Analysis of the causal relationships in the balanced scorecard in public and private Spanish Universities through structural equation modelling

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the strategic models created for the public and private Spanish universities and create a new methodology or strategic management tool based on the integration of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) and the Balance Scorecard (BSC). Design/methodology/approach: To examine the hypothesized model of the study, a survey questionnaire was created and sent to all the scope of Spanish universities. Using the data collected, the research was carried out using the SmartPLS software (partial least square path modelling) to analyse the proposed model. Findings: Results indicate that one-dimensional models were the most suitable to explain the behaviour of public centres, whereas multifactorial models matched perfectly with private centres. Moreover, we considered that, under the model of public centres, most of the attitude in the general University Community could be explained with reliabilities and consistencies as a bonding element in both public and private centres. Research limitations/implications: Due to the scarce total number of universities in Spain, 56, and their respective colleges, the sample size in the research was limited. Practical implications (if applicable): This study suggests that customer participation can be a win-win situation for employees and the organisation. Employees who create relational value with their customers effectively enjoy their jobs more and are more likely to build and maintain long-term relationships with their organisation. Originality/value (mandatory): The findings highlighted the roles of the customer and the employee and indicated the heuristic value of viewing job satisfaction and organizational commitment as consequences of customer participation. This study is considered one of the very few empirical studies that examine the effect of the Employer Organisation (EO) on the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and the mediating effect of ERP on the EO-performance relationship

University Collaboration and ERP Competence Centres - A Golden Era or Golden Handcuffs?

During 1999, SAP formalised their University Comp etence Centre (UCC) program, whereby selected, experienced universities around the world will receive several million dollars of computer hardware, software and support from SAP and hardware partners to establish showcase service bureaus in support of ERP-related teaching and research. Through the program, university activity with SAP products will to a large extent shift from in-house installations to the UCCs. Member university staff and students will have Internet access to the most recent versions of SAP’s software including New Dimension products (e.g. Business Warehouse, Knowledge Warehouse, Customer Relationship Management, etc.). While the program suggests compelling potential for cooperation across member universities and globalisation of related curricula, it also implies substantial commitment and increasing SAP control over UCC and member activ ities and resources. Application Service Provision, Education- by-wire, Industry-University Collaboration, and virtual competence centres for knowledge management/content generation are all manifested in the UCC project. These consequences and implications of participation in the UCC program for member universities, non-members and students will be explored by this panel

Non-business e-commerce in Malaysia: An investigation of key adoption

Problem statement: Non-business EC is a relatively new research niche in the general e-commerce stream. Application of e-commerce by profit oriented organization already become bread and butter but still limited applied in non-business sectors such as academic institutions (as in the present study), non-profit organizations, religious organizations and government agencies. Nowadays e-commerce becomes crucially essential in reducing their expenses and improving their operations.Therefore, application of this new innovation should enhance to no non-business sectors to be livelier.Understanding the key factors of facilitating and adopting the e-commerce in non-business are still need to enrich in particularly within Malaysian context. A field survey was conducted to determine key factors that facilitate the adoption of non-business EC in Malaysian Universities. Approach: One main focus of IT implementation research has been to determine why people accept or reject new technology. The current research will explore why Non-business institutions will accept or reject e- commerce. Since e-commerce adoption decision is a strategic one, a comprehensive list of potential facilitators and non-facilitators for the strategic use of information technology was derived from past research. Thus factors used as the basis for collecting data from 65 schools, centers and units from 5 public universities in Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. These data were factor-analyzed to determine the key underlying dimensions of facilitators. On the basis of the resulting 5 dimensions namely, relative advantage, network orientation, information efficiency, innovativeness and competitiveness, regression analysis was done to determine the impact of the 5 dimensions on adoption. Results: They suggest that relative advantage, network orientation and information efficiency are the most important facilitators to the used of e-commerce in non-business sectors. Inhibitors were not estimated eventually, as there were no non-users among the respondents. Conclusion: The results implies the non-business sectors should look into advantages, network orientation and information efficiency as a strategic based for implementing e-commerce in more effective manner to achieve their goals

Opportunities and risks of an integrated academic support : [Vortrag ; Tagung] "Integration of Information Services into University Infrastructures" - 7th Frankfurt Symposium: 12.10. - 13.10.2007

In the year 2000 the Deutsche Initiative für Netzwerkinformation (DINI) / German Coalition of Network Information was founded: 10 theses "Changes in information infrastructure – challenges to universities and their information and communications facilities" is the DINI’s founding charter (s. http://www.dini.de). Thesis 4 states: "The universities need to establish information management structures to integrate departments. University managements, departments and central institutions ought to prepare a university development plan for the areas of information, communication and multimedia." ..

A conceptual model for global multi-channel customer management

Previous Global CRM research has recommended that scholars reassess all of CRM systems in global environment (Ward 2005; Ramaseshan et al., 2006). Channel management is one CRM systems component much influenced by the behaviour of customers in relation to the implementation and use of channel management CRM component. The consumers’ behaviours, preferences, perceptions and expectations are crucial for the implementation and use of channel management. Customers’ contact with the organization’s multi-channels can occur at several touch points through out customer lifecycle. Customers’ behaviours may be differentiated according to the individual or micro level, but it might also differ at an ecological or macro level of analysis. A conceptual model has been developed to analyze customers’ behaviours at a macro level and customers channel choices, through out the customer lifecycle

Networking Innovation in the European Car Industry : Does the Open Innovation Model Fit?

The automobile industry is has entered an innovation race. Uncertain technological trends, long development cycles, highly capital intensive product development, saturated markets, and environmental and safety regulations have subjected the sector to major transformations. The technological and organizational innovations related to these transformations necessitate research that can enhance our understanding of the characteristics of the new systems and extrapolate the implications for companies as well as for the wider economy. Is the industry ready to change and accelerate the pace of its innovation and adaptability? Have the traditional supply chains transformed into supply networks and regional automobile ecosystems? The study investigates the applicability of the Open Innovation concept to a mature capital-intensive asset-based industry, which is preparing for a radical technological discontinuity - the European automobile industry - through interviewing purposely selected knowledgeable respondents across seven European countries. The findings contribute to the understanding of the OI concept by identifying key obstacles to the wider adoption of the OI model, and signalling the importance of intermediaries and large incumbents for driving network development and OI practices as well as the need of new competencies to be developed by all players.Peer reviewe

The role of public policy in stimulating radical environmental impact reduction in the automotive sector: The need to focus on product-service system innovation

This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2010 InderscienceProduct-service system (PSS) innovation is a promising approach to address sustainability challenges in the automotive industry. Starting form this assumption, this paper presents and discusses the potential contribution that policy measures can have in fostering the automotive sector in innovating on a PSS level. A set of policy instruments (general instruments and specific PSS-targeted ones) are presented and classified, underlining the effects they could produce at the company and environmental levels. In order to effectively support sustainable PSS diffusion in the automotive industry, the paper suggests the integration of general policy measures (such as internalisation of external costs, extended producer responsibility programmes and informative policies), with the PSS-targeted ones (such as Green Public Procurement focused on sustainable PSS, support of companies in acquiring information related to PSS, support of demonstrative pilot projects). In addition, the paper suggests the necessity to involve actively universities and research centres