Andrea Sharam, Lyndall Elaine Bryant and Thomas Alves
The purpose of this paper is to identify the financial barriers to the supply of affordable apartments in Australia and examine whether demand aggregation and “deliberative…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the financial barriers to the supply of affordable apartments in Australia and examine whether demand aggregation and “deliberative development” (self-build) can form a new affordable housing “structure of provision”.
Design/methodology/approach
Market design, an offshoot of game theory, is used to analyse the existing apartment development model, with “deliberative development” proposed as an innovative alternative. Semi-structured interviews with residential development financiers are used to evaluate whether deliberative development could obtain the requisite development finance.
Findings
This investigation into the financial barriers of a deliberative development model suggests that, while there are hurdles, these can be addressed if key risks in the exchange process can be mitigated. Hence, affordability can be enhanced by “deliberative development” replacing the existing speculative development model.
Research limitations/implications
Market design is a new innovative theoretical approach to understand the supply of housing, offering practical solutions to affordable apartment supply in Australia.
Originality/value
This research identifies financial barriers to the supply of affordable apartments; introduces theoretical understandings gained from market design as an innovative solution; and provides evidence that a new structure of building provision based on “deliberative development” could become a key means of achieving more affordable and better designed apartments.
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The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact on Spanish retail firms' efficiency of the regulatory process experienced in the period 1994‐2002. In particular, the paper aims…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact on Spanish retail firms' efficiency of the regulatory process experienced in the period 1994‐2002. In particular, the paper aims to study the influence of the Retail Trade Act of 1996, by means of which the Spanish state transferred authority to concede licenses for opening commercial establishments to the regions.
Design/methodology/approach
The objectives have been achieved by non parametric methodology of analysis of efficiency at static and dynamic level (kernel density).
Findings
The results confirm a decrease in firms' technical efficiency in the post‐regulatory period between 1996 and 2002. The different patterns of convergence/divergence in the distribution of technical efficiency depend on firm size. Small firms experience a process of divergence to lower efficiency levels from 1994 to 2002.
Research limitations/implications
Perhaps more regional analysis is also needed. In this sense, it would be interesting to consider the region within which the firms operate, and hence take into account the differences in regulatory processes in each region by size or more precisely by outlet type.
Practical implications
It is necessary to consider the implications that the regulatory processes can have for management in the environment of the retail industry.
Originality/value
The analysis of the efficiency with features of density kernel. As well as the usage of stochastic kernel. This has enabled dynamic effects in the analysis.
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Randall Boone and Kyle Higgins
Accessibility design over the past several years has focused much of its attention on the development of a universal standard or a set of guidelines for delivering a diverse array…
Abstract
Accessibility design over the past several years has focused much of its attention on the development of a universal standard or a set of guidelines for delivering a diverse array of both content and instructional processes. Universal design for learning (UDL), for example, promotes providing multiple means of (a) representation, (b) action and expression, and (c) engagement for learners who have a wide range of disabilities as well as their typical peers. And while each instructional design element that represents a means of providing the differentiation required by the principle generally has a strong evidence-based support individually, it is difficult to assess any one of them within the larger ULD “multiple means” milieu of options. It is especially difficult to do this in regard to learners associated with any particular disability category. When it comes to targeted instruction, learner characteristics matter. It follows then that when it comes to developing an instructional design, that the learning characteristics of a targeted population be first and foremost considered as the point of departure in the design and development process. This chapter considers a wide range of instructional targets within the context of specific disability groups with a focus on learning goals, instructional design supports for those goals, and underlying cognitive processes that may help clarify the goals themselves as well as the instructional supports to achieve those goals.
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The purpose of this paper is to analyse a representative sample of hypermarkets and supermarkets working in the Portuguese market, using a benchmark procedure to compare companies…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse a representative sample of hypermarkets and supermarkets working in the Portuguese market, using a benchmark procedure to compare companies that compete in the same market and thereby deriving managerial and policy implications.
Design/methodology/approach
A two‐stage procedure to benchmark the companies was adopted. In the first stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used and in the second stage a Tobit model is employed to estimate the efficient drivers.
Findings
First, that, on average, the efficiency of hypermarket and supermarket retail companies is high compared with that to be found in other sectors. Second, larger retail groups are, on average, more efficient than the smaller retailers, and third, that national retailers are on average more efficient than regional retailers. Finally, scale plays an important role in this market. The efficiency drivers are market share, number of outlets and location. Finally, regulation has a negative effect on efficiency.
Research limitations/implications
This paper has two limitations. The first is in relation to the data set, and the second in relation to the DEA method. With reference to the data set, the homogeneity of the retailers used in the analysis is questionable, since retailers of different sizes, production characteristics and locations are compared, which may face different restrictions and therefore might not be considered to be directly comparable. However, it can always be claimed that the units are not comparable and that it would consequently be equally impossible to undertake a ratio analysis. Moreover, the data set is short, so that the conclusions are limited. For the conclusions to be generalised, a larger panel data set would be required.
Practical implications
These can be separated into managerial and competitive – more importantly, the latter with its implications for the retailing industry and its future evolution.
Originality/value
Clarifies two issues: the changes in the fortunes of the retail companies, as observed in their sales volume ranking, and the need to look for the causes of retail efficiency, apart from internal managerial procedures.
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Pranay Sureshbhai Parmar and Tushar N. Desai
The purpose of this study is to determine the current status of Sustainable Lean Six Sigma (SLSS) practices execution in the industries by identifying the research gaps and also…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to determine the current status of Sustainable Lean Six Sigma (SLSS) practices execution in the industries by identifying the research gaps and also methodologies that are applied by different researchers and practitioners.
Design/methodology/approach
To find the current status of SLSS practices all over world, the literature review of the articles available through SCOPUS data base is given in different categories such as a country-wise and year-wise publication of the articles, journal-wise publication of articles, case study implementation focus in industry and data analysis techniques used by the researchers.
Findings
The different methodologies applied by the researchers and practitioners have been explained and the gaps for further research are identified. The extensive review of articles of last 18 years revealed that there are various opportunities such as quantitative study, framework modeling on the SLSS, and implementation of developed models in different industries, etc. which are required to be explored.
Originality/value
In the present study, a review of 129 articles for the time span of January 2000 to February 2018 is considered. The SCOPUS database was used for selecting the articles for review. A total of 129 articles were considered for the literature review, and the case study implementation in different industries with the focused areas such as cost reduction, defect reduction, economic, environmental and social aspects was explained.
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Arne Walter, Kamrul Ahsan and Shams Rahman
Demand planning (DP) is a key element of supply chain management (SCM) and is widely regarded as an important catalyst for improving supply chain performance. Regarding the…
Abstract
Purpose
Demand planning (DP) is a key element of supply chain management (SCM) and is widely regarded as an important catalyst for improving supply chain performance. Regarding the availability of technology to process large amounts of data, artificial intelligence (AI) has received increasing attention in the DP literature in recent years, but there are no reviews of studies on the application of AI in supply chain DP. Given the importance and value of this research area, we aimed to review the current body of knowledge on the application of AI in DP to improve SCM performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a systematic literature review approach, we identified 141 peer-reviewed articles and conducted content analysis to examine the body of knowledge on AI in DP in the academic literature published from 2012 to 2023.
Findings
We found that AI in DP is still in its early stages of development. The literature is dominated by modelling studies. We identified three knowledge clusters for AI in DP: AI tools and techniques, AI applications for supply chain functions and the impact of AI on digital SCM. The three knowledge domains are conceptualised in a framework to demonstrate how AI can be deployed in DP to improve SCM performance. However, challenges remain. We identify gaps in the literature that make suggestions for further research in this area.
Originality/value
This study makes a theoretical contribution by identifying the key elements in applying AI in DP for SCM. The proposed conceptual framework can be used to help guide further empirical research and can help companies to implement AI in DP.
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Wantao Yu and Ramakrishnan Ramanathan
The paper's aim is to assess performance of firms in the UK retail sector.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper's aim is to assess performance of firms in the UK retail sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Economic efficiencies of 41 retail companies working in the UK between 2000 and 2005 are examined in this study using three related methodologies: data envelopment analysis (DEA), Malmquist productivity index (MPI), a bootstrapped Tobit regression model. DEA is used to calculate technical and scale efficiencies of companies. Two outputs (turnover, profit before taxation) and three inputs (total assets, shareholders funds, and number of employees) are employed for the efficiency measurement. MPI is used to analyze the patterns of efficiency change over the six year period 2000‐2005. DEA efficiencies are then used to test important hypotheses on the impact of environmental variables, namely head office location, type of ownership, years of incorporation, legal form and retail characteristic, on the functioning of the UK retail sector using bootstrapped Tobit regression.
Findings
DEA analysis has shown that only ten retail companies are considered as efficient under CRS assumption, and 16 firms under VRS assumption in 2005. MPI results have indicated that about 50 percent of retail companies have registered progress in terms of MPI during 2000 and 2005. Twenty out of 41 retail companies have adopted advanced and efficient retailing technologies during this period. Three environmental variables, namely the type of ownership, legal form and retail characteristic, have been found to play significant roles influencing retail efficiency using bootstrapped Tobit regression.
Research limitations/implications
Data availability has limited the level of analysis in some parts of this study, especially in the bootstrapped Tobit regression.
Originality/value
This study seems to be the first in applying productivity analysis using DEA for the UK retail sector.
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Ricardo Sellers‐Rubio and Francisco Mas‐Ruiz
To estimate the economic efficiency of supermarket chains in the Spanish retailing industry.
Abstract
Purpose
To estimate the economic efficiency of supermarket chains in the Spanish retailing industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology applied is based on the non‐parametric technique of data envelopment analysis. The empirical application is carried out on a sample of 100 supermarket chains between 1995 and 2001.
Findings
The results reveal high levels of economic inefficiency in the Spanish retailing sector.
Research limitations/implications
The generalisation of the conclusions of the study to the whole sector should be made with caution, given the fact that only one of the players in the channel of distribution has been analysed.
Practical implications
Efficiency analysis facilitates the management of the intermediaries themselves at a horizontal level, allowing the realisation of “benchmarking” analysis. Producers can also identify the efficient retailers, what could be useful for vertical relationships in the channel.
Originality/value
For the first time, this study analyses the economic efficiency of the intermediaries in the Spanish retailing sector.
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Ignacio Cruz Roche, Jaime Romero and Ricardo Sellers-Rubio
Efficiency in retailing companies is mandatory for survival. Literature acknowledges external factors impact on efficiency. However, this impact remains understudied, as previous…
Abstract
Purpose
Efficiency in retailing companies is mandatory for survival. Literature acknowledges external factors impact on efficiency. However, this impact remains understudied, as previous research typically focuses on managerial decisions. The purpose of this paper is to partially fill this gap by exploring the influence of external factors on retailers’ efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
This research simultaneously measures retail efficiency and evaluates the impact of six potential drivers by applying bootstrap techniques in a sample of 25 European Union countries during the period 2006–2015.
Findings
The efficiency of the retail system in the countries under analysis evolves at different paces during the observation period. This evolution can be explained by country population density, average store size within countries, foreign trade ratio, concentration, economic freedom and percentage of urban population.
Research limitations/implications
This research does not account for supply and demand restrictions that might affect retailers’ efficiency, as well as other variables that influence their production process.
Practical implications
This paper might help retail managers to comprehend and manage their companies’ efficiency. Furthermore, it provides clues to evaluate market attractiveness in retailers’ international expansion strategies.
Social implications
Policy makers can facilitate retailers’ efficiency through regulations on external variables that influence retailers’ performance, namely economic freedom and foreign trade ratio.
Originality/value
For the first time, this study analyses the impact of external factors on retail services efficiency across countries.
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Carlos Pestana Barros and Ricardo Sellers‐Rubio
The aim of the paper is to estimate the cost efficiency of supermarket chains in the Spanish retailing industry.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the paper is to estimate the cost efficiency of supermarket chains in the Spanish retailing industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology applied is based on a random stochastic frontier model that enables separation of the covariates in the cost function into homogeneous and heterogeneous variables. The methodology is applied to panel data on a sample of 78 supermarket chains between 2001 and 2004.
Findings
The results reveal high levels of cost inefficiency in the Spanish retail sector. The results also reveal that the random frontier models better describe Spanish retailers than homogeneous frontier models.
Research limitations/implications
The generalisation of the conclusions of the study to the whole sector should be made with caution, given the fact that only one of the players in the distribution channel has been analysed.
Practical implications
Managers should be aware of the importance that cost efficiency has for their own firms. Further, a common government retailing policy will be unable to reach all retailing companies, since heterogeneity exists.
Originality/value
For the first time, the cost efficiency of the intermediaries in the Spanish retailing sector is studied.