Naveed Moosa and Joe Lee
Companies lose tolerance for risk in tough economic times. The level of risk inherent in new ideas prevents organizations from investing in big, bold innovations that could unlock…
Abstract
Purpose
Companies lose tolerance for risk in tough economic times. The level of risk inherent in new ideas prevents organizations from investing in big, bold innovations that could unlock valuable new sources of revenue and profit. This paper describes how to apply methods extracted from the scientific approach to experimentation to de‐risk radical new business model innovations.
Design/methodology/approach
The ideas presented in the paper were distilled from many years of experience working with organizations such as McDonalds and Best Buy, which have successfully applied the principles of experimentation to developing and launching new business concepts.
Findings
Road‐tested principles from the scientific method, combined with business acumen, define the new science of systemic innovation. Every bold new business concept should be de‐risked and tuned by applying six methods: break it down; sequence learning; iterate; operate at multiple levels of abstraction; create a safe learning environment; and apply experienced hands and new voices.
Originality/value
The paper presents a systemic and rigorous new method for de‐risking radical new business concepts based on well‐known methods extracted from the scientific lab. The approach is particularly important for large companies seeking new sources of growth while facing intense competition in their core businesses from relatively new players.
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Naveed Moosa and Patiwat Panurach
In the search for innovation, front‐line employees are usually not encouraged to be part of the creative team, even though they may have fresh ideas and genuine insights. However…
Abstract
Purpose
In the search for innovation, front‐line employees are usually not encouraged to be part of the creative team, even though they may have fresh ideas and genuine insights. However, front‐line employees, those closest to the customers and the work of delivering products and services, have fresh ideas and genuine insights. This paper aims to investigate this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
The article describes how to create a complementary “Front‐Line Innovation” system for stimulating potentially valuable ideas and converting them to innovations that have an impact on competitiveness.
Findings
The implementation of a front‐line program involves a set of six components applied systemically and thoughtfully: people, process, tools, technology, governance, and metrics.
Practical implications
The Front‐line Innovation program surfaces new leaders and gives them the tools to create and act on ideas that are aimed at the most difficult problems facing the organization.
Originality/value
The article shows that a creative front‐line employee is a potent competitive weapon when supported by such a system.
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Shahzaf Iqbal, Che Azlan Bin Taib and Mohd. Rizal Razalli
This study aims to investigate how the service quality provided by distribution companies (DISCOs) impacts consumer satisfaction, focusing on the mediating role of regulatory…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate how the service quality provided by distribution companies (DISCOs) impacts consumer satisfaction, focusing on the mediating role of regulatory effectiveness as governed by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) in Pakistan’s power sector.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research design was used, with data collected via online surveys from domestic electricity consumers of five DISCOs in Punjab, Pakistan. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-25 and SmartPLS-4 software.
Findings
The results indicate that service quality significantly affects both consumer satisfaction and regulatory effectiveness, with regulatory effectiveness positively mediating the relationship between service quality and consumer satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations of this study include a cross-sectional design and multistage sampling, which may introduce bias and inadequately represent diverse demographics. Future research should involve commercial users, use longitudinal designs and adopt mixed methods for deeper insights. Nevertheless, the findings emphasize the mediating role of regulatory effectiveness in linking service quality to consumer satisfaction, highlighting the importance of governance in the electricity sector.
Practical implications
The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, DISCO managers and regulatory bodies, underscoring the need to enhance service quality and regulatory practices to improve consumer satisfaction. Collaboration between DISCOs and NEPRA is recommended to address inefficiencies and governance issues, focusing on infrastructure development, transparency and accountability to enhance the consumer experience in Pakistan’s electricity sector.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by introducing regulatory effectiveness as a mediator between service quality and consumer satisfaction within the power sector, guided by institutional theory.
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Kazi Md Jamshed and Burhan Uluyol
The main issue is whether customers prefer convenience over Shariah compliance or the opposite when they decide their Islamic banking needs. The purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
The main issue is whether customers prefer convenience over Shariah compliance or the opposite when they decide their Islamic banking needs. The purpose of this paper is to explore why customers adopt Islamic banking products and services: Shariah compliance or convenience?
Design/methodology/approach
Using convenience sampling, 310 respondents’ data were collected through online survey. For testing the fit and hypotheses of the proposed model, AMOS 25 software and Smart-PLS 4.0 software have been used.
Findings
Attitude, Islamic value and convenience have significant determinants of Islamic banking products and services. Shariah compliance has no direct or indirect influence on neither intention nor actual behaviour to adopt Islamic banking services. Furthermore, gender has no such differential effect on the adoption.
Practical implications
Managers and marketers of Islamic banks may benefit from the findings of this study, which demonstrate fresh insights regarding the factors which help in strategy formulations to promote Islamic banking services.
Originality/value
The growth of Islamic banks, branches and windows is remarkable in both Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority countries in the world. This paper postulates the behavioural finance studies in Islamic banking and finance research stream by extending the theory of planned behaviour of Ajzen (1985) as all the three new constructs (Islamic value, convenienc and Shariah compliance) are statistically fit for further studies. However, only Islamic value and convenience are the two significant factors which drive customers to take decision in the proposed model. This study gives insights to the bankers and authority about the consumer behaviour.
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Umar Nawaz Kayani, Tracy-Anne De Silva and Christopher Gan
This paper aims to provide a review of the existing literature available on working capital (WC) and working capital management (WCM).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a review of the existing literature available on working capital (WC) and working capital management (WCM).
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) methodology is used to review 187 articles selected from referred journals, books and international conferences for the period 1980-2017.
Findings
This comprehensive review reveals that much of the focus in the existing literature is paid on investigating the empirical relationship between WCM and firm performance. Furthermore, the attention has been paid towards studying the WC practices. The behavioural aspects, qualitative studies, survey studies and systematic theory development have been ignored in most of the prior studies. These areas have a broader scope for future research.
Research limitations/implications
This study is based on literature review and theoretical in nature. Therefore, it does not have any empirical results.
Practical implications
So far, a limited literature review studies have been conducted in WCM perspective. This review provides various emerging trends, which may be considered in future research for providing a deep understanding of WCM.
Originality/value
This is the first time a detailed review of WCM literature has been conducted by using SLR for the period of 1980-2017. This review will be useful for researchers, business policymaker, finance professionals and all other having direct or indirect concerns with WCM study.