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Article
Publication date: 1 January 2002

Ahmad Tootoonchi, Paul Lyons and Abdalla Hagen

The purpose of this study is to investigate MBA students' attitudes about how teaching methodologies and instructor characteristics affect their learning. The data was collected…

420

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate MBA students' attitudes about how teaching methodologies and instructor characteristics affect their learning. The data was collected from MBA students of a medium‐sized university in North Carolina. The results suggest that the participants overwhelmingly support the use of real world examples in class, followed by open classroom discussion, as the approaches that most positively influence their learning. The participants also reveal that instructors’ most important characteristics that may help their learning include the following in the order of importance: communication skills, knowledge of the subject matter, overall attitudes, fairness, and general personality.

Details

International Journal of Commerce and Management, vol. 12 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1056-9219

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Article
Publication date: 1 September 2005

Evan H. Offstein, Gloria Harrell‐Cook and Ahmad Tootoonchi

The study of top management teams, which began with confidence, optimism, and promise, has been plagued by criticisms arising from mixed or weak findings and poor explanatory…

21

Abstract

The study of top management teams, which began with confidence, optimism, and promise, has been plagued by criticisms arising from mixed or weak findings and poor explanatory power of firm outcomes vis‐à‐vis other variables. This paper argues that the disputed phenomenon of top management team relevance can be enhanced through the inclusion of several intervening variables. To achieve that end, several perspectives had to be synthesized in order to arrive at an integrated framework of nine key variables that may illuminate: (1) the circumstances as to when and to what extent top management teams have discretion to both make and implement strategic decisions, and, hence, have the greatest impact on a firm’s competitive posture, (2) the impact of such discretion on a firm’s competitive posture.

Details

Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1059-5422

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Article
Publication date: 4 October 2011

Shakil M. Rahman, Ahmad Tootoonchi and Michael L. Monahan

The purpose of this paper is to determine if rural firms can utilize technology to communicate with their customers, compete for business, reduce costs, and improve operations to…

1709

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine if rural firms can utilize technology to communicate with their customers, compete for business, reduce costs, and improve operations to maintain competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Businesses in the service area were anonymously surveyed to identify the perceived needs and benefits the firms had concerning digital technology. The various business sectors such as manufacturing, retail, construction, wholesale, financial services, healthcare, and food services were juxtaposed with there data to see if there were any correlations between the needs and perception of the categories of business and size of the businesses. The total number of respondents was 309, from five counties in three contiguous states located in Appalachia.

Findings

This study revealed answers to the following research questions: what percentage of annual business revenue is spent to improve technology? Does the business use computers and does it vary by industry and size? Is technological information important to business and does it vary by industry and size? What methods do businesses utilize to contact their customers and do they vary by size? Can technology reduce costs in business? Does new technology help business stay competitive?

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on five counties in Appalachia and its findings may not necessarily be applied to other populations. Future research could focus on underrepresented categories of business such as wholesale firms. In addition, the definition of technology needs to be consistent from business to business. Furthermore, the specific software applications used by firms, the training and their return on investment could be evaluated via the firm's classification, size, ownership, location, and number of employees.

Practical implications

Firms in Appalachia need to be encouraged to invest their hard‐earned profits in technology. These investments must be aligned with their business plans to provide cost‐saving, efficiency, and/or customer‐relationship benefits. Furthermore, state and country governments should promote technological advances, infrastructure development, and technological literacy. While this study focused on businesses in Appalachia, its implications and impact are far reaching. In this time of recession, unemployment, and financial hardships, the use of electronic technology may be a stimulus for job creation and competitiveness. Digital technologies have enabled firms of any size and at any location to improve their marketing, communications, and business operations to reach customers and improve efficiencies. Investments in electronic technologies could enable them to not only reach new customers, but also be competitive with their larger, urban counterparts.

Originality/value

This paper provides both theoretical and empirical data to increase the body of knowledge about small business practices in Appalachia. In addition, it cites the importance of technology for competitiveness.

Details

Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, vol. 21 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1059-5422

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Article
Publication date: 31 December 2007

Rahim Ashkeboussi and Ahmad Tootoonchi

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the success of privatization based on the performance of relevant macroeconomic variables before and after privatization.

805

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the success of privatization based on the performance of relevant macroeconomic variables before and after privatization.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the labor market and economic indicators in Latin America and the Caribbean during 1990‐2002 and 1993‐2004, the researchers investigate whether different stabilization and liberalization strategies and the industry sequencing result in different macroeconomic performance for transition and emerging economies.

Findings

The results of this study revealed that based on the changes in macroeconomic variables, privatization in Latin America and the Caribbean failed to meet its intended goals, and successful privatization plan is indeed related to appropriate economic reform and effective macroeconomic stabilization policies.

Practical implications

This research leads to the conclusion that macroeconomic stabilization, industry sequencing and market liberalization are necessary prerequisites for a fair, equitable and transparent privatization process.

Originality/value

The study provides useful information on privatization, economic reform and effective macroeconomic stabilization policies with an emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean.

Details

International Journal of Commerce and Management, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1056-9219

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Article
Publication date: 14 January 2025

Inakshi Kapur and Pallavi Tyagi

The ability to create and sustain competitive advantages depends on cultivating employee’s capabilities. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) can foster an organisation-wide culture…

28

Abstract

Purpose

The ability to create and sustain competitive advantages depends on cultivating employee’s capabilities. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) can foster an organisation-wide culture of exploring new opportunities and creating new learnings. Sustainable competitive advantages should be based on long-term behavioural changes rather than ad hoc adjustments made for short-term gains, enabling employees to become a source of unique and inimitable advantages. This study aims to explore how each external environment impacts the dimensions of EO. The study also introduces environmental jolts as a dimension of the external environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors considered a sample of 39 organisations in IT companies from India to study the external environment’s effect on their EO. Using covariance-based structural equation modelling, the authors measured the impact of external environment variables on EO. A total of 250 responses were found suitable for analysis.

Findings

Certain crucial factors were identified through an extensive analysis of the relationships between individual factors of the external environment and EO. Technological opportunities showed a strong positive association with all factors of EO, whereas dynamism of the environment had a positive relationship with innovativeness and proactiveness. Environmental jolts showed a negative impact on innovativeness and risk-taking propensity.

Research limitations/implications

EO has been developed and researched extensively in the Western context as a unidimensional construct. In the present study, the relationship between the external environment factors and each dimension of EO has been analysed individually, thus following a multidimensional approach. Moreover, environment jolts as a factor of the external environment have been introduced, and their effect on the dimension of EO has been studied. Finally, the implications of encouraging entrepreneurial behaviours to develop sustainable competitive advantages have been discussed.

Originality/value

The research explores the multidimensionality of the EO construct and also introduces environmental jolts as a dimension of the external environment.

Details

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6204

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Article
Publication date: 7 January 2025

Saurav Snehvrat and Swarup Kumar Dutta

How much should existing firms explore while venturing into new businesses? This study builds an organizational learning-based model for corporate entrepreneurship by applying and…

18

Abstract

Purpose

How much should existing firms explore while venturing into new businesses? This study builds an organizational learning-based model for corporate entrepreneurship by applying and extending the seminal March (1991) simulation model. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the exploitation-exploration mix (commonality) on organizational knowledge across the short- and long-term.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a two-stage stochastic simulation approach to model adaptive processes related to learning within organizations. In Stage 1, an organization with no initial knowledge is allowed to achieve equilibrium against the realities associated with the first business. In Stage 2, a new reality is introduced, corresponding to the new business. The new corporate venture is, then, allowed to achieve a new equilibrium knowledge by varying commonality across time.

Findings

The findings suggest that, in the long term, increasing exploitation builds optimal knowledge only when the new and old businesses are very similar. Organizations where employees learn slowly from the organization (low socialization rate) while the organization learns fast from employees (high organizational learning rate) generate optimal steady-state organization knowledge. However, firms face a temporal dilemma. In the short term, firms with low socialization rates and high organizational learning rates fare worse than other configurations.

Research limitations/implications

Corporate entrepreneurship efforts encompass various conflicts between knowledge sharing and temporality. These conflicts are especially important in technology-driven industries and firms. The study adds a detailed understanding regarding various learning configurations using which firms can respond to new business opportunities and their impact (across time) on knowledge.

Practical implications

The study provides important inputs to managers and academics, alike, on the tricky nature of managing and maximizing corporate entrepreneurship efforts in knowledge-intensive and technology industries. This paper isolates specific firm knowledge-based dilemmas on the optimal approach toward corporate entrepreneurship ventures over time and commonality.

Originality/value

The study extends March’s seminal 1991 study on a single business to corporate entrepreneurship settings using a set of stochastic simulations. In doing so, the study adds to the corporate entrepreneurship as well as knowledge management literatures. This paper explores various scenarios emerging from time, organizational code commonality and match between business realities and arrive at optimal knowledge configurations for each scenario.

Details

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1934-8835

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 26 November 2021

Sanderson César Macêdo Barbalho and Gladston Luiz Silva

This paper aims to explore how new product development (NPD)-based project management offices (PMOs) work, their drivers to deliver performance and their project success impact.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how new product development (NPD)-based project management offices (PMOs) work, their drivers to deliver performance and their project success impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a survey of 35 Brazilian and multi-national companies that identified the effort to perform a list of PMO functions, some PMO drivers in the company and five project performance perception indicators. The authors apply a specific set of statistics to uncover the relations between these dimensions of interest.

Findings

The factorial analysis allows us to find the main functions influencing each other. The project teams’ perception of project management (PM) performance is suggested as a success factor that drives PMOs when working on portfolio management issues, managing project files and promoting PM over the company.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to a contingency approach for designing a project machine involving PMOs to support NPD projects. Managers can set the most suitable PMO functions avoiding mimicry when structuring their NPD efforts.

Originality/value

PMOs have impacted team satisfaction and control of project data but not indicators related to triple constraints.

Details

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, vol. 15 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8378

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Article
Publication date: 23 July 2020

Abobakr Aljuwaiber

This paper aims to offer a wider examination of the research concerning entrepreneurship characteristics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region via a review of recent…

2479

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to offer a wider examination of the research concerning entrepreneurship characteristics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region via a review of recent studies relevant to this topic. Research publications concerning entrepreneurship within the MENA region evidence growing interest in this field of study, with the potential to boost and drive future economic development and growth. This focus within entrepreneurship research is because of the economic development in the region, which is becoming increasingly important for policymakers and businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The author performed a systematic literature review to produce robust information about entrepreneurship in the MENA region, followed by a thematic analysis to identify key research themes within each category.

Findings

Despite the growth in entrepreneurship research in the MENA region, research on certain factors is lacking. An analysis of 271 studies published between 2009 and 2019 identifies 9 main research categories, within which 30 themes have attracted significant academic attention. Female entrepreneurship and gender, youth entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship behaviour and orientation are the three key categories influencing perspectives on entrepreneurship in the MENA region. This study highlights research gaps and provides recommendations to guide future research on the sustainable development of entrepreneurship in the MENA region.

Originality/value

This paper highlights trends in entrepreneurship research amongst scholars within the MENA region and suggests paths for future research efforts.

Details

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2053-4604

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Article
Publication date: 16 July 2020

Hani Arbabi, Mohammad-Javad Salehi-Taleshi and Kian Ghods

Knowledge management (KM) is regarded as an essential factor in project-based organizations (PBOs), leading to organizational learning across projects. Over recent years, most…

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Abstract

Purpose

Knowledge management (KM) is regarded as an essential factor in project-based organizations (PBOs), leading to organizational learning across projects. Over recent years, most PBOs have inserted project management offices (PMOs) into their hierarchical charts to manage their projects much more coherently. These offices can correspondingly provide KM facilities in PBOs. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between PMO functions and KM infrastructure, as KM enablers in organizations, in Iranian oil and gas upstream PBOs.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-phase quantitative survey strategy was exercised in this research. The first phase was to investigate the relationship between PMOs and KM infrastructure and to prioritize PMO functions and KM infrastructure based on their existing implementation/establishment status in Iranian oil and gas upstream PBOs. The research participants, identified through the website of the National Iran Oil Company (NIOC), were comprised of 46 oil and gas upstream PBOs which applied for exploration and production (E&P) certificate in Iran in 2016 and 2017. Accordingly, a total number of 46 questionnaires were submitted to the aforementioned companies with a return rate of 41 cases. The second phase was fulfilled questioning 19 Iranian oil and gas industry experts to determine the one-to-one effect of PMO functions on KM infrastructure and to verify the first-phase results.

Findings

The results indicated a strong relationship between PMO functions and KM infrastructure. This relationship was significant with regard to “practice management” and “technical support”, having the most considerable connections with KM infrastructure. According to the first-phase results, the main functions of PMOs in Iranian oil and gas industry were “practice management” and “technical support”. Considering KM infrastructure, “structure” showed the lowest mean value while “culture”, “human resources” and “processes and procedures” obtained the highest scores. The results also demonstrated that PMO functions could lead to more improvements in “processes and procedures”, as a sub-component of KM infrastructure, compared with other sub-components. Furthermore, the oil and gas industry experts believed that “organizational culture” in KM could be shaped by most of PMO functions.

Originality/value

This study fulfilled the need for exploring the relationship between PMO functions and KM since academic literature lacked a thorough investigation, to the best of authors' knowledge, pertaining to the effects of PMO functions on KM development in oil and gas PBOs.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 27 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

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