Saeid Jorfi, Khalil Md Nor and Lotfi Najjar
The purpose of this study is to contribute to the current discussion on strategic alignment of information technology and business (strategic alignment) by developing a model for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to contribute to the current discussion on strategic alignment of information technology and business (strategic alignment) by developing a model for conceptualizing how strategic alignment can be enabled through of IT flexibility and IT capability.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire instrument was created to measure the constructs and it was assessed in a pretest and two pilot-tests. The main data set was collected from IT managers (or similar titles) of medium- and large-sized firms.
Findings
Strategic alignment seems to be moving closer to firms’ core activity in today’s business environment. The findings revealed that strategic alignment was significantly affected by four dimensions of IT flexibility and IT capability. Furthermore, the significant role of two dimensions of IT flexibility in IT capability was supported.
Research limitations/implications
Single key informants were used for data collection that could be a potential limitation.
Practical implications
It seems likely that firms will benefit from the results to manage and control their scarce IT resources more effectively for aligning IT with business strategies, goals and needs.
Originality/value
Strategic alignment has become a more complex and unstructured phenomenon and many firms are still considering how to reconcile to it. Furthermore, the lack of empirical examination of IT flexibility and IT capability in relation to strategic alignment from important perspectives, and the lack of research of the dimensions of IT flexibility for supporting IT capability, determines the purpose of this study.
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Mahdi Salehi, Afsaneh Lotfi and Shayan Farhangdoust
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of financial distress costs, corporate growth rate, and flexibility on the interaction between ownership structure and corporate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of financial distress costs, corporate growth rate, and flexibility on the interaction between ownership structure and corporate debt policy.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors test the hypotheses by employing simultaneous equations system methodology with two-stage least squares regression and panel data technics on a sample of 786 listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2010-2015.
Findings
The results indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between corporate debt level and managerial ownership in the Iranian listed companies. The authors also find no convincing evidence that either the firm’s growth or financial health could influence or moderate this interrelationship.
Research limitations/implications
The implications drawn from this study are constrained by two primary limitations. First, the present study is conducted in an Iranian setting; therefore, the data utilized for the study only contain companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The utilization of listed companies on the Tehran Stock exchange is likely to affect the generalizability of the study in a national context. Second, the authors were unable to extend the sample time period due to some major deficiencies in the Tehran Stock Exchange library and its supplementary software.
Social implications
Since the fundamental institutional assumptions underpinning the western and even East Asia capital structure models are not valid in the institutional environment of Iran, the findings could provide substantial implications for our understanding of capital structures as well as debt policy literature.
Originality/value
This is an innovative research in terms of the mutual relationship between debt and ownership structure and the use of equations system to measure the interaction between them.
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Sanduni Peiris and Nayanthara De Silva
Concrete structures undergo early and fast deterioration, which causes defects such as cracks, water leaks and delamination, resulting from a lack of or inefficient maintenance…
Abstract
Purpose
Concrete structures undergo early and fast deterioration, which causes defects such as cracks, water leaks and delamination, resulting from a lack of or inefficient maintenance practices. To improve this behaviour, this paper aims to develop a maintenance strategy benchmarking model for concrete structures.
Design/methodology/approach
Fuzzy logic toolbox on MATLAB R2018a was used to develop the proposed model and it was applied to two cases. A comprehensive literature search was done to review common concrete defects, their impact on the performance and functionality of the structure, effectiveness of maintenance strategies and previous maintenance benchmarking models. The literature findings were further validated through expert interviews which have been incorporated in the model.
Findings
Case study results show that preventive maintenance (PM), predictive maintenance (PdM) and corrective maintenance (CM) strategies are required more or less in similar combinations for maintenance of concrete roof structures. The best combination for case 1 is 36.42% PM, 35.40% PdM and 28.18% CM, and for case 2 is 35.93% PM, 35.08% PdM and 28.99% CM. According to suitability, they can be ranked as PM > PdM > CM.
Originality/value
This model will contribute as a comprehensive decision-making tool for building/facility managers. The findings further carry a strong message to those who practice only CM in their buildings.
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Hamzah Al-Mawali, Zaid Mohammad Obeidat, Hashem Alshurafat and Mohannad Obeid Al Shbail
This study aims to develop cause-and-effect relationships among the critical success factors (CSFs) of fintech adoption and rank these CSFs based on their importance in the model.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop cause-and-effect relationships among the critical success factors (CSFs) of fintech adoption and rank these CSFs based on their importance in the model.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the objectives of the study, the Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (FDEMATEL) approach was used. The data was collected from 16 experts using a questionnaire.
Findings
The findings demonstrated the interrelationships among the CSFs. In total, 16 critical factors were recognized as causal factors, and the remaining eight were considered effect factors. The CSFs were ranked based on their importance in fintech adoption.
Originality/value
This study is novel as it investigates CSFs of fintech adoption using FDEMATEL, and it contributes to understanding the nature of these factors and how they affect fintech adoption. The findings propose a significant basis to deepen fintech adoption and deliver a clue to design a practical framework for fintech adoption.
Narges Hemmati, Masoud Rahiminezhad Galankashi, D.M. Imani and Farimah Mokhatab Rafiei
The purpose of this paper is to select the best maintenance policy for different types of equipment of a manufacturer integrating the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to select the best maintenance policy for different types of equipment of a manufacturer integrating the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) models.
Design/methodology/approach
The decision hierarchy of this research includes three levels. The first level aims to choose the best maintenance policy for different types of equipment of an acid manufacturer. These equipment pieces include molten sulfur ponds, boiler, absorption tower, cooling towers, converter, heat exchanger and sulfur fuel furnace. The second level includes decision criteria of added-value, risk level and the cost. Lastly, the third level comprises time-based maintenance (TBM), corrective maintenance (CM), shutdown maintenance and condition-based maintenance (CBM) as four maintenance policies.
Findings
The best maintenance policy for different types of equipment of a manufacturer is the main finding of this research. Based on the obtained results, CBM policy is suggested for absorption tower, boiler, cooling tower and molten sulfur ponds, TBM policy is suggested for converters and heat exchanger and CM policy is suggested for a sulfur fuel furnace.
Originality/value
This research develops a novel model by integrating FAHP and an interval TOPSIS with concurrent consideration of added-value, risk level and cost to select the best maintenance policy. According to the highlights of the previous studies conducted on maintenance policy selection and related tools and techniques, an operative integrated approach to combine risk, added-value and cost with integrated fuzzy models is not developed yet. The majority of the previous studies have considered classic fuzzy approaches such as FAHP, FANP, Fuzzy TOPSIS, etc., which are not completely capable to reflect the decision makers’ viewpoints.