Portraying managerial dynamic capabilities : a case study in the fast-moving consumer goods industry

This paper presents a case study describing the managerial dynamic capabilities of a firm in the highly competitive fast-moving consumer goods industry and their effects in the performance of the firm and the industry. Managerial dynamic capabilities are processes of managerial decision-making, extending throughout the firm, to determine which particular resources managers identify as strategically important and how they build them. The case study, which was developed with a management team during a period of one year, involved a detailed analysis of the resources perceived strategically relevant and the operating policies aimed at maintaining an adequate balance of the set of key resources. In other words, this paper describes what Winter (2003) defines as 'how we earn our living now' or 'zero-level' capabilities

Learning about small business profitability: the influence of management practices and owner-manager human capital.

In a free market economy the importance of small business as a major job supplier, innovatorand source of growth is widely recognized. Given the importance of small business for aneconomy, the survival, success and performance of these firms is an issue of continuousconcern. Research that can lead to the identification of those factors associated with smallbusiness performance is of great interest to policy makers, owner-managers and their advisors.This article aims at detecting predictors of small business profitability. Our objective is todistinguish internal factors of small construction companies that enhance firm profitability.Based on the data of an empirical survey in the construction industry to which certifiedfinancial data has been added, this paper investigates the influence of owner-manager humancapital characteristics and selected management practices on the profitability of smallconstruction companies. For this purpose, we develop and test a structural model. Resultsindicate that industry experience and level of education of the owner-manager andmanagement practices such as avoidance of cash credit and the use of actual costing systemscontribute to higher profitability. Furthermore, owner-manager human capital characteristicsinfluence profitability both directly and indirectly.Characteristics; Companies; Construction; Credit; Data; Economy; Factors; Firms; Industry; Job; Learning; Management; Management practices; Market; Model; Owner-manager; Owner-manager human capital; Performance; Policy; Profitability; Research; Small business; Small business profitability; Structural model; Success; Systems; Working;

A heuristics approach for classroom scheduling using genetic algorithm technique

Reshuffling and arranging classroom based on the capacity of the audience, complete facilities, lecturing time and many more may lead to a complexity of classroom scheduling. While trying to enhance the efficiency in classroom planning, this paper proposes a heuristic approach for timetabling optimization. A new algorithm was produced to take care of the timetabling problem in a university. The proposed of heuristics approach will prompt a superior utilization of the accessible classroom space for a given time table of courses at the university. Genetic Algorithm through Java programming languages were used in this study and aims at reducing the conflicts and optimizes the fitness. The algorithm considered the quantity of students in each class, class time, class size, time accessibility in each class and lecturer who in charge of the classes

Complex Event Processing (CEP)

Event-driven information systems demand a systematic and automatic processing of events. Complex Event Processing (CEP) encompasses methods, techniques, and tools for processing events while they occur, i.e., in a continuous and timely fashion. CEP derives valuable higher-level knowledge from lower-level events; this knowledge takes the form of so called complex events, that is, situations that can only be recognized as a combination of several events. 1 Application Areas Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), Event-Driven Architecture (EDA), cost-reductions in sensor technology and the monitoring of IT systems due to legal, contractual, or operational concerns have lead to a significantly increased generation of events in computer systems in recent years. This development is accompanied by a demand to manage and process these events in an automatic, systematic, and timely fashion. Important application areas for Complex Event Processing (CEP) are the following

The role of information alignment and entrepreneurial traits on SME internationalization: a conceptual framework

Purpose – The paper aims to explore the internationalisation decision-making of small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owner/managers. Specifically, structural alignment theory (SAT) and regulatory focus theory (RFT) are utilised to examine the concept of opportunity recognition in the context of internationalisation choices. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is conceptual in nature, and an integrative cognitive model of internationalisation choice decisions is developed based on SAT and RFT, underpinned by a critical review of the international entrepreneurship (IE) literature. Findings – Scenarios are identified in which the structure of available information may affect the decision-evaluation process in terms of cognitive resource requirements. Further, the SME owner/manager’s motivational goal orientation is suggested to moderate the role of the information structure in line with IE literature. A conceptual model and propositions are presented. Research limitations/implications – The conceptual model and the propositions arising from the discussion in this paper offer new directions of research to explore SME internationalisation. Originality/value – This paper offers a cognitive perspective of SME internationalisation. This paper offers insights for policymakers, SME owner/managers, practitioners and researchers alike. For internationalisation decisions, this paper highlights the potential impact of the structure of information that is made available to SME owner/managers by industry or policy bodies; further, the moderating influence of motivational goal orientation may inform policy on how information should be presented to SME owner/managers to aid their decision-making.</p

An empirical investigation of agency costs and ownership structure in unlisted small businesses

The study uses panel data to investigate agency costs, both principal-agent (PA) and principal-principal (PP), in 240 small businesses not listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange. Results show that both forms of agency cost vary according to industry, the life of the business and size. The results indicate that the degree of owner involvement in the business influences firm PA and PP agency costs. Moreover, this study finds non-linear relationship between agency costs and ownership structure align with convergence of interest hypothesis and managerial entrenchment hypothesis. It is noted that the distortion between equity returns and debt returns gives rise to a preference for quasi-equity and distorts the productive base and effective pricing of risk. The analysis indicates there is considerable variability in the burden of agency cost and that this raises the potential for regulatory and policy reforms that may enhance the productivity and growth in the sector

Key sources when formulating competitive advantages for hotel chains

Th is paper's purpose was to identify the key sources when formulating competitive advantages of hotel chains. Th e research assessed the fi nancial activities performance included in annual hospitality industry reports and on their offi cial websites; questioning of loyal and potential customers; the fi ve-point Likert scale and the Pearson correlation coeffi cient were applied to understand the possible consumer reaction to a certain competitive advantage or its absence. Th e paper confi rms the eff ectiveness of key sources used by management to win and retain competitive advantages: despite strong dependence on the economic cycle phase etc., after the devastating crisis of 2007, 2008, but also to achieve sustainable growth. All the networks examined over the last decade have expanded their presence in international markets, diversifi ed the portfolio of brands, increased the number of jobs and profi ts. It was also proved that the opinion of the fi nal consumer is still not suffi ciently taken into account in the assessment of the Pearson correlation coeffi cient (the latter allowed the authors to propose their own defi nition of the competitive advantage in the industry). Th e paper attempts for the fi rst time to consider the competitive advantages of hotel chains from the point of view not only of theorists and business practitioners, but also with the view of the opinion of the services consumer; there were identifi ed the discrepancies, which consideration would allow to increase the level of guest satisfaction and, accordingly, the effi ciency of the hotel business. In future papers, the authors plan to verify the existence of a correlation between the degree of guest loyalty to a particular hotel network and the main fi nancial results of its activities

The Importance of Being Consulted

Does management consulting facilitate the access to credit for start-ups? This paper tries to answer the question by developing a theoretical framework where a firm applies for a bank loan to implement a risky project. The probability of success increases if the firm exerts a costly managerial extra-effort, but the bank is unable to observe such an effort: a moral hazard problem may therefore occur. During an economic downturn the project’s expected profitability is likely to be low relatively to the effort cost. In this case we find that credit is granted only if the bank hires a management consultant, even when the latter does not improve the business practice.