The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated philosophical foundation for Kaizen.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated philosophical foundation for Kaizen.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on triangulation (and integration) of six philosophies: the Traditional Values, the Process-Oriented Philosophy, Edification, Completeness, Improving Perfection and True-Mindfulness. In addition, the Power of One integrates these philosophies into one solid foundation for Kaizen.
Findings
A framework, called The Kaizen Wheel, is created to represent the integrated philosophical foundation for Kaizen. It shows the big picture and the close knit of the six philosophies for facilitating Kaizen. It also suggests that Kaizen can serve as a new philosophical paradigm for the unification of action and knowledge.
Research limitations/implications
Although empirical contents are implicitly embedded in each of the six philosophies, the paper’s main contribution is to provide a conceptual framework for the integration of Kaizen philosophies. Since this is a conceptual paper, further research and more empirical studies will help facilitate the understanding and practices of Kaizen.
Practical implications
The Kaizen Wheel provides a big picture of the Kaizen philosophies. It is a useful mechanism for practitioners to review their own values so as to provide guidelines for not only their thoughts and behaviors regarding Kaizen activities, but also the design and implementation of Kaizen programs.
Originality/value
This is an original paper. It provides a valuable conceptual framework for providing an integrated foundation for Kaizen research and practice.
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Chien‐Hsun Chen and Hui‐Tzu Shih
By the mid‐1990s, China had become the world's largest producer (and exporter) of textiles and garments. It is widely believed that China's textile industry will be one of the…
Abstract
By the mid‐1990s, China had become the world's largest producer (and exporter) of textiles and garments. It is widely believed that China's textile industry will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, thereby enabling Chinese textile firms to use foreign‐invested enterprises to gain direct access to overseas purchasing networks, and helping to boost China's textile and clothing exports; however, most Chinese garment manufacturers have been in existence for only a relatively short period and are small in size. The Chinese garment industry is made up largely of small enterprises; run‐of‐the‐mill small garment manufacturers suffer because of the incomplete adoption of the market mechanism, restricted access to information and unfair competition. These smaller manufacturers remain dependent on traditional business models, and as a result, their operating costs have remained very high. Concludes that the vast majority of Chinese garment manufacturers are thus engaged in a constant struggle to stay in business.
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Injazz Chen, Atul Gupta and Chen‐Hua Chung
Empirically examines the factors contributing to employee commitment in the implementation of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), a class of highly automated manufacturing…
Abstract
Empirically examines the factors contributing to employee commitment in the implementation of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), a class of highly automated manufacturing systems. Identifies and categorizes a number of employee commitment elements from diverse disciplines into five factors, using a confirmatory factor analysis approach. A linear regression analysis was performed with the perceived level of employee commitment to FMS implementation as the dependent variable and five factors including educational opportunity, job discretion, management support, job security, and financial incentives as the explanatory variables. In the regression analysis, the educational opportunity factor entered the model, suggesting that it is a significant factor constituting employee commitment for successful FMS implementation.
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Hsiu‐Ling Wu, Chien‐Hsun Chen and Fang‐Ying Shiu
This paper attempts to empirically examine the impact of financial development and bank characteristics on the operational performance of commercial banks in the Chinese…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper attempts to empirically examine the impact of financial development and bank characteristics on the operational performance of commercial banks in the Chinese transitional economy.
Design/methodology/approach
Pooled cross‐section (banks) and time‐series data are employed in the empirical estimation, with the sample comprising a total of 14 Chinese banks. The period under consideration extends from 1996‐2004. Fixed effects and random effects models are estimated.
Findings
Empirical results exhibit higher levels of moneterization that can translate into better ROA performance for banks. The longer a bank has been in existence, the worse its ROA performance is found to be. Rather than leading to improved profitability, Chinese banks' efforts to develop non‐traditional banking business actually have a negative impact on the ROA. The ROA performance of larger Chinese banks (in terms of assets) is found to be inferior to that of the smaller shareholding commercial banks.
Originality/value
Particular emphasis will be placed on the unique characteristics of China's banking industry during this period of institutional transformation.
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Tser‐Yieth Chen and Tsai‐Lien Yeh
The main contribution of this paper is empirical in nature. We use data envelopment analysis to evaluate the relative efficiency of 34 commercial banks in Taiwan. Fifteen banks…
Abstract
The main contribution of this paper is empirical in nature. We use data envelopment analysis to evaluate the relative efficiency of 34 commercial banks in Taiwan. Fifteen banks are identified as efficient ones and they are divided into four sub‐groups. Conversely, 19 banks are attributed as inefficient ones and the slack analysis are followed. The inefficient banks can effectively promote resource utilization efficiency by better handling their labour and capital operating efficiency and enlarging bank investment function. In addition, we compare the data envelopment analysis results to the financial ratios and show that a consistent effect cannot be obtained. This is to say that we cannot derive which bank has a higher performance from financial ratio analysis only.
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Examines the causal relationship between interest rates, savings and income in the Chinese economy over the period 1952 to 1999, using the cointegration test and Bayesian vector…
Abstract
Examines the causal relationship between interest rates, savings and income in the Chinese economy over the period 1952 to 1999, using the cointegration test and Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) for empirical testing. The empirical evidence from the cointegration test confirms that there is a stable long‐run relationship between interest rates, savings and income, whilst the BVAR causality test shows unidirectional causality running from savings to income. For China’s transitional economy, it is therefore important to establish well‐developed financial institutions – particularly the independence of the Central Bank – interest rate liberalization and sound financial intermediation, all of which are important for the efficient allocation of capital, which, in turn, can help to establish sustainable economic growth.
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Employs data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the relative performance of 23 university libraries in Taipei City and County. The estimated results show that 11 university…
Abstract
Employs data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the relative performance of 23 university libraries in Taipei City and County. The estimated results show that 11 university libraries are relatively efficient. The results also show that nine out of these 11 have a relatively good academic research function. Only Ming‐chuan Management College and Shih‐chien Design College are attributed lower research capabilities. Marine and Oceanic University, Yang‐ming University and Ming‐chuan Management College are rated the top three libraries and enjoy the highest levels of efficiency in the sample. Shows that the resource utilization of these university libraries functions well. Finds that the inefficient libraries manage their acquisition expenditures and book circulation poorly.
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Yenpao Chen, Chien‐Hsun Chen and Shiau‐Lan Huang
This study aims to examine the earnings management behaviour of financially distressed listed companies in China for the period 2002‐2006.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the earnings management behaviour of financially distressed listed companies in China for the period 2002‐2006.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study uses discretionary accruals to serve as a proxy variable for earnings management, with the type of ultimate ownership and the type of industry to which the company belongs functioning as independent variables.
Findings
The empirical results show that the desire to avoid continued special treatment (ST) status and the risk of being de‐listed leads firms to adopt different earnings management behaviour before and after being designated as an ST firm.
Research limitations/implications
The desire to avoid being de‐listed is as strong among managers of state‐owned companies as it is among private companies.
Practical implications
Implementing the effective regulation of corporate earnings management is therefore an issue of great importance. It is recommended that the government needs to take the degree of industry regulation into account when assessing regulations aimed at controlling earnings management.
Originality/value
In a transition economy like China, the state versus private ownership and the degree of government regulation in industry is likely to affect the earnings management of financially distressed companies. The study demonstrates that companies in less‐regulated industries tend to undertake more earnings management in the years both before and after they are designated as ST companies.
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Yenpao Chen, Chien‐Hsun Chen and Will C. Wu
This paper sets out to explore the effects that the setting‐up of an independent director system has on the operating efficiency of information electronics companies in China.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper sets out to explore the effects that the setting‐up of an independent director system has on the operating efficiency of information electronics companies in China.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses 87 Chinese listed electronics companies during the initial stages of the independent directors system from 1999 to 2002 as sample subjects, and employs a two‐stage procedure for empirical investigation.
Findings
The non‐parametric test results verify that there is no significant difference in the operating efficiency of Chinese electronics companies following the establishment of an independent director system. The Tobit regression results show that the establishment of an independent director system in the Chinese electronics industry does not influence overall technical efficiency (TE), pure technical efficiency (PE), or scale efficiency (SE).
Research limitations/implications
Whether the related schemes of the current corporate governance structure practised in China can achieve their expected results, as well as the possible future development direction of the governance structure, is of the utmost importance, and is a research subject worth examining in greater depth.
Practical implications
It is of the utmost urgency for such corporate governance to improve the selection mechanism for independent directors, to establish incentives and responsibility‐taking mechanisms for independent directors, and to amend the company law and securities law to perfect the rules of an independent director system.
Originality/value
By using DEA and the Tobit regression model, this study attempts to investigate whether China, in addition to fraud prevention, has improved corporate operating efficiency by introducing a system of independent directors.
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Examines how the locational choice of foreign direct investment (FDI) is influenced by regional characteristics in mainland China, such as the potential for market share…
Abstract
Examines how the locational choice of foreign direct investment (FDI) is influenced by regional characteristics in mainland China, such as the potential for market share extension, labour cost differences, allocative efficiency, transportation infrastructure, and research and development capability. Empirical testing is conducted by the conditional logit model using pooled cross‐section and time‐series data. Empirical findings for the 1987‐1991 period indicate that the variable for market share extension potential only affects FDI in the middle region. Surprisingly, labour cost differences do not affect the location of FDI. Interregional railroad connections are found to be positively related to the choice of location of FDI, but FDI may not necessarily locate near innovative Chinese industries.