Business process management tools as a measure of customer-centric maturity

In application of business process management (BPM) tools in European commercial sectors, this paper examines current maturity of customer centricity construct (CC) as an emerging dimension of competition and as a potential strategic management direction for the future of business. Processes are one of the key components of transformation in the CC roadmap. Particular departments are more customer orientated than others, and processes, customer-centric expertise, and approach can be built and utilized starting from them. Positive items within a current business process that only involve minor modification could be the basis for that. The evidence of movement on the customer-centric roadmap is found. BPM in European telecommunications, banking, utility and retail sector supports roadmap towards customer-centricity in process view, process alignment and process optimization. However, the movement is partial and not flawless, as BPM hasn’t been inquired for supporting many of customer-centric dimensions

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND EFFECTIVENESS: CAN AMERICAN THEORY BE APPLIED IN RUSSIA?

This paper examines the link between organizational culture and effectiveness for foreign-owned firms operating in Russia. Beginning with a model of organizational culture developed in the USA, the paper presents a multi-method analysis of culture and effectiveness in a transition economy. We argue that effectiveness in Russia relies more on adaptability and flexibility than in the USA. Furthermore, the legacy of the communist era forces firms in Russia to deal with a workforce with a unique time perspective and a unique set of sub-cultures that often undermine attempts at coordination and integration. We first explore these ideas using survey data on 179 foreign-owned firms operating in Russia and compare the results to those obtained for firms in the USA. We then present four case studies designed to ground the results in the Russian context, and to document cultural dynamics not captured by the model.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39984/3/wp598.pd

METHOD TIME DRIVEN ACTIVITY BASED COSTING – LITERATURE REVIEW

This article presents a literature review of the method Time Driven Activity Based Costing, like an instrument to better assignment of costs to activities and their comparison with antecedent method Activity Based Costing. Paper shows the implementation of this method in the condition of manufacturing corporations, distribution centres, agriculture, but also in the field of services, especially in the hospitality. The article is trying to point out the benefits of this method for whole range of companies without difference to branch classification, determine base presumptions for implementation, but also disclose some drawbacks in the application of this new method in the practice with help of case studies, which have been published until this time. The aim of paper is to find out the base principles of method Time Driven Activity Based Costing in its right application.Activity Based Costing, Time Driven Activity Based Costing, time equations, customer profitability analysis, costs of processes

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND EFFECTIVENESS: CAN AMERICAN THEORY BE APPLIED IN RUSSIA?

This paper examines the link between organizational culture and effectiveness for foreign-owned firms operating in Russia. Beginning with a model of organizational culture developed in the USA, the paper presents a multi-method analysis of culture and effectiveness in a transition economy. We argue that effectiveness in Russia relies more on adaptability and flexibility than in the USA. Furthermore, the legacy of the communist era forces firms in Russia to deal with a workforce with a unique time perspective and a unique set of sub-cultures that often undermine attempts at coordination and integration. We first explore these ideas using survey data on 179 foreign-owned firms operating in Russia and compare the results to those obtained for firms in the USA. We then present four case studies designed to ground the results in the Russian context, and to document cultural dynamics not captured by the model.Organizational Culture, Effectiveness, Russia, Transition Economies

Corporate culture and shareholder value in banking industry

This paper analyses the casual relationship between corporate culture and shareholder value using a sample of large banks in the French, German, Italian and U.K. banking systems over the 2000 to 2003 period. Firstly, we measure shareholder value using an Economic Value Added estimated through a procedure tailored to account for banking peculiarities. Secondly, we measure corporate culture using language as its particular artifact and developing a cultural survey based on the application of a text-analysis model to a corpus of reference texts produced by the sample of banks. We posit six hypotheses regarding the relationship between corporate culture and bank profits and shareholder value. Our results noticeably show that bank profits and shareholder value benefit from different orientations of banking corporate culture.

Technology and the Influence of Corporate Culture on Organizational Effectiveness. A study of the Banking Industry in Nigeria

The study examined the effect of technology on the influence of corporate culture on organizational effectiveness in the Nigerian banking industry. A total of 388 managers were randomly drawn from a population of 13,339 managers of all the 24 banks in Nigeria. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire and oral interview. A total of 320 copies of the questionnaire were retrieved and analyzed. Spearman’s Rank Correlation Statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that organizational technology is significantly related to the influence of corporate culture on organizational effectiveness. Based on these findings we concluded that organizational technology has significant effect on the influence corporate culture on organizational effectiveness. The study therefore recommends technology should be managed effectively to empower workers and improve the competitiveness of organizations. Key Words: organizational technology, corporate culture, organizational effectiveness

Contingency and Institutional Perspectives within the Liberal Professional Organisation

This developmental paper will argue the necessity of drawing on both the contingency and institutional theories when researching the professional organisation. It is based on a doctoral thesis that addresses the barriers to acceptance and application of marketing within accountancy and law firms. The paper briefly presents the relevant definitions of the professions and the role of the marketing function within the organisation. The Contingency approach and its relevance to theory building and research in marketing have been identified. Conversely, the Institutional approach has been identified as relevant to the professions. The two approaches are separately outlined and their theoretical foundations traced. Finally, two theoretical models are proposed for discussion. The theoretical model that has been further developed for the thesis explains the barriers to marketing as a result of organisational conflict between the need for response to contingency pressures and the internal and external institutional isomorphic pressures of maintaining professional legitimacy with the implications of forfeiting organisational efficiency

Beyond ‘the Beamer, the boat and the bach’? A content analysis-based case study of New Zealand innovative firms

In this paper we will use case studies to seek to understand the dynamic innovation processes at the level of the firm and to explain the apparent 'enigma' between New Zealand's recent innovation performance and economic growth. A text-mining tool, Leximancer, (version 4) was used to analyse the case results, based on content analysis. The case studies reveal that innovation in New Zealand firms can be best described as 'internalised', and the four key factors that affect innovation in New Zealand firms are ‘Product’, ‘Market’, ‘People’ and ‘Money’. New Zealand may be an ideal place for promoting local entrepreneurship, however, many market/technology opportunities cannot be realized in such a small and isolated economy, hence the poor economic performance

The Effects of Consumer Buying Habits in the Automotive Industry

This study addressed the effects of consumer buying habits in the automotive industry. With consumer buying habits constantly changing and the advancement of technology and e-commerce, there is a growing opportunity for brick-and-mortar stores and dealerships to adapt their strategies to maintain and enhance revenues and profitability. Failure of organizations to adapt their strategies have resulted in a loss of revenue and led to bankruptcy. This qualitative case study addressed the failure of an organization to adapt to consumer buying habits in the automotive industry resulting in a loss of revenue and profitability. Further, the study provided an understanding of the actions taken by organizations to increase profits, and also the upcoming consumer buying habit trends that will cause an organization to adapt their strategies to maintain and enhance revenues. The results of this study indicated that a dealership’s adaptability was a necessity in a constantly changing industry. The actions taken by the dealership group included aggressive pricing, use of new technology, advertisement initiatives, and strategies, such as off-site and on-site services were effective among other results. While electrification was a common theme of discussion, the results of this study indicated no significant concern for upcoming trends