Kuo-An Tseng, Yu-Wen Lan, Hao-Chun Lu and Pin-Yu Chen
The purpose of this paper is to explore the mediating effect of business strategy (BS) on intellectual capital (IC) and financial performance (FP). The impact of financial crisis…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the mediating effect of business strategy (BS) on intellectual capital (IC) and financial performance (FP). The impact of financial crisis is also a major topic of this research.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applies BS as mediator to explore the relationships between IC, BS, and FP. Partial least squares is employed to test the reliability and validity of measurements and the significance of path coefficients, and therefore to examine the hypotheses.
Findings
IC has significant impacts on BS and FP in all samples, as well as in those years before and after the financial crisis. BS has a partial significant mediating effect between IC and FP. BS has significant effects on FP in all samples and pre-financial crisis, but has not in post-financial crisis.
Research limitations/implications
IC has significant impacts on BS and FP. Moreover, the relationships of IC, BS, and FP are different during pre- and post-financial crisis. The direct effect of IC on FP is confirmed and consistent, and the indirect effect of IC on FP by BS is dependent upon the environment status.
Practical implications
Enterprises should pay attention to IC, BS, and the related changes in environment status. These help enterprises develop appropriate strategies, maintain competitive advantage, and upgrade FP.
Originality/value
This study applies BS as mediator, and explores the relationships between IC, BS, and FP. The impact of financial crisis is also discussed. The results may serve as the criteria for strategic performance management.
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Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the impact of supply chain governance (SCG, which includes relational governance and contractual governance) on supply chain resilience (SCR) using the information processing theory. Moreover, the study also examines the mediating role of information processing capability and the moderating role of digital technology (DT) deployment.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 288 questionnaires were collected from the Chinese manufacturing industry, and hierarchical regression was used to empirically test the proposed model.
Findings
This study reveals that SCG positively impacts SCR. Moreover, information processing capability plays a mediating role between SCG and SCR. Furthermore, the breadth of DT deployment positively moderates the effect of relational governance on information processing capability, and the depth of DT deployment positively moderates the effects of both relational governance and contractual governance on information processing capability.
Originality/value
This study offers a novel perspective that helps to understand the importance of the supply chain-wide information acquired by SCG in respect of improving SCR. Furthermore, this article extends the application of information processing theory by providing empirical evidence of the mediating role of information processing capability and elucidating the moderating role of DT deployment.
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Hua Liu and Shaobo Wei
Building on the information processing perspective, the authors propose that both internal and external supply chain risk management (SCRM) practices play essential roles in…
Abstract
Purpose
Building on the information processing perspective, the authors propose that both internal and external supply chain risk management (SCRM) practices play essential roles in mediating supply chain disruption orientation (SCDO) to exercise an influence on resilience. The authors also put forward analytics capability as an important moderator in the above-mediated relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected 170 match-paired questionnaires from Chinese firms to test our model. The authors further interviewed some managers to supplement key quantitative results.
Findings
First, SCDO positively affects resilience via internal and external SCRM practices. Second, the mediating effects of internal and external SCRM practices are stronger when analytics capability is higher. Third, analytics capability positively moderates the positive effect of SCDO on SCRM practices. Meanwhile, it does not moderate the positive effect of SCRM practices on resilience.
Research limitations/implications
Our study contributes to SCRM-related and IT-related literature by considering the content, mediating mechanisms (i.e. internal and external SCRM practices) and boundary conditions (i.e. data analytic capability) of SCDO in shaping resilience in the digital supply chain.
Practical implications
Our study helps remind managers that firms build disruption orientation, develop different SCRM practices and leverage analytics capability to improve resilience amid unexpected and unplanned disruptions.
Originality/value
Our study sheds light on the roles of both internal and external SCRM practices. Furthermore, this research helps explain how SCDO motivates resilience through SCRM practices, particularly for those firms that have higher analytics capability.
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Dong-Young Kim and Sean M. Davis
The purpose of this paper is to explore how the acquisition experience – an acquiring firm’s experience of acquiring and integrating the resources of an acquired firm – affects…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how the acquisition experience – an acquiring firm’s experience of acquiring and integrating the resources of an acquired firm – affects the production resource efficiency of the acquiring firm.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used data obtained from US manufacturing industries over the 1992–2014 period. The sample includes 784 acquisitions by 417 firms. The proposed hypotheses were tested through econometric analysis.
Findings
Results show that the acquisition experience has a positive association with production resource efficiency. The acquisition experience is most positively associated with acquiring firms’ production efficiency when they successfully accomplished previous performance outcomes. While the literature has recognized the relatedness of acquiring and acquired firms as a contextual moderator, the interaction of the related acquisition and the acquisition experience has no impact on efficiency benefits.
Originality/value
This study enhances the understanding of how prior acquisition experience can be leveraged by acquiring firms to gain efficiency benefits in the manufacturing industry.
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Many authors have recognised multiple research gaps at empirical and theoretical levels regarding the interplay between the management of intellectual capital (IC) and the…
Abstract
Purpose
Many authors have recognised multiple research gaps at empirical and theoretical levels regarding the interplay between the management of intellectual capital (IC) and the development of innovation capabilities from a strategic approach to technological opportunities, especially in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). This paper endeavours to provide answers to some of these research questions by relying on empirical observations in the context of an emergent economy.
Design/methodology/approach
After reviewing the literature through the lenses of the IC and knowledge-based view, the paper operationalises IC as a formative construct and explores its relationships with Technological Orientation, Innovativeness and Innovative Performance. This investigation employs structural equation modelling to analyse data collected through a questionnaire from a sample of KIBS members in a cross-sectional study.
Findings
The research confirms the positive influence of human capital on a company’s Technological Orientation, which in turn impacts Innovative Performance in KIBS. Structural and relational capital positively affect Innovativeness and the latter directly impact performance. All other IC components were found to determine the dependent variables through a mediated effect.
Research limitations/implications
This research has several limitations. Firstly, it has to be stressed that the significance of the statistical findings is dependent on the sample size, and the results’ explanatory power and effect size cannot be extrapolated to other demographics in different regions or sectors. Secondly, it should be observed that the results of the empirical research can be affected by the respondents’ subjectivity in assessing the items and their perception of reality when providing the answers. Thirdly, this is a cross-sectional study, and results concerning, e.g. the Innovative Performance may be subject to change over a longer period of time, though items in this construct have inquired about results obtained over time. Finally, given the purpose of the research, the outcome may be limited to the research model design. Future research could attempt to replicate the results by investigating other demographics and other regions and by employing a longitudinal study.
Practical implications
The study highlights the value added by adequate management of all IC elements, as they affect the output of organisational business strategies and processes in an integrated manner. An organisational technological strategy that is based on up-to-date technologies, the embeddedness of technology in the organisational processes and the staff’s continuous technical/digital upskilling are conducive to competitive advantage and business success in KIBS. High competencies and skills that are continuously renewed through training as well as the acquisition of digital competencies, play an influential role in generating innovative capabilities that lead to business performance. Flexible and efficient business processes, the company’s support for informal knowledge sharing between employees and its ability to exploit new knowledge to sustain growth are prerequisites for KIBS’ success. Promoting an organisational culture of trust and collaboration, making the staff feel valued and satisfied and effectively using digital technologies for communication are all significant factors in supporting the development of innovation capabilities.
Social implications
This research proves that IC management, viewed as an integrated construct comprising human, structural and relational capital management, significantly affects Innovativeness through the development of technology-based innovative capabilities. Furthermore, in a context where KIBS (and other companies) nowadays compete in a digital environment, technology and technical knowledge are paramount for a company’s success. The study validates in an aggregated model the role played in innovation by the management of knowledge and technical knowledge embodied in the employees’ competencies and know-how, the management of tacit and explicit knowledge developed by the structural capital and the management of stakeholder knowledge accumulated by the relational capital.
Originality/value
This research takes a fresh and comprehensive perspective to investigate how IC management can impact Innovativeness and Innovative Performance in KIBS by focusing on the nexus with the organisations’ Technological Orientation. The paper makes an original contribution to research concerning IC, KIBS, technology and innovation based on empirical evidence and a new approach to assessing IC as an aggregate rather than by looking at individual components.
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Ahmed Dabees, Andrej Lisec, Sahar Elbarky and Mahmoud Barakat
Reverse logistics (RL) activities are becoming crucial in today’s business environment because of their ability to enhance organizational capabilities to manage waste and…
Abstract
Purpose
Reverse logistics (RL) activities are becoming crucial in today’s business environment because of their ability to enhance organizational capabilities to manage waste and resources effectively and efficiently as an approach for achieving sustainability. These capabilities can eventually create sustainable competitive advantage (SCA). Drawing on resource-based view (RBV), this study posits RL as a tool to develop capabilities gained from high performance (financial and nonfinancial) to enhance SCA.
Design/methodology/approach
Covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze 1,207 responses collected from manufacturing organizations operating in Egypt. Data were gathered through an online survey sent via email to manufacturing organizations operating in Egypt, particularly Cairo, Giza and Alexandria, as these governorates contain most business activities in Egypt and hence high a percentage of waste.
Findings
Results indicated that RL activities (recycling, remanufacturing, repair, recondition and disposal) can fully mediate the relationship between organizational performance (financial and nonfinancial) and SCA. However, the remanufacturing and recycling mediating roles between financial performance and SCA were not significant.
Research limitations/implications
Applying this research in a developing country (Egypt) will help extend RBV and incentivize organizations to apply RL activities, which can potentially solve several environmental issues such as decreasing waste.
Originality/value
Using the research variables in combination will help in filling the literature gap as previous research focused on RL and only organizational operational performance, where RL was used as an independent variable with no illustration of how its dimensions affect performance or its mediating role between performance and SCA.
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Rizwana Rasheed, Aamir Rashid and Abdul Hafaz Ngah
Due to the environmental concerns in our society, governments are moving towards green purchasing. However, public sector organizations have substantial internal problems. By…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to the environmental concerns in our society, governments are moving towards green purchasing. However, public sector organizations have substantial internal problems. By using a theory of natural resource-based view, this study aimed to analyse the influence of leadership styles and innovation capabilities on green purchasing in the public sector organizations of a developing economy.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from 199 purchasing professionals of public sector organizations, and hypotheses were tested through a quantitative method using partial least square-structural equation modelling with the help of SmartPLS version 4 to validate the measurement model.
Findings
This study identified that transformational leadership and delegation style of leadership have a significant and positive effect on innovation capability and green purchasing. Similarly, innovation capability mediates the relationship between leadership styles and green purchasing. However, transformational leadership found a more substantial effect on innovation capability and green purchasing than the delegation leadership style.
Research limitations/implications
Results provide insight into the role of leadership styles in green purchasing and innovation capabilities in public sector organizations. Thus, addressing the important issues of how leadership styles and innovative capabilities (IC) can improve green culture, specifically green purchasing, to enhance ecological sustainability.
Originality/value
Results provide insight into the role of leadership styles in green purchasing and innovation capabilities in public sector organizations. Thus, it addresses how leadership styles and IC can improve green culture, specifically green purchasing, to enhance ecological sustainability.
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Bo Feng, Manfei Zheng and Yi Shen
An emerging body of literature has pinpointed the role of supply chain structure in influencing the extent to which supply chain members disclose information about their internal…
Abstract
Purpose
An emerging body of literature has pinpointed the role of supply chain structure in influencing the extent to which supply chain members disclose information about their internal practices and performance. Nevertheless, empirical research investigating the effects of firm-level relational embeddedness on network-level transparency still lags. Drawing on social network analysis, this research examines the effect of relational embeddedness on supply chain transparency and the contingent role of digitalization in the context of environmental, social and governance (ESG) information disclosure.
Design/methodology/approach
In their empirical analysis, the authors collected secondary data from the Bloomberg database about 2,229 firms and 14,007 ties organized in 107 extended supply chains. The authors employed supplier and customer concentration metrics to measure relational embeddedness and performed multiple econometric models to test the hypothesis.
Findings
The authors found a positive effect of supplier concentration on supply chain transparency, but the effect of customer concentration was not significant. Additionally, the digitalization of focal firms reinforced the impact of supplier concentration on supply chain transparency.
Originality/value
The study findings contribute by underscoring the critical effect of relational embeddedness on supply chain transparency, extending prior literature on social network analysis, providing compelling evidence for the intersection of digitalization and supply chain management, and drawing important implications for practices.
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Zhaojun Han, Shenyang Jiang, Zhanzhi Zheng and Yong Jin
While researchers recognize the significance of philanthropic donations in disaster relief and recovery, the benefits that firms derive from such donations remain unclear…
Abstract
Purpose
While researchers recognize the significance of philanthropic donations in disaster relief and recovery, the benefits that firms derive from such donations remain unclear, particularly when firms are adversely impacted by the disaster. To address this gap, this study seeks to elucidate the impact of various donation strategies on firm resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the hand-collected data on donations, the authors employ ordinary least squares regressions to investigate the effectiveness of various donation strategies – including type, timing and location – in enhancing firm resilience in terms of the severity of stock price losses during the pandemic. To address potential endogeneity concerns, the authors use a two-stage least squares regression with instrumental variables.
Findings
This study finds robust evidence that certain donation strategies are more effective at mitigating stock price losses during the pandemic. Specifically, the authors find that in-kind donations (compared to monetary ones), earlier donations (compared to later ones) and donations targeting severely impacted areas (Hubei province vs. other places) are more effective methods to reduce the severity of stock price losses.
Originality/value
This study points out an alternative mechanism through which donations influence firm resilience during a crisis context and provides important managerial implications for firms to better engage in disaster donations.
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Gulin Idil Sonmezturk Bolatan, Ismail Golgeci, Ahmad Arslan, Ekrem Tatoglu, Selim Zaim and Sitki Gozlu
This study aims to investigate the relationships between firms’ strategic planning (SP), leadership and technology transfer competence (TTC) by specifically incorporating the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationships between firms’ strategic planning (SP), leadership and technology transfer competence (TTC) by specifically incorporating the mediating role of strategic quality management (SQM).
Design/methodology/approach
This study performs structural equation modeling using AMOS on survey data collected from 200 Turkish firms operating in multiple industries and sectors.
Findings
This study finds that leadership in Turkish firms operating in multiple sectors is positively associated with SQM. This study further finds that SQM positively influences Turkish firms’ TTC and mediates the roles of SP and leadership in TTC.
Research limitations/implications
A key research implication from this study relates to the mediating role of SQM in TTC in an emerging economy context. This study highlights that SP and leadership can play an essential role in TTC through the mediating mechanism of SQM. Consequently, SQM emerges as a crucial linking pin in conveying the impact of quality management practices on technology transfer in emerging markets.
Practical implications
An essential managerial implication of this study relates to the critical roles of leadership, SP and SQM in TTC. For the managers of firms operating in a relatively uncertain emerging context such as Turkey, it is essential to adopt a supportive and empowering leadership style, where open communication and innovative activities are viewed positively and SQM is adopted holistically. Also, SP should be streamlined throughout the firm and followed by SQM to support TTC.
Originality/value
This paper links the technology (and knowledge) management and the strategy and leadership literature streams by focusing on the mechanisms of technology transfer and delving into the linkages between SQM, leadership, SP and TTC. It specifically presents SP and leadership as precursors to SQM in their joint influence on TTC. Accordingly, this research bridges technology, strategy and leadership research and provides a broader picture of technology transfer that encompasses the joint role of different processes in firms’ TTC.