Search results

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate if intellectual capital (IC) has an impact on organizational performance as well as to identify the IC components that may be the drivers of the traditional indicators of business success. The study sought evidence from the multinational companies which conduct their business in Serbia.

By using data from 37 multinational companies which established their business in Serbia from 2006 to 2008 and applying the VAIC methodology for generating independent variables which reflect IC, regression models were constructed to examine the relationships between the efficient use of MNCs' human and structural capital and corporate performance measures: return on assets, return on equity and productivity.

The results of this study reveal that human capital is positively associated with all three corporate performance measures. The hypothesis regarding a positive association between structural capital and MNCs' profitability and productivity has been confirmed only partially since the results indicate that the structural capital variable shows a statistically significant and positive relationship only with the performance measure ‐ return on equity.

This is the first empirical study conducted in Serbia testing the relationship between IC and organizational performance. It contributes to the existing IC literature by giving new insights into the IC of MNCs' subsidiaries established in Serbia and its relationship with their business performance.

Drawing on a strategic agility perspective, the authors develop a theoretical framework and empirically examine how digital platform adoption and capability impact business performance via digital-enabled strategic agility in the context of professional service firms.

The authors propose and examine a conceptual framework based on survey data from 127 professional service firms in New Zealand.

This study reveals the impact of digital platform capability on the business performance of professional service firms that employ digital platform technologies. The results suggest that organizational innovation and managers' creative efficacy will be used as distal antecedents and contribute to digital platform capabilities. In addition, digital strategic agility can mediate the link between digital platform capabilities and business performance.

This study is one of the first to investigate when and how digital platforms empower professional service firms. This study reveals the role of digital strategic agility and digital platform capabilities in knowledge-intensive enterprises. This research advances the development of knowledge-based economy in the information age by applying and extending strategic agility to the uncertain and volatile business environment. The authors' new conceptualization provides a deeper understanding of how and why professional services business and organizations can adapt to the post-COVID era smoothly and successfully.

The ability of small businesses to make and adjust to the paradigm shift needed to benefit from the Japanese production theory has been questioned in the literature. Zangwill (1992) questioned the limits of the Japanese Production Theory (JPT) and in a subsequent paper (Zangwill, 1994) held on to his argument about the limits of the Japanese Production Theory. In this paper, the Japanese Production Theory is first discussed, followed by a discussion of the consistency between the traditional EOQ theory and the Japanese production theory, critique of the Zangwill’s argument, and issues related to the relevance of the Japanese production theory to small businesses.

The purpose of this empirical study intends to explore the contingency effect of the adoption of some specific quality initiatives (QI), on the correlation of some performance measures (PMs) with the “interacting” QI and quality award (QA) models through the continuous improvement (CI) journey of Indian QA winners.

A survey questionnaire was administered to the Indian Quality Award winners. Data collected from a survey were followed by validity and reliability analyses of the instrument. Hypotheses were tested using Spearman's correlation test and Fisher's Z-test.

Some specific QI that affected the correlation between PMs and research questions representing the interaction among QI and QA models during different stages of the CI journey of organizations were identified. PMs that correlated with interacting QI and QA models through the above stages of CI journey were also identified.

A preliminary inference on QI to be adopted and the PMs to be focused upon during the different periods of CI journey of Indian organizations was arrived at. This could help practitioners in proper choice of QI and to focus upon “realistic” PM through different stages of the CI journey of organizations.

This study attempts to fill the gap of scarce holistic studies on the long-term performance implications of interacting QI and QA through the CI journey of organizations.

The learning outcomes are as follows: first, identify the characteristics of born-global SMEs, and how these characteristics facilitate their global expansion shortly after the company’s inception. Second, demonstrate that companies work with limited resources, typically and notably newly established companies, and that these resources should be allocated according to a carefully determined strategy. The resources focussed on in this case pertain to marketing. Third, examine entrepreneurial marketing and its various manifestations. An understanding of how this type of marketing is used by companies for international expansion is expected. Fourth, assess the role of digital marketing and how social media forms an important part of digital marketing. Particular attention is paid to the use of digital marketing, notably social media, in international expansion. Fifth, develop critical thinking skills with respect to strategic business decisions, such as whether to expand a business into foreign markets or to consolidate locally; and how best to penetrate foreign markets, given the nuances and complexities specific to these markets.

This teaching case is about The Duchess, a recently developed and launched virgin alcohol-free and sugar-free gin and tonic beverage. The adult soft drink was originally launched in South Africa, and just 18 months later became available in international markets (the UK and Belgium). The founders and protagonists of the case, Johannes le Roux and Inus Smuts, face the dilemmas of creating a competitive local brand while also looking to access new markets and internationalise as a born-global firm.

The target audience for this case comprises students enrolled in tertiary business education programmes who have already had some sort of work experience and hands-on exposure to real-world business. MBA and EMBA students, as well as those enrolled in post-graduate studies specific to marketing, international commerce and entrepreneurship, would be suitable candidates.

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

CSS 8: Marketing

This paper examines the use of the EFQM Model in H.E. Institutions in the UK and offers a case study of how one University used the Excellence Model as a means to change the way it operated. It identifies and disucsses the critical success factors for a university utilising the Model, in particular Leadership (criteria 1), People Management, particularly with regard to performance evaluation (criteria 3), having key processes in place (criteria 5) and the identification of the correct key performance results for its various stakeholders (criteria 9).

The purpose of this paper is to examine how internship value is manifested in the context of a business school. The authors have examined the internship experience in terms of experiential learning and employability. Specifically, the authors investigate the factors that determine internship at four phases: design, conduct, evaluation and feedback.

The authors have applied a mixed method approach. In all, 110 students of a busines school were first surveyed on their expectation, motivation and level of preparation through a self-administered questionnaire before internship. Based on the survey result, eight of these students were interviewed in details about internship expectations from industry, the selection process for internship, communications or exchanges between intern and companies prior to internship and perceived industry expectation from interns. At the next phase, authors used a qualitative research approach by conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 14 interns and their mentors after internship period. They were interviewed on design, conduct, evaluation and feedback process of the internship. Interviews tried capture what kind of leader-member exchange led to satisfactory internship experience and outcome from view of both inter and mentor.

The authors find that at various stages of internship program quality of mentor – intern exchanges (as defined by leadership exchange theory), and task characteristics as indicated by autonomy, task variety, task significance and performance feedback determine intern’s performance. An intern’s performance is antecedent to an intern’s and a mentor’s satisfaction and overall internship value. The authors also found that intrinsic capability of intern such as critical thinking ability and learning orientation result in enhanced value of internship experience. The proposed models, postulate that at designing stage, lower the level of communication from employers, higher the feeling of ambiguity and lower the perceived internship value in terms of experiential learning and perceived employability. Feeling of ambiguity is moderated by existence of prior work experience of interns. At conduction stage, mentor-intern exchange is directly related to flexibility in structure of the program and inversely related to dependency on peer learning. Mentor-intern exchange also related to mentor and intern’s learning value. However, the learning value is moderated by learning orientation of the intern.

The authors have tried the summer internship experience from the perspective of interns and mentors. This is the uniqueness of the research.

This study considers the viability of the combination strategy with regard to the Porter and Miles & Snow generic strategy typologies. Within each framework, it is possible to pursue a “combination strategy,” whereby dimensions of two or more pure strategies are incorporated simultaneously. The present study presents findings from a recent assessment of perceptions of 415 American and Mexican managers regarding their firms’ strategies and levels of performance. Data suggests that combination strategies can be associated with either inferior or superior performance. This paper also suggests that additional research should considerre‐visit the I/O versus resource‐based schism and seek to integrate the two schools of thought into a broader consensus.

The performance of Kuwaiti small firms was examined, with specific attention paid to gender as a differentiating factor. Differences and similarities between the two gender groups were discussed with respect to human capital variables, family situation factors, business characteristics, and financial performance indicators. The results showed that women had less business experience, higher education levels, and were older than their male counterparts. Furthermore, the results showed that women‐owned firms suffered from liability of newness and their financial performance was significantly lower than men‐owned firms.

Place identity refers to the combination of physical setting, social interactions, emotions and associated meanings. This research paper aims to broaden knowledge about boutique concepts and to examine the role of advertisement types suited to generate a heightened sense of place for customers. The design and delivery of tangible and intangible components of the boutique service experience are investigated to better understand business-relevant customer outcomes.

An introductory qualitative study explores the key features and managerial relevance of the boutique appeal as a means to communicate personalization and a sense of place. Interviews with managers of a boutique catering service are conducted and thematically analyzed. A quantitative follow-up study examines the effect of the boutique appeal on hotel image, purchase intention and willingness to pay.

A boutique hotel appeal is more attractive to customers (compared to traditional luxury appeals) when it is advertised using visually engaging virtual tours because it augments customers’ sensation of place identity. The mediating psychological mechanism, place identity, represents the essential emotional component evoked by boutique concepts and its positive effect on managerially relevant customer outcomes.

This paper provides insight for the design and management of boutique concepts to better shape and predict consumer responses in various luxury hospitality industries. The process by which customers identify with the location where the service is provided, socialize with staff and attach meaning to these settings evokes a sense of place identity, a critical resource in the process of value co-creation.