Government printing reform: An independent managerial perspective

Although the institutional-political setting of federal printing and publishing policy is intimately associated with managerial issues, there is no management precept to support the present anomaly of congressional operation and control of these matters other than for obvious priority attention to producing documents desired by Congress. In addition, the organizational-administrative provisions of the printing reform legislation promise to perpetuate the bureaucratic inefficiencies, squabbling, red tape, and subterfuges which are now prevalent in the printing and publishing policy system. The remedies which should be pursued in perfecting improvement of printing and publishing operations include removing congressional intrusion upon the executive branch in these matters and the establishment of executive branch central responsibility for them.     

A process-oriented perspective on differential business value creation by information technology: An empirical investigation

The relationship between information technology investments and firm value as an area of inquiry has sustained interest among IS researchers over the past decade. More recently, some have challenged the notion differential value among firms through Information Technology (IT) as it evolves into a ubiquitous utility-like set of technologies. This study examines the relationship between IT and business value from a process-oriented perspective, and also helps to identify the underlying links between IT and its differential business value to firms. By drawing upon economic and organizational theories, this paper develops a process framework to assess the intermediate organizational process capabilities and overall performance of firms that effectively deploy and use IT. Using data from over 80 firms, the study finds empirical support for the differential business value created by IT along a number of process oriented dimensions. These findings are discussed as these results set an optimistic tone for IT as a major causal driver of differentiation.     

Information systems,strategic flexibility and firm performance: An empirical investigation

This study investigated the bottom-line impacts of IS support for strategic flexibility. The performance effects of IS support for two key components of strategic flexibility (product flexibility and cross-functional coordination) and the moderating effects of unique, complementary knowledge and information were examined and tested with both survey and archival data. The results showed that IS support for product flexibility was positively related to sales growth and returns on sales. The study also found a stronger association between IS support for product flexibility and ROS, and a positive relationship between IS support for cross-functional coordination and sales growth, when IS were complemented by unique knowledge and information.     

Strategic technology alliance termination: An empirical investigation

There is growing consensus that overall alliance termination rates are high. However, despite this track record of termination and despite unsurpassed growth rates of strategic technology alliances, little is known about the reasons for their termination. Typically strategic alliances have been characterized as inherently instable, i.e. often involving unplanned and premature termination of the alliance by partnering firms indicating alliance failure. The literature on strategic technology alliances, however, proposes that alliance termination does not always indicate failure, but can be intended and can be a sign of strength. We examine these different perceptions by using a sample of 48 strategic technology alliances in different high-technology industries. The findings in the paper confirm that the rates of termination are rather high for strategic technology alliances. Overall, we found that in particular negative prospects about future cooperation, negative perceptions about joint benefits and the lack of a win-win situation had an impact on the decision to terminate a strategic technology alliance. Also, the fact that some companies opt only for short-term (not for long-term and renewed) cooperation seems to introduce a negative factor into the longevity of strategic technology alliances.     

Antecedents and performance outcomes of global competence: An empirical investigation

We examine the role of commitment to supply chain management (CSCM) and information technology (IT) in the achievement of global competence (GC). Through an empirical examination of 667 manufacturing business units in the U.S., we confirm the importance of global competence using two objective measures of firm performance. We investigate the direct effects of CSCM and experience with IT on performance, in addition to their indirect effects through global competence. We show global competence to be linked directly to objective measures of sales, and indirectly to return on assets (ROA). Despite manufacturers’ hefty investments in IT, we find that experience with IT does not drive ROA directly, but only indirectly through global competence and sales.     

Innovation capability and corporate growth: An empirical investigation in China

This study examines the antecedents of firm innovation capability in high technology firms in China and its effect on long-term corporate growth. It explores the growth-driven core competence of a firm by employing a knowledge-based view. The analysis of firm innovation capability indicates that firm innovation capability is related to long-term corporate growth. The results of this study support this link and the findings stress the importance of innovation intent and infrastructure to a firm's innovation capability.     

An outsourcing model for lead users: an empirical investigation

Product development costs have been increasing constantly over the past few decades. Outsourcing some or all of the new product development (NPD) activities to external parties is increasingly becoming a popular option in the quest to reduce costs. Lead users (LUs), a special group of users that experience needs earlier than the public, have been identified as an important source of innovative ideas. In this article, we explore and compare the cost impact of outsourcing activities to LUs relative to in-house NPD. Using survey data from 376 European manufacturers, we show that LUs’ impact on cost reduction is higher than that achieved through higher performing in-house NPD teams. The unique attributes of LUs make them a favourable outsourcing partner of NPD activity that can help reduce costs whilst increasing an organisation's innovative ability. The reduction in costs is a combination of the information sharing benefits achieved through in-house NPD and the outsourcing of NPD activities to LUs.     

Language effects in cross-cultural management research: An empirical investigation

This study investigates the extent to which language has effects on the responses of bilingual Arabian Gulf students and Arabian Gulf middle managers to questionnaire items in Arabic (their native language) and English (their second language). Findings relating to subjects showed a significant difference in responding to the Arabic and also English versions of the treatment instrument which supports a cultural contingency approach. That is, different levels of English language acquisition resulted in different findings.     

HRM practices of Canadian and US manufacturing firms: An empirical investigation

This research investigates human resource management HRM practices of manufacturing firms in Ontario, Canada n = 141 , and midwestern United States n = 100 . Differences in sources of recruitment and selection instruments used by firms in the two countries are examined. The study also compares various training, compensation, and other HRM issues. We found major differences in HRM practices of manufacturing firms in the US and Canada.     

The negotiating style of Saudi industrial buyers: An empirical investigation

This study investigates the negotiating styles of Saudi industrial buyers. Thomas’s Topology as measured by Rahim’s instrument is used in this study. The results suggest that three are two dominant styles of negotiation in the Saudi context, namely: the competitive and collaborative styles.     

Personal values and managerial decision-making: Evidence from a developing economy

This study attempts to investigate to what extent the personal values of managers from a developing economy affect their managerial decisions. Previous studies have suggested the relationship between values and managerial behavior. The purpose of the study was to examine this relationship in the context of a developing, less industrialized economy, identify peculiar issues given the context of the study, and discuss the managerial implications of the findings. The subjects studied were Nigerian managers, using the value survey designed by England. Results showed that values do affect behavior, but more significantly, that the cultural values of the managers play a significant role in their managerial decisions.     

An investigation of career development programs,job satisfaction,professional development and productivity: the case of Taiwan

This study attempts to develop career development programs capable of responding to career needs at different career stages. The current implementation status of these career development programs in Taiwanese businesses is then examined, along with the level of satisfaction of R&D personnel with available career development programs. The relationship between the career development programs and job satisfaction, professional development and productivity is then examined, revealing an association between high satisfaction of R&D personnel with career development programs and high job satisfaction, professional development and productivity.     

Formal governance,interfirm coordination,and performance in partnerships: An empirical investigation of a mediation model

This study investigates the extent to which formal governance mechanisms such as contracts and equity ownership affect interfirm coordination and partnership performance. We analysed data from a survey of 301 Korean firms to show that interfirm coordination partially mediates the relationship between contract completeness, defined as the extent to which a contract specifies task operations and contingencies, and partnership performance. Furthermore, we find that more complete contracts can attenuate the negative effects of equity ownership on coordination, and that this effect is particularly strong when partner tasks are interdependent and relational norms are weak.     

Hofstede's cultural dimensions in the GCC countries: An empirical investigation

Managerial values are not the same across the world. Therefore, Multinational Corporations may be making costly decisions if they assume that corporate policies will receive the same attention, understanding or acceptance in their branches over the world. This paper applies Hofstede's four cultural dimensions to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. It also compares Hofstede's results with regard to these four cultural dimensions with our findings. The results of this study show that countries change. They reemphasize the concept that ethnocentric management theories have been untenable. This implies the necessity that Multinational Corporations should study the culture of the country they plan to do business with before starting the negotiations process that precedes the operations in that country and also to monitor changes in the life style of these countries over time. When Multinational Corporations become aware of the international workforce management and the differences between different cultures, they will save themselves costly troubles, loss of qualified personnel as well as loosing international customers. Therefore, it is important for Multinational Corporations to utilize management theories available to them through research and experience.The program leading to this article was supported in part by a grant from KFUPM.     

An empirical investigation of stalled residential sites in England

Drawing upon a national database of unimplemented planning permissions and 18 in-depth case studies, this paper provides both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the phenomenon of stalled sites in England. The practical and conceptual difficulties of classifying sites as stalled are critically reviewed. From the literature, it is suggested that planning permission may not be implemented due to lack of financial viability, strategic behaviour by landowners and house-builders, and other problems associated with the development process. Consistent with poor viability, the analysis of a national database indicates that a substantial proportion of stalled sites are high density apartment developments usually is located in low house value areas. The case studies suggest that a combination of interlinked issues may need to be resolved before a planning permission can be implemented. These include; the sale of the land to house-builders, renegotiation of the planning permission and, most importantly, improvement in housing market conditions.     

Cultural values as determinants of executive attitudes on decision making: An empirical evaluation

This article presents an empirical, cross-cultural investigation of executive attitudes on decision making, risk taking, and executive courage. Twenty-nine Arab and 40 American executives participated in this study. Six hypotheses were tested, with the results showing significant differences between managers from the two business cultures. Recommendations and directions for future research are provided.     

Impact of strategic and operational risk management practices on firm performance: An empirical investigation

Increasingly, creating and delivering value through complex supply chain networks involves substantial risks. However, strategy development under business risk conditions is not well-understood. This cross-country research examines how, under conditions of supply chain network risk, firms develop effective risk management practices. Using a literature review and survey research of managers from global firms; we present a research model, and empirically test the hypothesized relationships. The results show that under conditions of uncertainty, management decision-making is more likely to be cautious until visible forms of risks emerge, and prudent response mechanisms are put in place. This study identifies the crucial role of supply chain exploration and exploitation practices, and their influence in development of network risk management practices, leading to competitive financial outcomes.     

组织因素对ERP使用绩效的影响机制——基于中国数据的实证研究

ERP系统使用过程中,企业组织内"非技术"要素起着协调系统与现有资源的关键作用.本文从组织的视角出发,基于中国数据研究组织变革与高层领导支持要素在ERP系统使用过程中对企业绩效的影响及其作用机制.利用结构方程模型方法对数据进行了统计分析.结果发现,ERP系统使用程度对企业业务流程效率和企业业绩都有积极影响,其中流程效率起到部分中介的作用;组织变革与高层领导支持在ERP系统使用过程中都对企业的业绩产生了积极的促进作用.组织变革通过影响ERP的使用来影响流程效率,进而影响企业业绩;而高层管理支持则通过同时影响ERP使用和流程效率来影响企业业绩.     

金融契约与管理者激励——实验的证据

在实验的框架下分析了3种金融契约的激励约束功能.首先,根据金融契约内涵的现金流和控制权两种权利属性及其体现方式将金融契约激励约束效应划分为两类:即通过现金流权利属性体现的显性激励约束效应和通过控制权属性体现的隐性激励约束效应,在此基础上构建模型并运用实验研究方法实证检验了3种典型金融契约的激励约束效应及其差异.研究结果表明:权益契约的显性激励约束效应显著高于债务契约;相反,债务契约下通过控制权转移产生的隐性激励约束效应则显著高于权益契约;而可转债契约,则既能引发很高的投资者监督显性激励,又能对经营者产生很强的隐性激励约束效应.     

Expansion-oriented job crafting and employee performance: A self-empowerment perspective

Taking a self-empowerment perspective, we investigated the mediating impact of psychological empowerment on the relationship between expansion-oriented job crafting behaviors (seeking resources and seeking challenges) and job performance. We also examined the moderating role of perceived overqualification on the proposed mediation model. Data were collected from 519 employees and their direct supervisors who work in 69 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey. As the data had a nested structure, we used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to analyze the multi-level data. The results show that psychological empowerment mediates the relationship between expansion-oriented job crafting behaviors and job performance. The analyses also provide support for the moderating impact of perceived overqualification. The conditional indirect effect of seeking challenges on job performance is stronger for those employees who feel overqualified for their jobs.