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Article
Publication date: 8 March 2021

Jorge Julião and Marcelo Calvete Gaspar

The COVID-19 pandemic situation has imposed changes in the way many services are being provided. The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of lean thinking and digital…

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Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic situation has imposed changes in the way many services are being provided. The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of lean thinking and digital transformation on services redesign of a higher education institution. The aim is to improve efficiency and incorporate new health and safety recommendations because of the pandemic situation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows a case study approach to explore how lean thinking contributes to the digital transformation of services. The data was collected through student surveys from a Portuguese University, where three different academic services were selected.

Findings

This paper identifies important requirements for new and improved online alternatives to face-to-face interactions of the students with the academic services. It also shows that lean thinking is a driver for digital transformation of services.

Practical implications

This paper presents a dedicated roadmap to aid the implementation of a digital transformation process within student academic services of higher education institutions.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the digital transformation of services through a lean thinking perspective and considering four dimensions: quality, efficiency, cost reduction and health and safety.

Details

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-4166

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Article
Publication date: 4 February 2022

Jorge Julião, Marcelo Gaspar, Luis Farinha and Maria A.M. Trindade

The aim of the paper is to assist hospitality business, operating in a sharing economy model and responding to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis. It is argued that the…

609

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to assist hospitality business, operating in a sharing economy model and responding to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis. It is argued that the creation of a strategy to face COVID-19 crisis should be focussed on what the guests valued most. The paper focusses on the Airbnb service, which is the leading platform in accommodation inside the sharing economy, to explore the consumer profile and analyse its motivations to use hospitality service, based on socio-demographic characteristics and user experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a questionnaire survey targeting tourists who have experience using the Airbnb service. A total of 380 valid responses were analysed with statistical package programme for the social sciences (SPSS), performing a multivariate variance analyses (MANOVA) and univariate analysis (UNIANOVA), which corresponds to five of the main motivations regarding Airbnb booking.

Findings

The results show a motivation increase towards the sharing economy and benefits of the sharing economy for customers between 41 and 60 years of age. It was also observed that consumers with a monthly income below the average salary level are less keen to prefer the sharing economy philosophy. Controversially, the results also show that more than 80% of the guests do not want to share the room with people they are not related to.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the understanding of consumers' behaviour by discussing the potential of the accommodation sharing model for the post-COVID recovery of the hospitality sector.

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, vol. 6 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9792

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Case study
Publication date: 25 November 2019

Sergio Morales and Oswaldo Morales

The contribution of the present case lies in the critical view that every business actor should exercise – be it general manager, middle management, supervisor or executive – when…

Abstract

Learning outcomes

The contribution of the present case lies in the critical view that every business actor should exercise – be it general manager, middle management, supervisor or executive – when building a strong organizational culture in corrupt political environments.

Case overview/synopsis

The purpose of this case study is to explore the dilemma in which Marcelo Odebrecht, once CEO of Odebrecht, found/determined whether to continue with the business model established by the founders of Odebrecht or take a new path for the organization. After exploring the corrupt acts of Odebrecht and the scope of Operation Lava Jato, the reader can reflect on the importance of organizational culture (according to the three levels proposed by Schein) in the face of the emergence of corruption. By generating discussions about organizational culture, business ethics, political culture and corruption, the organizational culture of Odebrecht is problematized in relation to its real behavior.

Complexity academic level

Students of administration, business and international business undergraduates and graduates, as well as members of senior management in companies in the infrastructure sector. Also, given the plurality of possible readings, it is recommended that the case also be used in courses or specializations in organizational psychology, organizational sociology or organizational anthropology.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 5: International Business.

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2045-0621

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Book part
Publication date: 28 November 2022

Manjula S. Salimath and Leyla Orudzheva

Family businesses have several distinct features that distinguish them from other businesses. This aspect makes it imperative that scholars investigate issues with an additional…

Abstract

Family businesses have several distinct features that distinguish them from other businesses. This aspect makes it imperative that scholars investigate issues with an additional focus on the interplay of family business dynamics. In this chapter, we explore the issues of power and corruption within family business, with the understanding that prior examinations of this phenomenon were primarily restricted to large public corporations that are not family owned. The key contribution of this chapter is to shed light on the dark side of family business, namely power enabled corruption. We do so by considering three dimensions that are unique to family firms, namely, ownership and control, generations, and governance. In particular, we highlight how these dimensions can facilitate corruption. It is possible that they may also challenge family business that try to detect, deter, and control corruption within their ranks. The lack of objective external evaluation, the ineffectiveness of internal checks, generational issues, family control, and the restricted nature of governance appear to contribute to exacerbating tensions that promote corruption becoming entrenched within family businesses. Following a case method approach, several illustrative examples of cases of power and corruption within family firms are provided, representing different geographic regions of the world, to showcase the widespread nature of this phenomenon. The three family business cases we illustrate (Grupo Odebrecht in Latin America, Sahara Group in South Africa and Foremost Maritime Group in China) represent multiple countries, continents, and geo-political frontiers. Each case illustrates how both corruption and power reinforce each other in family businesses. Implications of the magnifier effect of power on corruption in family business are discussed in terms of its impact, scale, and its enabling effect by providing a road map to corruption.

Details

Family Business Debates
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-667-5

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Article
Publication date: 27 August 2019

Thales Leandro Coutinho de Oliveira, Gabriela de Barros Silva Haddad, Alcinéia de Lemos Souza Ramos, Eduardo Mendes Ramos, Roberta Hilsdorf Piccoli and Marcelo Cristianini

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the optimization of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing for the microbial inactivation on low-sodium sliced vacuum-packaged turkey…

294

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the optimization of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing for the microbial inactivation on low-sodium sliced vacuum-packaged turkey breast supplemented with a natural antimicrobial compound (carvacrol).

Design/methodology/approach

A response surface methodology was used to model and describe the effects of different pressures (200–650 MPa) and holding times (30–300 s) during HHP processing of low-salt ready-to-eat turkey breast supplemented with 200 mg/kg of carvacrol on survival of the target pathogen (Listeria sp.) and spoilage microflora and on the quality attributes, including pH, syneresis, CIE color and lipid oxidation.

Findings

The HHP parameters influenced (p<0.05) the lethality rates and syneresis but did not affect the pH values and lipid oxidation of the products evaluated. According to the required performance criteria for Listeria post-lethality treatment, a treatment at 600 MPa/180 s (at 25°C) appears to be suitable for the studied low-sodium product. The HHP bacterial inactivation effects can notably be potentiated via the presence of carvacrol, and is useful at sensory acceptable sub-inhibitory levels.

Originality/value

This study shows that combined HHP plus additives may produce similar safety and shelf-life extension effects with mild HHP treatments, creating a global increase in the quality of HHP-processed food in addition to reducing costs on equipment maintenance and increasing industry productivity.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 121 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

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Article
Publication date: 13 September 2021

Francisco Elíseo Fernandes Sanches, Matheus Leite Campos, Luiz Eduardo Gaio and Marcio Marcelo Belli

Higher education institutions (HEIs) should assume their role as leaders in the search for a sustainable future. Consequently, such institutions need to incorporate sustainability…

595

Abstract

Purpose

Higher education institutions (HEIs) should assume their role as leaders in the search for a sustainable future. Consequently, such institutions need to incorporate sustainability into their activities. However, this needs to be done holistically and not with isolated and independent actions. Therefore, this study aims to develop a structure of sustainability action archetypes to help HEIs holistically incorporate sustainability in their strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of the literature was conducted focusing on the subject of sustainability in HEIs.

Findings

A structure of sustainability action archetypes for HEIs was proposed. Further, based on scientific literature, examples of actions were presented within each archetype.

Practical implications

This study provides HEI administrators and other organizations with a practical structure to enable the systemic incorporation of sustainability objectives and actions into institutional activities.

Originality/value

This study adapts the tool “sustainable business model archetypes” for a new purpose. This tool was initially developed to classify innovations of sustainable business models.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 23 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

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Book part
Publication date: 8 April 2010

Maria do Céu F. Gaspar Alves

The role of information technology (IT) in the business arena has continuously shifted over the last decades, and it has become an important part of how companies manage and…

Abstract

The role of information technology (IT) in the business arena has continuously shifted over the last decades, and it has become an important part of how companies manage and control their resources. User satisfaction in IT usage is critical because this construct is often viewed as a surrogate for IT success. Decisions regarding the building of the technical IT architecture should be closely linked to the organizational design of the company itself. So, IT plays a crucial role in organization, especially regarding the accounting function.

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the body of knowledge in the extent to which IT affects the ability to solve accounting tasks. We will measure the impact of IT on user satisfaction, on accounting information use and, finally, on accountants' tasks.

The relationship between IT and management accounting practices was investigated. On one hand, data from Portuguese manufacturing firms were collected using a survey and analyzed using statistical software. On the other hand, based on findings from 17 in-depth interviews, 6 case studies were built and analyzed.

The findings suggest that user satisfaction in IT usage and the use of accounting techniques and accounting information increases with new IT investments. We also find a tendency for change in the decentralization of management accounting tasks.

These study findings have significant implication for practice and research. Today accounting and IT are inseparable and accountant's uses of sophisticated management accounting techniques are clearly dependent of IT existence.

Details

Performance Measurement and Management Control: Innovative Concepts and Practices
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84950-725-7

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Article
Publication date: 17 February 2021

Ashish Kumar, Vikas Srivastava, Mosab I. Tabash and Divyanshi Chawda

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the variables having an impact on profitability of public private partnerships (PPPs) in India using a balanced panel data…

694

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the variables having an impact on profitability of public private partnerships (PPPs) in India using a balanced panel data of 171 unlisted PPPs from different infrastructure sectors such as road, power generation, real estate and ports.

Design/methodology/approach

Estimations were done using Arellano–Bond dynamic panel data estimation and seemingly unrelated regression models on a balanced panel data of 855 firm-years for 171 unlisted PPPs in India. To further test the estimation robustness, panel-corrected standard errors model was used.

Findings

The study findings indicate that in firm-specific factors, leverage, size, non-debt tax shield, growth and risk have significant positive impact on PPPs’ profitability, whereas in macroeconomic factors, only inflation has significant positive relationship. Although the relationship of all determinants is in sync with various theories and approaches, but these are not significant. Using the robustness test, the results are found to be robust and consistent with resource-based view and strategy-structure-performance approaches.

Practical implications

As PPPs are gaining prominence in the development of infrastructural resources, their profitability is of significant importance to drive private investments in infrastructure development, the identification of factors which determine profitability is critical for researchers, practitioners, policymakers and fund providers such as equity investors and debt providers.

Originality/value

The empirical literature on profitability determinants is focused on various sectors including small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) and micro firms, but to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study, in both developed and developing economies, to empirically investigate the determinants of profitability for PPPs.

Details

Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction , vol. 27 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-4387

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