Search results

This paper studies the location-inventory problem (LIP) in pallet pooling systems to improve resource utilization and save logistics costs, which is a new extension of the classical LIP and also an application of the LIP in pallet pooling systems.

A mixed-integer linear programming is established, considering the location problem of pallet pooling centers (PPCs) with multi-level capacity, multi-period inventory management and bi-directional logistics. Owing to the computational complexity of the problem, a hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) is then proposed, where three local searching strategies are designed to improve the problem-solving efficiency. Lastly, numerical experiments are carried out to validate the feasibility of the established model and the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.

The results of numerical experiments show that (1) the proposed model can obtain the integrated optimal solution of the location problem and inventory management, which is better than the two-stage model and the model with single-level capacity; (2) the total cost and network structure are sensitive to the number of PPCs, the unit inventory cost, the proportion of repairable pallets and the fixed transportation cost and (3) the proposed hybrid GA shows good performance in terms of solution quality and computational time.

The established model extends the classical LIP by considering more practical factors, and the proposed algorithm provides support for solving large-scale problems. In addition, this study can also offer valuable decision support for managers in pallet pooling systems.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the interplay between human resource management (HRM) and emergent factors in constructing a strong HRM climate. Specifically, the paper aims to shed light on how employee perceptions of the HRM process and emergent factors together construct a strong HRM climate, i.e. employees' shared perceptions of HRM.

The paper uses qualitative interview data (managers and employees) from two organisations operating in Finland. The data are analysed based on a systematic data analysis and gives an illustration of the interplay between high-performance work system and the emergent factors.

The findings illustrate the three types of interplay between HPWS and emergent factors – supplementation, substitution and suffocation – that construct employee experience.

The paper extends earlier discussions on the relationship between HRM and employee experience by empirically examining how the HRM process – together with emergent factors – constructs a strong HRM climate. The present study contributes to further theorising and increasing our understanding of the creation of employee experience.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new conceptual model that incorporates internal service quality as a mediator between service climate and employee performance and two personal cultural orientations (independence and interdependence) as the moderators of these relationships.

An online survey of 353 employees representing 19 different nationalities, working in 18 branches and offices of a multinational business-to-business (B2B) civil engineering services firm, spread across 14 countries.

All the hypotheses are supported. Specifically, internal service quality mediates the influence of service climate on employee performance and these relationships are stronger for employees with interdependent (vs independent) cultural orientations.

This paper uses data collected from the employees in a single B2B firm in one industry (Civil Engineering Services) and focuses on a few key variables, which may restrict the generalizability of its findings.

The findings of this paper highlight the importance of cultural factors in building a service climate in multinational service organizations to help their employees work more effectively and efficiently with their colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds.

This paper clarifies the relationships among service climate, internal service quality and employee performance, by showing that internal service quality mediates the influence of service climate on employee performance.

High-performance work system (HPWS) is considered a solid predictor of both organizational and individual outcomes. The current study examines the impact of employees' perception of HPWS and supervisor-rated employee creativity (EC). Critical reflection is hypothesized as a mediator of the above relationship. Human resource management (HRM) attribution moderates the indirect relationship between HPWS and EC and completes a moderated mediation model.

A quantitative research design is adopted with data collected from 531 employees and their direct supervisors from 12 firms in Vietnam. Partial least square structural equation modelling is used to test the hypotheses.

Employees' perception of HPWS is significantly associated with supervisor-rated creativity. Critical reflection has been found to partially mediate the above relationship. In addition, employees' exploiting attribution of HPWS intensifies the positive relationship between HPWS and critical reflection.

The research suggests that HPWS can be viewed from both the bright and dark sides. The resource offered by HPWS goes hand in hand with pressure from high-performance expectations. Employees may need to engage in a resource investment decision to avoid net resource loss. In addition, attention should be paid to employees' perception of the justification for HPWS implementation.

This study offers an alternative way to explain the association between HPWS and employee creativity. Based on the Conservation of Resource Theory, employee creativity is viewed as a stress coping strategy with HPWS conceptualized as a stressor. In addition, the mediating role of critical reflection represents a novelty. Furthermore, the role of HRM attributions is explained.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships between managerial control strategies, role-stress and employee adaptiveness among call centre employees.

Based on a conceptual model, a questionnaire-based survey methodology is adopted. Data were collected from call centre employees in India and the data were analysed through PLS methodology.

The study finds that outcome control and activity control increase role-stress while capability control does not have a significant impact. The interaction between outcome control and activity control also tends to impact role-stress of employees. Role-stress felt by employees has significant negative impact on employee adaptiveness.

The sampling approach was convenience based affecting the generalisability of the results.

The paper provides guidelines for utilising managerial control approaches in a service setting.

The paper looks at managerial control approaches in a service setting – a topic not quite researched before.

The present study investigates the role of “Transformational Leadership (TFL)” on employees' work engagement and its effect on their “Productivity” and “Extra-Role Customer Service” behaviors. In doing so, the present study examines the mediating role of two crucial variables, namely the creation of a “Service Climate” and the role of “Trust” that employees show toward their managers. Last but not least, this research examines the potential role of High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) as a moderator.

Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used on a sample of 459 customer-contact employees across thirteen 4- and 5-star Greek hotel organizations.

This study reveals the mechanism through which “TFL” impacts employees' productivity. Specifically, “TFL” first impacts employees' “Trust” toward their managers and helps toward creating a “Social Climate”. In turn, both “Trust” and “Social Climate” directly impact employees' “Work Engagement” who respond by showing increased “Productivity” and by exhibiting “Extra-Role Customer Service” behaviors. Nevertheless, the role of HPWS as a moderator was not confirmed.

The present study underscores the need for hotels' management to pay the required attention on creating an employment relationship based on “Trust”, as well as on creating a “Service Climate” in order for their employees to become work engaged and highly productive.

This is among the first studies that examine the “TFL” effects on employee outcomes in the Tourism and Hospitality sector, during the COVID-19 era.

Despite the prominence of ethics in mainstream marketing and sales literature, studies on the role of unethical sales practices remain sparse. As a result, we sought to fill this void by reviewing and integrating the available research on unethical sales practices.

A systematic methodology is used to review the literature. The data study covered peer-reviewed journal publications from 2008 through 2020.

Our investigation uncovered patterns (situational ethical behavior, ethical sales organizational culture, ethical leadership of salespeople, and unethical behavior). We suggest promising avenues for further research by concluding our methodological and theoretical contribution.

Today’s sales profession is continually evolving, putting increased demand on salespeople to adapt to new norms. Salespeople may be enticed to engage in unethical sales tactics in these situations, endangering not just themselves, but also their organizations and clients. This research contributes to the unique nature of ethics among sales people.

The purpose of this research is to examine the indirect effect of perceived organizational customer orientation on frontline employees' (FLE) innovative behaviors (via perceived empowerment) as well as the contextual factor of supervisory fairness, which affects the strength of the indirect effect. Drawing on social exchange theory, the authors propose that FLEs' perceived organizational customer orientation positively affects their empowerment and indirectly affects innovative behaviors, and that effect is stronger in a high supervisory fairness condition.

Structural equation modeling of the data collected through a time-lagged survey of 184 employee–supervisor dyads provides support for the hypotheses. From the practitioners' perspective, this study highlights the mechanism through which perceived organizational customer orientation can affect the display of FLEs' innovative behaviors as well as the conditions that strengthen this process.

Perceived organizational customer orientation was positively related to employees' perceived empowerment. Empowerment was positively associated with supervisor-reported innovative behaviors. The indirect effect of perceived organizational customer orientation through employee empowerment on supervisor-reported innovative behaviors was also confirmed. Supervisory fairness significantly moderated the perceived organizational customer orientation and employee empowerment relationship. Finally, the indirect effect of customer orientation on supervisor-reported innovative behaviors through empowerment was significant for both high supervisory fairness and low supervisory fairness; however, the effect was stronger in a high fairness condition.

Service managers can benefit from these findings by improving the work environment characteristics.

This study makes an important contribution to existing research on perceived organizational customer orientation and FLEs' innovative behaviors as extant research has only examined the direct unmediated effect of customer orientation on innovative behaviors. Moreover, the authors’ moderated mediation model presents a new insight into how perceived organizational customer orientation influences FLEs' innovative behaviors and when this effect is more pronounced.

The challenge of unforeseen uncertainties in exploratory projects requires the lead firm in a project alliance to effectively manage exploratory co-innovation. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the types of capabilities a lead firm required in exploratory projects and how these capabilities enable the exploratory innovation of the project alliance.

A multiple-case study was done to provide empirical evidence for the rationale of the capabilities of the lead firm. The provided analysis used abductive reasoning of two typical exploratory projects in China.

This paper identifies two types of capabilities: innovation-related capabilities and network-related capabilities. Furthermore, a process model of the capabilities of the lead firm is developed that enables exploratory co-innovation in a project alliance. The capabilities of the lead firm input varied at four different stages.

Innovation-related capabilities and network-related capabilities could form the foundation for the lead firm in an exploratory project alliance. This will enable an exploratory co-innovation and collaboratively overcome the barriers of exploratory projects.

Although exploratory project attracts extensive attention for its unique characteristics and universal value, there is limited amount of research on the context of joint exploratory projects. This study starts from the role of lead firm in an exploratory project alliance, contributes toward the comprehension of the link between the lead firm’s capabilities and the process of exploratory co-innovation. The findings will be of value in supporting the management of exploratory innovation in a project alliance.

This article aims at investigating knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) between founder firms and corporate foundations (CFs), looking at mechanisms able to enhance CFs’ orientation of effectiveness.

We analyze 50 questionnaires collected through a survey of CFs based in Italy (redemption of 42.7% of the total). We use a number of regressions to verify the change of explained variance moving from a basic model with control variables (enter method) and a model including KTE mechanisms with an impact on orientation to effectiveness (stepwise method).

The analysis produced a model which underlines the influence of knowledge transfer mechanisms in stimulating orientation to effectiveness. The adoption of specific knowledge transfer mechanisms by founder firms can have a significant influence on how CFs manage their effectiveness. Three mechanisms emerge from the study as elements with a positive impact.

The results apply to nonprofit or public bodies, especially if we consider partnerships or organizational networks. The individuated criteria for selecting a positive KTE could drive similar choices of other nonprofit bodies.

The study individuates a set of practices that are potentially able to influence positively the orientation to effectiveness of CFs, and the capacity to perform their activities and respond to social needs more successfully.

This research considers CFs as founder firms’ subsidiaries, with a growing strategic importance. This research reveals how KTE mechanisms can foster the development of orientation to effectiveness if implying interaction, firms’ commitment, autonomy, and alignment with the firms’ strategy and CFs’ purposes.