Amir Qamar and Mark Hall
The purpose of this paper is to robustly establish whether firms are implementing Lean or Agile production in the automotive supply chain (SC) and, by drawing on contingency…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to robustly establish whether firms are implementing Lean or Agile production in the automotive supply chain (SC) and, by drawing on contingency theory (CT) as our theoretical lens, independently determine whether Lean and Agile firms can be distinguished based upon contextual factors.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary quantitative data from 140 firms in the West Midlands (UK) automotive industry were obtained via a constructed survey. Analysis incorporated the use of logistic regressions to calculate the probability of Lean and Agile organisations belonging to different groups amongst the contextual factors investigated.
Findings
Lean and Agile firms co-exist in the automotive SC and Lean firms were found to be at higher tiers of the SC, while Agile firms were found to be at lower tiers.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies within the novel methodological attempt used to distinguish Lean and Agile production, based upon the contextual factors investigated. Not only is the importance of CT theoretically approved, but “received wisdom” within SC management is also contested. Extant literature propagates that the automotive SC is comprised of organisations that predominantly adopt Lean production methods, and that in SCs comprised of both Lean and Agile organisations, the firms closer to the customer will adopt more flexible (Agile) practices, while those that operate upstream will adopt more efficient (Lean) practices. The findings from this study have implications for theory and practice, as Lean and Agile firms can be found in the automotive SC without any relationship to the value-adding process. To speculate as to why the findings contest existing views, resource dependence theory and, more specifically, a power perspective, was invoked. The authors provide readers with a new way of thinking concerning complicated SCs and urge that the discipline of SC management adopts a “fourth” SC model, depicting a new Lean and Agile SC configuration.
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The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the existing knowledge system of lean supply chain management (LSCM), i.e. by using main path analysis, and the authors extract the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the existing knowledge system of lean supply chain management (LSCM), i.e. by using main path analysis, and the authors extract the main development track of LSCM. It is advantageous for relevant scholars to deepen their understanding of this academic field from a bibliometrics view to grasp the future directions better.
Design/methodology/approach
Structuring a citation network with the processed data set containing 866 papers and relevant information collected from Web of Science (WoS). Conducting review analyses aiming at the main paths that are extracted from the above citation network.
Findings
There are two different evolution paths in LSCM field, i.e. improving corporate sustainability performance through combining lean and green practices, and seeking the balance between lean and agility to structure leagile supply chain for specific industries. LSCM research studies mainly focus on five aspects: (1) establishment and development of LSCM theory; (2) structuration of lean supply chain; (3) research studies of the relationship between LSCM and corporate performance; (4) supply chain evaluation system; and (5) review and vista of LSCM field. The intersection of two knowledge evolute routes would be Industry 4.0, which is an integrated theory system combining lean, agility, green and other supply chain thinking.
Research limitations/implications
The data set collected from WoS cannot contain all the research studies about LSCM is the main research limitation. Sustainability, as represented by environmental performance, will continue to be a major pursuit of this field. Integrating LSCM in Industry 4.0 will be the next hotspot in LSCM field.
Practical implications
Providing the main research contents and common methods of LSCM field. It is conducive to deepening the understanding of relevant practitioners and scholars to LSCM field from a dynamic perspective.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time to reveal the knowledge diffuse trajectories of LSCM under different view with main path analysis. This study is unique that it provides a new view to understand the field of LSCM.
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Razali Haron, Naji Mansour Nomran, Anwar Hasan Abdullah Othman, Maizaitulaidawati Md Husin and Ashurov Sharofiddin
This study aims to evaluate the impact of firm, industry level determinants and ownership concentration on the dynamic capital structure decision in Indonesia and analyses the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the impact of firm, industry level determinants and ownership concentration on the dynamic capital structure decision in Indonesia and analyses the governing theories.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the dynamic panel model of generalized method of moments-System (one-step and two-step) by using a panel data from 2000 to 2014 to examine the relationship between the determinants and leverage. The results are robust to the various definitions of leverage, heterogeneity, autocorrelation, multicollinearity and endogeneity concern.
Findings
Growing firms and firms operating in a highly concentrated industry use high level of debt, taking advantage of the tax shield (trade-off theory). However, if the firms are operating in a highly dynamic environment, they take on less debt as to avoid bankruptcy risk. Firms in Indonesia opt for debt financing perhaps to act as a controlling mechanism to mitigate agency conflicts that may exist between the large controlling shareholders and the minority. Aged and highly profitable firms with high tangible and intangible assets and liquidity level operating in a high dynamic environment follow the pecking order theory.
Research limitations/implications
This study does not perform each industry regression individually. All the industries are pooled together, as the main focus of this study is to examine the factors affecting leverage of firms in general without giving particular attention to individual industry.
Originality/value
The insights on the impact of ownership concentration and industry characteristics are novel especially on Indonesia, thus fill the gap in the literature.
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Muhammad Qamar Zia, Muhammad Sufyan Ramish, Iram Mushtaq, Syeda Tayyaba Fasih and Muhammad Naveed
This study aims to theoretically discuss and empirically test the mediating mechanism of psychological distress and the moderating effects of Islamic work ethics (IWE) in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to theoretically discuss and empirically test the mediating mechanism of psychological distress and the moderating effects of Islamic work ethics (IWE) in the relationship between despotic leadership and adaptive performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-wave survey was used to gather the data from middle managers and their supervisors of construction firms in Pakistan. The final sample consisted of 304 respondents and data analysis was performed through SEM analysis.
Findings
Despotic leadership enhances employees’ psychological distress which results in a negative impact on adaptive performance. In addition, IWE played a buffering role in mitigating the harmful impacts of despotic leadership on adaptive performance.
Originality/value
The study is among the pioneers that have investigated how despotic leadership impacts employees’ adaptive performance via the underlying mechanism of psychological distress through the conservation of resources and social exchange theory lens.
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Muhammad Ilyas, Waqar Alam and Aziz Ahmad
This study aimed to investigate the primary factors driving human resource analytics adoption in small and medium-sized organizations. The research seeks to confirm and expand the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the primary factors driving human resource analytics adoption in small and medium-sized organizations. The research seeks to confirm and expand the UTAUT model using direct predictors and a unique moderator to understand contextual complexities in a developing country.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed convenience sampling to survey 308 HR experts with an 88% response rate, uncovering valuable insights into technology integration. SPSS and AMOS 21.0 were used for analysis.
Findings
The influencing elements for adopting human resource analytics in these firms were performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and social influence. Moreover, personal innovativeness, fear appeal and perceived trust were highlighted as additional significant determinants. Finally, perceived supervisor support was reported as a significant moderator in driving human resource analytics adoption.
Originality/value
The study comprehensively models the elements that influence the adoption of human resource analytics in SMEs of a developing economy. The research validates and expands upon the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, analyzing key contributors and a unique context-specific moderator using robust statistical methods.
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Arturo-Julián Abellán-Sevilla and Marta Ortiz-de-Urbina-Criado
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic changed the lives of people around the world. In a post pandemic era, leaders have a role to enable the changes needed to make workplaces…
Abstract
Purpose
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic changed the lives of people around the world. In a post pandemic era, leaders have a role to enable the changes needed to make workplaces smart and happier. The aim of this study is to look at human resource management (HRM) from new perspectives: being smart and happy in the workplace. Some research questions are proposed: What do we know about smart human resources (smart HR)? What do we know about human resource analytics (HRA)? and how can future research on smart and happy HRM be oriented?
Design/methodology/approach
A bibliometric technique is used to identify the main topics studied in smart HR and HRA. A logical reasoning is applied to propose future research models.
Findings
For smart HR, the roadmap considers the approaches, practices and purposes. For HRA, the roadmap shows what are the perspectives HR processes, tools and its usefulness. Considering the context of Industry 5.0 and post pandemic era, a future research line for studying smart HRA for happy management is proposed.
Originality/value
This study has developed a proposed model to guide future research on the application of HRA to manage smart and happy workers.
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Qasim Zaheer, Mir Majaid Manzoor and Muhammad Jawad Ahamad
The purpose of this article is to analyze the optimization process in depth, elaborating on the components of the entire process and the techniques used. Researchers have been…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to analyze the optimization process in depth, elaborating on the components of the entire process and the techniques used. Researchers have been drawn to the expanding trend of optimization since the turn of the century. The rate of research can be used to measure the progress and increase of this optimization procedure. This study is phenomenal to understand the optimization process and different algorithms in addition to their application by keeping in mind the current computational power that has increased the implementation for several engineering applications.
Design/methodology/approach
Two-dimensional analysis has been carried out for the optimization process and its approaches to addressing optimization problems, i.e. computational power has increased the implementation. The first section focuses on a thorough examination of the optimization process, its objectives and the development of processes. Second, techniques of the optimization process have been evaluated, as well as some new ones that have emerged to overcome the above-mentioned problems.
Findings
This paper provided detailed knowledge of optimization, several approaches and their applications in civil engineering, i.e. structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, transportation and many more. This research provided tremendous emerging techniques, where the lack of exploratory studies is to be approached soon.
Originality/value
Optimization processes have been studied for a very long time, in engineering, but the current computational power has increased the implementation for several engineering applications. Besides that, different techniques and their prediction modes often require high computational strength, such parameters can be mitigated with the use of different techniques to reduce computational cost and increase accuracy.
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Prateek Kalia, Meenu Singla and Robin Kaushal
This study is the maiden attempt to understand the effect of specific human resource practices (HRPs) on employee retention (ER) with the mediation of job satisfaction (JS) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study is the maiden attempt to understand the effect of specific human resource practices (HRPs) on employee retention (ER) with the mediation of job satisfaction (JS) and moderation of work experience (WE) and job hopping (JH) in the context of the textile industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a quantitative methodology and applied quota sampling to gather data from employees (n = 365) of leading textile companies in India. The conceptual model and hypotheses were tested with the help of Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
The findings of a path analysis revealed that compensation and performance appraisal (CPA) have the highest impact on JS followed by employee work participation (EWP). On the other hand, EWP had the highest impact on ER followed by grievance handling (GRH). The study revealed that JS significantly mediates between HRPs like CPA and ER. During Multi-group analysis (MGA) it was found that the importance of EWP and health and safety (HAS) was more in employee groups with higher WE, but it was the opposite in the case of CPA. In the case of JH behavior, the study observed that EWP leads to JS in loyal employees. Similarly, JS led to ER, and the effect was more pronounced for loyal employees.
Originality/value
In the context of the Indian textile industry, this work is the first attempt to comprehend how HRPs affect ER. Secondly, it confirmed that JS is not a guaranteed mediator between HRPs and ER, it could act as an insignificant, partial or full mediator. Additionally, this study establishes the moderating effects of WE and JH in the model through multigroup analysis.