Kevin Grant, Roman Matousek, Martin Meyer and Nickolaos G. Tzeremes
The purpose of this paper is to provide a fresh insight into the examination of the comparison between multinationality and firm performance, measured through technical efficiency…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a fresh insight into the examination of the comparison between multinationality and firm performance, measured through technical efficiency levels by overcoming methodological constraints and misunderstandings presented in earlier research.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors estimate firms’ efficiency levels in a production function-type framework through technical efficiency levels using nonparametric data envelopment analysis. The authors include firms from both developed and developing economies, from different national origins and with different sectoral characteristics, with a particular focus on knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) and capital-intensive business services (CIBS).
Findings
The study confirms for the case of KIBS the existence of the three-stage sigmoid (S-shaped) hypothesis between multinationality and firm performance measured through technical efficiency levels. Finally, the empirical findings reveal that CIBS exhibit only the first two stages, thus forming a “U”-shape relationship.
Originality/value
The authors propose the application of different firms’ performance measurements, providing us with the ability to unpack a firms’ managerial decision processes with regards to determining the optimised investment(s) in technology and research and development and with a particular focus on KIBS and CIBS.
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The datafication of teaching and learning settings continues to be of broad interest to the learning sciences. In response, this study aims to explore a non-traditional learning…
Abstract
Purpose
The datafication of teaching and learning settings continues to be of broad interest to the learning sciences. In response, this study aims to explore a non-traditional learning setting, specifically two Golf Teaching and Research Programs, to investigate how athletes and coaches capture, analyze and use performance data to improve their practice. Athletic settings are well known for spurring the proliferation of personal data about performance across a range of contexts and ability levels. In these contexts, interest in athletes’ experiences with data has often been overshadowed by a focus on the technologies capturing the data and their capabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
This ethnographic research focuses on the data-rich experiences of golf coaches and students during two pedagogical encounters. Using Balka and Star’s (2015) concept of shadow bodies, this article explores how golfing bodies can become infused with data, creating partial representations of a lived experience that can be augmented and manipulated for pedagogical purposes, depending on the context and the individuals involved.
Findings
Interaction analysis helps the authors to examine the embodied and interactional nature of coach-golfer pedagogical encounters across two sites, a local Professional Golf Association golf course and a Swing Analysis Lab. The authors also split these encounters into two episodes to identify how coaches and golfers use partial representations of their bodies to analyze performance and interpret data.
Originality/value
This research suggests that as data-driven practices continue to engulf athletic settings, and teaching and learning settings broadly, emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring that athletes (learners) – from the most recreational to elite users – have an embodied understanding of their performance to improve their ability. Furthermore, this article raises questions about what data gets shared between instructors and athletes and how that data is used.
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Historically, Scottish education policymaking has been implemented independently of central educational policy makers, with policymakers negotiating with a variety of interest…
Abstract
Historically, Scottish education policymaking has been implemented independently of central educational policy makers, with policymakers negotiating with a variety of interest groups and elected policy makers. The paper discusses Scotland’s research policy; the purpose of research and its possible link to teaching and learning, the function of a research policy and a critical discussion of the theory of policy networks and policy communities to establish the key players who “really” shape and set Scotland’s research policy. The paper draws on documentary evidence to support recommendations on how to enhance the policy‐making process to ensure a greater representation and more effective implementation at the “grass roots” level of Scottish researchers and their academic managers.
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Kevin Jefferson, Torsten B. Neilands and Jae Sevelius
Trans women of color contend with multiple marginalizations; the purpose of this study is to examine associations between experiencing discriminatory (racist/transphobic) events…
Abstract
Purpose
Trans women of color contend with multiple marginalizations; the purpose of this study is to examine associations between experiencing discriminatory (racist/transphobic) events and depression symptoms. It uses a categorical measure of combined discrimination, and examines a protective association of transgender identity on depression symptoms.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from a subset of trans women of color participants in the Sheroes study were analyzed with linear and logistic regression. Associations of depression symptoms with racist and transphobic events, combined discrimination, coping self-efficacy, and transgender identity were assessed with odds ratios.
Findings
Exposure to discriminatory events and combined discrimination positively associated with depression symptom odds. Increased transgender identity associated with increased coping self-efficacy, which negatively associated with depression symptom odds.
Research limitations/implications
Cross-sectional study data prohibits inferring causality; results support conducting longitudinal research on discrimination's health effects, and research on transgender identity. Results also support operationalizing intersectionality in health research. The study's categorical approach to combined discrimination may be replicable in studies with hard to reach populations and small sample sizes.
Practical implications
Health programs could pursue psychosocial interventions and anti-discrimination campaigns. Interventions might advocate increasing participants’ coping self-efficacy while providing space to explore and develop social identity.
Social implications
There is a need for policy and health programs to center trans women of color concerns.
Originality/value
This study examines combined discrimination and identity in relation to depression symptoms among trans women of color, an underserved population.
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David Basterfield, Thomas Bundt and Kevin Nordt
The purpose of this paper is to explore risk management models applied to electric power markets. Several Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) models are applied to day‐ahead forward contract…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore risk management models applied to electric power markets. Several Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) models are applied to day‐ahead forward contract electric power price data to see which, if any, could be best used in practice.
Design/methodology/approach
A time‐varying parameter estimation procedure is used which gives all models the ability to track volatility clustering.
Findings
The RiskMetrics model outperforms the GARCH model for 95 per cent VaR, whereas the GARCH model outperforms RiskMetrics for 99 per cent VaR. Both these models are better at handling volatility clustering than the Stable model. However, the Stable model was more accurate in detecting the numbers of daily returns beyond the VaR limits. The fact that the parsimonious RiskMetrics model performed well suggests that efforts to specify the model dynamics may be unnecessary in practice.
Research limitations/implications
The present study provides a starting point for further research and suggests models that could be applied to electricity markets.
Originality/value
Electricity markets are a challenge to risk modelers, as they typically exhibit non‐Normal return distributions with time‐varying volatility. Previous academic research in this area is rather scarce.
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This paper seeks to problematise a highly complex and organisationally charged change programme and its management at a real life higher education institution in Scotland, which…
Abstract
This paper seeks to problematise a highly complex and organisationally charged change programme and its management at a real life higher education institution in Scotland, which has been given a fictitious name. The paper discusses the difficulties of the educational change process in higher education, the complexities surrounding the notions of organisational cultures and communities of practice and issues of power and management including new managerialism. A number of theoretical frameworks are brought to bear during this situational analysis, the most significant being the notion of looking at educational management from a witchcraft, witches and shamans perspective. The paper argues for educational managers to move away from the classic views of change management and the management of change towards the meso level of analysis to manage educational change.
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Jon Landry, David Edgar, John Harris and Kevin Grant
This paper aims to investigate, through the lens of the principal–agent problem, the relationship between payment of National Hockey League (NHL) salaries and player performance…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate, through the lens of the principal–agent problem, the relationship between payment of National Hockey League (NHL) salaries and player performance during the period of 2005-2011 and explore the inherent issues within the NHL player compensation and incentive structure.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts a pragmatic philosophy with deductive reasoning. This paper focuses on the NHL season 2005-2011 and undertake analysis of historical player contracts and performance data of 670 players across 29 clubs to undertake liner regression analysis.
Findings
This paper quantifies potential inefficiencies of NHL league contracts and defines the parameters of the principal–agent problem. It is identifies that player performance generally increases with salary, is higher in the first year of a contract and despite decreasing over the life of the contract, will usually peak again in the final year of the contract.
Research limitations/implications
The research is based around figures from 2005-2011 and secondary statistical data. The study captures quantitative data but does not allow for an exploration of the qualitative perspective to the problem.
Practical implications
Entry-level or first contracts are good for all teams and players because they provide incentive to perform and a reduction of risk to the team should a player not perform to expectations. The same can be said for players at the other end of the spectrum. Although not typically used much, performance bonuses for players over the age of 35 allow clubs to “take a chance” on a player and the player can benefit by reaching attainable bonuses. These findings therefore provide contributions to the practicing managers and coaches of NHL teams who can consider the results to help shape their approach to management of players and the planning of teams and succession planning for talent.
Originality/value
The paper presents a comprehensive and current perspective of the principal–agent problem in NHL and extends the work of Purcell (2009) and Gannon (2009) in understanding player performance enhancement.
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Ray Hackney, Kevin Grant and Grete Birtwistle
With the emergence of enabling internet technologies and increased competition between UK supermarkets has led the “big four” – Tesco, J Sainsbury, ASDA and Safeway/Morrisons – to…
Abstract
Purpose
With the emergence of enabling internet technologies and increased competition between UK supermarkets has led the “big four” – Tesco, J Sainsbury, ASDA and Safeway/Morrisons – to develop grocery operations online. The objective of this paper is to evaluate and present best practice strategies employed by major retail organisations concerning these deployments. The paper argues that Tesco's superior performance can be identified through five critical factors. However, continued success using existing models and thinking is problematic and that future advantages will rely on taking a complex adaptive systems view of the deployment of E‐Grocery systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology employed is a conceptual synthesis of current knowledge, based on theoretical constructs and empirical observations.
Findings
There is evidence of varying degrees of progress and lessons learnt, from adopting strategies and internet technologies, with new ways of conceptualizing and managing virtual retail operations. The research challenges existing thinking and makes sense of the plexus between this technology and the market place.
Originality/value
The essential contribution of the paper is the identification of five key elements for online retail success and the development of a proposed “online sustainability” model which is perceived to offer contemporary insights into competitive virtual environments.
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Steven DeSimone and Kevin Rich
The purpose of this paper is to identify factors associated with the presence and use of internal audit functions (IAFs) at US colleges and universities, as well as their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify factors associated with the presence and use of internal audit functions (IAFs) at US colleges and universities, as well as their relationship with financial reporting quality and federal grant outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a combination of publicly available and manually collected data, this paper uses a two-stage model to examine both the factors associated with the use of IAFs within US institutions of higher education and the consequences therein.
Findings
Results indicate that institutions with larger enrollments and endowments, those that receive public funding and those that have an audit committee are more likely to maintain an IAF. Findings also suggest that the presence of an IAF is negatively associated with reported material weaknesses for major programs at significant levels. Finally, the presence of an IAF is found to have a positive and significant association with federal grants received by the institution, with an even stronger association for IAFs that perform grant-specific procedures.
Originality/value
The study’s findings provide the first large-sample quantitative insights on IAF work within US colleges and universities. Results should be of interest to college/university leadership as they attempt to improve financial reporting quality and grant outcomes, as well as external stakeholders looking to evaluate whether institutions are acting as good stewards over resources. Additionally, the Institute of Internal Auditors may find the results helpful when promoting the profession.