Does the Firm Size Matter on Firm Entrepreneurship and Performance? U.S. Apparel Import Intermediary Case

This is the post-print version of the article found in the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development (http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=jsbed). DOI 10.1108/14626000910932926Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and performance is dependent upon firm size within a small- and medium-size enterprise (SME) population, using non-manufacturing, industry-specific empirical data. Design/methodology/approach: Survey methodology was employed, using a national sample of U.S. apparel import intermediary (AII) SMEs. Regression analysis was performed to determine the type of the moderator variable, firm size, and to test statistical significance of the firm size effect on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and performance measures. Findings: The study's results suggested that the firm size effect was present on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and SMEs' longevity performance; however, there was no statistical significance of the firm size effect on the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and SMEs' creative contribution or profitability performance. Research limitations/implications: Although the study results were based on randomly selected nation-wide surveys, the findings should be viewed as industry- and time-specific; generalization to a larger population, or to other firms, must be undertaken with caution. Practical implications: These findings help to recognize and understand the heterogeneity of the relationship between firm entrepreneurship and performance even within a population of SMEs. Therefore, the results suggest that AII SME managers should put different emphasis on firm entrepreneurship, depending upon specific goals and the firm size. Originality/value: The study shows that different approaches to SME entrepreneurship research are needed to recognize diversity within an SME population. The study also supports that performance measures are not necessarily correlated, thus justification of selection is critical

Exploring Learning Experience in Textile and Apparel Management: Study Abroad in El Salvador

This is the post-print version of the article found in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education.Global economy has fundamentally changed the nature of business as well as the mission of higher education. Professional academic programmes, such as textiles and apparel, are ultimately responsible for preparing students to be industry-ready and, thus, various curricula have been developed to address this new need of the industry (Fair et al. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal 1990;8(2):29-37). Particularly, experiential learning has shown to be effective at student learning; international experience learning has become popular in the education literature. While most previous research has focused on the process and outcomes of new curricula, the study analysed students' journals from a short-term study abroad curriculum to capture how students grasp, conceptualise, reflect on and experiment with new experiences under an experiential learning theory framework (Kolb, Experiential learning: experience as the source of learning and development; 1984). Eight themes emerged; two from each of the four learning modes. The findings are discussed and the study is concluded with contributions, implications and future research opportunities

Teaching Global Sourcing: Updates on Rules of Origin and Made in the USA rules

Workshop helps ITAA members gain specific knowledge related to global sourcing so they can be better prepared to teach global sourcing, including domestic sourcing component

Perfect or Imperfect Duties? Consumer Perspectives Toward Corporate Sustainability

Ha-Brookshire (2015) recently proposed the moral responsibility theory of corporate sustainability (MRCS) based on the corporate personhood concept recognized by U.S. law (Dubbink, 2014). That is, as a person, a corporation has moral responsibilities toward society and the environment, and can therefore intentionally decide its commitment level toward sustainability goals. Furthermore, MRCS shows that, as a legal person, all corporations bear perfect (i.e., universal and absolute) and imperfect (i.e., discretionary and meritorious) duties as Kant (1797/ 1991) suggested. In this light, the theory argues that the extent of corporations\u27 commitment toward social and environmental responsibilities depends on how they perceive sustainability within the moral spectrum. While this argument is clear in the literature, consumers\u27 perceptions toward corporate moral responsibility for sustainability are largely unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to assess consumers\u27 perceptions on corporate sustainability within the spectrum of morality, with the hope of developing the list of perfect and imperfect duties of corporate sustainability as perceived by consumers

Apparel Import Intermediaries' Secrets to Success: Redefining Success in a Hyper-dynamic Environment

This is the post-print version of the article found in the Journal of Fashion and Marketing Management - http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=jfmm. DOI 10.1108/13612020810857943Purpose: The purpose of this study was to obtain an immediate and deeper understanding of apparel import intermediaries' (AII) secrets to success in the hyper-dynamic US apparel market environment. Design/methodology/approach: Personal in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 US apparel industry experts who provided an insider's lived experience of the industry. Within a holistic hermeneutic analysis, emergent themes were classified into two broad theme categories: the meaning of success and secrets to success. Findings: The study's informants defined success as a long-term presence, a platform from which they could impact the industry through creative expression. AIIs' secrets to success emerged as (1) immersion knowledge management; (2) simultaneous dual relationship management; and (3) flexibility saturation. Research limitations/implications: Although qualitative research methods are designed for a deeper understanding of the topic of interest, the study findings of an immediate and lived experience within the apparel industry should be viewed within a narrower context than survey research. Practical implications: These findings offer timely best practices for apparel firms' success and furnish insights into some of the rarely accessible elements of firm management. The study's results may also offer guidelines for firms in other industries moving toward the apparel industry model of hyper-dynamism. Originality/value: The study offered a definition and description of a new type of industry environment—hyper-dynamism. The study also revealed for the first time the reality of AIIs, especially how these firms defined success and took action to achieve it. Finally, the findings suggested a possible extension of resource-advantage theory

Framing a Descriptive Profile of a Transformed Apparel Industry: Apparel Import Intermediaries in the United States

This is the post-print version of the article found in the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management (http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=jfmm). DOI 10.1108/13612020910957699Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to confirm empirically the existence of a US apparel import intermediary (AII) identity crisis, and to provide a detailed descriptive profile of AIIs, differentiating them from apparel firms not primarily engaged in importing activities. Design/methodology/approach: A survey study was conducted using a national sample of US AIIs. Based on these firms' executives' responses, a firm identity issue was analyzed and a detailed profile of these firms' business characteristics was developed, using frequency comparisons. Findings: The study confirmed that US AIIs are currently experiencing an identity crisis, as nearly half of the study respondents misclassified themselves as apparel manufacturers or other business types, suggesting a significant distortion in US Economic Census data. The study also provided a descriptive profile of US AIIs, including geographic location and other business operation characteristics. Research limitations/implications: Three fourths of the survey respondents were located in the state of New York. Whether most US AIIs truly reside in New York cannot be known with certainty. Generalization of the study findings to a greater population should be cautious. Practical implications: Confirmation of an AII identity crisis suggests both aggregate and individual firm-level impacts on import activities. The study offers a new term, "intermediary", to replace the US Census Bureau term "wholesaler" to accurately reflect the industry's transformation. Originality/value: The study provides the first empirical support for a US AII identity crisis. The detailed profile of US AIIs offers industry data not available prior to this study

Apparel Import Intermediaries: The Impact of a Hyper-Dynamic Environment on U.S. Apparel Firms

This is the post-print version of the article found in Clothing & Textiles Research Journal.This study's objectives were to clarify the standing of apparel import intermediaries (AIIs) and to obtain an immediate and deeper understanding of them in their real-life settings from the perspective of industry experts with years of immersion in apparel industry phenomena. Based on interpretive analysis of qualitative in-depth interviews with 13 corporate executives of AII firms located in New York City, the authors critically evaluated AIIs' views of their environment, development, and functions. Findings indicated ambivalent reactions to the hyper-dynamic environment that has resulted from the global reordering of the apparel industry and described two development paths of AIIs, transformation or birth. Results also showed that this hyper-dynamic environment has shaped firms' functional responses, leading AIIs to implement design, marketing, sourcing, and service activities in unique ways. The study explicates the critical role that classification systems and terminology play in firm identity, the tracking of economic data, and policy development within the U.S. apparel industry

Work Environment and Personal-Organizational Fit What are Those? : Preparing Students to Find Their Most Suited Employers

Work environment is defined as the cumulative physical, social and psychological characteristics of a company which often predict employees\u27 stress and job satisfaction. For today\u27s Gen Y, the work environment (WE) seems to be one critical factor to consider as they prepare to enter workforce with their unique work attitudes and behaviors. However, the process of trying to understand WE of future employers and to assess the potential person-organization (P-O) fit is extremely difficult, particularly for soon-to-be college graduates. Despite the challenge, teaching college students with WE assessment and P-O fit evaluation has been limited as most educators in textile and apparel programs focus on developing discipline-specific skills, discipline-general skills, and professional skills. In this light, the purpose of this study is to call for educators\u27 attention to consider including curriculum contents related to WE and P-O fit assessment. For college students to be able to do this assessment properly and successfully, a three-step analysis of person-organization-situation context is suggested

(Un)Breach of Psychological Contract: New Research Agendas in Corporate Sustainability

A breach in psychological contract (PCB) represents inconsistency between employers\u27 promises and actions, which undermines employees\u27 perceptions of their employer corporations\u27 integrity, and can contribute to corporate hypocrisy (CH) among employees. In this light, corporations\u27 sustainability-related promises contradicted by their actual behaviors represent a PCB which can contribute to CH, and this hypocrisy can lead to negative attitudes among employees, decrease in sales, and even business failure. Such corporate behaviors are problems for today\u27s employers to recruit and retain employees as these directly conflict with the millennials\u27 expectations and values. Therefore, today\u27s employers must be ready to communicate and deliver sustainability, to avoid psychological contract breach (PCB) among employees. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to call for corporations\u27 attention as how to reduce PCB regarding corporate sustainability and therefore manage CH among employees. The study recommends a five-step internal marketing management approach for corporations to successfully reduce PCB, as the society demands greater fulfillment of corporate sustainability