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1 – 10 of over 13000Felipe Alexandre de Lima, Stefan Seuring and Andrea Genovese
Operationalizing R-imperatives in firms is seen as vital to bolstering circularity through reduce, reuse and recycle and building circular supply chains (CSCs). However, this…
Abstract
Purpose
Operationalizing R-imperatives in firms is seen as vital to bolstering circularity through reduce, reuse and recycle and building circular supply chains (CSCs). However, this process introduces various uncertainties to firms within CSCs. This is a gap that still requires an in-depth analysis, particularly to answer the question of how firms align the operationalization of R-imperatives with uncertainty management to improve sustainability performance and accelerate the transition toward CSCs.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper fills this gap through a multiple-case study, whereby nine firms from varying structures, regions and manufacturing industries were examined. Qualitative content analysis was employed to examine the collected primary (27 semi-structured interviews) and secondary data (internal management reports, publicly available corporate reports and website content).
Findings
The findings support the evidence that the operationalization of R-imperatives is not a straightforward process. Within-firm and SC uncertainties largely emerged and made the building of CSCs complex. Consequently, strategies aimed at reducing uncertainty were paramount to managing uncertainties and enhancing sustainability performance. For instance, implementing durable or modular designs helped firms easily reuse, repair and recycle products. In turn, firms achieved material efficiency and contributed to extending the life cycle of products.
Practical implications
This paper explains how firms can align R-imperatives operationalization with uncertainty management to improve sustainability performance and enhance CSCs. Accordingly, firms should complement R-imperatives operationalization with proactive uncertainty management and an assessment of all environmental, economic and social sustainability dimensions.
Originality/value
This paper fills a critical gap in circular supply chain management literature by unveiling its linkage with uncertainty management and sustainability performance. Empirical insights from nine firms within CSCs are provided to guide scholars and managers interested in implementing R-imperatives.
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Rajiv P. Dant, Audhesh K. Paswan and John Stanworth
Franchising has long been seen as an avenue into small business. For some, it offers opportunities to build up franchise systems, as franchisors, by cloning small business success…
Abstract
Franchising has long been seen as an avenue into small business. For some, it offers opportunities to build up franchise systems, as franchisors, by cloning small business success in exchange for a royalty. For many others, as franchisees, it offers opportunities for self‐employment, combining elements of the independence normally associated with self‐employment allied with the security derived from association with a tried‐and‐tested business system. However, there is an ongoing debate, the ownership redirection thesis, which suggests that franchise systems will only characteristically seek to involve franchisees in their business growth strategies during the early phases of business development. Thereafter, when finance, human capital and local market intelligence resources are no longer at a premium, the thesis predicts, franchisors will reduce their dependence on franchising with franchisees the prime casualties. Assesses the available evidence on the ownership redirection thesis and offers some fresh data on the issue.
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Johanna Nählinder, Malin Tillmar and Caroline Wigren
The purpose of this study is to discuss the theory of gender bias in innovation studies, to illustrate the gender bias of innovation studies by using empirical means and to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to discuss the theory of gender bias in innovation studies, to illustrate the gender bias of innovation studies by using empirical means and to suggest what is needed to reduce such bias. Previous studies on innovation have primarily focussed on male-dominated industries. These studies have been biased and hence unable to capture the range of innovations covered by theoretical definitions.
Design/methodology/approach
An innovation survey was conducted among entrepreneurs in the traditionally “female-labelled” health-care industry, avoiding the “male-labelled” concept of innovation itself in the questionnaire. The authors endeavoured to ascertain whether there is a significant difference between males and females in terms of innovativeness. Quantitative analyses were used to analyse the results and draw comparisons with an ordinary innovation survey.
Findings
Using a gender-aware operationalisation of innovation, no significant difference in innovativeness was found between men and women. This suggests that more attention is needed to correct the prevailing gender bias in innovation studies. A research model is presented to further understand the gender-biased operationalisations of innovation. Each of its three dimensions has a clear impact upon perceived innovativeness: the gender-label of the sector studied, the gender-neutrality of the operationalisation used in the study and the gender of the actors involved. All dimensions should be taken into account in future innovation studies that aim for gender neutrality.
Practical implications
Operationalisations for measuring innovations are usually biased. Therefore, women appear less innovative, which, in turn, leads to less visibility.
Originality/value
Gender perspectives are very seldom employed in innovation studies. In quantitative studies of this sort, it is even rarer. Our empirical evidence from the quantitative study shows the urgency of the need to broaden the concept both in academic, political and public debates. This is not the least for efficiency reasons in resource allocation and public policy.
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This paper aims to develop a framework for the semantic operationalisation of the business model, which enables the automated identification of business models using content…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a framework for the semantic operationalisation of the business model, which enables the automated identification of business models using content analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors approached the operationalisation of the business model by conducting a review of the organisational and management literature to derive the key business model elements highlighted in the existing research, along with their associated keywords.
Findings
The study proposed a conceptual framework that specifies a granular structure of business model elements, as well as the keywords that characterise each element. By coming down to the level of distinct keywords, the authors arrived at measurable constructs to capture the magnitude of every element in a company’s business model.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to offer a semantic operationalisation of the business model by defining the set of keywords that pertain to each element of the business model. The proposed operationalisation of the business model can aid future empirical research by serving as a tool for the automated assessment of the magnitude of every element in a company’s business model using content analysis.
Propósito
Este artículo tiene como objetivo desarrollar un marco de trabajo para la operacionalización semántica de los modelos de negocio, que permita la identificación automatizada de esos modelos usando “análisis de contenido”.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Abordamos la operacionalización del modelo de negocio mediante una revisión de la literatura de organización y gestión de empresas para derivar los elementos clave de los modelos de negocio destacados en la investigación existente, junto con sus palabras clave asociadas.
Hallazgos
Nuestro estudio propone un marco conceptual que especifica una estructura detallada de los elementos de modelos de negocio, así como las palabras clave que caracterizan cada elemento. Al llegar al nivel de palabras clave distintas, obtuvimos constructos medibles para capturar la magnitud de cada elemento dentro del modelo de negocio de una empresa.
Originalidad
Nuestro estudio es el primero en ofrecer una operacionalización semántica de los modelos de negocio al definir el conjunto de palabras clave que se refieren a cada elemento del modelo de negocio. La operacionalización propuesta puede ayudar a la investigación empírica futura al servir como una herramienta para la evaluación automatizada de la magnitud de cada elemento en el modelo de negocio de una empresa mediante análisis de contenido.
Propósito
Este artigo tem como objetivo desenvolver um framework para a operacionalização semântica do modelo de negócio, que possibilita a identificação automatizada de modelos de negócio por meio de análise de conteúdo.
Design/metodologia/abordagem
Abordamos a operacionalização do modelo de negócio realizando uma revisão da literatura organizacional e de gestão para derivar os principais elementos do modelo de negócio destacados nas pesquisas existentes, juntamente com suas palavras-chave associadas.
Resultados
Nosso estudo propôs um framework conceitual que especifica uma estrutura granular de elementos do modelo de negócio, assim como as palavras-chave que caracterizam cada elemento. Ao descer ao nível de palavras-chave distintas, chegamos a construtos mensuráveis para capturar a magnitude de cada elemento no modelo de negócio de uma empresa.
Originalidade
Nosso estudo é o primeiro a oferecer uma operacionalização semântica do modelo de negócio, definindo o conjunto de palavras-chave que se referem a cada elemento do modelo de negócio. A operacionalização proposta do modelo de negócio pode auxiliar pesquisas empíricas futuras, servindo como uma ferramenta para a avaliação automatizada da magnitude de cada elemento no modelo de negócio de uma empresa por meio de análise de conteúdo.
Details
Keywords
- Content analysis
- Conceptual framework
- Business model
- Business model canvas
- Operationalisation
- Modelo de negocio
- Operacionalización
- Análisis de contenido
- Marco conceptual
- Lienzo de modelo de negocio
- Modelo de negócio
- Operacionalização
- Análise de conteúdo
- Framework conceitual
- Canvas de modelo de negócio
Márcio Ribeiro Martins and Rui Augusto Costa
Backpackers can be found all over the world, especially in urban areas where the main enclaves are established. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the operationalisation of…
Abstract
Purpose
Backpackers can be found all over the world, especially in urban areas where the main enclaves are established. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the operationalisation of the term “backpacker” and present a proposal to conceptualise backpackers and backpackers’ segments based on the operational criteria available in literature to avoid incongruities among researchers.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a literature review, this study provides a critical review of the backpacker conceptualisation and operationalisation using a methodology divided into three phases, a quantitative analysis based on the Scopus database and a bibliometric analysis coupled with a manual analysis of documents (content analysis).
Findings
Substantial heterogeneity and complexity regarding the conceptualisation of backpacker tourism and its diversified subsegments were evident. For this reason, this paper argues that backpacker tourism can and should continue to be analysed from different perspectives, suitably framed in the theoretical instrument constructed to identify and distinguish the different subsegments through its operationalisation features.
Originality/value
This study provides a practical contribution to all researchers interested in the topic of backpackers proposing the operationalisation of the term backpacker and it subsegments to avoid disparate results and deviations. This contribution will enable the correct and objective assessment of the operationalisation of this concept for researchers, managers and destination management organisations, identifying exactly what phenomenon is to be studied.
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Ulla Hakala, Sonja Lätti and Birgitta Sandberg
Brand heritage is acknowledged as one of the future priorities in branding research. Adopting it in an international context is challenging. In order to maximise its use it is…
Abstract
Purpose
Brand heritage is acknowledged as one of the future priorities in branding research. Adopting it in an international context is challenging. In order to maximise its use it is necessary to know how strong it and the target country's cultural heritage are. Accordingly, the aim of the study is to construct a pioneering operationalisation of both brand and cultural heritage.
Design/methodology/approach
The study begins with a discussion on the focal concepts. Definitions are proposed and suggestions for operationalisation put forward. Thereafter, the concepts are applied in an analysis of brand heritage in different countries.
Findings
It is suggested that brand heritage is a mixture of the history as well as the consistency and continuity of core values, product brands, and visual symbols. A country's cultural heritage could be conceived of as homogeneity and endurance.
Research limitations/implications
The preliminary operationalisation of the concept needs to be further tested. Nevertheless, the clarification and suggestions offered here should open up opportunities for further research.
Practical implications
The exploitation of brand heritage in international markets is likely to be further accentuated. The operationalisations generated are easy for practitioners to apply, enabling companies to better evaluate what brand heritage means for them and to effectively plan its use in an international setting.
Originality/value
To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to suggest operationalisations of brand heritage and cultural heritage.
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The article broaches the important topic of the relationships between governance operationalizations and productivity at the start-up level. It proposes a new approach to…
Abstract
Purpose
The article broaches the important topic of the relationships between governance operationalizations and productivity at the start-up level. It proposes a new approach to reconnect the contingency factors to the optimization of productivity. This helps us to identify the changing characteristics that influence the determinants of decisions, actions and management of the technological projects of the mainly innovative enterprises.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses techniques that effectively solve unobserved endogeneity and heterogeneity problems in enterprises: an empirical–structural design. With this method, this study enables rich empirical conceptualization and helps with extending theory. However, there is a need to further the research by taking into account the system analysis and the complexity of the research object: one of the options might be to explore a possible follow-up of the research through drawing on ethnostatistics and qualimetrics.
Findings
The analysis reveals that the phenomenon of technological project productivity in operational governance context is thus manifested by the coexistence of the applied governance configuration variables, the contingency factors operationalization, the optimizing productivity mechanisms and this with the secular innovation and stagnation and stagnation. Ceteris paribus, the governance operationalizations have an important role in the productivity of technological projects of the innovative enterprises.
Originality/value
This research is the first to mobilize as major determinants of the operationalization of governance, the oversight of the capital, the dividend strategy and the system control, the managerial follow-up, the detection of opportunistic behaviours and the application of governing incentives (among others) as governance configuration variables in order to highlight their interactions with productivity in the innovative firm technological projects. For this reason alone, the paper will be referenced by other authors in the future.
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Dushar Kamini Dayarathna, Peter John Dowling and Timothy Bartram
This paper aims to examine the implications of high performance work system (HPWS) strength from a managerial perspective and the impact of economic, cultural, political, legal…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the implications of high performance work system (HPWS) strength from a managerial perspective and the impact of economic, cultural, political, legal and technological factors on the operationalization of HPWSs in the banking industry in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
The data for this study were collected from three licensed commercial banks in Sri Lanka. This research used a case study approach for data collection with archival analysis of records and semi-structured interviews with the CEO, head of HR, two board members and three focus groups (top, middle and lower level managers across various functional areas) in each bank which altogether covers 66 key informants.
Findings
The findings supported the research proposition that to gain positive outcomes on organizational effectiveness, there should be a strong HPWS, resulting in a positive attitudinal climate among employees. Further, the findings provide evidence of the global applicability of HPWSs, although more research is needed to clearly specify the contextual boundaries of HPWS effectiveness.
Originality/value
Contemporary research provides ample evidence to endorse the contribution of high performance work systems toward organizational effectiveness. However, there is a dearth of literature on how high performance work systems are operationalized across the management hierarchy and support the achievement of organizational effectiveness. Few studies have been conducted on high performance work system strength and organizational effectiveness in emerging economies.
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Carolin Scheiben and Lisa Carola Holthoff
The chapter investigates factors shaping convenience orientation in the 21st century as well as present-day barriers to the consumption of food and non-food convenience products.
Abstract
Purpose
The chapter investigates factors shaping convenience orientation in the 21st century as well as present-day barriers to the consumption of food and non-food convenience products.
Methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach with two kinds of data triangulation is used. Multiple key informants (marketing managers and consumers) allow a consideration from different angles and multiple methodologies (in-depth and focus group interviews) help to gain deeper insights into the topic.
Findings
Convenience orientation comprises dimensions that were previously not considered in marketing research. In addition to the known factors time and effort saving, consumers buy convenience products because of the flexibility they provide. Moreover, concerns for health, environment, and quality are important barriers that prevent consumers from buying and consuming convenience products.
Research limitations/implications
Our results suggest that factors increasing and decreasing convenience consumption depend at least partly on the product category. Future research should integrate various other product groups to further explore domain-specific convenience orientation.
Practical implications
The conceptualization of convenience orientation offers important implications for new product development as well as for the design of the marketing mix. For instance, existing barriers could be overcome by improving transparency or meeting environmental concerns.
Originality/value
The chapter reveals the factors shaping the consumption of convenience products. The presented findings are important to academics researching convenience consumption and practitioners producing and distributing convenience products.
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Joana Baleeiro Passos, Daisy Valle Enrique, Camila Costa Dutra and Carla Schwengber ten Caten
The innovation process demands an interaction between environment agents, knowledge generators and policies of incentive for innovation and not only development by companies…
Abstract
Purpose
The innovation process demands an interaction between environment agents, knowledge generators and policies of incentive for innovation and not only development by companies. Universities have gradually become the core of the knowledge production system and, therefore, their role regarding innovation has become more important and diversified. This study is aimed at identifying the mechanisms of university–industry (U–I) collaboration, as well as the operationalization steps of the U–I collaboration process.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is aimed at identifying, based on a systematic literature review, the mechanisms of university–industry (U–I) collaboration, as well as the operationalization steps of the U–I collaboration process.
Findings
The analysis of the 72 selected articles enabled identifying 15 mechanisms of U–I collaboration, proposing a new classification for such mechanisms and developing a framework presenting the operationalization steps of the interaction process.
Originality/value
In this paper, the authors screened nearly 1,500 papers and analyzed in detail 86 papers addressing U–I collaboration, mechanisms of U–I collaboration and operationalization steps of the U–I collaboration process. This paper provides a new classification for such mechanisms and developing a framework presenting the operationalization steps of the interaction process. This research contributes to both theory and practice by highlighting managerial aspects and stimulating academic research on such timely topic.
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