Revti Raman Sharma, Doren Chadee and Banjo Roxas
This study argues that knowledge management (KM) by itself has only limited effects on client–vendor relationship (CVR) of global providers of highly customised services. Rather…
Abstract
Purpose
This study argues that knowledge management (KM) by itself has only limited effects on client–vendor relationship (CVR) of global providers of highly customised services. Rather, it is the ability of top management to properly evaluate and utilise a vast array of complex knowledge which allows global firms to develop and maintain superior CVR. The paper tests the proposition that global mindset (GM) of top management mediates the effects of KM on CVR quality.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses survey data from a sample of 68 international service providers (ISPs) in the information technology sector in India and partial least squares approach to structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that both KM and GM have positive and statistically significant effects on the quality of CVRs. The results also confirm that the GM of top management has significant and substantive mediation effects on the relationship between KM and CVR quality.
Research limitations/implications
The small size of the sample and the focus on ISPs in a single country constitute the main limitations of the study. Future research should ideally draw from a larger sample of ISPs from multiple countries and sectors in order to allow for greater generalisation of the findings.
Practical implications
ISPs will benefit from developing the GM of their top management teams to enhance their CVRs.
Originality/value
The paper provides new insights into how, in an international context, firms can transform their KM into superior CVR quality through the development of GM.
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Alfred Presbitero, Banjo Roxas and Doren Chadee
How do knowledge-intensive technology-based offshore information technology service providers (ITSPs) in developing countries sustain their innovation and remain competitive? The…
Abstract
Purpose
How do knowledge-intensive technology-based offshore information technology service providers (ITSPs) in developing countries sustain their innovation and remain competitive? The purpose of this paper is to answer this question by drawing from the knowledge-based view of firm innovation to argue that organisational collectivism (COLL) plays a crucial role in influencing the effects of knowledge-based capabilities on innovation of ITSPs.
Design/methodology/approach
The study develops a model which shows that learning mediates the effects of knowledge sharing on innovation and that COLL moderates the effects of knowledge sharing on both innovation and learning. A moderated-mediation model is tested using structural equation modelling techniques and data (n=388) from a survey of ITSPs in the Philippines.
Findings
The results show that knowledge sharing capability is positively related to innovation and that organisational learning capability fully mediates the effects of knowledge sharing on innovation. Moreover, COLL is found to significantly and positively moderate the effects of knowledge sharing on both organisational learning and innovation. The results indicate that organisational learning serves as the mechanism that transforms knowledge into innovation, but this effect is contingent on COLL of ITSPs.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that ITSPs from developing countries can look beyond costly investments in research and development activities to invigorate their innovative capabilities. ITSPs can focus on the development of their intangible assets such as COLL to enhance the effects of knowledge-based resources on innovation for sustaining their competitiveness.
Originality/value
The moderated-mediation analytical approach to assessing the joint effects of knowledge sharing, organisational learning and collectivism on innovation is novel. The significant effects of the moderator suggest that the mediation mechanisms might differ depending on the levels of development of COLL in the organisation.
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This study demonstrates the necessary and significant role of national formal institutional frameworks in shaping the quality of e-governance in Asian countries. Moreover, it…
Abstract
Purpose
This study demonstrates the necessary and significant role of national formal institutional frameworks in shaping the quality of e-governance in Asian countries. Moreover, it presents a robust model of e-governance as a necessary and significant driver of sustainable human development.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applied the cross-lagged panel method in path modelling and conducted competing model and necessary condition analyses to test the lagged, necessary and positive effects of formal institutions on the level of e-governance and sustainable human development in 45 Asian countries from 2012 to 2022.
Findings
Formal governance institutions have necessary direct and indirect (through e-governance development) causal effects on a country’s sustainable human development.
Research limitations/implications
Future studies should explore how informal institutions such as culture, industry and government norms and practices shape the extent of e-governance development and sustainable socio-economic development in Asia and beyond over time.
Practical implications
A renewed focus on the institutional fundamentals of governance and development should be the legislative priority of policymakers and leaders of Asian countries.
Social implications
Proactive digital citizen engagement in institutional building in respective countries is critical to developing sound, human-development-centred institutional governance in Asia.
Originality/value
The study presents robust necessary condition models that offer more nuanced explanations of the institutional imperatives of enabling Asian countries to strengthen their e-governance towards sustainable human development.
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Hossein Ali Abadi, Alan Coetzer, Hernan ‘Banjo' Roxas and Mahsa Pishdar
The aim of the study is to extend prior research on career identity formation by investigating whether individuals' participation in informal workplace learning activities…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the study is to extend prior research on career identity formation by investigating whether individuals' participation in informal workplace learning activities positively relates to career identity. The study also examines whether work engagement significantly mediates the participation in informal learning and career identity relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from a survey of 313 individuals in Iran, the study developed and tested measurement and structural models and employed partial least squares structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The findings suggest that work engagement substantially mediates the positive relationship between participation in informal learning and career identity. Furthermore, the learning potential of the workplace and the propensities of individuals to actively approach situations that provide them with opportunities to learn and seek feedback on their performance have positive although varying relations with levels of participation in informal learning.
Practical implications
Human resource management and career management specialists must be cognisant of the central role that employee participation in informal learning plays in strengthening their work engagement and career identity. Learning and development specialists should seek to create conditions in the work environment that are favourable to informal learning and work engagement.
Originality/value
Although the role of formal development programmes in career identity formation is well documented, studies that examine links between participation in informal learning activities and career identity are very rare. Furthermore, there are no known studies that examine the potential mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between participation in informal learning activities and career identity.
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Hernan ‘Banjo' Roxas and Rodilina Marte
Given the lucrative millennial or generation Y market across the globe, this study aims to draw on social cognitive and institutional theories to tease out the crucial roles of…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the lucrative millennial or generation Y market across the globe, this study aims to draw on social cognitive and institutional theories to tease out the crucial roles of regulatory and social pressures in shaping the eco-brand orientation of millennial consumers. The study focuses on millennials from a developing country – a context that is less explored in the literature on the social and institutional perspectives of green consumer behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from a survey of 354 millennial consumers in the Philippines, the authors tested the hypotheses on the effects of two types of institutional pressures (social and regulatory) on the key constructs espoused by social cognitive theory. The authors followed the partial least square approach to path analysis to determine the significant empirical relationships and linkages of the constructs contained in the proposed model.
Findings
The results highlight the significant influence of the social-institutional environment on the internal drivers of millennials' orientation towards green or environmentally sustainable brands.
Research limitations/implications
Although the sample size has generalisability-related constraints, the findings extend the current understanding of green millennial consumer behaviour from a social cognitive perspective by highlighting the role of institutions – a concept that is less explored in the marketing and consumer behaviour literature.
Practical implications
It provides valuable business and policy insights and directions for future research on how business enterprises such as producers, manufacturers, retailers and marketers can influence millennial consumers’ orientation towards green brands.
Originality/value
This study uses data from a survey of millennial consumers in the Philippines. The study extends the ambit of social cognitive theory by drawing on institutional theory to highlight the role of institutional social pressures on sustainable consumer behaviour.
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Marigold G. Castaneda, Carmelita P. Martinez, Rodilina Marte and Banjo Roxas
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of social capital within a community on the adoption of consumer eco-behaviour or environmentally sustainable behaviour of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of social capital within a community on the adoption of consumer eco-behaviour or environmentally sustainable behaviour of consumers. The authors draw on the behavioural perspective model (BPM) of consumer behaviour and social capital theory in arguing that social capital shapes a consumer’s knowledge of environmental issues and pro-environmental attitudes, which in turn influence a consumer’s perceived capability to engage in eco-behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses partial least squares approach to structural equation modelling of survey data involving 1,044 consumers in the Philippines. It involves testing of a measurement model to examine the validity and reliability of the constructs used in the study. This is followed by testing of the structural models to test the hypothesised relationships of the constructs.
Findings
The results suggest the substantive influence of social capital on environmental knowledge, pro-environmental attitudes and eco-capability. Both knowledge and attitudes have positive effects on eco-capability, which in turn positively shapes eco-behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
Future studies can examine how social capital as a multi-dimensional construct impacts context-specific consumer behaviour.
Practical implications
Social and environmental marketing may focus on social network activation to encourage eco-behaviours of consumers.
Social implications
Findings highlight the role of social capital within one’s community as a resource channel to encourage environmentally responsible consumer behaviour.
Originality/value
The study extends the BPM by offering a social capital view as a more nuanced explanation of consumer eco-behaviour.
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This study aims to challenge the conventional view that resources determine the extent of the environmental sustainability orientation (ESO) of small firms in a developing…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to challenge the conventional view that resources determine the extent of the environmental sustainability orientation (ESO) of small firms in a developing Southeast Asian country context. First, this study attempts to develop a measurement model of ESO of small firms in the manufacturing sector in the Philippines. Second, the study explores the impact of the financial resources on the ESO of firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses survey data from 166 small manufacturing firms in three Philippine cities. Multiple regression modelling is used to estimate the relationships between firm resources and ESO.
Findings
The results indicate that ESO is a multi‐dimensional construct with three facets – i.e. awareness of, actions for, and appreciation of environmental sustainability. The empirical evidence does not support the conventional firm resources‐ESO proposition.
Research limitations/implications
A proactive ESO is not necessarily beyond the reach of resource‐constrained small firms. The generalisability of the findings, however, is limited to small manufacturing firms in The Philippines.
Practical implications
This study informs owner‐managers of small firms that a proactive ESO does not largely depend on financial resources. Government policies and programs to encourage small firms to become sustainable should focus not just on financial forms of assistance.
Originality/value
To date, this is the only Philippines‐based study and one of the scarce small firm‐focused studies that examine the proposition that small firms are unable to pursue a proactive ESO due to resource constraints.
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Banjo Roxas, Doren Chadee and Ronel Erwee
South Africa (SA) has undertaken significant institutional reforms since the change in its political regime in 1994. During the same period, SA has also experienced rapid economic…
Abstract
Purpose
South Africa (SA) has undertaken significant institutional reforms since the change in its political regime in 1994. During the same period, SA has also experienced rapid economic growth. Although it is widely accepted that institutional reform generally has positive impacts on firm competitiveness and economic growth, the extent to which institutional reforms in SA have been of benefit to businesses is not well understood. The purpose of this paper is to focus specifically on the rule of law and assesses the extent to which the rule of law affects business performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses multinomial logistic regression techniques and data, from a large‐scale firm level survey (n=751) of SA businesses undertaken by the World Bank in 2007, to estimate the effects of various elements of the rule of law on firm performance.
Findings
Crime and theft were found to have the largest impact on business performance, followed by corruption and tax administration. Political instability and the effectiveness of the court system were not perceived to affect business performance significantly.
Research limitations/implications
Ongoing institutional reforms aimed at improving business performance and competitiveness in SA should pay particular attention to the design of effective policies to address crime, theft, corruption and tax administration issues faced by businesses.
Originality/value
The study is one of the first to provide empirical evidence based on a large‐scale survey of the extent to which crime and theft, corruption and tax effectiveness inhibit business growth in SA.
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Following the demise of the Soviet Union in 1992, Russia undertook major institutional and market‐oriented reforms to enhance the competitive advantage of domestic enterprises…
Abstract
Purpose
Following the demise of the Soviet Union in 1992, Russia undertook major institutional and market‐oriented reforms to enhance the competitive advantage of domestic enterprises. Although Russia has experienced rapid growth over the last two decades, the extent to which institutions in Russia impact on firm innovation and performance remains poorly understood due to a lack of research on the subject. This paper seeks to contribute to the literature on the competitiveness of Russian firms by focussing specifically on the extent to which the state of the regulatory quality, rule of law, and corruption affect the innovation capacity and performance of firms in Russia.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses structural equation modelling and data from a large‐scale firm level survey (n=787) of firms in Russia undertaken by the World Bank in 2009. It investigates the direct and indirect perceptions of respondents of the effects the current institutional environment has on the innovation capacity and performance of their respective organisations.
Findings
The results show that regulatory quality, rule of law and corruption have strong direct and negative impacts on both the innovation capacity and performance of firms, and that innovation capacity strongly mediates the effects of institutions on firm performance. The results suggest that the current state of the regulatory quality, rule of law and corruption in Russia inhibit firm innovation and their resulting performance.
Research limitations/implications
The findings should be interpreted with caution to the extent that the study is limited to only three elements of the formal institutional environment and does not take into consideration the role of informal institutions. These two limitations present avenues for future research.
Originality/value
The study is one of the first to provide empirical evidence based on a large‐scale survey of the extent to which formal institutions inhibit innovation and firm performance in Russia, and provides valuable guidance to business policy‐makers in Russia on possible avenues for enhancing the overall competitiveness of Russian firms.