L. Ahmad Soltani, E. Shivanian and Reza Ezzati
The purpose of this paper is to present a new method based on the homotopy analysis method (HAM) with the aim of fast searching and calculating multiple solutions of nonlinear…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new method based on the homotopy analysis method (HAM) with the aim of fast searching and calculating multiple solutions of nonlinear boundary value problems (NBVPs).
Design/methodology/approach
A major problem with the previously modified HAM, namely, predictor homotopy analysis method, which is used to predict multiplicity of solutions of NBVPs, is a time-consuming computation of high-order HAM-approximate solutions due to a symbolic variable namely “prescribed parameter”. The proposed new technique which is based on traditional shooting method, and the HAM cuts the dependency on the prescribed parameter.
Findings
To demonstrate the computational efficiency, the mentioned method is implemented on three important nonlinear exactly solvable differential equations, namely, the nonlinear MHD Jeffery–Hamel flow problem, the nonlinear boundary value problem arising in heat transfer and the strongly nonlinear Bratu problem.
Originality/value
The more high-order approximate solutions are computable, multiple solutions are easily searched and discovered and the more accurate solutions can be obtained depending on how nonhomogeneous boundary conditions are transcribed to the homogeneous boundary conditions.
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Sherliza Puat Nelson and Siti Norwahida Shukeri
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of corporate governance characteristics on audit report timeliness in Malaysia. The corporate governance…
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of corporate governance characteristics on audit report timeliness in Malaysia. The corporate governance characteristics examined are board independence, audit committee size, audit committee meetings and audit committee members' qualifications.
Design/Methodology/Approach – The sample comprises of 703 Malaysian listed companies from Bursa Malaysia, for the year 2009. It excludes companies from the finance-related sector as they operate under a highly regulated regime under supervision by the Central Bank of Malaysia. Further, regression analysis was performed to examine the audit report timeliness determinants.
Findings – Results show that audit report timeliness is influenced by audit committee size, auditor type, audit opinion and firm profitability. However, no association was found between board independence, audit committee meetings, audit committee members' qualifications and audit report timeliness.
Research limitations/Implications – It is a cross-sectional study of the year 2009. Practical implications for policy makers are consideration of the minimum submission period for audit reports Regulators' support for firms to have larger audit committee sizes is also discussed.
Originality/Value – The study investigates the impact of corporate governance on audit timeliness in light of the recent amendments to the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance made in 2007.
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Marieh Khorraminia, Zahra Lesani, Mahdi Ghasvari, Lila Rajabion, Mehdi Darbandi and Alireza Hassani
Nowadays, communications, products, services and costs are customized through the internet technology. The main theory to continue competitiveness in the organizations is customer…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, communications, products, services and costs are customized through the internet technology. The main theory to continue competitiveness in the organizations is customer relationship management (CRM). CRM enables organizations to efficiently interact with customers and gather, store and examine their data for providing a complete view of them. On the other hand, the subject of cloud computing has increasingly become the bridge for the success of the CRM implementation. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of cloud computing (new cloud facility, knowledge of information technology (IT), cloud security and cost) on the success of CRM systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The model and the questioners-based data are analyzed using the Smart PLS 3.0. The data were gathered based on 80 employees of three main agricultural companies in Iran.
Findings
The obtained results have indicated that all of the considered factors, new cloud facilities, knowledge of IT, cloud security and cost, play an important role in CRM systems’ success. Also, the evaluation and examination of the consistency and validity of the model are performed through the structural equation model.
Research limitations/implications
First, the authors have conducted a study in a single region. It cannot be guaranteed that the results can be generalized to other regions. Second, for this cross-sectional study, the research design was conducted that showed constant relationships between variables. The research done for this study is cross-sectional. Third, because of time and financial restrictions, the authors have gathered data using a sample from a single location.
Originality/value
Proposing a new model for investigating of the impact of cloud computing (new cloud facility, knowledge of Information Technology (IT), cloud security and cost) on the success of CRM systems is the main originality of this paper.
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Daniel Jiménez‐Jiménez and Micaela Martínez‐Costa
The purpose of this paper is to look at human resource management (HRM) as a key element in the implementation of total quality management (TQM). This paper empirically tests the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to look at human resource management (HRM) as a key element in the implementation of total quality management (TQM). This paper empirically tests the HRM practices that best fit this philosophy.
Design/methodology/approach
The results of an empirical study of 706 companies are analyzed using structural equation methodology. The practices that are used to construct the framework for analysing approaches to HRM are based on a literature review.
Findings
The results show that the alignment of the orientation towards quality and the approach to HRM is statistically significant for the utilization of the HRM system. The results also support the hypothesis that both TQM and HRM practices have a positive effect on performance.
Research limitations/implications
A cross‐sectional analysis is applied, so it is necessary to be cautious in conclusions regarding causality. Single informants are used as the source of information. Although the use of single informants remains the primary research design in most studies, multiple informants would enhance the validity of the research findings.
Practical implications
Practitioners must bear in mind the fundamental role of human resource management in the pursuit of long‐term total quality management. Companies should look for a set of HRM practices congruent with TQM, rather than using individual practices. A strategic perspective to HRM supports these results.
Originality/value
There is little empirical evidence to support the effect that HRM can have on TQM implementation and most papers focus only on distinct HRM practices. This paper provides an insight into the issues involved in the development of HRM practices oriented to TQM. It examines the relationships among HRM practices, TQM and organizational performance.
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Tessa Withorn, Jillian Eslami, Hannah Lee, Maggie Clarke, Carolyn Caffrey, Cristina Springfield, Dana Ospina, Anthony Andora, Amalia Castañeda, Alexandra Mitchell, Joanna Messer Kimmitt, Wendolyn Vermeer and Aric Haas
This paper presents recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy, providing an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper presents recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy, providing an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography of publications covering various library types, study populations and research contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper introduces and annotates English-language periodical articles, monographs, dissertations, reports and other materials on library instruction and information literacy published in 2020.
Findings
The paper provides a brief description of all 440 sources and highlights sources that contain unique or significant scholarly contributions.
Originality/value
The information may be used by librarians, researchers and anyone interested in a quick and comprehensive reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.
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Ismail Gölgeci, Imran Ali, Paavo Ritala and Ahmad Arslan
Service ecosystems are becoming an important domain of joint value creation and resource integration, and the literature in the field is burgeoning. The recent growth in the…
Abstract
Purpose
Service ecosystems are becoming an important domain of joint value creation and resource integration, and the literature in the field is burgeoning. The recent growth in the literature warrants consolidating the findings of the existing literature, summarizing the recent development and identifying avenues for more impactful future research on the topic. This study aims to map the service ecosystems research domain and synthesize insights by integrating qualitative content analysis with quantitative data analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses algorithmic bibliometric review (quantitative) with VOSviewer and R-package and content analysis (qualitative) on 119 service ecosystems papers published between 2003 and 2020.
Findings
The bibliometric analysis uncovers the critical research domains, knowledge trajectories, influential authors and journals and author networks in the field. The content analysis identifies the four most important research themes (value creation, change triggers, strategic and entrepreneurial action and institutional embeddedness and agency) and provides an integrative view of the dynamics among these themes. The authors also find the need for more empirical and theory grounded research around these four themes. Furthermore, based on the review, the authors discuss the disciplinary identity of the service ecosystems field and suggest interesting future research opportunities, along with ideas for useful empirical approaches and theoretical extensions.
Originality/value
This study’s comprehensive analysis offers an overview of the evolution and identity of the service ecosystems research and identifies several promising opportunities for future research on service ecosystems.
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Hichem Aouag, Mohyiddine Soltani and Mohamed Djamel Mouss
This paper aims to investigate an integrated approach that aims at enhancing the application process of value stream mapping (VSM) method. It also proposes an extended VSM called…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate an integrated approach that aims at enhancing the application process of value stream mapping (VSM) method. It also proposes an extended VSM called Economic and Environmental VSM(E-EVSM). The proposed approach highlights the improvement of economic and environmental performances.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed approach has studied the integration of VSM, fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) to improve the economic and environmental performances of manufacturing processes. The VSM method is used for data collection and manufacturing process assessment, whereas fuzzy DEMATEL is used to analyse the current state map. Finally, fuzzy QFD is used to organize the improvement phase of VSM method.
Findings
The clear findings of this research prove the effectiveness of VSM method on the environmental and economic performances of manufacturing processes. In addition, the proposed approach will show the advantages of fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy QFD approaches in improving the application of the VSM method.
Research limitations/implications
The limitation of this study includes the lack of consideration of other dimensions such as social, technological and managerial. In addition, the proposed approach studied an average set of environmental and economic indicators.
Originality/value
The novelty of the proposed approach is proved by the development of an extended VSM method (E-EVSM). Also, the proposed approach contributes by a new methodology for analysing and improving the current state map of manufacturing processes.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore changes occurring in the human resource (HR) function and human resource management (HRM) practices due to the implementation of total…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore changes occurring in the human resource (HR) function and human resource management (HRM) practices due to the implementation of total quality management (TQM) in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
Quality managers and HR managers from 77 export‐based firms with ISO 9001 certification that have implemented a formal TQM programme, running for at least three years, participated in the survey. Factor analysis, correlation and regression were used for the data analysis.
Findings
It was found that firms introduce process improvement initiatives within the HR department by upgrading the role of the HR function, and by redesigning HRM practices of performance management, competence development and career planning, rewards and recognition, recruitment and selection, HR planning, and satisfaction and well‐being to bring those in line with TQM requirements.
Originality/value
Although QM literature is extensive, it is difficult to find studies that investigated to what extent TQM practices have been adopted by export‐driven organisations in developing economies and what are the changes occurring in the HR function and HRM practices due to TQM initiatives. Understanding these is important to the development of QM theory in the international context. It is expected that the paper's findings will be able to establish baseline data to stimulate further research in this area.
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While there is relatively plenty of evidence for the positive impact of communication on the perceptions of organizational change, how organizational changes affect information…
Abstract
Purpose
While there is relatively plenty of evidence for the positive impact of communication on the perceptions of organizational change, how organizational changes affect information sharing is relatively unknown. The purpose of this paper is to investigate if a favorable perception of ongoing organizational changes has a positive impact on information sharing and whether trust mediates this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire (n=317) was administered to the employees of a large Finnish multinational organization. Partial least square structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses based on earlier research findings.
Findings
The results show that a positive perception of recent organizational changes improves information sharing both directly and indirectly, mediated by trust. Consequently, when changes are perceived negatively, employees recoil from information sharing which is known to have negative implications for organizations.
Research limitations/implications
Data were collected in a single organization. The nature of the specific changes in the studied organization and its particularities undoubtedly had an effect on respondents’ perceptions.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to organizational information management research by elaborating on the relationship between organizational changes and interpersonal information sharing between employees. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first quantitative study confirming the impact of the perception of organizational changes on employee information-sharing behavior.
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Carla Curado, Helena Mateus Jerónimo, Paulo Lopes Henriques and Marta Tavares
Grounded on the social exchange theory (SET), this paper aims to analyze the different networks of conditions that lead to the presence and absence of total commitment, in its…
Abstract
Purpose
Grounded on the social exchange theory (SET), this paper aims to analyze the different networks of conditions that lead to the presence and absence of total commitment, in its affective, continuance and normative dimensions. Six conditions – competencies development, empowerment, work-family conflict, trust, transformational leadership and seniority – are studied to explore and explain the exchanges and reciprocity relationships between organizations and employees.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 546 employees from Portuguese large companies, the study uses the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore how causal conditions jointly link to the outcome of organizational commitment.
Findings
The results show more causal configurations leading to the most favorable dimensions of commitment (affective, normative and the absence of continuance commitment), which is a positive sign for organizations. Employees' seniority stands out in all types of commitment, reflecting the affective and emotional themes in Portuguese culture.
Originality/value
This study makes an original contribution to the literature on organizational commitment by showing the alternative complementarity of the conditions in the context of the SET, only possible through fsQCA. It also provides inputs for practitioners who can adopt strategies and measures to develop the paths that lead to successful outcomes (presence of commitment) and avoid those that lead to undesired ones (absence of commitment).