International Journal of Strategic Change Management http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=103&year=2011&vol=3&issue=4 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Strategic Change Management 1740-2859 1740-2867 © 2011 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijscm_scoverijscm.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=103&year=2011&vol=3&issue=4 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44938 The definition of generic competency levels in a complete career ladder devoted to software profession presents a novel contribution to the literature with added value both for practitioners and industry. The aim of this paper is to identify generic competency levels relevant to software professionals in working environments with respect to a specific professional ladder. The empirical study employed a questionnaire approach. The sample consisted of 50 professionals working in software development within large enterprises for a period of time equal or higher than five years. Results show the importance of competencies like Quality concern and Teamwork and the higher significance that, in average, generic competencies take for the higher positions in the career ladder. A step towards human capital management in the software industry based on generic competencies
Ricardo Colomo-Palacios; Cristina Casado-Lumbreras; Edmundo Tovar; Pedro Soto-Acosta
International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 247 - 259
The definition of generic competency levels in a complete career ladder devoted to software profession presents a novel contribution to the literature with added value both for practitioners and industry. The aim of this paper is to identify generic competency levels relevant to software professionals in working environments with respect to a specific professional ladder. The empirical study employed a questionnaire approach. The sample consisted of 50 professionals working in software development within large enterprises for a period of time equal or higher than five years. Results show the importance of competencies like Quality concern and Teamwork and the higher significance that, in average, generic competencies take for the higher positions in the career ladder.

]]> 10.1504/IJSCM.2011.044938 International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 247 - 259 Ricardo Colomo-Palacios; Cristina Casado-Lumbreras; Edmundo Tovar; Pedro Soto-Acosta Computer Science Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Av. Universidad 30, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, Spain. ' Faculty of Education, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Rector Royo Villanova, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. ' Faculty of Informatics, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus de Montegancedo S/N, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain. ' Department of Management & Finance, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain generic competencies IT professionals quantitative study professional ladder information technology human capital management software industry careers software development career ladder quality concerns teamwork. 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 3 4 247 259 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44939 Industries are continuously striving to achieve performance and quality improvements. With improvements comes change, and thus for any organisation, culture change management and management systems (MSs) are important factors. The establishment of the proper total company-wide quality culture, based on a comprehensive Total Company-Wide Management System (TCWMS), is one of the key drivers to success. Recently, different MSs have gained more attention as they form a critical infrastructure for improving the different operation systems of any organisation. TCWMS mainly draws on five MSs, strategic management, initiative management, daily management, process management and performance management. Culture change management is a key component of initiative management. For any organisation to succeed in meeting high-quality standards the existence of proper culture is essential and it requires time and commitment. Proper MSs are essential for enabling cultural change to happen in the desired direction. Typically, continuous improvement (CI) initiatives are implemented without paying proper attention to culture change management. As a result, numerous implementation efforts of CI methodologies have failed. This paper discusses TCWMS, culture change management considerations and the TCWMS culture related aspects. Total Company-Wide Management System (TCWMS): culture change management considerations
Souraj Salah; Abdur Rahim; Juan A. Carretero
International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 260 - 280
Industries are continuously striving to achieve performance and quality improvements. With improvements comes change, and thus for any organisation, culture change management and management systems (MSs) are important factors. The establishment of the proper total company-wide quality culture, based on a comprehensive Total Company-Wide Management System (TCWMS), is one of the key drivers to success. Recently, different MSs have gained more attention as they form a critical infrastructure for improving the different operation systems of any organisation. TCWMS mainly draws on five MSs, strategic management, initiative management, daily management, process management and performance management. Culture change management is a key component of initiative management. For any organisation to succeed in meeting high-quality standards the existence of proper culture is essential and it requires time and commitment. Proper MSs are essential for enabling cultural change to happen in the desired direction. Typically, continuous improvement (CI) initiatives are implemented without paying proper attention to culture change management. As a result, numerous implementation efforts of CI methodologies have failed. This paper discusses TCWMS, culture change management considerations and the TCWMS culture related aspects.

]]> 10.1504/IJSCM.2011.044939 International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 260 - 280 Souraj Salah; Abdur Rahim; Juan A. Carretero Continuous Improvement Department, Johnson Controls Intl., Sheikh Zayed Rd., API World Tower, Suite 1304, P.O. Box 31065, Dubai, UAE. ' Faculty of Business Administration, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada change management culture change leading change TCWMS total company-wide management systems continuous improvement LSS lean six sigma TQM total quality management organisational culture. 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 3 4 260 280 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44941 This paper examines the impact of location-bound advantage on the internationalisation strategy of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). The extant research literature suggests that an advantages location boundedness may be driven by the nature of the advantage itself, organisational embeddedness and environmental embeddedness. We posit that these different drivers of location boundedness exert different impacts on internationalisation strategies. Our empirical results reveal that organisational embeddedness lowers the breadth of internationalisation of MNEs and increases the tendency of these firms to employ a global strategy. We also find that MNEs whose advantages are tacit and complex have a lower depth of internationalisation and are more likely to expand into culturally similar countries. Finally, our results show that MNEs whose advantages are highly embedded in the home environment tend to adopt a multi-domestic strategy and decentralised organisational structures. The relationship between location-bound advantages and international strategy: an empirical investigation
Fang-Yi Lo; Joseph T. Mahoney; Danchi Tan
International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 281 - 301
This paper examines the impact of location-bound advantage on the internationalisation strategy of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). The extant research literature suggests that an advantages location boundedness may be driven by the nature of the advantage itself, organisational embeddedness and environmental embeddedness. We posit that these different drivers of location boundedness exert different impacts on internationalisation strategies. Our empirical results reveal that organisational embeddedness lowers the breadth of internationalisation of MNEs and increases the tendency of these firms to employ a global strategy. We also find that MNEs whose advantages are tacit and complex have a lower depth of internationalisation and are more likely to expand into culturally similar countries. Finally, our results show that MNEs whose advantages are highly embedded in the home environment tend to adopt a multi-domestic strategy and decentralised organisational structures.

]]> 10.1504/IJSCM.2011.044941 International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 281 - 301 Fang-Yi Lo; Joseph T. Mahoney; Danchi Tan Department of International Trade, Feng Chia University, 100, Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung, Taiwan. ' Department of Business Administration, College of Business, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 140C Wohlers Hall, 1206 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. ' Department of International Business, National Chengchi University, 64, Zhi-nan Rd. Sec. 2, Wenshan Taipei 116, Taiwan location-bound advantages multinational enterprises MNEs international strategy internationalisation location boundedness organisational structure. 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 3 4 281 301 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44942 The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between psychic distance and adaptation of the brands in an emerging market. Two brands Nokia and Samsung were taken for analysis. After factor analysis, reformulated questionnaire was grouped into psychic, cultural and physical distance for psychic distance measurement. The study concludes that psychic, cultural and physical distance has a role to play in brand acceptance. This was correlated with RKS model. It gave positive results on brand acceptance. This paper intended to contribute to the understanding of the conceptual domain of psychic distance and its underlining dimension. Does psychic distance have effect on brand acceptance? Case of an emerging market
R.K. Srivastava
International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 302 - 322
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between psychic distance and adaptation of the brands in an emerging market. Two brands Nokia and Samsung were taken for analysis. After factor analysis, reformulated questionnaire was grouped into psychic, cultural and physical distance for psychic distance measurement. The study concludes that psychic, cultural and physical distance has a role to play in brand acceptance. This was correlated with RKS model. It gave positive results on brand acceptance. This paper intended to contribute to the understanding of the conceptual domain of psychic distance and its underlining dimension.

]]> 10.1504/IJSCM.2011.044942 International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 302 - 322 R.K. Srivastava Sterling Institute of Management Studies, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India psychic distance cultural distance brand acceptance brand success emerging markets emerging economies brand adaptation Nokia Samsung physical distance cultural distance culture India cell phones mobile phones acceptance measurement. 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 3 4 302 322 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44940 This study seeks to understand consumers attitudes and preferences regarding locally produced beef in British Columbia in Canada. The investigation aims to assess whether developing a new perspective on beef consumption has the potential to provide new opportunities for the beef industry in BC, Canada. Three main research questions have been identified. A qualitative research approach has been adopted. The findings are presented with an analysis of the results. The managerial implications and the limitations of the studies as well as the direction for future studies are discussed. A preliminary consumer study on the beef market in Canada
Wei Song; Che-Hui Lien; Avninder Gill
International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 323 - 335
This study seeks to understand consumers attitudes and preferences regarding locally produced beef in British Columbia in Canada. The investigation aims to assess whether developing a new perspective on beef consumption has the potential to provide new opportunities for the beef industry in BC, Canada. Three main research questions have been identified. A qualitative research approach has been adopted. The findings are presented with an analysis of the results. The managerial implications and the limitations of the studies as well as the direction for future studies are discussed.

]]> 10.1504/IJSCM.2011.044940 International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 323 - 335 Wei Song; Che-Hui Lien; Avninder Gill School of Business, Black Hills State University, 1200 University St. Unit 9007, Spearfish, SD 57799, USA. ' Department of Management, Thompson Rivers University, 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, British Columbia, V2C 5N3, Canada. ' Department of Management, Thompson Rivers University, 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, British Columbia, V2C 5N3, Canada beef consumption beef industry market segments consumer studies Canada consumer preferences consumer attitudes locally produced beef. 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 3 4 323 335 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44937 This paper describes a case study conducted in a post-graduation course that employed social software to distribute its learning environment and to promote a different training experiment to attending students, mostly in-service teachers. It suggests a strategic change in teacher training that resorts to distributed knowledge-based systems and the communication tools they provide as a means to create personal learning environments where teachers can find support to develop and improve teaching practices. Based on a survey questionnaire and a focus group, results suggest that the approach adopted enabled teachers to acquire and improve competences and to better manage and update knowledge and action. Although results cannot be generalised, the paper adds insights into the teacher training panorama and draws possible future directions for work in the area. ICT reform initiatives in Portugal: a case study
Margarida Lucas; António Moreira
International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 336 - 351
This paper describes a case study conducted in a post-graduation course that employed social software to distribute its learning environment and to promote a different training experiment to attending students, mostly in-service teachers. It suggests a strategic change in teacher training that resorts to distributed knowledge-based systems and the communication tools they provide as a means to create personal learning environments where teachers can find support to develop and improve teaching practices. Based on a survey questionnaire and a focus group, results suggest that the approach adopted enabled teachers to acquire and improve competences and to better manage and update knowledge and action. Although results cannot be generalised, the paper adds insights into the teacher training panorama and draws possible future directions for work in the area.

]]> 10.1504/IJSCM.2011.044937 International Journal of Strategic Change Management, Vol. 3, No. 4 (2011) pp. 336 - 351 Margarida Lucas; António Moreira Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal. ' Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal distributed KBS knowledge based systems strategic change case study ICT Portugal in-service teachers teacher training personal learning environments postgraduates information technology communications technology. 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00 3 4 336 351 2012-01-16T23:20:50-05:00