The Validity Of Gibrats Law: Evidence From Manufacturing Industry In Iran: 1995-98

Using transition matrices, in this paper we have shown that Gibrat’s Law is rejected for manufacturing plants in Iran over the period 1995-98. We find that size is an important variable in the study of plant growth for manufacturing industries in Iran

The influence of supply chain quality management practices on quality performance: an empirical investigation

© 2017, © Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The extant literature highlights the notable lack of a consensus among operations and supply chain management scholars regarding the theoretical underpinnings and associated empirical evidence for the performance impact of supply chain quality management (SCQM) practices on quality. The purpose of this paper is to redress this imbalance in the literature through empirical examination of the relationship between SCQM practices and quality performance outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: In accordance with the research aim, a quantitative approach was adopted, and a multi-item scale Web-based survey was designed to collect primary data. A total number of 325 questionnaires were collected from a sample of UK-based manufacturing companies. Factor analysis, internal consistency and multivariate regressions were used to validate the multi-item scale and test the hypotheses. Findings: The findings confirm the proposed hypotheses and reveal statistically significant results for the performance impact of SCQM practices on quality at an aggregate level. However, the results of the individual level analysis of SCQM practices appear to vary from practice to practice. Of various SCQM practices, customer focus with the highest beta value (i.e. ß = 0.303; t-value = 6.120; p = 0.000) was found to have the greatest impact on quality performance. Practical implications: The findings encourage managers to place high priority on both inter-firm and intra-firm relationships as prerequisites for achieving superior quality performance. The propositions and the results of the study provide managers with some guidelines about effective management of upstream, midstream and downstream supply chain networks and awareness of the potential synergies arising from the combined effects of SCQM practices that could bring about desired quality performance outcomes across the entire supply chain network. Originality/value: Real and sustainable quality performance often requires an equal focus on both intra- and inter-firm relationships among supply chain partners. Therefore, effective management of quality across the entire supply chain is deemed essential if a firm is to smoothly supply high-quality products and services to customers. But little research has been devoted to understanding conceptual underpinnings of SCQM as well as empirical support and validation for the conceptualisation and measurement of SCQM practices. Based on the insights gained from social network theory, this paper makes an attempt to address this gap and examine the impact of SCQM practices on quality performance

Competitive strategy, dynamic capability and value creation: Some empirical evidence from the UK telecommunications firms

Main message: The overall interplay between competitive strategies and dynamic capabilities is an integral part of value creation in terms of novelty, lock-in, complementarities and efficiency. Short title: Competitive strategy, dynamic capability and value creation Key points: -In response to insufficient systematic research on the impact of competitive strategies and dynamic capabilities on value creation, this study expands prior studies (e.g., Rashidirad et al., 2013) by proposing carefully testable research hypotheses and empirically explore the research phenomenon. -This study analyses the complex interrelationships between competitive strategies and dynamic capabilities and the resulting impact on value creation through adopting a multidimensional approach in which each construct is decomposited to its dimensions, so the relationships between each dimension of the research constructs are investigated. -This study prompts rethinking of the impact of dynamic capability and competitive strategy on value creation in firms by using a multidimensional perspective

The applicability of Grant's framework in the dynamic digital age: a review and agenda for future research

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the applicability of Grant’s framework in the current changing and dynamic environment. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a critical review of Grant’s paper was conducted to identify the limitations and weaknesses of the framework, which prevent its effective application in the current digital age. Findings As a result, this paper presented a modified framework and four propositions to consider dynamic capabilities in the new turbulent environment and extend the relationships between a firm’s resources, capabilities, dynamic capabilities, competitive advantage and competitive strategy. Findings tied to this initiative will provide important contributions to research. Originality/value Rooted in resource-based view (RBV), the proposed framework puts forward a valid theoretical foundation on how to create a competitive advantage from a firm’s internal factors, including strategic resources, capabilities and dynamic capabilities. Furthermore, it contributes to RBV literature by considering dynamic capabilities, as the firms’ most crucial factors in the current dynamic digital market

The relationship between the characteristics of Biochar produced at different temperatures and its impact on the uptake of NO3--N

Background: Nitrogen leaching from agricultural lands is a major threat to groundwater and surface waters. This study investigated the relationship between the characteristics of wheat-straw biochar produced at different temperatures and its impact on the uptake of NO3--N. Methods: Three types of biochar were produced from wheat straw at three different pyrolysis temperatures of 300, 400 and 500°C, and sampling was done 3 times for each biochar. Physical and chemical characteristics of biochar were determined using a variety of methods including specific surface with methylene blue adsorption method, and elemental content with elemental analyzer, and water solubility with standard ASTM (D5029-28) method. Statistical analysis was performed using Freundlich and Langmuir models. Nitrate concentration was measured using a UV-V spectrophotometer with a wavelength of 500 nm. Results: It was indicated that with an increase in biochar pyrolysis temperature from 300 to 500°C, the hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen in the biochar were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while the carbon content, surface area, density and water solubility in biochar (P < 0.05) were increased. The results also showed that the maximum nitrate adsorptive capacity of the three types of biochar occurred at pH=6 and contact time of 120 minutes. With increasing the temperature of biochar preparation, the efficiency of biochar nitrate adsorption increased significantly. Conclusion: The present study shows that pyrolysis temperature greatly influences the biochar chemical and physical characteristics, and subsequently nitrate adsorption ability of the biochars. The wheat straw biochar, which is produced at a pyrolysis temperature of 500°C, has the highest adsorption capacity for nitrate. Keywords: Biochar, Nitrates, Adsorptio

The effects of slow and quick freezing methods on microstructure, drip loss, proximate composition and sensory properties of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of slow and quick freezing on the changes in sensory properties, drip loss, microstructure and proximate compositions of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets. For this reason, skined off and deboned tilapia fillets were frozen by slow and quick freezing methods. The samples were packed and stored at -18 ° C for six months. Proximate composition, drip loss, and sensory evaluation of the samples were determined on a montly basis. Microstructure of the samples was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) every second month. Results indicated that fresh tilapia fillets had 1/30, 18/70, 1/85, 79/12 percentage of fat, protein, ash and moisture contents, respectively. The amounts of proximate compositions were changed during the storageperiod. Quick frozen samples had significantly lower changes than slow frozen samples. The percentage of the drip in the slow frozen samples was significantly higher than quick frozen samples. SEM micrographs were also showed that the changes in the microstructure of the samples were different in the slow and frozen samples. Slow freezing method resulted in the higher damage in the microstructure of the samples than quick freezing method. Sensory evaluation of the samples indicated a better acceptability for the quick frozen samples than that for slow frozen sample

A contingency view to novelty: The role of product-service strategy, sensing capability and environmental turbulence

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine (i) the impact of the fit between product-service strategy and sensing capability on novelty, and (ii) the potential moderating impact of contextual factors (i.e. technological and market turbulence) on novelty. Design/methodology/approach: In line with the aim of the study, a quantitative approach was adopted and a multi-item scale survey was designed to collect primary data. Using a mixed mode survey, a total number of 491 questionnaires were collected from a sample of UK-based telecommunications firms. Multiple regression was employed to test the hypotheses and predict the outcomes. Findings: The results support the positive contribution of a contingency approach to the study of the impact of the fit between product-service strategy and sensing dynamic capability on novelty. The results also partially confirm the reinforcing impact of technological and market turbulence on novelty. Originality/value: The current study extends research on product-service strategy and sensing capability by adopting a contingency view which intends to serve two purposes: (i)to complement the existing reductionistic explanations, and (ii) to explore how the relationship between product-service strategy and sensing capability could create novelty as well as the degree to which this relationship could be moderated in light of the external contextual factors

Supplier quality management and performance: the effect of supply chain oriented culture

Drawing from contingency theory, we investigate the impact of Supplier Quality Management (SQM) activities on internal quality performance and examine the role of Supply Chain Oriented (SCO) culture in the relationship between SQM and internal quality performance. A survey-based research was designed to collect data from 518 UK manufacturing firms. The results indicate that organisations with strong SCO culture are more conducive to increased levels of trust, commitment, cooperative norms, organisational compatibility and managerial support. As such, effective supplier development and integration activities appear to bring about a higher level of internal quality performance. The results also support the moderating effect of SCO culture on the relationship between supplier quality management and internal quality performance. The study highlights the importance of SCO culture – if organisations want to optimise internal quality and organisational performance in a sustainable manner through effective buyer-supplier relationships. This study contributes to the literature by analysing SQM and internal quality performance relationships through the lens of contingency theory and presents empirical evidence in support of the context dependency nature of SQM and its impact on performance. In this respect, a contextual variable theorised as ‘SCO culture’ is conceptualised to understand the SQM – performance relationship

Presumed clomiphene-induced optic neuropathy: A case report

Background: Clomiphene citrate is an estrogen receptor ligand with mixed agonistic–antagonistic properties used for the treatment of female and male infertility. Various visual disturbances and several irreversible visual outcomes have been associated with clomiphene citrate. In this report, we present a patient with presumed clomiphene-induced optic neuropathy. Case: A 33-yr-old man with acute visual loss of the right eye was referred to Amiralmomenin Hospital, Rasht, Iran in November 2018. His only medication was clomiphene citrate 100 mg daily, taken for 2 wk for fertility issues. The patient presented with a sudden decrease of visual acuity in the right eye on the 14th day of starting the treatment and subsequently developed complete loss of inferior visual field within a few days. On examination, the visual acuity was 6/20 in the right and 20/20 in the left eyes, with a right relative afferent pupillary defect and decreased red color saturation. The fundus examination revealed optic disc swelling with venous dilation in the right eye and a normal left fundus with a crowded disc (disc-at-risk). The patient was evaluated for systemic disorders, all of which were normal. Findings were suggestive of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy most likely due to clomiphene. Conclusion: As clomiphene may increase blood viscosity, it is hypothesized that reduced flow in a posterior ciliary artery in conjunction with the disc-at-risk contributes to the anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. It is advised that patients with disc-at-risk be aware of the possible non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and those experiencing visual symptoms while taking clomiphene be examined promptly for evidence of optic nerve injury. Key words: Clomiphene citrate, Optic neuropathy, Visual acuity, Ischemia