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Article
Publication date: 15 February 2013

Edson Talamini, Emiel F.M. Wubben, Antônio Domingos Padula and Homero Dewes

Macro‐environmental scanning is a first step in strategic planning, which is essential in an emerging industry such as liquid biofuels. The purpose of this paper is to identify…

2225

Abstract

Purpose

Macro‐environmental scanning is a first step in strategic planning, which is essential in an emerging industry such as liquid biofuels. The purpose of this paper is to identify the dimensions within which the governments of Brazil, the USA and Germany have constructed the macroenvironment for liquid biofuels over time and to test for similarities between the governments’ constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

Documentary research was carried out on official public policies and program documents on the topic of liquid biofuels, covering a ten‐year period from 1997 to 2006. The database consisted of 624 documents from the Brazilian government, 854 from the American government and 168 documents from the German government. Text mining was used to extract information from the texts by applying a specific analysis structure that was built on macro‐environmental dimensions as expressed by their respective dimensional words “d‐words”. The “d‐words” were selected based on their usage frequency in the knowledge fields related to each dimension.

Findings

The results indicate that the macroenvironments for liquid biofuels, as configured by the governments under analysis, differ systematically and over time in their emphasis of specific macro‐environmental dimensions.

Originality/value

There are two primary aspects of this study which are original and valuable: the application of text‐mining techniques as a tool for strategic planning and the development of a particular tool to extract knowledge from text documents and to categorize them according to their macro‐environmental dimensions.

Article
Publication date: 29 November 2018

Meryem Uluskan and A. Blanton Godfrey

The purpose of this paper is to develop a supply chain management framework covering different business environment levels, that is, macro, micro and supply chain levels, and also…

1484

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a supply chain management framework covering different business environment levels, that is, macro, micro and supply chain levels, and also to evaluate Haiti vs China as apparel-sourcing partners by assessing macro-level, supply-chain-level and micro-level environments from the US apparel buyers’ perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve this, first, a framework covering these business environment levels was developed and tested through path analysis. Prior to path analysis exploratory factor analysis was conducted to verify proposed factor structures. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews with a sample of 41 apparel companies that operate in the USA and source from China and Haiti.

Findings

This study found that both supply-chain-level and micro-level environments positively impact global supply chain performance. Supply-chain-level also has a direct effect on micro-level environment and macro-level environment has only a direct effect on supply-chain-level environment. Interviews and discussions based on this framework indicate that Haiti’s proximity to the USA, price, low-wage rates, small-order sourcing opportunities and good basic sewing skills are among Haiti’s strengths.

Originality/value

This study is unique in developing a multi-level environment framework for supply chain management and in comparing Haiti and China in terms of their supply chains to evaluate the potential competitiveness of Haitian apparel supply chain.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 25 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 July 2008

Aapo Länsiluoto and Tomas Eklund

The purpose of this study is to present and compare the results of an evaluation of two self‐organizing map (SOM) models' suitability for financial environment analysis. The…

2354

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present and compare the results of an evaluation of two self‐organizing map (SOM) models' suitability for financial environment analysis. The models are constructed for analyzing the macro‐ and firm‐level environments in the international pulp and paper industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for the evaluation were collected through a field survey in 13 publicly‐noted Finnish companies, with a total of 36 respondents. All the respondents were involved in business intelligence or corporate development related tasks.

Findings

The results indicate that, the respondents appreciated the capabilities of both SOM models. All of the factors relating to accuracy, content, format, timeliness, and usability for strategic decision making received ratings higher than neutral. Respondents also concluded that the SOM models have additional benefits compared to currently used methods. Finally, the respondents were willing to utilize the SOM as a complement to other tools for analyzing the competitive environment. Some subfactors of the firm level SOM model received statistically higher averages than the macro‐level SOM model.

Originality/value

Despite the SOM having been utilized in thousands of different applications, user satisfaction with the SOM and its information products has not previously been widely evaluated, especially not by potential end‐users.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 15 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 February 2019

BaoZhuang Sun, Wenju Liao, Zhong Li, Zhiyong Liu and Cuiwei Du

To study the corrosion behavior of pipeline steel in coastal areas, a tidal seawater macro-cell corrosion device was built using a cycle soaking tank and a macro-cell corrosion…

Abstract

Purpose

To study the corrosion behavior of pipeline steel in coastal areas, a tidal seawater macro-cell corrosion device was built using a cycle soaking tank and a macro-cell corrosion facility to simulate the corrosion behavior of pipeline steel in a simulated coastal environment (dry and wet alternations during seawater-soil corrosion macro-cell processes).

Design/methodology/approach

The corrosion behaviors were studied via the weight loss method, electrochemical methods and morphological observations on corrosion.

Findings

The results show that during the initial stage of tidal seawater/soil macro-cell corrosion process of the X65 steel, the working electrode on the seawater side is the anode of the macro-battery. As corrosion progresses, the anode and the cathode of the macro-battery become inverted. As the area ratio and the dry – wet ratio increase, the time of anode and cathode inversion shortens. Galvanic current density decreases as the dry – wet ratio increases and increases as the area ratio increases. The corrosion process of macro-cell is affected by the reversal of anode and cathode. After the reversal of anode and cathode, the corrosion rate is mainly controlled by dry – wet alternating corrosion.

Originality/value

The corrosion behavior of a pipeline steel in a coastal environment was studied using a tidal seawater macro-cell corrosion device. The synergism effect between the tidal seawater and seawater-soil macro-cell on corrosion behavior was clarified.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 66 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 February 2018

Guillaume Chanson

Through the literature, the effect of macro-environment on onshore outsourcing decisions appears rather unexplored, despite empirical evidence. The purpose of this paper is to…

Abstract

Purpose

Through the literature, the effect of macro-environment on onshore outsourcing decisions appears rather unexplored, despite empirical evidence. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap through an extension of Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) (the main theory of domestic outsourcing).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a framework based on a literature review. It applies this body of knowledge on a new question and provides detailed illustrations (with primary and secondary data).

Findings

This paper builds a theoretical framework, based on the concept of transition costs. This concept, created as a way to make the economizing approach more dynamic, highlights the influences of the macro-environment. This paper presents a clarification of transition costs. It formulates a theoretical proposition: the environment has an effect on outsourcing through the transition costs.

Research limitations/implications

This framework deserves to be tested through an empirical study.

Practical implications

This framework enables domestic providers to take the environment and transition costs into account for the design and timing of outsourced service.

Social implications

This framework enables to consider the importance of social conflicts and political measures on the domestic outsourcing decisions.

Originality/value

First, this paper addresses an unexplored question (the effect of macro-environment on onshore outsourcing decisions). Second, it refines an undertheorized TCE concept: the transition costs. Third, it proposes a new direction in the current debate of the evanishing explanatory power of the TCE on outsourcing (by extending this theory).

Details

Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing, vol. 11 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5364

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 3 July 2018

V. Kumar, Ankit Anand and Nandini Nim

Traditionally, firms have been dependent on internal sources such as their own employees – and up to a certain extent, on some external sources, their customers – for innovation…

Abstract

Purpose

Traditionally, firms have been dependent on internal sources such as their own employees – and up to a certain extent, on some external sources, their customers – for innovation. However, in the current scenario of technological dynamism, firms are exploring multiple sources to generate ideas for innovation. Therefore, there is a need to understand the relative effect of various sources of innovations on a firm’s performance.

Methodology/approach

We offer a conceptual framework where we identify six distinct sources of innovations – firm, customers, external network, competition, macro-environment, and technology and how they create value for focal firms especially their brand equity. We introduce a taxonomy of various costs and benefits related to innovations. We then argue using our proposed taxonomy to understand the relative strengths of various sources of innovation affecting a firm’s brand equity.

Findings

We discuss and compare the relative effects of these sources of innovations on a firm’s brand equity by rank-ordering the sources. The customers and the technology as a source of innovation have the maximum impact on the firm’s brand equity followed by the marginal impact of macro-environment and external network of a firm. The firm itself has a moderate impact on its brand equity, while competition has the minimal impact. Further, we also discuss how the relationship is moderated by different innovation characteristics (nature and type of innovations).

Practical implications

The main practical implication is to create awareness among managers about various costs and benefits of the proposed six sources of innovations and their effects on brand equity. Managers would be able to prioritize their sources of innovation based on firms’ current needs, and whether to focus on lower costs or building higher brand equity in the scarce resource environment.

Originality/value

We offer a comprehensive list of six sources of innovation, build a conceptual framework wherein we discuss the relative strengths of these sources affecting brand equity.

Book part
Publication date: 19 September 2022

Elaine Farndale and Vlad Vaiman

This chapter presents a holistic view of dynamic external macro environments and their impact on internal organizational strategies. It suggests how events, and particularly major…

Abstract

This chapter presents a holistic view of dynamic external macro environments and their impact on internal organizational strategies. It suggests how events, and particularly major crises at the global or national level, affect organizational responses. Specifically, the authors submit that organizations adapt their strategy in line with the pressures they face from the external environment. Consequently, the day-to-day operations inside the organization change, and managers find themselves faced with new challenges in terms of how they manage their talent. By exploring critical roles that human resource (HR) professionals can play in talent management, the authors delineate several ways in which the HR department can help organizations to react to these external pressures, supporting managers in ensuring that employee behavior and values are aligned with the new organizational strategy. The objective of this chapter is not only to reflect on the HR professionals and their role in helping to manage organizational talent, as their organizations navigate the dynamic macro context, but also to stimulate further research in this field.

Article
Publication date: 27 March 2009

Candida G. Brush, Anne de Bruin and Friederike Welter

The purpose of this paper is to offer a new gender‐aware framework to provide a springboard for furthering a holistic understanding of women's entrepreneurship.

14187

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a new gender‐aware framework to provide a springboard for furthering a holistic understanding of women's entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper builds on an existing framework articulating the “3Ms” (markets, money and management) required for entrepreneurs to launch and grow ventures. Drawing on institutional theory, it is argued that this “3M” framework needs further development and “motherhood” and “meso/macro environment” are added to extend and mediate the “3Ms” and construct a “5M” framework to enable the study of women's entrepreneurship in its own right.

Findings

It was found that “Motherhood” is a metaphor representing the household and family context of female entrepreneurs, which might have a larger impact on women than men. The meso/macro environment captures considerations beyond the market, such as expectations of society and cultural norms (macro), and intermediate structures and institutions (meso).

Practical implications

For the women entrepreneur, this analysis has implications for understanding the sources of the challenges they face by providing insights on the importance of the interplay of both individual and societal factors that impact on their enterprise. For policy makers, it turns the spotlight on the need for an integrated approach for fostering female entrepreneurs that is not blind to overarching institutionalised social structures and gender asymmetries.

Originality/value

The framework helps lay a foundation for coherent research on women's entrepreneurship. It is unique in making explicit the social embeddedness of women entrepreneurs and considers the multiple levels of influence on their entrepreneurial actions.

Details

International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, vol. 1 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-6266

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 September 2022

Christopher Agyapong Siaw, David Sugianto Lie and Rahul Govind

The purpose of this study is to examine how corporate communication of their social programs on their websites affects the ratings of those programs by independent rating…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how corporate communication of their social programs on their websites affects the ratings of those programs by independent rating agencies. Firms expend resources on corporate social programs (CSPs) to promote their corporate social responsibility and sustainability credentials. Stakeholders, however, often respond to such “self-promotion” with skepticism because they believe that there are inconsistencies between corporate claims and actions. This research draws on attribution theory as a framework to examine how the perceived CSP performance of firms by uncontrollable sources are affected when firms disseminate CSP information on firm websites, i.e. a controllable source, where their claims may not be verifiable.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a two-step, mixed method study for the analysis using data from Fortune 500 companies. A qualitative content analysis process identifies the interfaces of CSP and their communications on firms’ website. The process allows the authors to collect CSP data systematically from firm websites and to identify relevant variables through the patterns that emerge from the analysis. The findings are used in a quantitative analysis to study how the patterns underlying CSP communication on their websites affect the ratings of firms’ CSP by independent rating agencies.

Findings

Results show that the location, the manner, the content and the scope of CSP information dissemination on firm websites, as well as perceived commitment to CSP identified on the website are important drivers of perceived CSP performance. A robustness check using an alternative independent rating of CSP also provides results that are supportive of the findings. In addition, the effects are found to differ by sector of operation, firm age and profitability.

Research limitations/implications

This research suggests that communication of CSPs at controllable sources of firm information dissemination can have a significant effect on the evaluation of CSP at uncontrollable sources when such communication facilitates the assessment of other information from a firm to determine the motive underlying a firm’s CSP.

Practical implications

The findings show that firms and managers can influence the perceived ratings, rankings or scores of their CSP by stakeholders when they put the right information at the right place on their corporate websites. One of the findings shows that even moderate levels of CSP commitment demonstrated on firm websites result in positive perceptions of CSP, which has marked practical implications.

Social implications

The findings show that integrating even a medium level of commitment to CSP increases the positive perceptions of a firm’s CSP. Thus, society benefits from the firm’s action without a substantial impact on the firm’s profits.

Originality/value

This research shows that firm-controlled sources of CSP information dissemination to stakeholders can affect uncontrollable sources of CSP information evaluation.

Article
Publication date: 7 August 2017

Lay Hong Tan, Boon Cheong Chew and Syaiful Rizal Hamid

This paper aims to provide a more holistic perspective on rationales that motivated Maybank to move toward a sustainable banking operating system.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a more holistic perspective on rationales that motivated Maybank to move toward a sustainable banking operating system.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study was based on primary data collected through a series of qualitative interview with 35 bankers who were from different departments. Besides, the secondary data such as academic books and journals, government and regulatory authority’s publications, website publications, Maybank’s annual reports and Maybank’s sustainability reports were reviewed to obtain a more comprehensive understanding on rationales that motivated Maybank to move toward a sustainable banking operating system.

Findings

Within the corporation studied, the rationales for moving Maybank toward sustainable banking operating system are driven by macro-, meso- and micro-level drivers. In terms of macro-level drivers, the pressures come from the bank’s external environment. A PESTLE analysis is used to discuss the drivers for change present within the macro environment. The different national government bodies and non-government organizations are calling upon financial institutions to implement more socially and environmentally friendly lending policies. In terms of meso-level drivers, stakeholders are viewed as important driving forces for Maybank to integrate sustainability into banking operations. Internal driving forces are likely to emanate from employees, the board of directors and shareholders. External driving forces result from pressure from customers, governments, competitors, NGOs and society at large. Micro-level drivers are drivers of sustainable banking that include pressures generated from within the bank’s internal environment. Maybank is largely motivated by its mission statement and vision statement, which is articulated in their sustainable banking agenda.

Research limitations/implications

Viewing the rationales that motivated Maybank to move toward a sustainable banking operating system through multiple perspectives – macro-, meso- and micro-level drivers present an interesting approach for research.

Originality/value

The rationales for moving Maybank toward a sustainable banking operating system are driven by macro-, meso- and micro-level drivers. This paper provides fresh insight into rationales that move toward the sustainable banking operating system.

Details

Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1755-4179

Keywords

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