Rodrigo Restrepo and Juan G. Villegas
The purpose of this paper is to present a case study in which data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to evaluate and classify the suppliers of a Colombian motorcycle assembly…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a case study in which data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to evaluate and classify the suppliers of a Colombian motorcycle assembly company. This tool allows the integration of several attributes into single performance measures (cross-efficiency and diversity efficiency) and subsequent classification based on the values obtained for these two metrics.
Design/methodology/approach
The classification uses a methodology based on two main tools. The first is an input-oriented cross-efficiency DEA model with ordinal variables to evaluate the suppliers’ performance, and the second is a classification of these into categories that identifies those with good performance for features that make them outstanding.
Findings
The assembly company segments its suppliers according to supply frequency. The results show that suppliers working under a just-in-time system achieve superior performance with respect to other suppliers.
Practical implications
The application of this methodology in a real-world case illustrates how DEA can be a useful tool to support the evaluation and classification of suppliers (a process of increasing complexity given the current trend to include multiple strategic measures together with classical operational measures). Moreover, the methodology illustrated in the study can be adapted to other similar settings.
Originality/value
The main contributions of this paper are twofold. First, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to illustrate the use of DEA in a real case related to supplier evaluation. Second, the presence of ordinal variables (e.g. quality or environmental ratings) gives rise to DEA variants seldom used in this context.
Propósito
Este artículo presenta un caso de estudio en el que se utiliza análisis envolvente de datos (DEA) para evaluar y clasificar los proveedores de una ensambladora colombiana de motocicletas. Dicha herramienta permite integrar múltiples atributos en dos medidas de desempeño (eficiencia cruzada y de diversidad) y la posterior clasificación de éstos con base en los valores obtenidos para ambas medidas.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
La clasificación usa una metodología basada en dos herramientas. La primera es un modelo DEA de eficiencia cruzada orientado a las entradas con variables ordinales que se usa para evaluar el desempeño de los proveedores. La segunda es una clasificación de los proveedores en categorías para identificar aquellos con buen desempeño en algunas características que los hacen sobresalientes.
Resultados
La compañía segmenta sus proveedores de acuerdo con la frecuencia de abastecimiento. Los resultados muestran que los proveedores que operan bajo justo a tiempo (Just-in-time, JIT) tienen un desempeño superior con respecto a los demás proveedores.
Implicaciones prácticas
La aplicación de esta metodología en un caso real ilustra como DEA es una herramienta útil para apoyar la evaluación y clasificación de proveedores (un proceso de complejidad creciente gracias a la tendencia actual de incluir medidas estratégicas junto a las medidas operacionales comúnmente utilizadas). Además, la metodología utilizada puede adaptarse fácilmente a otras situaciones similares.
Originalidad/valor
Las contribuciones de este artículo son dos. Primero, hasta donde sabemos, este es el primer estudio que ilustra el uso de DEA en un caso real de evaluación de proveedores. Segundo, la presencia de variables ordinales (por ejemplo, evaluaciones de calidad y medioambiente) resultan en modelos DEA que son poco utilizados en este contexto.
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Carlos Dávila Ladrón de Guevara, Araceli Almaraz Alvarado and Mario Cerutti
Taking as reference a sample of around a hundred biographical materials on entrepreneurs in Mexico and Colombia, the purpose of this chapter is dual. Both to show the relevance…
Abstract
Taking as reference a sample of around a hundred biographical materials on entrepreneurs in Mexico and Colombia, the purpose of this chapter is dual. Both to show the relevance and varied modalities that the biographical approach has enjoyed in business history research since the 1990s, and to display the intrinsic potential this modality of scholarship entails for entrepreneurship endeavors. In particular, it discusses the prospects to incorporate this body of empirical works into the large Latin American audience attending undergraduate, graduate and executive education programs in business, economic history and related fields. The chapter is organized into three sections. The first two are devoted to illustrate relevant patterns in the entrepreneurial trajectory of individuals and entrepreneurial families studied in each of the two countries under consideration. The last section identifies some conceptual issues that may impact current debates on Latin American business development as exemplified in recent business and economic history journal venues and scholarly conferences.
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Fernando Gonzalez Aleu, Edgar Marco Aurelio Granda Gutierrez, Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes, Juan Baldemar Garza Villegas and Jesus Vazquez Hernandez
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a continuous improvement project (CIP) at a Mexican university designed to increase engineering graduate student loyalty.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a continuous improvement project (CIP) at a Mexican university designed to increase engineering graduate student loyalty.
Design/methodology/approach
A plan-do-check-act problem-solving methodology was implemented, and a SERVQUAL survey was conducted on 67 master’s engineering students.
Findings
Five factors were found to affect student loyalty: facility cleanliness; faculty teaching skills; evening student services; master’s degree student management roles at work; and master’s degree students’ ages. After the implementation of the improvement and control actions, there was a 7.7% increase in the engineering master’s degree students’ loyalty scores.
Research limitations/implications
However, there were several research limitations: data availability (such as student loyalty, student satisfaction and a small master’s degree student population size) and factors outside the CIP’s scope (such as the country’s economic situation, university rankings, master’s programme accreditations and COVID-19).
Practical implications
The findings from this research study could be used by other higher education institutions (HEIs)to improve student loyalty and as a reference when conducting similar studies in other service organisations such as hospitals and hotels.
Originality/value
This research work took a different approach in assessing student satisfaction and student loyalty in a HEI by using the SERVQUAL survey as the data collection instrument for conducting CIP.
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Juliana Villegas, Ruben Guevara and Juan Esteban Escalante
Acknowledging that brands age over time, this paper aims to investigate the exogenous and endogenous factors that influence this phenomenon.
Abstract
Purpose
Acknowledging that brands age over time, this paper aims to investigate the exogenous and endogenous factors that influence this phenomenon.
Design/methodology/approach
The literature on brand ageing is scarce. Through a study of several Colombian organisations that have an international presence, the paper uses a grounded-theory qualitative methodology, including in-depth interviews and documentary brand reviews over a longitudinal time dimension, to perform an analysis of specific aspects that affect brand ageing processes.
Findings
The results revealed that the factors that determine brand ageing can be classified into the following two subgroups: exogenous (conditions of the economic environment, category conditions, entrance of new competitors, ageing current consumers and entry of new consumers) and endogenous (organisational growth, upper management convictions, marketing structure, brand architecture, inappropriate naming and obsolete brand image) factors.
Originality/value
This research provides substantial academic value and insights that allow a better understanding of specific aspects that influence the brand ageing process.
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Sylvia Novillo-Villegas, Wendy Anzules-Falcones and Juan Ignacio Martin-Castilla
This study aims to explore the relationship between the innovation capacity and performance of manufacturing firms in the Ecuadorian pharmaceutical and chemical sectors using…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the relationship between the innovation capacity and performance of manufacturing firms in the Ecuadorian pharmaceutical and chemical sectors using strategic foresight analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
From an extensive literature review, the fundamental variables related to manufacturing firms’ innovation for better performance were identified. Six hypotheses and actions were proposed related to financing, economic resources, capacities and research and development. Several scenarios were tested through foresight methodology to determine the more appropriate to be implemented by manufacturing firms over the next five years.
Findings
Scenario 01, where all the hypotheses resulted positive, has a 15.3% probability of occurrence. The results offer a relevant understanding of the behavior of the variables proposed as strategic actions for the sector.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, foresight methodology is applied for the first time to analyze the manufacturing sector in Ecuador. The authors propose a plan of action from the strategic scenario identified in this study, supporting the development of the industrial sectors under study.
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Gesa Mayer, Dorothea Ellinger and Siska Simon
In this chapter, we present our findings and ideas regarding the involvement of external partners in challenge-based learning (CBL). In particular, we address two questions…
Abstract
In this chapter, we present our findings and ideas regarding the involvement of external partners in challenge-based learning (CBL). In particular, we address two questions: Firstly, whether it is inevitably necessary and/or worthwhile to work with external partners. Secondly, in case external partners are to be included in CBL, what needs to be considered in order to make the cooperation rewarding for teachers and students. Therefore, we identify different roles external partners may assume as well as benefits and problems that can arise from this in terms of the implementation and learning process. Our insights are based on qualitative expert interviews with five teachers and three students from courses with and without external partners at the Hamburg University of Technology (a subsample of our larger quantitative and qualitative study on CBL implementation within the ECIU), our own experience in teaching CBL, as well as on literature reviews. Our findings suggest that roles and functions of external partners are various: They may come into play as a training partner, as a challenge provider, as an expert in the field and/or as a feedback provider. They may take over several roles at the same time or just one out of it; they may be defined as part of the team of learners or join in at special occasions only. While there are certain advantages unique to having external partners, some roles may also be covered without (permanently) involving externals. In any case, working with externals requires continuous communication and negotiation regarding role expectations, positions, and activities throughout the process. To facilitate this, the chapter introduces a model to systematically analyze and balance interactions with external partners.
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Juan Velez-Ocampo and Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez
The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on corporate reputation and internationalization to identify key research theories, contexts, characteristics, methodologies…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on corporate reputation and internationalization to identify key research theories, contexts, characteristics, methodologies, applications, limitations and opportunities for future research on the interlinks between these two complex constructs.
Design/methodology/approach
Elements of systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis were used to analyze theories, contexts, characteristics, methodologies and opportunities for future research based on 90 articles published in 50 journals over 27 years.
Findings
The findings suggest that this is a contemporary yet expanding research field explored from a variety of theoretical, methodological and empirical standpoints, which hinders broad conclusions and warrants further research. More specifically, this paper identifies three broad research streams that link international expansion and corporate reputation and suggests avenues for future studies: cross-national institutions, strategic decisions and corporate reputation; international marketing, consumers and brand credibility; and corporate image, international trade and investment flows.
Originality/value
Reputation and internationalization are constructs with multiple applications and interpretations. The way companies build, maintain and extend their reputation and legitimacy, and the drivers, motives and difficulties faced by them when expanding operations internationally have been widely studied separately. This manuscript reviews the nascent and promising linkage between these two elements that have recently drawn the attention of business practitioners and scholars alike.
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Juan M. Pulhin, Rodel D. Lasco, Florencia B. Pulhin, Lawrence Ramos and Rose Jane J. Peras
Forests and the goods and services they provide are essential for human well-being (Seppälä, Buck, & Katila, 2009). Forests provide three types of ecosystem services that directly…
Abstract
Forests and the goods and services they provide are essential for human well-being (Seppälä, Buck, & Katila, 2009). Forests provide three types of ecosystem services that directly support human well-being: provisioning services such as food, fuelwood, medicine, etc.; regulating services such as water purification, climate regulation, erosion control, etc.; and cultural services, including recreation, spiritual, and religious values (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003). About 1.6 billion people live in predominantly forest ecosystems or in their vicinity. Forest communities include indigenous peoples (IPs) who have been living since time immemorial in forest areas and other local groups including the more recent settlers or immigrants. In the tropics, over 800 million people are living in forests and woodlands, which makes these areas a very important resource for the rural poor (Chomitz, Buys, De Luca, Thomas, & Wertz-Kanounnikoff, 2007). Based on ADB's (2009a) estimates, half of the world's poorest of the poor are IPs, and more than half live in Asia. Sixty million of these IPs are forest dependent.
Juan José Tarí, José F. Molina-Azorín, Jorge Pereira-Moliner and María D. López-Gamero
This paper examines the relationships between: (1) motives for internalization of a quality system, (2) the internalization of a quality system and (3) customer results, employee…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the relationships between: (1) motives for internalization of a quality system, (2) the internalization of a quality system and (3) customer results, employee results and social results in public organizations by means of replication research
Design/methodology/approach
First, the work applies a quantitative study to test hypotheses using structural equations based on the Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach. Then, a qualitative study is carried out to support the quantitative results obtained
Findings
Results show that internal and external motives affect internalization, and that the most important issues for internalization are commitment, communication, training, recognition and follow-up. In addition, continuous improvement is key in order to enhance customer results, employee results and social results
Originality/value
The contribution of this work is that it provides empirical support to prior research on internalization focused on manufacturing and service organizations, and extends these results to the case of public organizations
Propósito
Este trabajo analiza la relación entre: a) los motivos para interiorizar un sistema de calidad, b) la interiorización de un sistema de calidad y c) los resultados de clientes, empleados y sociedad en organizaciones públicas, a través de un estudio que replica los análisis previos sobre interiorización realizados en organizaciones manufactureras y de servicios.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Interiorización de la calidad en organizaciones públicasPara conseguir este objetivo se realiza primero un estudio cuantitativo para comprobar las hipótesis a través de un análisis de ecuaciones estructurales desde el enfoque Partial Least Squares (PLS). Posteriormente se realiza otro estudio cualitativo para apoyar los resultados cuantitativos obtenidos.
Resultados
Los resultados muestran que los motivos internos y externos influyen en la interiorización y que los aspectos más importantes para interiorizar un sistema de calidad son la implicación, la comunicación, la formación, el reconocimiento y el seguimiento interno. Además, la mejora continua es clave para mejorar los resultados de clientes, empleados y sociedad.
Originalidad/valor
La contribución del trabajo es que proporciona apoyo empírico a los resultados de trabajos previos sobre interiorización centrados en organizaciones manufactureras y de servicios y extiende estos resultados al caso de organizaciones públicas.
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Diana Londoño-Correa, Juan Carlos Lopez-Diez and Jairo Campuzano-Hoyos
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to thecomprehension of management education in the Global South, focusing on how contextual specificities, exemplified in the Colombian…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to thecomprehension of management education in the Global South, focusing on how contextual specificities, exemplified in the Colombian case, have driven curricular reforms. These reforms harmonize traditional practical training with a substantial emphasis on humanities education. to
Design/methodology/approach
Using a historical approach, this study conducts a heuristic and hermeneutic analysis of historical primary documents from archives, secondary sources and interviews.
Findings
The curricular reforms in Eafit’s Business Administration program responded to the need to diverge from a model borrowed from the United States. This departure leads to organic transformations that empower the inclusion of humanities for holistic professional manager education. This holistic approach was aimed to equip graduates to address organizational challenges and unique local issues, transcending conventional boundaries of education.
Research limitations/implications
This research serves as an initial exploration of a Global South case, laying the groundwork for future analyses of analogous cases. Comparative studies may eventually provide a more comprehensive understanding of management education beyond the Global North.
Originality/value
This work pioneers a relatively unexplored area of literature by investigating the history, unique aspects of business administration curricula and the role of curricular reforms within specific contexts. It is particularly pertinent in understanding the distinctive characteristics of business schools in the Global South. These institutions initially took inspiration from well-established American counterparts and literature reflecting Northern Global settings. However, they introduced innovations tailored to their local demands. This study spotlights the distinctive character of management education in Latin America, emphasizing a robust humanistic component.