The complex interactions between firm‐ and industry‐specific factors within a national context and their impacts on innovation often hinder construction enterprises' efforts in…
Abstract
Purpose
The complex interactions between firm‐ and industry‐specific factors within a national context and their impacts on innovation often hinder construction enterprises' efforts in optimising their innovation performance. The purpose of this paper is to employ the Cobb‐Douglas empirical production model to develop an innovation production function that illustrates the input and output factors relating to the innovation performance of construction firms.
Design/methodology/approach
Applying these factors to a dataset comprising economic and innovation statistics over 20 years for Germany and Singapore, regression analyses were conducted to investigate the critical resources that contribute to the innovation performance of German and Singaporean construction firms.
Findings
The findings indicated that the maturity of the innovation landscape in Germany cultivates the strength of German construction firms in developing unique firm‐specific resources that pushes their competitiveness edge. In Singapore, construction firms' dependence on the nation's basic science and technology research leads to weak firm dynamics and innovation capabilities.
Originality/value
It is recommended that in Singapore, the government should focus on the strength of their relationships with construction enterprises to aid the development of construction firms' R&D capabilities. The primary recommendation for both German and Singapore construction firms is to develop a system of knowledge documentation and distribution that facilitates systematically reapplications of know‐how, enabling construction firms to develop sustainable competitiveness through unique knowledge assets.
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The Government's role in industrial innovation has always been conventionally viewed as a regulator rather than a marketer of industrial progress. By breaking out of the box, this…
Abstract
Purpose
The Government's role in industrial innovation has always been conventionally viewed as a regulator rather than a marketer of industrial progress. By breaking out of the box, this study positioned the Government as a marketer of innovation and construction enterprises as “consumers” of innovation products. The marketing mix concept of 4Ps is applied in this study to tailor marketing strategies for Governments, who aim to stimulate a higher level of innovation performance in the construction industry. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 97 construction enterprises in Germany is conducted to examine the innovation performance, strategies and resource utilisation of construction firms.
Findings
The findings indicate that there is no one-size-fits-all national marketing strategy in promoting construction innovation. The Government is required to classify marketing strategies according to firm sizes and enterprises’ needs in relation to their national innovation environment to maximise their innovation potential.
Practical implications
To illustrate this, marketing strategies according to firm sizes for the Government to stimulate higher innovation performance of German construction enterprises are proposed.
Social implications
The main recommendation is for the Government to intensify inter-firm co-operation by employing national institutions as the key promoter in establishing and operating industry-led focus groups and world-class research centres.
Originality/value
Acknowledging the role of Government as more than an enabler of construction innovation is required in today's knowledge economy. This study proposes that it may be time for Governments to review their conventional role and adopt a more proactive stance in promoting innovation in the manner that counts to construction enterprises.
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Globalisation is generally defined as the “denationalisation of clusters of political, economic, and social activities” that destabilize the ability of the sovereign State to…
Abstract
Globalisation is generally defined as the “denationalisation of clusters of political, economic, and social activities” that destabilize the ability of the sovereign State to control activities on its territory, due to the rising need to find solutions for universal problems, like the pollution of the environment, on an international level. Globalisation is a complex, forceful legal and social process that take place within an integrated whole with out regard to geographical boundaries. Globalisation thus differs from international activities, which arise between and among States, and it differs from multinational activities that occur in more than one nation‐State. This does not mean that countries are not involved in the sociolegal dynamics that those transboundary process trigger. In a sense, the movements triggered by global processes promote greater economic interdependence among countries. Globalisation can be traced back to the depression preceding World War II and globalisation at that time included spreading of the capitalist economic system as a means of getting access to extended markets. The first step was to create sufficient export surplus to maintain full employment in the capitalist world and secondly establishing a globalized economy where the planet would be united in peace and wealth. The idea of interdependence among quite separate and distinct countries is a very important part of talks on globalisation and a significant side of today’s global political economy.
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Yaw A. Debrah and Ian G. Smith
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on…
Abstract
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on work and employment in contemporary organizations. Covers the human resource management implications of organizational responses to globalization. Examines the theoretical, methodological, empirical and comparative issues pertaining to competitiveness and the management of human resources, the impact of organisational strategies and international production on the workplace, the organization of labour markets, human resource development, cultural change in organisations, trade union responses, and trans‐national corporations. Cites many case studies showing how globalization has brought a lot of opportunities together with much change both to the employee and the employer. Considers the threats to existing cultures, structures and systems.
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Michael Jay Polonsky, Philip J. Rosenberger and Jacquelyn Ottman
The complexities of environmental issues require that when developing new green products marketers have to seek‐out, involve and learn from stakeholders with environmental…
Abstract
The complexities of environmental issues require that when developing new green products marketers have to seek‐out, involve and learn from stakeholders with environmental expertise. These stakeholders have information that lies outside the organisation’s main area of expertise and can assist the firm in developing less environmentally harmful products. This article examines US and Australian markets’ perceptions of stake‐holders’ potential to influence the green new product development (NPD) process and what strategies can be used to involve stakeholders in this process. The findings suggest that marketers believe some stakeholders with “high” influencing abilities should be involved in the green NPD process, although it appears that in practice, firms use very basic methods to include these stakeholders. It also appears that there is limited formal interaction between the firm and its stakeholders and that respondents are not engaging and learning from others with green product expertise.
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Sanjay Ramchander, Alan Reichert and S.V. Jayanti
Notes recent dramatic growth in international banking, outlines the US historical and legal background to it and reviews previous research trying to explain why banks establish…
Abstract
Notes recent dramatic growth in international banking, outlines the US historical and legal background to it and reviews previous research trying to explain why banks establish offices outside their home country. Develops a mathematical model to investigate the factors determining the extent of foreign bank penetration in the US financial market and applies it to 1984‐95 data for Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK. Finds that expansion abroad is positively linked to the size of the home country’s banking industry and capital market; the need to respond to domestic credit market conditions; and the levels of trade and exchange rates between countries. Discusses the differences between the individual countries studied and consistency with other research; and considers the implications for US banks.
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Darek Mose and Brian H. Kleiner
Identifies the different mechanisms of alternative dispute resolution, outlining the main features of each one and suggesting appropriate areas of use. Supports the employment of…
Abstract
Identifies the different mechanisms of alternative dispute resolution, outlining the main features of each one and suggesting appropriate areas of use. Supports the employment of these methods and lists the benefits they bring. Points out that the courts are still required as back up if these methods fail.
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Charles W. Ford, Sarath A. Nonis and Gail I. Hudson
Given the in creasing globalisation of economies, a growing number of marketing firms are expecting more of their profits to be derived from international sales. However, failure…
Abstract
Given the in creasing globalisation of economies, a growing number of marketing firms are expecting more of their profits to be derived from international sales. However, failure to account for or understand the effects of differences in consumers' cultural values on decision‐making will hinder a marketer's efforts to expand internationally. Using samples of Middle‐eastern and US consumers, the study found cultural values and consumer ethical beliefs to be significantly different between the two groups. In addition, these cultural values explained a significant part of the variation in consumer ethical beliefs in both cultures.
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Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some…
Abstract
Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.
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Investigates three aspects of human resource management facing future challenges, personnel, technology and globalization. Suggests that the human resource professionals in a…
Abstract
Investigates three aspects of human resource management facing future challenges, personnel, technology and globalization. Suggests that the human resource professionals in a successful business must be able to attract and retain individuals who have the ability to manage a globally responsive business. Covers the use of technology for competitive advantage; advocates global strategies in operations management and empowerment of the individual.