Bruno Rossi, Barbara Russo and Giancarlo Succi
In this paper the authors aim to investigate the importance of factors for the adoption of free/libre open source software (FLOSS) in the public sector. They seek to evaluate how…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper the authors aim to investigate the importance of factors for the adoption of free/libre open source software (FLOSS) in the public sector. They seek to evaluate how different factors impact during the initiation and implementation phases of the adoption process.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors base the methodological approach on two exploratory case studies with a contrasting result logic. They build a multi‐level framework grounded both on literature review, and feedback from stakeholders. They then apply the framework to two case studies to better frame the findings. They consider phases of adoption (initiation, implementation) and the levels of adoption (technological, organizational, environmental, individual).
Findings
In the case studies, the authors found the importance of a strong and decision‐centric management board to give the impulse for the initiation phase of the process. As perceived by the stakeholders, a strong governmental support is of paramount importance to increase the adoption at the public level, although in the case studies examined the initiation stage started from the impulse of a championing management. Both case studies passed the initiation phase successfully. Continuous employees' training, organizational objectives consensus, and business process reengineering have been found important for the implementation phase. In the case study in which these factors were not in place, the implementation phase of adoption failed. Environmental factors – although relevant for the initiation of the adoption process – are less significant during the actual implementation of the adoption process, as the contrasting result logic from the case studies shows.
Research limitations/implications
The study refers to two public organizations in a specific environmental setting. No causality among factors has been inferred. Quantitative objective data have been used to determine the success of adoption, for qualitative data multiple sources have been used when possible to limit threats to validity.
Practical implications
The framework can be used by stakeholders in public organizations to better frame their adoption strategies and to compare results across institutions. Lessons learnt from the case studies can be useful to drive future adoptions of FLOSS.
Originality/value
The framework combines phases of adoption and levels making it possible to frame the analysis of the case studies. It has been operationalized with a set of metrics, and with a protocol for the case studies to increase replicability value.
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Barbara Gaudenzi, Ilenia Confente and Ivan Russo
This study aims to investigate the logistics service quality (LSQ) from a supply chain quality perspective. The purpose is twofold: (1) to investigate how business customers…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the logistics service quality (LSQ) from a supply chain quality perspective. The purpose is twofold: (1) to investigate how business customers perceive the LSQ dimensions in business-to-business (B2B) relationships, with a particular focus on the role of logistics service providers and (2) to analyse the manner in which such dimensions, when combined, lead to high levels of customer satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collected through a survey of a sample of Italian food companies are analysed using a qualitative comparative analysis approach. The analysis explores ways of achieving customer satisfaction through different combinations of LSQ dimensions and not only via a “single recipe,” as in most symmetrical methods.
Findings
The study describes how seven dimensions of LSQ lead to achieve customer satisfaction, particularly highlighting and discussing how the different LSQ constructs lead to gain high customer satisfaction via different configurations. This approach is unique in identifying not only linear relationships among variables as traditional statistical methods do, via a configurational approach.
Research limitations/implications
Most academic studies in the related literature investigate service quality from a quality management and a supply chain management perspective. This study fills the existing gap in the analysis of B2B relationships, focusing on the role of third-party logistics (3PL) service providers.
Practical implications
The study presents useful implications for practitioners, describing several ways in which 3PL service providers can combine LSQ dimensions to perform a continuous improvement of customer experience and to gain higher levels of customer satisfaction.
Originality/value
This study fills the existing gap in the analysis of B2B relationships, using the lens of quality management and supply chain management perspectives, and focusing on the role of 3PL service providers.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore agency pathways and the management of risk for economically disadvantaged adolescent victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore agency pathways and the management of risk for economically disadvantaged adolescent victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). In spite of recent national and international initiatives to raise the profile of this issue, significant gaps within DVA services exist within an urban district situated in the North West of England, UK. The study aims to present qualitative data gathered from service-users and service managers who have knowledge of referral pathways within the district. The paper also aims to examine the discursive relationships between the context, the intersectional significance of age, gender and class and the high levels of risk for survivors and perpetrators.
Design/methodology/approach
A purposive sampling strategy utilises phenomenology to explore participants lived experience of DVA. The study seeks to unite phenomenology and hermeneutics to help develop an understanding of adolescent DVA and participant’s experiences of available services. Knowledge of these experiences was garnered through shared narratives.
Findings
Through privileging the experiences and knowledge of survivors and practitioners, this study found current DVA service provision for survivors and perpetrators is limited and practitioner interventions can be oppressive without adequate training. These limitations are clearly at odds with national and international efforts to prevent violence against women and girls. This paper highlights significant risks for adolescent survivors and suggests ways in which targeted support might be improved. The findings conclude that central government and local councils might confront the impact of intersecting oppressions by addressing “classed sexism” in early intervention and educational strategies to effect lasting change.
Research limitations/implications
Although the study is limited by a lack of participation from perpetrators, the data reveals worrying levels of risk, a reduction in funding pathways and a need for training for all statutory professionals. Additionally, another possible limitation of this study is that terms such as class, gender and heterosexuality were not defined by participants.
Practical implications
The paper considers the macroeconomic legacy of neoliberalism, suggesting that investing in early educational approaches, young person focused programmes and appropriate “classed sexism” training for statutory services is crucial for minimising risk.
Social implications
To understand the experience of DVA, the intersections of class, gender and age warrants further consideration, particularly in light of claims that socio-economic and ethnic marginalisation has the potential to increase the risk of exposure to interpersonal violence.
Originality/value
This original research project prioritises participant knowledge and expertise in the hope of minimising risks for adolescent survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence (DVA). This paper privileges the voices and lived experiences of survivors and professionals who have expertise in DVA.
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Barbara Gaudenzi, Roberta Pellegrino and Ilenia Confente
The COVID-19 pandemic and recent disruptive events are affecting firms’ operations and supply chain networks on a large scale, causing disturbances in supply, demand, production…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic and recent disruptive events are affecting firms’ operations and supply chain networks on a large scale, causing disturbances in supply, demand, production and logistics activities. Although supply chain resilience (SCR) research has received large attention in recent years, the purpose of this paper is to offer an original contribution by exploring how complex configurations and interactions between SCR strategies and capacities can lead to resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
This study investigates the configurations of SCR strategies and capacities using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis.
Findings
First, the findings reveal different SCR strategy configurations through the lens of absorptive, reactive and restorative capacities to achieve resilience. Second, this study applies the contingent resource-based view (CRBV) perspective to interpret how organizations can achieve resilience before, during and after a disruptive event. Third, it offers an analysis of different groups of organizations, based on the adoption of different SCR strategies and capacities.
Originality/value
This study identifies a set of equifinal SCR strategies and capacity configurations that can be implemented to cope with a disruptive event and lead to resilience. It also enriches the research addressing the consecutive phases of SCR investments, developing the CRBV perspective. In our results, five solutions describe organizations that invest in absorptive capacities, representing an ex ante readiness.
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Valentino Moretto, Gianluca Elia and Gianpaolo Ghiani
Differently from traditional approaches that rely on the analysis of single dimensions of the tourism phenomenon, this study aims to experiment a systemic approach based on…
Abstract
Purpose
Differently from traditional approaches that rely on the analysis of single dimensions of the tourism phenomenon, this study aims to experiment a systemic approach based on structured and unstructured data sources to elaborate a composite index to measure the tourist competitiveness of marginal areas, with the final aim to design and plan proper socio-economic development strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology adopted to carry out the study follows a four-step process and relies on indicators that are both relevant and accessible. The first step concerns the analysis of the literature about the existing approaches to calculate a tourism index. The second step concerns the definition of the indicators and the collection of data by using both structured and unstructured sources. The third step focuses on the population of the data set. Finally, the fourth step aims at calculating the tourism index through a composite-based methodology and using it for a pilot application in a Southern Italy province.
Findings
The study calculates a synthetic tourism index for each of the 97 municipalities of the Province of Lecce (a city located in the southeast of Italy). The proposed index combines administrative, institutional and open data sources to derive a single indicator for each municipality, thus supporting decision-makers in understanding the complex reality and competitiveness level of territories in the tourism industry.
Originality/value
The main elements of originality of the study are the breadth and typology of data sources considered to calculate the composite indicator of tourism competitiveness (both structured and unstructured); and the use of weighting and aggregation procedures in the methodological issues.
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The process of knowledge production is usually assigned to scientists who use specific methods to extract knowledge from someone else's experience. Usually this includes…
Abstract
The process of knowledge production is usually assigned to scientists who use specific methods to extract knowledge from someone else's experience. Usually this includes collecting, aggregating and interpreting data from an uninvolved point of view; that is, from the outside. This procedure is supposed to guarantee objectivity and generalisation. Many child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors reject such an approach that turns them into objects again. This presents a problem for research because it limits the number and contribution of potential participants and can lead to bias. In self-help groups of CSA survivors, an enormous amount of experiential knowledge accumulates, and sometimes this is transferred into more than only individually valid knowledge. Based on this experience and aiming for more agency of CSA Survivors, a group of adult survivors and researchers developed a new approach to research. It focuses on the development of self-organised research, which enables survivors of sexualised violence to practice research without losing agency. They are indispensable and elementary parts in all phases of the process. This chapter shows one way of formalising this process so quality criteria can be developed and applied. Following the presented approach, evaluation of the presented methods is the appropriate next step because self-help groups give reason to estimate significant outcomes. These outcomes not only enable self-help groups of CSA survivors to incorporate new methods but also include the chance to empower adults, children or youth who have been victims of sexualised violence.
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Tindara Abbate, Anna Paola Codini and Barbara Aquilani
The purpose of this paper is to understand how Open Innovation Digital Platforms (OIDPs) can facilitate and support knowledge co-creation in Open Innovation (OI) processes…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand how Open Innovation Digital Platforms (OIDPs) can facilitate and support knowledge co-creation in Open Innovation (OI) processes. Specifically, it intends to investigate the contribution of OIDPs-oriented to successfully implement all the phases of interactive coupled OI processes.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper carries out an exploratory qualitative analysis, adopting the single case study method. The case here investigated is Open Innovation Platform Regione Lombardia (OIPRL).
Findings
The case study sheds light on how OIPRL supports knowledge co-creation through its processes, tools and services as a co-creator intermediary. In its launch stage, the platform simply aimed at giving firms a tool to “find partners” and financial resources to achieve innovative projects. Now, however, the platform has developed into an engagement platform for knowledge co-creation.
Research limitations/implications
One limitation lies in the particular perspective used to perform the case study: the perspective of the digital platform itself. Future research should focus on the individuals engaged in the platform to better investigate the processes, tools and services used to implement the OI approach.
Practical implications
The paper suggests ways in which OIDPs could be used by firms for effective exploration, acquisition, integration and development of valuable knowledge.
Originality/value
The study conceptualizes the role of OIDPs in shaping knowledge co-creation, assuming that the platforms act as Open Innovation Intermediaries (OIIs). Specifically, OIDPs can be observed to function as “co-creator intermediaries” that define, develop and implement dedicated processes, specific tools and appropriate services for supporting knowledge co-creation activities.
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Barbara Sveva Magnanelli and Maria Federica Izzo
This paper aims to investigate the link between corporate social performance (CSP) and cost of debt financing. Despite academic debate has focused on the link between corporate…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the link between corporate social performance (CSP) and cost of debt financing. Despite academic debate has focused on the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and CSP (expressed through accounting and market measures of profitability), few empirical researches have analysed the relations between CSR, cost of debt and its relation with the risk profile of a firm. The literature on the cost of debt determinants generally documents a negative association between measures of the risk of the firm and its cost of debt. The literature on CSR defines risk reduction as one of the potential benefits related to CSR activities. Thus, the expectation is that high CSP scores are inversely related to cost of debt.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a unique data set of 332 firms over a time period of five years antecedent to the global financial crisis, a linear regression model is applied.
Findings
The results show a positive relation between CSP and cost of debt, demonstrating that CSR is not a value driver with an impact on the firm’s risk profile.
Practical implications
The research has also practical implications as it makes managers aware of the potentiality of CSP to reduce the firm’s cost of debt.
Originality/value
These findings enlarge the empirical research on the value of CSP, expanding it towards a quite new area of investigation: the cost of external financing.