International Journal of Business Excellence http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=291&year=2012&vol=5&issue=1/2 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Business Excellence 1756-0047 1756-0055 © 2012 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijbex_scoverijbex.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=291&year=2012&vol=5&issue=1/2 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44570 Private public partnerships (PPP) have been pointed out as institutional conditions that may promote corporate responsibility (CR). Yet, like other relationships, PPP is assumed to rarely succeed by coincidence. A context bound comparative case analysis provides an illustration of how major food retail actors, ICA, KF-Coop and Axfood (accounting for 87% of the Swedish market) view the conditions for the development of a fruitful PPP as part of a CR strategy. Personal interviews with top management representatives based on thematic questions in retail corporations as well as NGOs serve as primary empirics. The logic behind partnerships is simple, but in reality, the cases show that conditions for PPP are associated with many challenges and strategic decisions. A conscientious selection of partners, shared objectives for the partnership and a perceived win-win situation are desired conditions. A wish for exclusivity from the corporate partners on the other hand proves counterproductive for the NGOs. Private-public partnerships: corporate responsibility strategy in food retail
Julia Patrizia Rotter; Nurgül Özbek; Cecilia Mark-Herbert
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 5 - 20
Private public partnerships (PPP) have been pointed out as institutional conditions that may promote corporate responsibility (CR). Yet, like other relationships, PPP is assumed to rarely succeed by coincidence. A context bound comparative case analysis provides an illustration of how major food retail actors, ICA, KF-Coop and Axfood (accounting for 87% of the Swedish market) view the conditions for the development of a fruitful PPP as part of a CR strategy. Personal interviews with top management representatives based on thematic questions in retail corporations as well as NGOs serve as primary empirics. The logic behind partnerships is simple, but in reality, the cases show that conditions for PPP are associated with many challenges and strategic decisions. A conscientious selection of partners, shared objectives for the partnership and a perceived win-win situation are desired conditions. A wish for exclusivity from the corporate partners on the other hand proves counterproductive for the NGOs.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044570 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 5 - 20 Julia Patrizia Rotter; Nurgül Özbek; Cecilia Mark-Herbert Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU Box 7013, Johan Brauners v 3, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden. ' Department of Marketing and Strategy, Stockholm School of Economics, HHS Box 6501, Holländargatan 32, 113 83 Stockholm, Sweden. ' Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU Box 7013, Johan Brauners v 3, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden corporate social responsibility CSR public-private partnerships PPPs institutional conditions food retailing retail markets Sweden ICA AB Kooperativa Förbundet KF-Co-op Swedish Co-operative Union Axfood top management retail corporations NGOs non-governmental organisations strategic decisions partners shared objectives partner selection win-win situations exclusivity corporate partners sustained competitive advantage global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 5 20 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44571 While integrated circuit (IC) companies in most countries are vertically integrated, Taiwan is an exception to that rule. An alternative business model for IC manufacturing was created out of and initiated by Taiwan's innovative foundry service strategy. A new IC ecosystem is clustered with platform leaders as well as constituent specialisation firms. Functioning as a whole and complementarily to one another, the separate but networked entities focus on their core business to create their own unique values. In the ecosystem, global IC design firms then emerge uniquely positioned. This platform also helps to explain the remarkable performance of small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan's IC design segment. Manufacturing platform of strategic innovation in global semiconductor industry
Yu-Ling Lin; Po-Yung Chu
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 21 - 34
While integrated circuit (IC) companies in most countries are vertically integrated, Taiwan is an exception to that rule. An alternative business model for IC manufacturing was created out of and initiated by Taiwan's innovative foundry service strategy. A new IC ecosystem is clustered with platform leaders as well as constituent specialisation firms. Functioning as a whole and complementarily to one another, the separate but networked entities focus on their core business to create their own unique values. In the ecosystem, global IC design firms then emerge uniquely positioned. This platform also helps to explain the remarkable performance of small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan's IC design segment.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044571 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 21 - 34 Yu-Ling Lin; Po-Yung Chu Department of Business Administration, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, No. 35, Lane 215, Sec.1, Chung-Shan Road, Taiping, Taichung 411, Taiwan. ' Department of Management Science, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan manufacturing platforms strategic innovation semiconductor industry integrated circuits Taiwan vertical integration alternative business models innovative strategies foundry service strategies ecosystems platform leaders specialisation firms separate entities networked entities core businesses unique values design firms small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs sustained competitive advantage global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 21 34 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44572 Present work is a conceptual paper that takes an in-depth look at the origins, advantages and disadvantages of Six Sigma and describes how it relates to some of the other quality initiatives in industry. DMAIC strategy of Six Sigma is briefly explained and realised the significance of define (D)-phase, specifically. Various prospects have been formulated to understand the reason of failure of Six Sigma particularly in SMEs and found that 'malfunctioning of define step' is one of the major reason among them. It highlights the framework for define phase and suggested a more applicable form of bifurcation as far as define tools and techniques are concerned. A road map for short listing the relevant define tools have been carpeted especially for academicians, industrialists and professional statisticians. A case study in a medium scale non-ferrous foundry has been conducted which has witnessed the effectiveness of suggested concept. The whole manuscript revolves around the initial step of DMAIC methodology of Six Sigma and uncovers various threats and hazards of skipping this phase. The simulated framework emphasises the D-phase only and falls short to discuss other four phases of the methodology and further generates a scope for future research. Essentials of D-phase to secure the competitive advantage through Six Sigma
Bikram Jit Singh; Dinesh Khanduja
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 35 - 51
Present work is a conceptual paper that takes an in-depth look at the origins, advantages and disadvantages of Six Sigma and describes how it relates to some of the other quality initiatives in industry. DMAIC strategy of Six Sigma is briefly explained and realised the significance of define (D)-phase, specifically. Various prospects have been formulated to understand the reason of failure of Six Sigma particularly in SMEs and found that 'malfunctioning of define step' is one of the major reason among them. It highlights the framework for define phase and suggested a more applicable form of bifurcation as far as define tools and techniques are concerned. A road map for short listing the relevant define tools have been carpeted especially for academicians, industrialists and professional statisticians. A case study in a medium scale non-ferrous foundry has been conducted which has witnessed the effectiveness of suggested concept. The whole manuscript revolves around the initial step of DMAIC methodology of Six Sigma and uncovers various threats and hazards of skipping this phase. The simulated framework emphasises the D-phase only and falls short to discuss other four phases of the methodology and further generates a scope for future research.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044572 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 35 - 51 Bikram Jit Singh; Dinesh Khanduja Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra-136119, Haryana, India. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra-136119, Haryana, India DMAIC define measure analyse improve control define phase D-phase CTQ critical to quality SIPOC suppliers inputs process outputs customers Six Sigma Vilfredo Pareto statistical analysis Henry Gantt bar charts project schedules project charters casting defects Cpk process capability quality initiatives small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs malfunctioning steps define step malfunctions bifurcation road maps define tools academicians academics industrialists professional statisticians non-ferrous foundries Federal-Mogul India COPQ cost of poor quality sustained competitive advantage global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 35 51 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44573 The growing popularity of online shopping has drawn an increasing amount of attention from organisations to maintain quality of their websites and attract customers. The principal objective of this study was to test the conceptual model of various components of website quality and customer satisfaction. The study investigates the moderating effects of security and content of websites in relation to the effects of components of website quality on customer satisfaction. We collected data consisting of a total of 448 responses from individuals (255 from USA, and 193 from India) who are habituated to visit websites and engage in online shopping. We used structural equation modelling to test the measurement model and employed hierarchical moderated regression to analyse the collected data. Our findings demonstrated that: 1) various components of website quality viz., ease of use, reliability, and interaction are important to enhance customer satisfaction; 2) security and content have moderating effect on these direct relationships. On the basis of our results, the companies must stress the content and security features to enhance customer satisfaction. Implications for research and practice are discussed. The relationship between web quality and user satisfaction: the moderating effects of security and content
Vivek S. Natarajan; Satyanarayana Parayitam; Tejinder Sharma
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 52 - 76
The growing popularity of online shopping has drawn an increasing amount of attention from organisations to maintain quality of their websites and attract customers. The principal objective of this study was to test the conceptual model of various components of website quality and customer satisfaction. The study investigates the moderating effects of security and content of websites in relation to the effects of components of website quality on customer satisfaction. We collected data consisting of a total of 448 responses from individuals (255 from USA, and 193 from India) who are habituated to visit websites and engage in online shopping. We used structural equation modelling to test the measurement model and employed hierarchical moderated regression to analyse the collected data. Our findings demonstrated that: 1) various components of website quality viz., ease of use, reliability, and interaction are important to enhance customer satisfaction; 2) security and content have moderating effect on these direct relationships. On the basis of our results, the companies must stress the content and security features to enhance customer satisfaction. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044573 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 52 - 76 Vivek S. Natarajan; Satyanarayana Parayitam; Tejinder Sharma Department of Management and Marketing, Lamar University, 4400 MLK Blvd. Box # 10025, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA. ' Department of Management and Marketing, Charlton College of Business, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA. ' Department of Commerce, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, Haryana, India website quality user satisfaction customer satisfaction online shopping internet world wide web virtual shopping websites moderating effects web content USA India United States structural equation modelling hierarchical moderated regression ease of use reliability interaction direct relationships security features sustained competitive advantage global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 52 76 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44574 The present paper employs the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) method to examine the sources of total factor productivity change of the Philippines banking sector during the period of 1998 to 2008. The empirical findings suggest that the Philippines banking sector has exhibited productivity regress due to technological regress. The results indicate that both the domestic and foreign banks have exhibited productivity regress due to technological regress rather than efficiency decline. We find that the more diversified Philippines banks tend to be less productive in their intermediation function. On the other hand, the relatively more productive Philippines banks are also the ones which are relatively more profitable. The results seem to suggest that the different structures of bank ownership have no significant impact on bank productivity. Determinants of banks' total factor productivity: the post-Asian financial crisis experience of the Philippines
Fadzlan Sufian
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 77 - 100
The present paper employs the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) method to examine the sources of total factor productivity change of the Philippines banking sector during the period of 1998 to 2008. The empirical findings suggest that the Philippines banking sector has exhibited productivity regress due to technological regress. The results indicate that both the domestic and foreign banks have exhibited productivity regress due to technological regress rather than efficiency decline. We find that the more diversified Philippines banks tend to be less productive in their intermediation function. On the other hand, the relatively more productive Philippines banks are also the ones which are relatively more profitable. The results seem to suggest that the different structures of bank ownership have no significant impact on bank productivity.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044574 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 77 - 100 Fadzlan Sufian Khazanah Research and Investment Strategy, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Level 35, Tower 2, Petronas Twin Towers Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, SERDANG, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia banking total factor productivity Sten Malmquist productivity index panel regression analysis Philippines financial crises Asia productivity regress technological regress domestic banks foreign banks efficiency decline diversified banks diversification intermediation functions profitability bank ownership ownership structures sustained competitive advantage global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 77 100 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44575 Recent writers on innovation diffusion and adoption describe why some technologies are successful while others fail. The successful technologies have been unique, exclusive and compatible with the values of the users. Users also seem to find these technologies beneficial. Furthermore, the key to successful adoption has also been the development of 'rational relationships' between the technology introducers and users of these technologies. We explore the prerequisites for successful technology diffusion and its subsequent adoption in Chile. The case shows how an internet startup faced a market that was not ready to adopt its service, from a technological perspective, and the challenges this created for its market entry strategy. Implications of an internet startup entering in a market with low level of technological adoption: case study
Harsha Desai; Kiran Desai; Moreno S. Francisco
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 101 - 115
Recent writers on innovation diffusion and adoption describe why some technologies are successful while others fail. The successful technologies have been unique, exclusive and compatible with the values of the users. Users also seem to find these technologies beneficial. Furthermore, the key to successful adoption has also been the development of 'rational relationships' between the technology introducers and users of these technologies. We explore the prerequisites for successful technology diffusion and its subsequent adoption in Chile. The case shows how an internet startup faced a market that was not ready to adopt its service, from a technological perspective, and the challenges this created for its market entry strategy.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044575 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 101 - 115 Harsha Desai; Kiran Desai; Moreno S. Francisco The Sellinger School, Loyola University Maryland, 4500 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21210, USA. ' Department of Management and Marketing, School of Business, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70609, USA. ' Burgos 268, Suite 1, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile technology diffusion technology adoption B2B business-to-business Chile internet world wide web business start-ups market entry user values rational relationships technology introducers technology users technological perspectives ChileDepot sustained competitive advantage global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 101 115 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44576 Firms that are less rational in their socially responsible actions might just be giving away rather than actually given back because they are unable to prioritise their socially responsible efforts. The extent to which firms in Nigeria apply rational decision techniques for prioritising their socially responsible actions is unknown. Therefore, this study analysed three primary stakeholder groups to which firms concentrate their social responsibility efforts using analytic hierarchical process (AHP). Cross-sectional design, quota, simple random, and convenient sampling techniques were employed to obtain responses from 225 corporate affairs officers in various quoted companies. Responses were placed on a 3 Corporate social responsibility: are firms in Nigeria actually giving back or giving away?
Olaolu J. Oluwafemi; Emmanuel Olateju Oyatoye
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 116 - 129
Firms that are less rational in their socially responsible actions might just be giving away rather than actually given back because they are unable to prioritise their socially responsible efforts. The extent to which firms in Nigeria apply rational decision techniques for prioritising their socially responsible actions is unknown. Therefore, this study analysed three primary stakeholder groups to which firms concentrate their social responsibility efforts using analytic hierarchical process (AHP). Cross-sectional design, quota, simple random, and convenient sampling techniques were employed to obtain responses from 225 corporate affairs officers in various quoted companies. Responses were placed on a 3

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044576 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 116 - 129 Olaolu J. Oluwafemi; Emmanuel Olateju Oyatoye Business Administration Department, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. ' Business Administration Department, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria corporate social responsibility CSR stakeholder salience analytical hierarchy process AHP Lagos Nigeria socially responsible actions prioritisation rational decision techniques primary stakeholders stakeholder groups cross-sectional design quota sampling techniques simple random sampling techniques convenient sampling techniques corporate affairs officers quoted companies socio-cultural stakeholders economic stakeholders political constituents legitimacy power urgency sustained competitive advantage global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 116 129 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44577 As the opportunities for mergers and acquisitions are finite, the principal way that a firm can expand is through organic growth. This paper has a comprehensive discussion on the subject of organic growth by taking a taxonomic approach. It first classifies the different routes to growth, followed by a categorisation of the various factors that could inhibit it. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the importance of the interaction of historical antecedents and the ability to exploit existing opportunities. Organic growth a taxonomic perspective
Kabir C. Sen; Vivek S. Natarajan
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 130 - 139
As the opportunities for mergers and acquisitions are finite, the principal way that a firm can expand is through organic growth. This paper has a comprehensive discussion on the subject of organic growth by taking a taxonomic approach. It first classifies the different routes to growth, followed by a categorisation of the various factors that could inhibit it. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the importance of the interaction of historical antecedents and the ability to exploit existing opportunities.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044577 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 130 - 139 Kabir C. Sen; Vivek S. Natarajan Department of Management and Marketing, Lamar University, 211 Red Bird Lane, Box #10025, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA. ' Department of Management and Marketing, Lamar University, 211 Red Bird Lane, Box #10025, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA organic growth innovation market appropriation taxonomy taxonomic perspectives mergers company expansion acquisitions historical antecedents existing opportunities sustained competitive advantage global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 130 139 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44578 Hospital emergency departments' capacities to deal with a patient surge play an important role in preparedness for natural or man-made disasters. This paper examines how emergency departments in healthcare facilities could optimise the workflow during extreme events when there is a patient surge. This paper proposes a framework to reconfigure the workflow while maintaining treatment equality. Our results show that reorganising lower priority work processes and relocating the resources associated with those processes can shorten total waiting time in the emergency department, allowing better management of patient flows. A simulation-based study for managing hospital emergency department's capacity in extreme events
Nan Xiao; Raj Sharman; H.R. Rao; Sumant Dutta
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 140 - 154
Hospital emergency departments' capacities to deal with a patient surge play an important role in preparedness for natural or man-made disasters. This paper examines how emergency departments in healthcare facilities could optimise the workflow during extreme events when there is a patient surge. This paper proposes a framework to reconfigure the workflow while maintaining treatment equality. Our results show that reorganising lower priority work processes and relocating the resources associated with those processes can shorten total waiting time in the emergency department, allowing better management of patient flows.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044578 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 140 - 154 Nan Xiao; Raj Sharman; H.R. Rao; Sumant Dutta Department of Management Science and Systems, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. ' Department of Management Science and Systems, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. ' Department of Management Science and Systems, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; Department of SSME, Sogang University, Shinsu-dong 1, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-742, Korea. ' Department of Management Science and Systems, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA emergency departments extreme events discrete-event simulation patient surges health services hospitals New York USA United States preparedness natural disasters man-made disasters disaster management emergency management healthcare facilities workflow optimisation workflow reconfiguration treatment equality medical treatment lower priority work processes work process reorganisation resource relocation waiting times patient flows flow management business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 140 154 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44579 This study investigates the relationship between financial controls and firms' performance in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. Data were generated by means of questionnaires to 670 manufacturing firms on financial controls and performance variables. Responses from the survey were statistically analysed using descriptive statistics, product moment correlation, regression analysis and Z-test (approximated with the independent samples t-test). The results of the study indicate a statistically significant relationship between financial controls and firms' performance as well as reveal a significant difference between the performance of firms whose financial controls are deep and the performance of firms whose financial controls are shallow. The implications of this study include the need for manufacturing firms to demonstrate high level of commitment to financial controls for increased performance. Financial controls and firms' performance in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria
O.L. Kuye; A.A. Sulaimon
International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 155 - 167
This study investigates the relationship between financial controls and firms' performance in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. Data were generated by means of questionnaires to 670 manufacturing firms on financial controls and performance variables. Responses from the survey were statistically analysed using descriptive statistics, product moment correlation, regression analysis and Z-test (approximated with the independent samples t-test). The results of the study indicate a statistically significant relationship between financial controls and firms' performance as well as reveal a significant difference between the performance of firms whose financial controls are deep and the performance of firms whose financial controls are shallow. The implications of this study include the need for manufacturing firms to demonstrate high level of commitment to financial controls for increased performance.

]]> 10.1504/IJBEX.2012.044579 International Journal of Business Excellence, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 155 - 167 O.L. Kuye; A.A. Sulaimon Department of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria. ' Department of Business Administration, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria financial controls firm performance manufacturing industry Nigeria performance variables descriptive statistics product moment correlation regression analysis Z-test independent samples t-test deep control shallow control increased performance global markets business excellence. 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00 5 1/2 155 167 2011-12-31T23:20:50-05:00