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1 – 10 of 11Fabiane Letícia Lizarelli, Ayon Chakraborty, Jiju Antony, Sandy Furterer, Maher Maalouf and Matheus Borges Carneiro
Lean implementation has become popular over the past three decades in the industry and is becoming more prevalent in, service organizations. The objective of this study is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Lean implementation has become popular over the past three decades in the industry and is becoming more prevalent in, service organizations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of social and technical Lean practices on sustainable performance (i.e. economic, environmental and social) in service organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology includes the analysis of global results obtained from 139 managers from the service sector.
Findings
The results demonstrate that Lean practices have a positive effect on the three perspectives of sustainable performance, regardless of the company size and duration of Lean implementation. Furthermore, both social and technical Lean practices have a similar impact on environmental and economic performance, but their impact on social performance differs, since social Lean practices have a stronger impact on social performance.
Practical implications
This study has a significant contribution to Lean practitioners in service sectors, as it demonstrates that efforts to apply Lean practices can benefit economic results as well as environmental and social performance.
Originality/value
Majority of existing studies focused on the isolated impact of Lean on one of the triple bottom line performance aspects and with a scarcity of studies within the context of services. The intersection of these three strategic areas – Lean, sustainability and services – has not been extensively addressed. There is also a lack of studies that observe sustainability in environmental, social and economic performance, mainly in the service sector.
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This study aims to investigate whether social investment (SI) policies improve employment among single mothers.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate whether social investment (SI) policies improve employment among single mothers.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes the potential effects of SI policies on vulnerable individuals and workers at the macro level by using the employment position of single mothers as a dependent variable. Time-series cross-national data from 18 OECD countries between 1998 and 2017 are analyzed. Multilevel model analysis is also used for robustness check.
Findings
I find that public spending on education and family support is positively associated with the employment rates of single mothers. In contrast, active labor market policy (ALMP) spending is negatively associated. ALMP’s negative effects stand out particularly with public spending on job training. Of all family support policies, family allowances are positively associated with single mothers’ employment, which runs counter to the conventional argument that family allowances are a disincentive for women’s or mothers’ employment. Paid leave (length and generosity) is also associated with higher employment for single mothers. There is also some tentative evidence that public spending on maternity leave benefits (spending level) may raise the odds of single mothers being employed, when individual-level factors are controlled for in multilevel analysis we implement for robustness check.
Research limitations/implications
This paper does not analyze the effects of the qualitative properties of SI policies. Future research is necessary in this respect.
Originality/value
The effects of SI policies on employment among single mothers have not yet been examined in the literature. This paper seeks to be a first cut at measuring the effects.
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Aminath Adhala Rasheed, Ahmad Albattat and S. M. Ferdous Azam
Virtual professional learning communities provide digital platforms for teachers across the globe to join learning networks and engage in continuous and unrestricted learning…
Abstract
Purpose
Virtual professional learning communities provide digital platforms for teachers across the globe to join learning networks and engage in continuous and unrestricted learning. This study aimed to explore the impact of contextual factors on establishing virtual professional learning communities in Maldivian schools.
Design/methodology/approach
This quantitative study used a sample of 420 Maldivian in-service teachers chosen using two-stage cluster sampling and a stratified random sampling method.
Findings
The findings revealed that all three contextual factors – micro-, meso- and macro-contextual – positively and significantly influenced the virtual professional learning communities.
Practical implications
These findings recommend an integrated framework with micro-, meso- and macro-contextual factors as valuable instruments for educational leaders striving to establish virtual Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
Originality/value
This study is among the first to examine the association of contextual factors of schools with the establishment of virtual PLCs in a country such as the Maldives, with geographically dispersed islands and limited resources.
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Yu Song, Bingrui Liu, Lejia Li and Jia Liu
In recent years, terrorist attacks have gradually become one of the important factors endangering social security. In this context, this research aims to propose methods and…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, terrorist attacks have gradually become one of the important factors endangering social security. In this context, this research aims to propose methods and principles which can be utilized to make effective evacuation plans to reduce casualties in terrorist attacks.
Design/methodology/approach
By analyzing the statistical data of terrorist attack videos, this paper proposes an extended cellular automaton (CA) model and simulates the panic evacuation of the pedestrians in the terrorist attack.
Findings
The main findings are as follows. (1) The panic movement of pedestrians leads to the dispersal of the crowd and the increase in evacuation time. (2) Most deaths occur in the early stage of crowd evacuation while pedestrians gather without perceiving the risk. (3) There is a trade-off between escaping from the room and avoidance of attackers for pedestrians. Appropriate panic contagion enables pedestrians to respond more quickly to risks. (4) Casualties are mainly concentrated in complex terrains, e.g. walls, corners, obstacles, exits, etc. (5) The initial position of the attackers has a significant effect on the crowd evacuation. The evacuation efficiency should be reduced if the attacker starts the attack from the exit or corners.
Originality/value
In this research, the concept of “focus region” is proposed to depict the different reactions of pedestrians to danger and the effects of the attacker’s motion (especially the attack strategies of attackers) are classified. Additionally, the influences on pedestrians by direct and indirect panic sources are studied.
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Eric Urbaniak, Rebecca Uzarski and Salma Haidar
This research paper aims to evaluate the sustainability knowledge and background of students, staff and faculty regarding current university sustainability practices and…
Abstract
Purpose
This research paper aims to evaluate the sustainability knowledge and background of students, staff and faculty regarding current university sustainability practices and individual behaviors at Central Michigan University (CMU); to compare sustainability background and knowledge based on academic discipline of enrollment or employment; and to assess sustainability awareness and interest of the campus community to guide future sustainability initiatives and resources at CMU.
Design/methodology/approach
An electronic cross-sectional survey was used to collect anonymous responses through Qualtrics, and then results were analyzed through SPSS. Analyses were performed based on the academic structures at CMU.
Findings
This research has found that students in STEM fields are more inclined to have pro-sustainability attitudes, knowledge and behaviors, compared to those studying the arts and business. Additionally, results indicate that there is a significant difference in knowledge between the students, and the staff and faculty respondents regarding sustainability knowledge and application, with the staff and faculty consistently demonstrating more pro-sustainability knowledge and behavior.
Originality/value
While research has previously been conducted on sustainability attitudes and behaviors, this research is unique because it ties sustainability knowledge to academic discipline. Additionally, it serves to gauge which sustainability programs and topics members of the campus community are most interested in, and which areas they are most willing to support.
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Muhammad Saleem Sumbal, Mujtaba Hassan Agha, Aleena Nisar and Felix T.S. Chan
This study aims to investigate the various systems in logistics industry of Pakistan through the lens of the World Bank's logistics performance indicators (LPI) and understand…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the various systems in logistics industry of Pakistan through the lens of the World Bank's logistics performance indicators (LPI) and understand their impact on the China–Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) that is a vital part of China's belt and road initiative (BRI).
Design/methodology/approach
In this study thematic analysis was performed on twenty-three semi-structured interviews with experts in Pakistan's logistics and supply chain sector to gain an in-depth insight into the logistics performance relative to CPEC.
Findings
A performance gap exists in the logistics systems in Pakistan, both for hard and soft infrastructure. The significant challenges are the inefficiencies of the government, minimal use of information and computing technology (ICT), and an incapable workforce. It is essential to be cognizant of the ground realities and amendments required in the existing policies and practices in light of the challenges faced and best practices adopted by developed and developing countries with good standing in logistics performance. This study will guide policymakers and practitioners for hard and soft logistics infrastructure improvement, which may benefit economic corridors in general and CPEC in particular.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the role of ICT in improving both soft and hard logistics infrastructure, which can lead to significant development of economic corridors. The study makes use of a case study of the CPEC to demonstrate the lack of ICT can hamper the growth of an economic corridor despite billions of dollars of investment in the hard infrastructure development projects.
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Performance framework (PF) is a well-established practice to measure innovation performance and identify improvement opportunities. However, whether PFs academic research are…
Abstract
Purpose
Performance framework (PF) is a well-established practice to measure innovation performance and identify improvement opportunities. However, whether PFs academic research are applicable to companies remains unclear, as well as their support in the definition of improvement actions. This study aims to present the implementation and assessment of a new and updated PF proposed in previous research in a real industrial context.
Design/methodology/approach
The PF was implemented through an in-depth case study carried out in a European machinery manufacturer and further assessed by practitioners.
Findings
The results indicate that the PF enabled the creation of a multidimensional view of the innovation performance and the definition of improvement projects in the company. Additionally, the findings also reveal an overall positive assessment of the PF by senior managers who work with the innovation process.
Research limitations/implications
As a case study, this research is inherently limited in the extent to which results can be generalised. Thus, the analyses are reductive and rationalising. Future research is needed to assess the replicability of the PF.
Practical implications
The study's practical contribution is based on the combination of insights and steps that provide a straightforward and actionable approach for the company to improve performance.
Originality/value
This study aims to advance the importance of implementing the new and updated PF after its proposition, which is often overlooked in preceding research. Furthermore, the assessment of the PF also enables to infer its value to the company's employees.
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Emmanuel C. Mamatzakis, Lorenzo Neri and Antonella Russo
This study aims to examine the impact of national culture on classification shifting in Eastern European Member States of EU Eastern European countries (EEU) vis-à-vis the Western…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of national culture on classification shifting in Eastern European Member States of EU Eastern European countries (EEU) vis-à-vis the Western Member States of EU (WEU). The EEU provides a unique sample to study the quality of financial reporting that the authors measure with classification shifting given that for more than five decades they were following the model of a centrally planned economy, where market-based financial reporting was absent. Yet, the EEU transitioned to a market-based economy and completed its accession to the EU.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a panel data set of firm year observations from 1996 and 2020 that covers the full transition of EEU. This empirical analysis is based on fixed effects panel regression analysis where the authors report a plethora of identifications.
Findings
This study finds classification shifting in the EEU countries since their transition to the market-based economy, though they have no long record of market-based financial reporting. This study also notices that cultural factors are associated with classification shifting across all Member States of the EU. This study further examines the impact of interactions between cultural characteristics and special items and reveal variability between WEU and EEU. As part of the robustness analysis, this study also tests the impact of culture on real earnings management measures for both WEU vs EEU, confirming the variability of the impact of culture on earnings management.
Research limitations/implications
Future research could explore the role of religion differences in WEU vis-à-vis EEU states, as they are also subject to cultural differences.
Practical implications
The findings are important for regulators, external monitors and investors, as they show that cultural factors affect earnings management with some variability across countries in the EU, and they should be acknowledged in policymaking.
Social implications
The findings show that cultural differences between EEU and the “old” Member States of the EU could explain classification shifting.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that sheds light on the impact of national culture on classification shifting in EEU of EU vis-à-vis the “old” WEU of EU.
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Verònica Riera, Marta Moragas-Rovira and Xavier Pujadas
The purpose of this paper is to analyze if the sport trajectory could be an impact factor in leadership development.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze if the sport trajectory could be an impact factor in leadership development.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research method has been adopted by conducting 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed with the program Open Code (4.03).
Findings
The findings of this study revealed that the interviewed managers perceived that their sport trajectory has had an important influence in the development of their leadership. This influence is determined by four factors: (1) sport profile, (2) sport referents, (3) competences, values and abilities and (4) experiences from different sport roles played during their lifespan.
Research limitations/implications
The research is based on interviews with a small sample of managers. In order to develop the research further, a more extensive sample is required.
Originality/value
The paper is unique as it examines the impact of the sport trajectory as an impact factor in leadership development.
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