs of implementing specific social classifications are evaluated, and the authors' development of the “GEODE” data service (grid‐enabled occupational data environment), which seeks to assist this process, is discussed.FindingsSpecific approaches make a non‐trivial difference to the conclusions drawn from analyses of occupation‐based social classifications. It is argued that the GEODE service has reduced the practical challenges of implementing specific measures.Research limitations/implicationsThere remain conceptual and pragmatic challenges in working with specific occupation‐based social classifications. Non‐specific (“universal”) measures are adequate for many purposes.Practical implicationsThe paper argues that there are few excuses for ignoring specific occupation‐based social classifications.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that recent technological developments have shifted the balance in the long‐standing debate between universal and specific approaches to occupation‐based social classifications.

A deliberately emergent strategy – a key to successful city branding

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janne Lindstedt
Keyword(s):  
Place Branding ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emergent Strategy ◽  
Branding Strategies ◽  
Local Stakeholders ◽  
Place Brand

Purpose – The paper aims to address a neglected issue in the literature on place brand co-creation, namely, the strategic planning of the branding process. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates the benefits of a deliberately emergent strategy. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study focusing on Turku, Finland, supports the development of the argument. In this study, branding of Turku is examined both during the European Capital of Culture 2011 (ECoC) project and after it. Findings – The contribution of the ECoC 2011 project – which was widely perceived as a success – to Turku’s brand was based on a deliberately emergent strategy. Afterwards, the local government has, however, chosen a different approach to branding. Research limitations/implications – Given the increasing popularity of brand thinking among practitioners all over the world, it would be meaningful for scholars to pay more attention to the application of brand co-creation in place branding strategies. Practical implications – The deliberately emergent branding strategy could be considered an approach to applying the idea of brand co-creation in practice. It enables local stakeholders to make their voices heard and results in increased credibility of a branding process. Originality/value – Place brand co-creation has not yet been examined from strategic planning’s point of view. The need for this kind of examination is apparent, because branding strategies have traditionally been based on the idea of static place identity. The Turku case helps to propose a solution in terms of the notion of deliberately emergent branding.

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