Hsian-Ming Liu and Hsin-Feng Yang
The purpose of this paper is to propose that a firm could exploit the ties of interfirm network to access external network resources (NR) to assist its sensing and responding…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose that a firm could exploit the ties of interfirm network to access external network resources (NR) to assist its sensing and responding capabilities for the variability of business environment, thereby leading to superior organizational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the survey data collected from 260 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan to examine the causal effects of hypotheses testing. By adopting structural equation modeling technology, the direct and mediating effects among the NR, sensing capability (SC), responding capability (RC) and firm performance (FP) are explored.
Findings
The result of this paper shows that a firm’s NR and its organizational capabilities are critical antecedents of FP. Moreover, the mediating testing identifies NR and FP as being mediated by a firm’s organizational agility (OA) and RC.
Practical implications
The findings of this paper provide practical evidence that a SME could gain benefits and advantages from the joint effect of integrating NR and OA to compete with global conglomerates. Thus, a SME must put more effort into developing and maintaining its interfirm network and then figuring out its effect with its internal agility process in order to surmount unexpected changes, create advantages of the first-mover and innovation activities and boost the FP.
Originality/value
This paper combines external NR and internal OA and offers a practical strategy to a SME, creating a unique competitive advantage for further development in a dynamic business environment.
Details
Keywords
Drawing on a network perspective on enterprise agility, the purpose of this paper is to explore whether firms with superior network structure not only may be better able to…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on a network perspective on enterprise agility, the purpose of this paper is to explore whether firms with superior network structure not only may be better able to generate direct effect on firm performance, but whether a superior network structure may also help firms to create better firm agility and thus enhance their performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed a survey method and data were collected from 250 companies in Taiwan's glass industry. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) technology, it specified the measurement properties of survey instrument such as reliabilities and validities and then identified causal relation among latent constructs to examine causal effects of hypotheses testing.
Findings
The results show that a firm's agility capability and its network structure are a critical competitive strategy source of firm performance. Moreover, network structure also partially mediates the impact of enterprise agility on firm performance.
Research limitations/implications
Because the data were collected from a single industry and firm performance is evaluated by subjective managerial assessments, further research may be necessary by using the data involving multiple industries with objective performance indices for more meaningful and generalized results.
Practical implications
The findings confirm the importance of enterprise agility for contemporary firms in today's dynamic business environment. By reinforcing enterprise agility, firms could react better to unpredictable changes. In addition, firms also are suggested to put more effort into developing and maintaining their network structures, both as repositories of external resources and as boosters of enterprise agility.
Originality/value
The paper provides evidence regarding the impact of enterprise agility and network structure on firm performance.
Details
Keywords
This study sought to advance understandings of migrant worker labor outcomes by examining (1) the relationship between migrant employees’ motivational cultural intelligence (CQ…
Abstract
Purpose
This study sought to advance understandings of migrant worker labor outcomes by examining (1) the relationship between migrant employees’ motivational cultural intelligence (CQ) and employee well-being and (2) whether voice behavior at work mediates this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Working with leader–member exchange (LMX) theory and conservation of resources theory, the author proposed a multiple mediation model to explain the relationship between motivational CQ and employee outcomes and how employee voice may mediate this relationship. LMX and voice behavior were tested for the mediating effects in a cross-cultural context. To test the model, a questionnaire was conducted with Vietnamese migrants working in Taiwan (343 valid responses were collected). The results were analyzed using regression and bootstrapping.
Findings
Higher motivational CQ was associated with higher levels of work engagement and lower levels of job burnout. Strong employee voice mediated this relationship: high motivational CQ enabled workers to learn cultural nuances that helped them speak up in appropriate ways (in part by building strong relationships with leaders), which positively influenced work engagement and job burnout.
Originality/value
This study is one of the first to clarify and contribute to the research domain of cross-cultural management and motivational CQ among Vietnamese migrant workers living in Asian cultures. Past studies regarding CQ have seldom studied Southeast Asian migrant workers and the impact of motivational CQ on job burnout and work engagement. This study fills this gap and provides empirical evidence that may prove helpful for international human resources and organizational leaders.