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Article
Publication date: 25 November 2020

Chien-Min Kuo, Kuan-Yu Chen and Yi-Ching Lin

Teachers, students, librarians, scholars and domain experts often spend a lot of time and effort to select good and suitable textbooks. This study aims to propose and construct a…

382

Abstract

Purpose

Teachers, students, librarians, scholars and domain experts often spend a lot of time and effort to select good and suitable textbooks. This study aims to propose and construct a computer-aided bibliometric system to rate textbooks. Through the software system designed here, the quality of every textbook can be easily and quickly known. This system will benefit both scholars and librarians.

Design/methodology/approach

Four methods were used to evaluate textbooks in this study, including: questionnaire recommendation analysis, dissertation citation analysis, library circulation analysis and bibliography analysis. The system architecture includes three subsystems: the textbook indexing and searching subsystem, the statistics added-value analysis subsystem and the citation report inquiry subsystem. An example demonstrates the usability and validity of the proposed method and system. The example uses surveying textbooks. The following percentages were used in the correlation calculation: textbook citation percentage (TCP), textbook library circulation percentage (TLP) and textbook recommend percentage (TRP).

Findings

There are three textbook assessment methods applied in this study, including: dissertation citation, library circulation and questionnaire recommendation. Dissertation citations for textbooks have a high correlation value with library circulation. The frequency correlation calculation was 0.7, while the TCP, TLP and TRP correlation calculation was 0.84. Therefore, the dissertation citation method can be accepted to evaluate textbooks effectively.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work related to evaluating surveying textbooks using a computer-aided bibliometrics system that can deal with large amounts of data and generate results quickly. This can be applied to other fields as well.

Details

The Electronic Library , vol. 38 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 30 October 2018

Daniel Quaye and Isaac Mensah

The purpose of this paper is to establish how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in water, beverage, soap, detergent, metal fabrication, wood and furniture manufacturing…

5837

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in water, beverage, soap, detergent, metal fabrication, wood and furniture manufacturing industries can sustain or improve their competitive advantage by integrating specific resources and capabilities. The paper seeks to offer an alternative framework “resource capability-based view (RCBV)” that provides a strategic marketing direction for SMEs regarding how innovative marketing practices and dynamic marketing capabilities integrate to create sustainable market advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

This current paper employed a quantitative survey design with a positivist methodological research paradigm. The paper used a multi-stage stratified and simple random sampling technique to collect data from 591 manufacturing SMEs in Ghana. SMEs in water, beverage, soap, detergent, metal fabrication, wood and furniture manufacturing industries were sampled for the study. A structural equation model was employed to test the study hypotheses to arrive at the findings.

Findings

The study found that product design and packaging innovations, promotion innovations, retail innovations and pricing innovations provide sustainable market advantage for water, beverage, detergent and metal fabrication SMEs. The paper also found that new product designs and packages are the major drivers of sustainable market advantage followed by innovative retail outlets. The paper further originated that integrating marketing competence (marketing resources and marketing capabilities) and innovative marketing activities provides a marginal improvement in competitive advantage. Physical resources may result in market advantage but integrating physical resources with dynamic marketing capabilities provides sufficient competitive sustainability in a competitive market.

Practical implications

SMEs in water, beverage, soap, detergent, metal fabrication, wood and furniture manufacturing industries should prioritise their key marketing resources and capabilities in product designs, promotion, pricing and retailing innovations in order to sustain market advantage. Old products should not be faded from the market but rather SME managers should employ innovative retail strategies, such as eco-friendly advertising, product re-branding and digital platforms (social network sites and websites), which are important to sustaining market performance. Government must develop targeted policies to bridge the information gap between SMEs and research institutions such as universities through regular subsidised entrepreneurial training and creation of semi-annual industry-academic fairs. The main theoretical contribution of this current paper is the development of “RCBV” as a framework which shows how SMEs can integrate specific resources and capabilities to achieve sustainable market advantage. This framework offers an integrative view of conventional resource-based view and dynamic capability theory (DCT) which are independently examined in the literature.

Originality/value

This current study has proposed an integrated and elaborative approach to the conventional resource-based view and DCT which does not provide a composite understanding in the literature. SMEs may lack the needed resources and capabilities to introduce new products or extant product lines but this paper has demonstrated that how SME can sustain market advantage of existing product(s) by synchronously using specific marketing resources and capabilities. The proposed framework offers a guide for SMEs to integrate their physical resources and capabilities to sustain their market advantage.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 57 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

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Article
Publication date: 25 July 2024

Santiago Gutiérrez-Broncano, Mercedes Rubio-Andrés, Jorge Linuesa Langreo and Miguel Angel Sastre-Castillo

For this paper, the authors focus on Porter’s competitive advantage. Hybrid strategy refers to how a firm creates value vis-à-vis competitors by simultaneously relying on lower…

162

Abstract

Purpose

For this paper, the authors focus on Porter’s competitive advantage. Hybrid strategy refers to how a firm creates value vis-à-vis competitors by simultaneously relying on lower costs and greater differentiation to achieve a competitive advantage. This strategy emphasises both and aims to provide much more monetary value to customers through the combination of reduced cost and a higher rate of differentiation. In addition, this research focuses on family small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), because they have particularities arising from the incorporation of family members both as owners of the SME and in managerial positions. The porpose of this study is to analyse whether the existing differences produced by the role of the family in strategic decision-making and the concentration of family power have a higher impact on performance and innovation than non-family SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling was used to analyse Spanish firms with fewer than 250 employees. This study randomly selected SMEs operating in Spain from the Spanish Central Business Directory (2021) database. The overall sample design was based on stratified sampling.

Findings

SMEs are facing new challenges, and this has led to the emergence of new competitive strategies. Companies have started to combine differentiation strategies with cost strategies to achieve superior performance and better adapt to these changes. This study confirms a positive relationship between the adoption of hybrid strategies and market performance in SMEs. In addition, hybrid strategy reinforces innovation, which has a mediating role between hybrid strategy and market performance. Finally, the findings indicate that family SMEs achieve a greater impact of hybrid strategy on innovation than non-family SMEs. Moreover, innovation plays a mediating role only in the case of family firms, which enhances the relationship between hybrid strategy and market performance.

Originality/value

For SMEs to survive in turbulent environments, this study proposes the adoption of hybrid strategies instead of pure strategies. The novel model links hybrid strategy (as opposed to “stuck in the middle”), innovation and market performance. The research is valuable for owners and managers of family SMEs because this study finds differences in the relationships studied compared to non-family SMEs.

Details

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1934-8835

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 14 February 2024

Santiago Gutiérrez-Broncano, Jorge Linuesa-Langreo, Mercedes Rubio-Andrés and Miguel Ángel Sastre-Castillo

This article focusses on the hybrid strategy, a simultaneous combination of cost leadership and differentiation strategy. The study aims to examine the impact of hybrid strategy…

3377

Abstract

Purpose

This article focusses on the hybrid strategy, a simultaneous combination of cost leadership and differentiation strategy. The study aims to examine the impact of hybrid strategy on firm performance through its anticipated positive effects on process and product innovation. In addition, we study the moderating role of adaptive capacity in the direct relationships of hybrid strategy with process and product innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling was used to analyse 1,842 Spanish firms with fewer than 250 employees. We randomly selected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Spain from the Spanish Central Business Directory (2021) database. The overall sample design was based on stratified sampling.

Findings

We found that hybrid strategy is positively related to firm performance and to process and product innovation. Additionally, in firms implementing hybrid strategies, process innovation fostered firm performance. Finally, adaptive capacity strengthened the relationships of hybrid strategy with process and product innovation. This sheds light on how and when hybrid strategy is most effective in fostering SME performance.

Practical implications

We highlight that SMEs need to establish strategies that use diverse resources and capabilities and not just generate competitive advantage using one strategy (cost leadership or differentiation strategy). This requires an agile and flexible systems and structures.

Originality/value

Our research provides novel results by proposing the adoption of hybrid strategies instead of pure strategies (cost leadership and differentiation strategy) as a way for SMEs to survive during crises. Unlike “stuck in the middle” strategies, our study demonstrates the importance of hybrid strategies in a comprehensive model that links them to innovation and firm performance, with adaptive capacity being a determining factor.

Details

European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 27 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1460-1060

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Article
Publication date: 4 September 2017

Thomas Anning-Dorson, Raphael Kofi Odoom, George Acheampong and Ernest Tweneboah-Koduah

The purpose of this paper is to assess the moderation effect of organizational leadership on the relationship between service firm’s innovation strategy and organizational…

2772

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the moderation effect of organizational leadership on the relationship between service firm’s innovation strategy and organizational development. The study argues that in Ghana where power distance is high, organizational leadership provides the needed impetus for strategies such as innovation to achieve enhanced firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from different service firms across Ghana for this study. A confirmatory factor analysis was used for construct reliability and validity checks. Robust regression estimations were then performed to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The results show that both product innovation as strategy and organizational leadership are positively related to organizational development (i.e. financial and non-financial performance). It was also found that organizational leadership does not only serve as a predictor of strategy formulation but provides the necessary strategic fit between a firm’s strategy and business environment to achieve organizational development.

Originality/value

This study has shown that in high-power distance cultures, firms that are able to align their leadership orientation with their institutional environment are able to create a better fit between their strategic orientation and business environment in order to enhance organizational development.

Details

African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-0705

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Article
Publication date: 7 June 2022

Danzen Bondoc Olazo

The purpose of the current research is to investigate the relationship between marketing capabilities and marketing innovation toward the sustainable competitive advantage of…

3181

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the current research is to investigate the relationship between marketing capabilities and marketing innovation toward the sustainable competitive advantage of small and medium enterprises in the Philippines. The research study aims to improve the prior conducted literature by concentrating on the precursors of innovation in marketing and its impact on building a sustainable competitive market. The paper intends to address this by examining the following variables using a mixed-method approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The researcher employed the mixed methods particularly the sequential explanatory design to explain and interpret the quantitative data collected from 89 business owners/managers using Jamovi Software while the qualitative data were collected through an in-depth interview conducted with 10 SME owner-managers of new and established businesses in Angeles City, Pampanga using Taxonomic Coding Scheme. The sequential explanatory design was used to explain and interpret quantitative results by collecting and analyzing follow-up qualitative data.

Findings

This study investigates the relationship between marketing capabilities and marketing innovation towards sustainable competitive advantage of micro-small and medium enterprises in the Philippines through mixed method approach. For quantitative result, the study found that marketing competency significantly influenced marketing innovation. The result shows that all SMEs have enough people in place who are capable of implementing marketing innovation activities and use new technology like the use of information technology. The paper also found that marketing innovation, significantly predicted sustainable competitive advantage. MSMEs exhibit this innovation such as product, price, place, and promotion can create a distinctive position in the market towards sustainable competitive advantage. The paper also tested the mediation effect of marketing innovation that influences the relationship between marketing competence and sustainable competitive advantage. Most of the hypotheses posited were supported. For qualitative data, it was revealed that these SMEs through their key informants and key leaders are open to innovations thus, willing to learn by establishing networks with customers and other managers/business owners to expand and improve their business. The food business in Pampanga is highly competitive, and most of the SMEs are engaged with it. In order to survive the saturated market, continuous improvement is important in the identified areas for growth and innovation. Mixed method analysis supported quantitative and qualitative findings. Hence, it indicated that marketing competency significantly influences sustainable competitive advantage, which can be achieved through marketing innovation. In this study, the researcher analyzed the influence between marketing competence and marketing innovation to achieve a sustainable and competitive market.

Research limitations/implications

There were certain limitations of this research study. First, the lack of panel data limits the investigation of causality that is instrumental in substantiating the findings. Second, the proposed conceptual framework offers a deeper understanding of innovation performance, examining how integrating activities of the R&D department, human resource department, and marketing department affect innovation commercialization will likely provide more meaningful insights. Moreover, finally, future studies may go beyond the scope of our study to examine (1) food and meat processing, (2) agriculture, hunting, and forestry, (3) hotels and restaurants, (4) mining and quarrying, (5) wholesale and retail trade, (6) transport, storage communication.

Practical implications

To remain relevant in this extraordinary time, this paper suggests a support instrument to offer vital data on different categories of innovation to the foodservice sector SMEs in Angeles City to embrace and implement new innovative methods in their practices. The key practical implication of this research, therefore, is the requirement for small and medium business owner-managers to improve their technical capability to realize the full benefits, particularly in terms of more responsive and user-centered, data-driven marketing personnel.

Social implications

These findings may influence positive social change by contributing to more effective and efficient marketing practices in small and medium firms that can lead to better financial performance, higher survival rates, and a healthier economic system. This study demonstrates that SME owner-managers require new skillsets to overcome the barriers to adopting technology for marketing. This primary capability is a prerequisite to the competitive advantage of the business, yielding to brand equity, business growth, and marketing dominance.

Originality/value

This study used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods strategy to determine the significant variables. This paper addresses an interesting and practical issue related to the impact of marketing capabilities and marketing innovation towards sustainable competitive advantage of micro-small and medium enterprises in the Philippines using mixed method approach.

Details

Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, vol. 35 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-5855

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Article
Publication date: 13 August 2021

Chin-Ching Yin, Yun-Chia Tang, Yi-Ching Hsieh, Hung-Chang Chiu and Shu-Jie Jhu

This paper aims to propose several characteristics of check-in services and investigates whether these characteristics influence customer perceived utilitarian and hedonic values…

387

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose several characteristics of check-in services and investigates whether these characteristics influence customer perceived utilitarian and hedonic values. These perceived values mediate the influences of check-in services on customers' responses.

Design/methodology/approach

From the perspective of mobile check-in service, the authors proposed a framework with several hypotheses and verified the model with structural equation modeling based on questionnaire data collected from mobile device users.

Findings

The results indicate that self-disclosure, expressive support and self-congruity positively relate to utilitarian value; instrumental support positively relates to hedonic value and both hedonic and utilitarian values positively relate to continuance intention and re-patronage intention. However, sales promotion has no significant influence on both hedonic and utilitarian check-in values.

Originality/value

This study applies the concept of location-based social networks to provide new insights into the evolving user-generated content research in the interactive marketing field.

Details

Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, vol. 16 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7122

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Article
Publication date: 11 July 2017

Yun-Chia Tang, Yi-Ching Hsieh and Hung-Chang Chiu

The purpose of this study is to determine how and when choice variety influences consumers’ willingness to purchase, according to a personal emotion perspective. The choice…

3621

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine how and when choice variety influences consumers’ willingness to purchase, according to a personal emotion perspective. The choice paradox indicates that although having many choices can be beneficial, it can also cause customer decision paralysis and unhappiness. This article proposes that the desire and motivation to process information vary from person to person, and emotional factors are relevant.

Design/methodology/approach

With a 2 × 2 experimental design, this study examines the influence of the interaction of choice variety with need for cognition (NFC) on positive and negative emotions, and then tests the mediating effects on purchase intentions. The sample includes 214 college students, assigned randomly to self-assessment questionnaires.

Findings

Both high NFC respondents in the high variety condition and low NFC respondents in the low variety condition exhibit more positive emotions than low NFC respondents in the high variety condition but not more than high NFC respondents in the low variety condition. Positive (negative) emotions increase (decrease) consumers’ purchase intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The experiment was conducted in a virtual store, which may not match real-life store environments or reflect participants’ actual purchase behaviours, so additional research should consider the influence of involvement further.

Practical implications

The results offer suggestions for developing more effective communication with emotions, increasing involvement to maintain consumers’ positive emotions and relieve their confusion, and managing product variety.

Originality/value

This article meets the identified need to study how choice variety influences consumers’ willingness to purchase from a personal emotion perspective.

Details

European Journal of Marketing, vol. 51 no. 7/8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0309-0566

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 30 January 2007

Carol Yeh‐Yun Lin and Mavis Yi‐Ching Chen

This study attempts to probe within a multi‐dimensional perspective the nature and type of daily innovation practices of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) located in…

8446

Abstract

Purpose

This study attempts to probe within a multi‐dimensional perspective the nature and type of daily innovation practices of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Taiwan. The relationship between innovation and organizational performance will also be explored.

Design/methodology/approach

Data of interest were collected through a telephone survey. From the 2000 Directory of Manufacturing and Service Industries in Northern Part of Taiwan, companies with a total employee number less than 200 (the definition of an SME in Taiwan) were the population. Telephone calls to 877 firms were successfully completed with a response rate of 87 per cent.

Findings

Eighty per cent of the surveyed companies conducted some sort of innovation, the two major types of innovations were technological and marketing innovations. Innovation has a weak link with company sales. Administrative innovations have surfaced to be the most crucial factor in explaining sales rather than technological innovations.

Practical implications

Creating a successful innovation platform to serve as a base for non‐technology‐related innovations may prove to be the most critical catalyst to capitalize on innovation efforts. The research results also provide some insights for companies that are not sure how to integrate innovation into their business operations.

Originality/value

This study unveils the innovation practices of this novel economy and particularly focuses on the less explored SMEs in an Asian context.

Details

Management Research News, vol. 30 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0140-9174

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Article
Publication date: 20 July 2020

Mavis Yi-Ching Chen, Long W. Lam and Julie N.Y. Zhu

In this study, the authors employ an intellectual-capital based view of the firm to examine the relationship between three bundles of human resource development (HRD) practices…

2763

Abstract

Purpose

In this study, the authors employ an intellectual-capital based view of the firm to examine the relationship between three bundles of human resource development (HRD) practices (i.e. developmental, constructive and collaborative HRD practices), three dimensions of intellectual capital (i.e. human capital, organizational capital and social capital), and organizational performance improvements. Specifically, the authors investigate the mediating role of intellectual capital in the relationship between HRD practices and changes in organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors randomly distributed questionnaires to 1,000 HR executives of Taiwanese firms to assess the firms' HRD practices and intellectual capital. Firm performance data in terms of return on assets (ROA) were obtained from the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ). To test the model, the authors used the longitudinal data over three years from 213 firms in Taiwan.

Findings

The results show that human capital and social capital mediate the relationship between HRD practices (i.e. developmental and collaborative HRD practices) and organizational performance improvements in terms of return-on-assets growth.

Originality/value

This study adds to the empirical evidence regarding whether or not investment in HRD practices can lead to positive changes in financial performance.

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