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11 – 20 of over 29000Varaporn Pangboonyanon and Kiattichai Kalasin
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how within-industry diversification affects the financial performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how within-industry diversification affects the financial performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets (EMs). The authors draw on both the resource-based view and the institutional perspective and argue that within-industry diversification can enhance the financial performance of SMEs in EMs. Due to institutional voids in emerging economies, SMEs can gain additional benefits from scope economies, as well as from market returns, by filling product market voids and gaps in business ecosystems, while also enjoying low input and labor costs that reduce the coordination costs of diversification. This, in turn, enhances benefits of within-industry diversification, thereby resulting in higher financial profitability.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employs panel data econometrics to estimate the model. The authors test hypotheses on 195 firms, originating from five countries in Southeast Asia, during the period of 2009–2014.
Findings
The empirical results support the arguments. Within-industry diversification has a positive impact on the performance of SMEs in EMs. These effects become weaker when the institutional contexts are more developed. Nevertheless, such effects become stronger when SMEs in EMs are more efficient.
Research limitations/implications
The relationship between within-industry diversification and performance is a positive linear pattern, which differs from the pattern in advanced economies. In addition to unrelated diversification, the related diversification is preferable for firms in EMs.
Practical implications
The paper provides implications for SMEs that aim to enhance their performance by engaging in single product lines and within-industry diversification.
Originality/value
This paper examines the different ways within-industry diversification can enhance SMEs performance in EM contexts.
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Varaporn Pangboonyanon and Kiattichai Kalasin
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how within-industry diversification affects the financial performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how within-industry diversification affects the financial performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets (EMs). The authors draw on both the resource-based view and the institutional perspective and argue that within-industry diversification can enhance the financial performance of SMEs in EMs. Due to institutional voids in emerging economies, SMEs can gain additional benefits from scope economies, as well as from market returns, by filling product market voids and gaps in business ecosystems, while also enjoying low input and labor costs that reduce the coordination costs of diversification. This, in turn, enhances benefits of within-industry diversification, thereby resulting in higher financial profitability.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employs panel data econometrics to estimate the model. The authors test hypotheses on 195 firms, originating from five countries in Southeast Asia, during the period of 2009–2014.
Findings
The empirical results support the arguments. Within-industry diversification has a positive impact on the performance of SMEs in EMs. These effects become weaker when the institutional contexts are more developed. Nevertheless, such effects become stronger when SMEs in EMs are more efficient.
Research limitations/implications
The relationship between within-industry diversification and performance is a positive linear pattern, which differs from the pattern in advanced economies. In addition to unrelated diversification, the related diversification is preferable for firms in EMs.
Practical implications
The paper provides implications for SMEs that aim to enhance their performance by engaging in single product lines and within-industry diversification.
Originality/value
This paper examines the different ways within-industry diversification can enhance SMEs performance in EM contexts.
Details
Keywords
Valery J. Frants, Jacob Shapiro and Vladimir G. Voiskunskii
The purpose of this paper is to examine zeroing jurisprudence under the WTO’s Anti-Dumping Agreement and to see if the jurisprudence can still be applied to situations of targeted…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine zeroing jurisprudence under the WTO’s Anti-Dumping Agreement and to see if the jurisprudence can still be applied to situations of targeted dumping where dumping takes place in a specific region, at specific timing, or for specific consumer groups.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines the prior decisions of the WTO panels and the Appellate Body relating to the zeroing practice. It categorizes the key elements of these prior decisions where the zeroing practice has been found WTO-inconsistent. While there has been no specific dispute addressing targeted dumping per se, this paper proves that core elements of the zeroing practice have been anatomized and dissected by the panels and the Appellate Body in prior proceedings. The paper then analyzes whether these key elements still exist in the specific context of targeted dumping and thus whether application of zeroing is still prohibited in targeted dumping situations.
Findings
The existing jurisprudence on zeroing from previous WTO disputes should apply to targeted dumping situations as well. Unbridled application of zeroing in the targeted dumping situations will effectively nullify the existing zeroing jurisprudence accumulated through a decade of WTO disputes. If unchecked, this calculation methodology in the context of targeted dumping may open the back door wide open for “zeroing” negative anti-dumping margins. The paper concludes that the existing jurisprudence on zeroing stands for the proposition that zeroing in targeted dumping should also be prohibited.
Originality/value
This paper examines the legality of the zeroing practice in targeted dumping situations, which has been one of the most controversial issues among WTO members for the past several years. The analyses and discussions contained in this paper will provide legal guideline to evaluate zeroing in targeted dumping within the WTO framework. The outcome of the research will provide a platform for continued research and discussion in this area.
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Yueyue Liu, Xu Zhang, Meng Xi, Siqi Liu and Xin Meng
For start-ups or growing firms, to effectively navigate the unpredictable nature of digital development and achieve superior innovative performance, it is crucial to have a…
Abstract
Purpose
For start-ups or growing firms, to effectively navigate the unpredictable nature of digital development and achieve superior innovative performance, it is crucial to have a workforce comprised of creative and innovative employees. Drawing upon the principles of social information processing theory, this study aims to investigate whether specific combinations of organizational internal and external environments, as well as work characteristics in the digital age, can foster a high level of employee innovative behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
By collecting a multilevel and multisource data set comprising 693 employees and 88 CEOs from 88 start-ups or growing firms, this study used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to examine the distinctive configurations associated with achieving a high level of employee innovative behavior.
Findings
The study found that six solutions enabled employees to innovate more effectively, but six solutions led to the absence of employee innovative behavior.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study offer important theoretical and practical implications to motivate employee innovative behavior in Chinese enterprises.
Originality/value
First, this study contributes to the literature on employee innovative behavior by addressing the need to explore the impact of the digital context on promoting innovation among employees. Second, this study adds to the existing literature on employee innovation and entrepreneurship by examining multiple organizational contexts and their influence on innovative behavior. Third, this study makes a significant contribution to the field of employee innovative behavior by examining the macroenvironment surrounding digital transformation within enterprises and integrating both internal and external organizational factors.
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Maryam Abdirad and Krishna Krishnan
The purposes of this study are to introduce the concept of service quality (SQ) in E-Supply chain management (E-SCM) and its impact on increasing customer satisfaction (CS) and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purposes of this study are to introduce the concept of service quality (SQ) in E-Supply chain management (E-SCM) and its impact on increasing customer satisfaction (CS) and provide insightful enhancements to the literature. In addition, the paper also examines the influence of SQ of E-SCM on CS in online shopping.
Design/methodology/approach
After a comprehensive literature review, four key factors for measuring the E-Supply chain (process control, interaction with supplier, management support and focus on customers), four key factors for measuring CS (informing customers, attention to customers’ needs, staff performance accuracy and easy access to services) and four factors for measuring the quality of identification services (assurance, accountability, tangibility and reliability) were selected. The proposed conceptual model was then presented. This model was validated by data collected through a survey of 150 respondents to identify CS, including that of customers of online websites in Iran. The sample data was analyzed using SPSS21, after which the interrelationships between the model and factors were examined based on the partial least square-structural. Model fit indices were then calculated for the data set. The proposed model was validated by using factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques.
Findings
The results indicated that E-SCM has a direct impact on CS. The effect of SQ was also confirmed. A positive and significant relationship was identified between E-SCM and CS, E-SCM and SQ, as well as SQ and CS (P> 0.05).
Research limitations/implications
The first limitation was to convince respondents to cooperate with the researchers. The second one was the lack of research-related background due to the subject being relatively new.
Originality/value
This study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, is the first empirical analysis on the CS assessment of SQ of E-Supply Chain in online shopping. This important link to online shopping has rarely been explored. It is expected that by filling this gap, this study will help in strengthening online shopping, which needs a change in the marketing area.
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Sajjad Alam, Jianhua Zhang and Muhammad Usman Shehzad
This study aims to examine the relationship between green technology implementation (GTI), knowledge management (KM) process and knowledge workers' operational performance (KWOP)…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between green technology implementation (GTI), knowledge management (KM) process and knowledge workers' operational performance (KWOP). The research postulates that a specific combination of GTI and KM processes can lead to improving KWOP.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample data (304) were taken from those manufacturing firms that are utilizing green technology. The examination was conducted by Smart PLS-SEM and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The Smart PLS 3.29 is used to verify certain variable relationships. Moreover, fsQCA is used to investigate multiple configuration paths to enhance KWOP.
Findings
The study's outcome indicated that GTI positively influences the KM process in manufacturing firms, and the KM process enormously improves KWOP. The fsQCA analysis result explores various integrations (communication, collaboration, supporting role and improved performance) with the KM (acquisition, sharing and utilization) process identified to enhance the performance of KWOP. The current study supports two merging methods to deepen understanding of employee operational performance.
Originality/value
The study methodologically contributes by integrating direct and configuration approaches to develop firms' operational performance. This study contributes to bridging research gaps in the prior literature and advances insight into the association between GTI, KM process and KWOP.
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The idea of assigning corporate managers on the basis of the product life cycle is rapidly gaining currency. The practice is likely to work better in some corporations than…
Abstract
The idea of assigning corporate managers on the basis of the product life cycle is rapidly gaining currency. The practice is likely to work better in some corporations than others. While the PLC assignment method may work in homogeneous companies, the author contends that all organizations may be better off trying the alternative approach he suggests.
Abstract
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Qasim Zaheer, Mir Majaid Manzoor and Muhammad Jawad Ahamad
The purpose of this article is to analyze the optimization process in depth, elaborating on the components of the entire process and the techniques used. Researchers have been…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to analyze the optimization process in depth, elaborating on the components of the entire process and the techniques used. Researchers have been drawn to the expanding trend of optimization since the turn of the century. The rate of research can be used to measure the progress and increase of this optimization procedure. This study is phenomenal to understand the optimization process and different algorithms in addition to their application by keeping in mind the current computational power that has increased the implementation for several engineering applications.
Design/methodology/approach
Two-dimensional analysis has been carried out for the optimization process and its approaches to addressing optimization problems, i.e. computational power has increased the implementation. The first section focuses on a thorough examination of the optimization process, its objectives and the development of processes. Second, techniques of the optimization process have been evaluated, as well as some new ones that have emerged to overcome the above-mentioned problems.
Findings
This paper provided detailed knowledge of optimization, several approaches and their applications in civil engineering, i.e. structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, transportation and many more. This research provided tremendous emerging techniques, where the lack of exploratory studies is to be approached soon.
Originality/value
Optimization processes have been studied for a very long time, in engineering, but the current computational power has increased the implementation for several engineering applications. Besides that, different techniques and their prediction modes often require high computational strength, such parameters can be mitigated with the use of different techniques to reduce computational cost and increase accuracy.
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