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1 – 9 of 9Christos Sigalas and Vassilis M. Papadakis
The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the relationship patterns between competitive advantage and superior performance.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the relationship patterns between competitive advantage and superior performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study empirically investigates the aforementioned relationship patterns using a cross-sectional, self-administered survey methodology.
Findings
The results indicate that there are four relationship patterns between competitive advantage and superior performance. In addition, this study provides empirical evidence of the reasons, underpinning the relationship pattern of competitive advantage without superior performance as well as the relationship pattern of superior performance without competitive advantage.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to our knowledge that competitive advantage is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for superior performance.
Practical implications
In finding support that there can be cases of underperformance despite competitive advantage and superior performance despite the absence of competitive advantage, the study’s findings are useful to practicing managers involved in the strategic management process of their firms.
Originality/value
This study fills an important gap in the empirical research, by responding to the literature call to test the possible relationship patterns between competitive advantage and superior performance. In addition, this study formally introduces the relationship pattern of competitive advantage without superior performance, and the relationship pattern of superior performance without competitive advantage that until now were largely ignored by the existing literature in the field of strategic management.
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During the 1990s we have seen an unprecedented wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Despite managerial over‐optimism, research consistently showed that 50‐75 percent of M&As…
Abstract
Purpose
During the 1990s we have seen an unprecedented wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Despite managerial over‐optimism, research consistently showed that 50‐75 percent of M&As fail to live up to expectations. The article, drawing from both academic evidence and accumulated experience of companies that seem to have mastered the game of M&As, aims to offer managers and understandable and practical set of tips on what to seek and what to avoid when making such major strategic moves.
Design/methodology/approach
The article draws from relevant research evidence.
Findings
Although there is no “one size fits all” solution to the effective management of M&As, past research has offered us an extensive body of knowledge. The article draws attention not only to mistakes that take place after the merger, but also to mistakes that usually take place before the merger. It seems that in many cases the seeds of an unsuccessful merger have been sown well before the deal is signed.
Practical implications
The article presents a series of questions managers should honestly answer themselves in order to avoid these mistakes.
Originality/value
Finally, the article ends with an optimistic view. In future more successful M&As will be seen, due to both the nature of current deals, as well as to the active involvement in the process by boards of directors and other stakeholders.
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Said Elbanna, Ioannis C. Thanos and Vassilis M. Papadakis
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the knowledge of the antecedents of political behaviour. Whereas political behaviour in strategic decision-making (SDM) has received…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the knowledge of the antecedents of political behaviour. Whereas political behaviour in strategic decision-making (SDM) has received sustained interest in the literature, empirical examination of its antecedents has been meagre.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a constructive replication to examine the impact of three layers of context, namely, decision, firm and environment, on political behaviour. In Study 1, Greece, we gathered data on 143 strategic decisions, while in Study 2, Egypt, we collected data on 169 strategic decisions.
Findings
The evidence suggests that both decision-specific and firm factors act as antecedents to political behaviour, while environmental factors do not.
Practical implications
The findings support enhanced practitioner education regarding political behaviour and provide practitioners with a place from which to start by identifying the factors which might influence the occurrence of political behaviour in SDM.
Originality/value
The paper fills important gaps in the existing research on the influence of context on political behaviour and delineates interesting areas for further research.
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Seeks to investigate the extent to which CEOs shape the process of making strategic decisions (SDs). Despite the significant research interest in this topic, knowledge is still…
Abstract
Purpose
Seeks to investigate the extent to which CEOs shape the process of making strategic decisions (SDs). Despite the significant research interest in this topic, knowledge is still incomplete.
Design/methodology/approach
Using evidence from a sample of 107 SDs, studied in Greece, the present paper explores the influence of CEO personality and demographic characteristics on the process of making SDs. A number of environmental and internal organisational variables are used as control variables measuring the broader context.
Findings
The results suggest that the broader context is on average more influential than the CEO. However, the CEO's demographic characteristics appear to influence several process characteristics (i.e. rationality, hierarchical decentralisation and politicisation). CEO personality characteristics do not appear to have any significant influence on the process.
Research limitations/implications
This paper focuses on only a few personality and demographic characteristics. The use of a different set of CEO characteristics (e.g. functional specialisation, etc.) as well as the characteristics of the top management team is more than welcome. More empirical studies are needed to replicate and extend this study by examining variables not included here.
Practical implications
Conventional wisdom as well as recent empirical evidence holds that the management style of Greek companies tends to be rather centralised, and dominated by one powerful individual. The results contradict this belief. It seems that in order to survive and achieve long‐term viability, Greek companies were forced to introduce changes in their management style, including a more team‐based style of decision making. In such a context, personality characteristics of the CEO or any other single influential player may not decisively affect the SD process.
Originality/value
Few studies have examined empirically the influence of such a combination of factors on strategic decision processes.
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To investigate what actually influences a merger and acquisitions (M&As) successful implementation. Despite the significant research interest in this topic our knowledge is still…
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate what actually influences a merger and acquisitions (M&As) successful implementation. Despite the significant research interest in this topic our knowledge is still incomplete.
Design/methodology/approach
Our approach differs from traditional research efforts in the field. First, it explores the influence of a range of factors including external corporate environment, company characteristics, communication program and the characteristics of the M&A itself. Second, it is based on a comparatively large sample of 72 in‐depth studied M&As which took place in Greece.
Findings
Results indicate that the existence of a communication program is among the most influential factors in the successful implementation of an M&A. Other determining factors are aspects of the external corporate environment, the formalization of the decision‐making process and the consequentiality of the M&A.
Research limitations/implications
More empirical studies are needed to replicate and extend our study by examining variables not included here. Moreover, it would be particularly interesting to conduct similar studies in other countries, where the M&A practice is still young (i.e. newly accepted EU countries).
Practical implications
Results show that the appropriate communications strategy is the area that can significantly improve the odds of success in post‐merger integration. In addition, our findings might be of importance to newly accepted EU member countries as they are likely to attract a wave of M&As in the coming years.
Originality/value
The paper explores a range of factors and investigates their effect on the successful implementation of M&As. Few studies have empirically examined such a combination of factors on M&A success using a relatively large sample of acquisitions.
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Xiaojun Du, He Liu, Lingjing Bao and Peng Huang
This paper aims to investigate the relationships between the strategic type of cross‐border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and enterprise growth, and the moderating role of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the relationships between the strategic type of cross‐border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and enterprise growth, and the moderating role of Chinese companies' organizational factors, including organizational structure, organizational experience, cultural distance and relative size.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors, as researchers, have mixed the strategic choice and post‐M&As integration into a comprehensive framework while building the theoretical model of “Strategic Type of Cross‐border M&As‐Organizational Factors‐Enterprise Growth” (ST‐OF‐EG). In this paper, they have empirically examined the model using hierarchical regression by analyzing 76 cross‐borders M&A events of overseas‐listed Chinese companies over the 2000‐2007 period.
Findings
The analysis shows that: related cross‐border M&As are better for enterprise growth than unrelated diversification cross‐border M&As; and among the organizational factors, studied organizational structure and organizational experience show a positive significance in terms of the relationship between the strategic type of cross‐border M&As and enterprise growth. The moderating role of cultural distance and relative size is non‐significant.
Research limitations/implications
In this paper, the moderating effect of cultural distance was found to be insignificant. However, further research is encouraged.
Practical implications
Chinese companies should pay attention to strategic choices before cross‐border M&As. They should expand abroad to markets step by step. They should merge the companies that have the higher relevance on a product, industry or market first. On the basis of specialization, Chinese companies should make themselves stronger and then develop from specialization to proper diversification, which is a robust path to achieve enterprise growth. Besides, Chinese companies should accumulate international experience as soon as possible and organizational structure should match the strategic choice.
Originality/value
This paper would be immensely helpful to Chinese companies to plan their cross‐border M&As strategy in a way that would enhance growth and core‐competence.
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Ioannis Papadakis, Agapios Avramidis and Vassilis Chrissikopoulos
Aims to bridge the gap between grid computing and semantic exploitation of information commonly met in digital library infrastructures.
Abstract
Purpose
Aims to bridge the gap between grid computing and semantic exploitation of information commonly met in digital library infrastructures.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper introduces a semantic digital library framework based on grid technology. It follows the OGSA specifications for the development of grid infrastructures capable of efficiently handling such information. It is a service‐oriented approach based on common web technologies such as the web browser and web server. The design principles of the proposed framework take into account the emerging need to exploit the semantics of its underlying information through the employment of adequate open standard technologies such as RDF and OWL.
Findings
Although semantic exploitation of large data sets used to be a difficult and resource‐consuming activity usually taking place in specialized, highly equipped laboratories, this work demonstrates that emerging technologies like the grid and emerging standards like RDF/OWL are capable of bringing such research closer to the average workstation.
Research limitations/implications
The lack of a working prototype based on the proposed framework limits the usefulness of the results deriving from this paper.
Originality/value
This paper can serve as a starting point to researchers wishing to conduct research in the area of the semantic grid as applied to digital library infrastructures.
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Miltiadis Lytras, Miguel‐Angel Sicilia, John Davies and Vipul Kashyap
The aim of this paper is to introduce the special issue on the Semantic Web. Intensive research has been undertaken worldwide in research centres and several achievements have…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to introduce the special issue on the Semantic Web. Intensive research has been undertaken worldwide in research centres and several achievements have been accomplished towards the ultimate objective: the expression and the exploitation of humanity's collective knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
A multi‐fold strategy for the preparation of this special issue was deployed. Given the special characteristics, a balanced mix of introductory papers to the topic, and also advanced research papers at the leading edge of Semantic Web evolution, were selected.
Findings
The paper summarizes the articles of the issue and also provides help in understanding the Semantic Web Roadmap of Digital Libraries.
Originality/value
Introduces the papers in the special issue.
Details