Stephen Dodwell and Paula Simmons
Traces, from its inception, Scott′s Hotels′ highly rated qualityimprovement programme. Emphasizes experiential learning and developmentand in particular the difficulties faced by…
Abstract
Traces, from its inception, Scott′s Hotels′ highly rated quality improvement programme. Emphasizes experiential learning and development and in particular the difficulties faced by middle managers in accepting and becoming committed to the programme. Highlights the importance of gradual, evolutionary development so as to capture the hearts and minds of managers and operatives alike.
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Considers how an organisation decided a quality approach was needed to help it achieve its strategicobjectives. Suggests a number of steps for implementing a quality programme…
Abstract
Considers how an organisation decided a quality approach was needed to help it achieve its strategicobjectives. Suggests a number of steps for implementing a quality programme: research, action, building commitment, overcoming difficulties, and maintaining continuous improvement. Offers an account of how the Business Technology Finance Division of Lloyds Bowmaker first selected a suitableresearch model and then progressed with project teamwork and management commitment.
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Stephen McClelland looks at a recent report on industrial goods distribution in Japan.
Alex Wilner and Claire-Jehanne Dubouloz
Purpose – Drawing on Transformative Learning (TL) theory, the authors suggest a new and novel way to approach the study of violent radicalization.Methodology/Approach – First…
Abstract
Purpose – Drawing on Transformative Learning (TL) theory, the authors suggest a new and novel way to approach the study of violent radicalization.
Methodology/Approach – First, their argument is supported by the development of a Transformative Radicalization (TR) framework that borrows and adapts the core tenets of TL theory. Second, they provide a preliminary illustrative exploration of TR using two autobiographical accounts of militant radicalization (Islamist and Anarchist) from the UK and Canada.
Findings – Radicalization is a cognitive and emotional process of change that prepares and motivates an individual to pursue violent behavior. That process of change is incremental; individuals learn and adopt novel political, social, ideological, and/or religious ideals that justify and legitimize indiscriminate violence. The TR framework provides a more nuanced appreciation for the cognitive aspects involved in this process. The authors’ empirical illustrations provide guidance on how subsequent research might use original interview data on individual radicalization processes to develop more in-depth, cross-case comparisons.
Originality/Value – This theory builds a cross-disciplinary understanding of violent radicalization that highlights the way adults learn, alter their meaning perspectives, and change their behavior.
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Mudrajad Kuncoro and Sari Wahyuni
This paper attempts to examine which theory is best at explaining the geographic concentration in Java, an island in which most of the Indonesia’s large and medium manufacturing…
Abstract
This paper attempts to examine which theory is best at explaining the geographic concentration in Java, an island in which most of the Indonesia’s large and medium manufacturing industries have located overwhelmingly. Our previous studies on Java have found that there was a stable – albeit increasing trend – and persistent geographic concentration in Java over the period 1976‐1995. Yet some critical questions exist: Why geographic concentration in Java persisted during this period? To what extent relevant theories and empirical literature can be used as an explicit test of competing theories on agglomeration forces? In answering those questions, we compare the three major grand theories of geographic concentration: Neo‐Classical Theory (NCT), New Trade Theory (NTT) and New Economic Geography (NEG). Using the regional specialization index as a measure of geographic concentration of manufacturing industry and pooling data over the period 1991‐002, our econometric analysis integrates the perspectives of industry, region (space) and time. We further explore the nature and dynamics of agglomeration forces underpinning the industrial agglomeration in Java by testing some key variables. Our econometric results rejected the NCT hypotheses and showed that the NTT and NEG can better explain the phenomena. It’s apparent that manufacturing firms in Java seek to locate in more populous and densely populated areas in order to enjoy both localization economies and urbanization economies, as shown by the significance of scale economies and income per capita. The former is associated with the size of a particular industry, while the latter reflects the size of a market in a particular urban area. More importantly, the results suggest that there is a synergy between thickness of market and agglomeration forces. The interplay of agglomeration economies is intensified by the imperfect competition of Java’s market structure. We find that Java’s market structure may restrict competition so that firms tend to concentrate geographically. Instead of providing some important recommendations for local and central governments and practical implications for investors and manufacturing firms, this paper gives empirical evidence with respect to path dependency hypothesis. The finding supports the NEG’s belief that history matters: older firms tend to enhance regional specialization.
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Lorraine Eden and Stewart R Miller
The costs of doing business abroad (CDBA) is a well-known concept in the international business literature, measuring the disadvantages or additional costs borne by multinational…
Abstract
The costs of doing business abroad (CDBA) is a well-known concept in the international business literature, measuring the disadvantages or additional costs borne by multinational enterprises (MNEs) that are not borne by local firms in a host country. Recently, international management scholars have introduced a second concept, liability of foreignness (LOF). There is confusion in the two literatures as to the relationship between CBDA and LOF, as evidenced in a recent special issue on liability of foreignness (Journal of International Management, 2002). We argue that LOF stresses the social costs of doing business abroad, whereas CDBA includes both economic and social costs. The social costs arise from the unfamiliarity, relational, and discriminatory hazards that foreign firms face over and above those faced by local firms in the host country. Because the economic costs are well understood and can be anticipated, LOF becomes the core strategic issue for MNE managers. We argue that the key driver behind LOF is the institutional distance (cognitive, normative, and regulatory) between the home and host countries, and explore the ways in which institutional distance can affect LOF. We operationalize our arguments by showing how institutional distance and liability of foreignness can provide an alternative explanation for the MNE’s ownership strategy when going abroad.
Stephen P. Ferris, Kenneth A. Kim and Pattanaporn Kitsabunnarat
Due to the existence of keiretsu networks and influential bank shareholders, managerial-ownership is not viewed as important in Japan. With the recent decline in the power and…
Abstract
Due to the existence of keiretsu networks and influential bank shareholders, managerial-ownership is not viewed as important in Japan. With the recent decline in the power and influence of Japanese banks, this view might now be obsolete. We present evidence that managerial ownership has become an alternative mechanism for corporate governance in Japan. Using 1993 and 1996 data, we find that firms with significant managerial equity ownership are typically non-keiretsu firms and hold less bank debt. Further, these same manager-owned firms exhibit more control potential and make more discretionary expenditures than do other firms. Overall, our findings suggest that managerial equity ownership is a substitute governance mechanism for monitoring by banks and keiretsu.
Stephen P. Ferris, Kenneth A. Kim, Pattanaporn Kitsabunnarat and Takeshi Nishikawa
Using a sample of 466 grants of stock options to executives of Japanese firms over the years 1997–2001, this study tests the managerial power theory of compensation design…
Abstract
Using a sample of 466 grants of stock options to executives of Japanese firms over the years 1997–2001, this study tests the managerial power theory of compensation design developed by Bebchuk, Fried, and Walker (2002) and Bebchuk and Fried (2004). This theory argues that managers of firms with weak corporate governance will use their “power” to design executive compensation that is “manager-advantageous.” Using our option grants sample, we test to determine if any of the firm's governance mechanisms are able to limit managerial self-dealing with respect to executive stock options. We find that smaller boards and a higher percentage of independent directors are important governance mechanisms for the control of managerial influences in the design of stock-option compensation. An alternative hypothesis, that firms elect to grant advantageously designed options to encourage risk taking by managers, is not supported by our empirical results. Finally, we determine that the market response to the announcements of such grants varies inversely with the extent to which the options are managerially advantageous. Overall, we conclude that managerial power effects are present in the design of executive stock options and that theory of managerial power advanced by Bebchuk et al. holds internationally.
Junyan Ma and Yiping Yuan
With the rapid increase in the number of installed wind turbines (WTs) worldwide, requirements and expenses of maintenance have also increased significantly. The condition…
Abstract
Purpose
With the rapid increase in the number of installed wind turbines (WTs) worldwide, requirements and expenses of maintenance have also increased significantly. The condition monitoring (CM) of WT provides a strong “soft guarantee” for preventive maintenance. The supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system records a huge amount of condition data, which has become an effective means of CM. The main objective of the present study is to summarize the application of SCADA data to fault detection in wind turbines, analyze its advantages and disadvantages and predict the potential of future investigations on the use of SCADA data for fault detection.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors first review the means of WT CM and summarize the characteristics of CM based on SCADA data. To ensure the quality of SCADA data, data preprocessing methods are analyzed and compared. Then, the failure modes of the key components are discussed and the SCADA data used for fault detection of each component are compared. Moreover, the fault detection methods for WT are classified and a general framework for fault detection is proposed. Finally, the issues in the WT fault detection method based on SCADA data are reviewed.
Findings
Based on the performed analyses, it is found that although the fault detection accuracy based on SCADA data is relatively poor, it has low capital expenses and low computational cost. More specifically, when there is scarce fault data, the normal SCADA data can be used to detect the fault time. However, the specific fault type cannot be identified in this way. When a large amount of fault data are accumulated in the SCADA system, it can not only detect the occurrence time of the fault but also identify the specific fault type.
Originality/value
The main contribution of the present study is to summarize the pre-processing methods for SCADA data, the data required for fault detection of key components and the characteristics of the fault detection model. Then we propose a general fault detection framework for wind turbines based on SCADA data, where the maintenance workers can choose the appropriate fault detection method according to different fault detection requirements and data resources. This article is expected to provide guidance for fault detection based on time-series sensor signals and be of interest to researchers, maintenance workers and managers.