Abstract
Many local authorities have responsibility for maintaining a part of the national heritage, which may be in danger of serious depreciation because of inadequacies in the funding process. The “major cities” in particular played a unique role in Britain’s industrial development which almost inevitably led to the accumulation of a wealth of local heritage. These authorities pay heavily in terms of the financing of that heritage conservation. Attention is focused on two sectors of local authority spending where heritage is a particularly important determinant of cost and where the necessary resources are restrained by funding arrangements. The sectors concerned are: parks and public open spaces and museums and art galleries. The paper reviews the funding system and tests its appropriateness to meet resource needs. There is at least a strong suggestion that the disproportionate spending by the major cities in certain areas derives to a greater or lesser extent from industrial heritage. The major cities may have a greater share of responsibility for maintaining the national heritage derived from their industrial history. The current system of grant allocation makes no allowance for these factors. If these can be identified and measured more precisely then there is the potential for including them in the grant allocation process. This would result in a grant allocation more closely related to authorities’ needs and in consequence help to ensure that sufficient resources are available to them.
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John Wyld, Geoffrey Pugh and David Tyrrall
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between SME suppliers and large buyers, and so better inform competition policy in cases where market power resides with…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between SME suppliers and large buyers, and so better inform competition policy in cases where market power resides with buyers.
Design/methodology/approach
The theories of monopsony and oligopsony are applied to intermediate markets to set out a model of profit appropriation by large buyers from small suppliers. The main focus of the illustrative examples used is on the relationship between supermarkets and their suppliers.
Findings
The authors' main prediction is that powerful buyers are able to “exploit” SME suppliers by restricting their number, the price paid to individual suppliers and the quantity purchased from each supplier.
Practical implications
Governments seek to encourage small businesses because of their ability to generate innovation and create future growth opportunities. Any investigations of the continued growth of buyer power in intermediate markets should consider the effects not only upon consumer welfare but also upon the welfare of the SME sector. Governments may wish to counteract monopsonistic markets as they may inhibit SMEs that could otherwise provide innovation and growth within the economy.
Originality/value
This model gives a theoretical framework to analyse the interaction between small suppliers and large buyers. Furthermore, it may provide a counter to the argument that low consumer prices are the sole legitimate aim of competition policy.
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Geoff Pugh, David Tyrrall and John Wyld
Both the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) argue that barriers to market access in the UK brewing industry disadvantage small brewers…
Abstract
Both the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) argue that barriers to market access in the UK brewing industry disadvantage small brewers. They have been actively campaigning for a number of years for a tax concession (progressive beer duty or PBD) to alleviate the situation of small brewers. This paper argues that the disadvantages faced by small brewers are due to a complex monopsony in the beer industry, where the power of the distribution segment of the value chain is paramount. It outlines a model of the structure of the UK beer industry, and undertakes two types of empirical analysis to test the potential impact of PBD on the small brewery sector. The paper finds that control over distribution is the key to profitability and survival in the beer industry, and that small brewers with such control are most likely to benefit from PBD. The findings, however, also have relevance to the position of any small business facing a powerful distribution segment. Finally, for the issue of policy development, the paper indicates that the potential outcomes of a policy change may not be entirely those intended.
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James Cunningham and Simon S. Fraser
In this chapter, the authors explore the entrepreneurial nature of craft brewing. The authors find growth in the microbrewery sector has been supported through a cooperative…
Abstract
In this chapter, the authors explore the entrepreneurial nature of craft brewing. The authors find growth in the microbrewery sector has been supported through a cooperative approach between competing artisanal small firms. This has helped build competitive advantage in resistance to the dominant market forces of large brewers. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews with 12 craft brewers in the North East of Scotland. Analysed findings are used in the design of a conceptual model on the nature of collaboration in the craft beer sector. An artisanal scene is presented, where community benefit and continued development of the craft beer movement is prioritised, over commercial and strategic growth. The typically small firms in this area share resources and support each other in a drive to wean customers away from the large mainstream producers. The authors argue that the nature of the craft beer sector seeks to actively resist market dominance, not only through product quality and marketing, but also in the entrepreneurial behaviours enacted to sustain the movement. The findings suggest a co-existence of both collaboration and competition in the strategic decisions of craft brewers. The focus is on the locally embedded connections these firms develop in the maintenance of their craft roots, with a range of complex interconnected factors linking brewer, community, and the broader industry.
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Inka Havrila and Christabel Zhang
University students often view economics as one of the most challenging subjects. In this paper, we explore whether the same attitude is shared by students at an offshore campus…
Abstract
University students often view economics as one of the most challenging subjects. In this paper, we explore whether the same attitude is shared by students at an offshore campus. The analysis is based on a survey of onshore and offshore students in an Australian university. The focus of the paper is on identifying similarities/differences in student attitudes towards economics, their degree of motivation, satisfaction with the content and the delivery of lectures and tutorials, major challenges, and student profile characteristics. A non‐parametric test indicates significant differences between the two cohorts, in terms of their age, enrolment status, paid work commitments, prior study of economics, their motivation and approach to studying the subject, and satisfaction with both the content and the delivery of the lectures/tutorials. The findings in this study are helpful in developing strategies for enhancing student learning in culturally diverse cohorts.
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Surajit Bag, Abhigyan Sarkar, Juhi Gahlot Sarkar, Helen Rogers and Gautam Srivastava
Although climate change-related risks affect all stakeholders along the supply chain, the potential impact on small and micro-sized suppliers is incredibly excessive. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Although climate change-related risks affect all stakeholders along the supply chain, the potential impact on small and micro-sized suppliers is incredibly excessive. The corresponding toll of these climate risk threats on the mental health and well-being of owners of small and micro-sized suppliers can adversely affect their participation in sustainability efforts, ultimately impacting the firm's performance. This often-overlooked dynamic forms the core of our research. We probe into two pivotal aspects: how industry dynamism and climate risk affect the mental health and well-being of owners of small and micro-sized suppliers and how, in turn, dictate involvement and, consequently, supply chain sustainability performance. This is further nuanced by the moderating role of the abusive behavior of buyers.
Design/methodology/approach
Our study is built on resource dependency theory and the supporting empirical evidence is fortified by a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. This study comprises three phases. In the first phase, our experiment examines the effect of industry dynamism and climate risk exposure on sustainable supply chain management performance. Hypotheses H1a and H1b are tested in the first phase. The second phase involves using a survey and structural equation modeling to test the comprehensiveness of the model. Here, the relationship between industry dynamism, climate risk exposure, mental health and well-being of owners of small and micro-sized supplier firms, supplier involvement and sustainable supply chain management (H2–H7) is tested in the second phase. In the third phase, we adopt a qualitative approach to verify and provide descriptive explanations of phase two findings.
Findings
Our findings underscore the significance of small and micro-sized suppliers in sustainability, offering invaluable insights for both theoretical understanding and practical implementation. Our study highlights that buyers must allocate sufficient resources to support small and micro-sized supplier firms and collaborate closely to address climate change and its impacts.
Practical implications
The key takeaway from this study is that buyer firms should consider SDG 3, which focuses on the good health and well-being of their employees and the mental health and well-being of owners of small and micro-sized suppliers in their upstream supply chain. This approach enhances sustainability performance in supply chains.
Originality/value
This is one of the first studies that shows that industry dynamism and climate risk exposure can negatively impact small and micro-sized suppliers in the presence of a contextual element, i.e. abusive behavior of buyers, and ultimately, it negatively impacts sustainable supply chain performance dimensions.
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Farooq Habib, Marko Bastl and Colin Pilbeam
The purpose of this paper is to identify the strategic options available to a weaker actor to counteract the dominance of a stronger actor in a buyer-supplier relationship, and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the strategic options available to a weaker actor to counteract the dominance of a stronger actor in a buyer-supplier relationship, and identifies those factors that influence the choice of individual options.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a systematic literature review methodology, a five-phase approach of planning, searching, screening, extraction and synthesis was rigorously employed. In total, 48 studies were used to draw conclusions about the phenomena of interest.
Findings
Captured in an integrated conceptual framework, this study identified five strategic options available to the weaker actor in order to counteract a power dominance of a stronger player, which were underpinned by seven influencing factors.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed conceptual framework requires first qualitative empirical validation using an abductive multi-case strategy, followed by a theory testing phase, employing a configurational approach.
Practical implications
The proposed framework suggested that the weaker actor in a buyer-supplier relationship has five options to address power dominance. These options were available within as well as beyond a focal dyadic relationship. For the stronger actor, the authors showed that power dominance is a temporary state rather than permanent.
Originality/value
This study marks one of the first attempts to present a coherent set of strategic options and underpinning factors to counteract power dominance in a buyer-supplier relationship from the perspective of a weaker actor. Given the underexplored nature of the topic, the study also provides guidelines for further research.
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Lars Hendrik Achterberg, Maktoba Omar, Ambisisis Ambituuni and Oliver Roll
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the external antecedents of pricing information acquisition in an integrative manner. The study develops understanding of determinants of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the external antecedents of pricing information acquisition in an integrative manner. The study develops understanding of determinants of information acquisition as a crucial prerequisite of successful pricing strategies within German small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Design/methodology/approach
A large scale survey of sampled 2,542 SMEs was conducted. A total of 220 questionnaires were completed, reflecting a response rate of 9 per cent. This was acceptable considering the sensitivity of pricing issues. A final sample of 173 usable questionnaires were obtained.
Findings
The result indicates that external antecedents of pricing information acquisition practices have a positive impact on SME pricing performance, and pricing performance is positively related to firm performance.
Practical implications
The study indicates that external antecedents of pricing information acquisition are strategic pricing capabilities, which should receive attention by SME managers.
Originality/value
This study bridges significant obstacle to knowledge generation and theory development of the important issues of pricing information acquisition in SMEs.
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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the application of Six Sigma/design of experiments (DOE) hybrid framework for improving damping force (DF) generation process in a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the application of Six Sigma/design of experiments (DOE) hybrid framework for improving damping force (DF) generation process in a shock absorber assembly unit.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a case study research method with single case (holistic) design. This research design was found to be appropriate for testing the projected framework for integrating DOE approaches within Six Sigma define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) cycle. In the proposed framework, Shainin’s component search technique (CST) was deployed at the “analysis” phase of DMAIC for the first stage filtering of process parameters, followed by the use of Taguchi orthogonal arrays (OA) at the “improve” phase for identifying the optimal setting of the parameters.
Findings
The application of Shanin CST facilitated in ascertaining that assembly component (piston with rebound stopper) was causing the variation and not the assembly process. Further, the use of Taguchi OA at the improve phase allowed the collection of necessary data to determine the significant piston parameters with minimum experimentation (eight experimental runs in this case as opposed to the expected 64) and analysis of variance on the collected data facilitated the selection of parameter settings to optimize the “critical to quality”, i.e. rebound DF.
Originality/value
This study provided a stimulus for wider application of integrated DOE approaches by the engineering community in the problem solving and the identification of parameters responsible for poor performance of the process.
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Jackie Fry, David Tyrrall, Geoff Pugh and John Wyld
This paper surveys the population of independent breweries in the UK to ascertain their Web site usage and accessibility via the Internet. It finds independent breweries have…
Abstract
This paper surveys the population of independent breweries in the UK to ascertain their Web site usage and accessibility via the Internet. It finds independent breweries have tended to lag similarly sized business in other sectors in the provision or abandonment of company Web sites. Most of their Web sites have intuitively easy URLs and are readily accessible via brewery directories, but are less accessible via popular search engines. Most are corporate Web sites rather than marketing or selling tools. The paper concludes with a discussion of business and policy implications for small businesses and the Internet.