Dante Di Gregorio, Martina Claasen Musteen and Douglas Thomas
Understanding how international business opportunities (IBOs) are recognized and developed is critical to the study of international entrepreneurship.
Abstract
Purpose
Understanding how international business opportunities (IBOs) are recognized and developed is critical to the study of international entrepreneurship.
Design/methodology/approach
We draw on entrepreneurial cognition research broadly and the entrepreneurial judgment perspective specifically to develop a model of the recognition and development of IBOs by considering three theoretically important sets of drivers – social networks, international experience and a proactive mindset. We use a sample of 92 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to test the model empirically.
Findings
We find robust support. Entrepreneurial judgment surrounding IBOs and uncertain international business environments entails tapping social networks, international experience and a proactive mindset to both recognize third-person opportunities for someone as well as to act upon and develop IBOs as first-person opportunities from which a focal firm can profit.
Originality/value
Conceptually and empirically, we peer inside the black box of IBO entrepreneurial judgment processes by jointly evaluating the abstract recognition of third-person opportunities as well as the concrete actions and interactions that develop the IBOs into first-person opportunities.
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Jianjun Yang, Lei Gu, Kangxin Liu and Cheng Deng
Implementing green innovation is crucial for firms to build or sustain competitive advantages within the context of the sustainable development goals. Academic research has…
Abstract
Purpose
Implementing green innovation is crucial for firms to build or sustain competitive advantages within the context of the sustainable development goals. Academic research has broadly explored how firms can induce green innovation behavior (GIB), examining external factors, but few studies in the current literature have deeply investigated unabsorbed slack as an internal antecedent of GIB. Drawing upon the behavioral theory of the firm and integrating it with dynamic capabilities theory, this study aims to address this deficiency by investigating the impact of unabsorbed slack on GIB and the mediating roles of two dimensions of capability reconfiguration: capability evolution and capability substitution in the relationship between unabsorbed slack and GIB. Furthermore, this study also discusses the moderating effects of consumer green pressure on the relationship between unabsorbed slack and capability evolution/substitution.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 286 Chinese technology-intensive manufacturing firms to empirically test the relationships among the variables.
Findings
The results reveal that unabsorbed slack has a positive influence on GIB. Furthermore, capability evolution and substitution both play mediating roles in the relationship between unabsorbed slack and GIB. Comparative analysis showed that the mediating effect of capability substitution is stronger than that of capability evolution. Moreover, consumer green pressure strengthens the positive relationship between unabsorbed slack and capability evolution/substitution.
Originality/value
This study enriches the research on the driving forces of GIB and contributes to providing managerial implications for firms to launch green innovation activities.
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Gareth H. Thomas, Evan J. Douglas, Jin-Ichiro Yamada and Julienne Senyard
The strategic entrepreneurship (SE) literature exists at the intersection of the strategy and entrepreneurship literatures and has grown rapidly over the past two decades. This…
Abstract
Purpose
The strategic entrepreneurship (SE) literature exists at the intersection of the strategy and entrepreneurship literatures and has grown rapidly over the past two decades. This study aims to document the proliferation of research papers and identifies the major thematic clusters of topics and other summary information for the SE research domain.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a systematic bibliometric review of 586 articles published over the period 2009–2019 in 143 journals. The inductive quantitative assessment of these articles uses meta-data driven techniques that prioritize reproducibility and rigor in the process of literature analysis.
Findings
This study identifies six main themes in the strategic literature, namely, Sustainable Competitive Advantage; Knowledge Management; Ecosystems; Strategy; Entrepreneurialism; and Organization and Management. It also reports data on a variety of issues including research techniques, country of data, co-author count and trends and differences between journals based on their journal impact factors and calls for more research in key areas.
Originality/value
An innovative original analytical tool was developed to facilitate the analysis of research papers in this growing field. This online tool allows multiple tags to be attached to each paper by multiple authors working simultaneously to identify keywords and other aspects that were subsequently used to identify six main thematic areas within the SE literature. This paper highlights emerging research trends and identifies gaps in the literature that provide opportunities for further research in this field.
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Liisa M. Thomas and Melissa S. Dill
Outlines legal issues in Internet advertising to children in the USA, European Union, Australia and Canada; the Internet is now dominated by mainstream international companies…
Abstract
Outlines legal issues in Internet advertising to children in the USA, European Union, Australia and Canada; the Internet is now dominated by mainstream international companies which market to children. Outlines the COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) in the USA, plus the work of CARU (the Children’s Advertising Review Unit). Moves on to the European Union’s Data Protection Directive and Communications Data Protection Directive, and the guidelines of the FEDMA (Federation of European Direct Marketing Associations). Concludes with the Australian Privacy Act and the guidelines of the Canadian Marketing Association.
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Sameer Kumar, Erika Strandlund and Douglas Thomas
The purpose of this paper is to create a strategy for “Best Buy”, a major consumer electronics and appliance retailer in the USA, to improve their service system to ensure that…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to create a strategy for “Best Buy”, a major consumer electronics and appliance retailer in the USA, to improve their service system to ensure that they can continuously gain market share. This study will examine and analyze Best Buy's store service blueprint in comparison to its competitors' service blueprints. The study will then examine Best Buy Geek Squad's service blueprint and recommend improvements that can be implemented to provide higher quality service to Best Buy's customers.
Design/methodology/approach
A combination of design methods was used which included creating multiple service blueprints and implementing the Six Sigma DMAIC approach. A Service Quality (SERVQUAL) Survey was conducted and analyzed the data, to give an understanding of customer satisfaction with the service provided at Best Buy, compared to its major competitors. The service blueprint was analyzed and strategies were recommended to improve the present system, with the goal of providing better customer service and an improved shopping experience. With the recommendations an “improved service model” for Best Buy was created, along with fail safe mechanisms to ensure that service guarantees will be met.
Findings
In the Six Sigma DMAIC Process Improvement approach, poka‐yokes were implemented to improve the Best Buy service blueprint, which were identified through cause‐and‐effect diagrams that were created. By implementing the new service blueprint, along with the poka‐yokes, Best Buy will see a significant improvement in customer satisfaction.
Practical implications
Best Buy and other retail service providers should consider investing in adequate staffing of technically savvy and customer sensitive store associates and implement customer service training programs to improve their education relating specifically to the quality of service delivery to their customers.
Originality/value
This paper focuses on the business case for implementing Six Sigma tools to improve the service provided by retailers. This should lead to long‐term profitability and improved customer service.
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Douglas E. Thomas and Lorraine Eden
Previous theoretical explanations and empirical analyses of the multinationality‐performance relationship have produced mixed arguments and results. Linear and inverted U‐shaped…
Abstract
Previous theoretical explanations and empirical analyses of the multinationality‐performance relationship have produced mixed arguments and results. Linear and inverted U‐shaped relationships have been theorized and confirmed empirically. Recent research has theorized that there is a three‐stage, sigmoid relationship between multinationality and performance. We contribute to the debate by showing that the impact of multinationality depends on the time dimension incorporated in the performance measure; that is, the net benefits from multinationality are likely to be higher in the longer term. The results from our sample of US manufacturing multinationals indicate that there is a three‐stage, sigmoid multinationality‐performance relationship.
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Thomas C. Harrington, Douglas M. Lambert and Monica P. Vance
Inventory control problems often result in recordand physical count discrepancies which mayultimately lead to higher than preferred inventorylevels. Conversely, accurate inventory…
Abstract
Inventory control problems often result in record and physical count discrepancies which may ultimately lead to higher than preferred inventory levels. Conversely, accurate inventory records result in lower inventory investment and are the foundation for forecasting, ordering, tracking, vendor evaluation, and dead stock administration programmes. Guidelines, based on general systems theory, to identify the presence of inventory control problems in both physical operations and information systems areas are presented. Next, procedures to correct control problems are discussed. These include the formation of a permanent taskforce, corporate‐wide education on the importance of record accuracy, and the development of a general management plan based on sound principles for effective inventory control. Recent experiences within a telecommunications company having inventory control problems are used as a case example to illustrate specific points.
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Douglas E. Thomas and Robert E. Grosse
This paper examines both the imports and exports of nonmaquiladora Mexican firms, theorizing that importing is generally motivated by exploration for new resources and exporting…
Abstract
This paper examines both the imports and exports of nonmaquiladora Mexican firms, theorizing that importing is generally motivated by exploration for new resources and exporting by exploitation of existing resources. Our results indicate that firm size is positively related to both imports and exports, while low cost labor advantage is positively associated with exports but not significantly related to imports. Because importing may precede exporting, it should be considered as part of the internationalization process of firms and as a key way to acquire resources before exploiting them through exporting.
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Little is known about the strategies used by state courts during the appropriations process. This article examines court budgetary practices in the state of Oklahoma. It reveals…
Abstract
Little is known about the strategies used by state courts during the appropriations process. This article examines court budgetary practices in the state of Oklahoma. It reveals how court funding works in Oklahoma, what strategies are used by the state courts, and which factors are most important in determining the success of the courts in getting the funds they need. It shows that the judiciary is not necessarily at the mercy of the other branches of government when seeking resources. The findings provide the first glimpse at court budgeting strategies and determinants of these strategies’ success at the state level.
K. Douglas Hoffman and Thomas N. Ingram
Considers the impact of multi‐faceted measures of job satisfactionon customer‐oriented behaviours demonstrated by service providers.Reveals how overall job satisfaction, together…
Abstract
Considers the impact of multi‐faceted measures of job satisfaction on customer‐oriented behaviours demonstrated by service providers. Reveals how overall job satisfaction, together with specific satisfaction related to supervision, colleagues, promotion and work are positively related to customer‐orientation, while satisfaction with pay is not of significance in this case. Discusses recommendations for management and suggestions for further research.