Dawn H. Pearcy, Delvon B. Parker and Larry C. Giunipero
With ever‐increasing competitive pressures, growing numbers of firms use electronic procurement (e‐procurement) in an attempt to reduce costs and increase profitability…
Abstract
With ever‐increasing competitive pressures, growing numbers of firms use electronic procurement (e‐procurement) in an attempt to reduce costs and increase profitability. Academicians and practitioners alike agree that one of the most important benefits of e‐procurement is its ability to facilitate integration within the firm and across the supply chain. However, there is much to be discovered about the prevalence of actual implementation of e‐procurement. The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the extent to which firms operating in diverse industries use nine different e‐procurement tools that differ in their ability to facilitate supply chain integration. The survey data were provided by a sample of 142 members of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). Factor analysis revealed that the group of nine e‐procurement tools could be categorized into two types: basic, single‐process tools and integrative tools. A t‐test of the mean differences between each type of e‐procurement tool revealed that firms used basic, single‐process tools to a greater extent than they used integrative forms of e‐procurement. To further explore firms’ use of e‐procurement, we attempted to ascertain whether the industry in which a firm operates impacts use. Logistic regression revealed that firm sector has an effect on the use of integrative eprocurement tools, with firms operating in the petroleum and the transportation equipment sectors being less likely to use them than their manufacturing counterparts. These findings are important, as previous research indicates that effective supply chain integration is associated with improvements in production planning, inventory management, distribution, and overall supply chain performance.
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Ganesh Prasad Shukla and Gajendra Kumar Adil
The researchers maintain that when a firm tackles “green concerns,” there could be several repercussions for manufacturing strategy decision areas (MS DAs). However, such…
Abstract
Purpose
The researchers maintain that when a firm tackles “green concerns,” there could be several repercussions for manufacturing strategy decision areas (MS DAs). However, such repercussions are complex and have not been widely researched. This paper aims to propose a conceptual maturity stage model to study the configuration of MS DAs.
Design/methodology/approach
Firms exhibit different levels of “green” maturity in their journey and tend to make different choices in green technologies (GTs), resulting thereby in other compatible choices in their MS DAs. Extant literature has been synthesized in this light to build a conceptual maturity stage model in two steps. First, what is the GT that is involved! The second step discusses the possible implications of such a GT for MS DAs. Further, such information is organized according to a firm’s four maturity stages for all GTs that may be applicable. A case study has been undertaken to illustrate the model.
Findings
The results show good potential for the proposed conceptual model to examine the repercussions of MS DAs in industrial cases, and thereby develop relevant theories on this subject.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed model was applied to a paint manufacturing company, which potentially limits the findings’ generalizability to other industries and/or geographies.
Practical implications
The proposed conceptual model can help managers assess the maturity stages of manufacturing to determine suitable adjustments that may be required in configuring MS DAs to improve their positions.
Originality/value
This is among the very few models to explore the repercussions of green manufacturing for MS DAs according to the four-stage maturity model.
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Noha El-Bassiouny, Yasmin Anwar Abdou, Dina El-Bassiouny, Ahmad Jamal and Jonathan Wilson
This paper aims to examine practical wisdom from the Islamic religion elaborating on how it pertains to the sustainability mind-set. The purpose is to assess whether the Islamic…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine practical wisdom from the Islamic religion elaborating on how it pertains to the sustainability mind-set. The purpose is to assess whether the Islamic and sustainability mind-sets coincide and if so, how they do.
Design/methodology/approach
The first two chapters of the Holy Qur’an were divided into parts based on the divisions in the exegesis by Abu Bakr Al-Jaza’eri. Next, a qualitative content analysis of the main sustainability themes in these chapters was conducted. The first stage of the content analysis involved the collection of Qur’anic verses related to the sustainability concepts. Following that, inductive interpretive analysis was conducted in the second stage of the content analysis, where key sustainability lessons within the agreed upon Qur’anic verses were extracted.
Findings
The empirical study reported in this paper reveals 10 lessons from the examined Qur’anic text that pertain to the sustainability mind-set. Each of these lessons appears to foretell the wisdom behind the sustainability mind-set.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on sustainability and Islam in two ways. First, the analysis results in key lessons relating to sustainability, the majority of which were not covered in existing literature. Second, the research takes a holistic approach to finding commonalities between the sustainability mind-set and the Islamic mind-set, instead of focusing on a specific aspect of sustainability such as the environment.
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Roos Stals, Albert Dijkhuizen and Tom Joosten
GGzE, a mental health care organisation in the south Netherlands, implemented treatment for patients with severe personality disorders and substance use: clinical case management…
Abstract
GGzE, a mental health care organisation in the south Netherlands, implemented treatment for patients with severe personality disorders and substance use: clinical case management (CCM). CCM is a special healthcare facility for patients whose needs do not match other existing treatment designs. These patients are characterised by unproductive or disturbed relationships and multiple crises that deregulate clinical practice and impede recovery. In the CCM team, patients are treated with the theoretical concepts of relationship management, interpersonal reconstructive therapy, Livesley's stage‐wise treatment and integrated dual disorder treatment (IDDT). These theoretical models and methods used within CCM have been described extensively, though there has been no clinical study about its effect within GGzE so far. Professionals working within the CCM team report that behaviour such as acting out is reduced after about one year of treatment, with less interventions from other caretakers or police involvement. To substantiate these claims, a single group pre‐test and posttest was conducted to find out whether these patients really experience changes in physical and psychological problems, as well as changes in their personality disorder.The sample consists of patients who started treatment between 2004 and 2009 (pre measurement T=0), (n = 21). At T=0, patients completed the Symptom Checklist (SCL‐90) and Personality Characteristics Questionnaire (Vragenlijst Kenmerken Persoonlijkheid, VKP). The outcomes are compared with the results of the same questionnaires that were completed by patients in 2010 (post measurement T=1). The outcomes of the SCL‐90 show significant changes for fear, depression, hostility, distrust and interpersonal sensitivity, as well as the total score of psychoneurosis. The VKP shows significant changes for general personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder and borderline personality disorder. More research is needed to find stronger evidence of treatment effects of CCM, using a bigger sample, a control group and more outcome measurements that also include the drug use of patients.