Business streamlining – an integrated model of service sourcing

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Molin ◽  
Lars-Johan Åge
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Ongoing Relationship ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Longitudinal Case Studies ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purchasing of services is a significantly under-researched area. The purpose of this study is to suggest a conceptual model of service sourcing relationships, including the post-contract phase. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology involving two longitudinal case studies that were analyzed with a grounded theory approach to build a conceptual model was applied. Findings The proposed model consists of a core process that is termed “business streamlining” and denotes the process by which four interrelated dimensions are managed to making the business processes of the buying organization simpler and more effective and/or productive. Research limitations/implications Although the research methodology is qualitative and does not allow statistical generalization, the study does provide valuable insights into the management of the service sourcing process. Practical implications The model proposed in this study can be utilized by managers to impose a useful conceptual structure on otherwise fluid and intangible processes, which makes them easier to analyze and facilitates strategic corporate decision-making. Originality/value The paper proposes a model that grasps the dynamics and reality of service (out-) sourcing relationships, including the ongoing relationship management process.

Understanding knowledge creation in the context of knowledge-intensive business processes

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 858-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd A. Little ◽  
Amit V. Deokar
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Influences ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to investigate knowledge creation in the context of knowledge-intensive business processes (KIBPs) and seeks to identify the challenges and opportunities associated with this phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach This study used a grounded theory approach to develop a framework based on 30 interviews across three different types of organizations. Findings The findings argue knowledge creation in the context of KIBP is negatively influenced by the lack of support for process-competency requirements within knowledge-intensive (KI) processes. These process-competency requirements center on the ability to effectively engage with the process, develop reasoning skills to handle KIBP and gain a higher-level perspective of the KIBP within the organization. Practical implications For practitioners, the opportunity exists to explore their organizational influences on the process-competencies to reduce the negative impact of any gaps identified within their KIBPs. Originality/value Although previous studies explore knowledge creation in a broad sense, this paper examines the phenomenon specifically within the context of KIBPs and analyze the potential for organizations to enhance their knowledge creation initiatives in this context.

Moving beyond traditional sponsorships: understanding the structure and dynamics of minority equity sponsorship agreements

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Furkan Amil Gur ◽  
Adrien Bouchet ◽  
Brian R. Walkup ◽  
Jonathan A. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
European Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand the structure and dynamics of minority equity sponsorship agreements and the motivations for organizations to go beyond traditional sponsorships by acquiring minority equity in the sponsored organization. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a qualitative methodology and presents interview data from key actors involved in minority equity sponsorship agreements. Findings The findings of the paper include major characteristics of minority equity sponsorship agreements including the motivations, dynamics and resources exchanged by sponsoring firms and clubs in these relationships, based on the experiences of key actors from firms, clubs and other key stakeholders, and a conceptual model for forming and maintaining these relationships. Practical implications Sponsorships are increasingly evolving into minority equity sponsorship agreements, particularly in the European market. The findings of this study assist sponsoring firms and the executives of clubs in better understanding the dynamics and stakeholder-related consequences of these relations. Originality/value The findings of this paper illustrate the differences between minority equity sponsorship agreements and both traditional sponsorships and minority equity alliances. The findings also identify major characteristics of these relationships and the interdependencies among these characteristics.

Role reflections of police reservists: a study of volunteer reserve officers in Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 813-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phaik Kin Cheah ◽  
N. Prabha Unnithan ◽  
Suresh Suppiah
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Role Orientations ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the work roles of the Royal Malaysia Police Volunteer Reserve officers.Design/methodology/approachA grounded theory approach was utilized for the generation and analysis of the data. Data were collected through interviews, observations and follow-ups. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 male and female volunteer reserve officers and 5 regular police officers aged between 24 and 58 years of mixed socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities and ranking in the Royal Malaysia Police force. Two civilian respondents (spouses of the Police Volunteer Reserve officers) were also interviewed for this study for the purpose of theory sampling.FindingsThe data were analyzed qualitatively resulting in a model of Royal Malaysia Police Volunteer Reserve officer roles consisting of four orientations.Research limitations/implicationsStudy outcomes are discussed theoretically and administratively. The four role orientations identified will assist researchers studying police reserve volunteerism.Practical implicationsStudy outcomes allow administrators to utilize and deploy police reservists in consonance with the four role orientations identified.Social implicationsThis study provides insight into how police reservists conceive of and execute their roles as they negotiate them in relation to the regular police officers they work with and the public from which they are drawn.Originality/valueThis is the first study of police volunteerism in Malaysia.

The architecture of the phygital customer journey: a dynamic interplay between systems of insights and systems of engagement

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Mele ◽  
Tiziana Russo-Spena
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Customer Engagement ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Customer Journey ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Smart Technologies ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Dynamic Interplay

Purpose This paper aims to focus on how companies shape the architecture of a phygital customer journey through the exploitation of smart technologies. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a qualitative method using a grounded theory approach involving leading players in digital customer solutions and service providers from different industries. Findings The shaping of the architecture of the phygital customer journey comes from the interplay between systems of insights and systems of engagement activated by multiple customer-provider interactions in an entanglement of physical and digital contexts. Practical implications Companies need to design a blended approach to bridge disconnected contexts, capture new opportunities and provide customer engagement along the entire journey. Originality/value This study depicts the “phygital customer journey” under systems of insights and systems of engagement: These systems operate as dynamic architectures to capture insights and engage customers.

Bridging organizational identity and reputation messages online: a conceptual model

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nell C. Huang-Horowitz ◽  
Karen Freberg
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Organizational Identity ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative Review ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Value Model ◽  
Exploratory Procedure ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model that can be used to bridge organizational identity and reputation messages. The proposed model may help organizations more-effectively build and maintain both their desired identity as well as reputation. Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative and exploratory procedure was used to develop a model for simultaneously managing and measuring both identity and reputation messages. The process of conceptualizing an exploratory, qualitative value model begins with identifying relevant concepts and measures. A qualitative review of reputation and identity scholarship was examined for recurring themes and concepts. These themes were then used to formulate the identity and reputation functions and value measures. Findings – The proposed conceptual model presents characteristics and attributes that scholars and practitioners may need to consider when managing an organization’s identity and reputation messages online. The paper also presents potential applications of the model. Practical implications – The proposed qualitative value model, if further tested and quantified, has three potential applications: integrating identity and reputation messages across multiple platforms; telling stories reflective of both identity and reputation messages; and determining the value of attribution across contingencies. Originality/value – Considering the interrelated nature of identity and reputation messages, it is necessary to formulate a model delineating how the two may be bridged with one another. By proposing the conceptual model for how organizations may be able to align their identity messages with reputation messages, this paper hopes to establish a more conscious connection between the identity and reputation scholarship.

Structural key factors of participatory sustainability reporting for universities

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1080-1098
Author(s):  
Coco Klußmann ◽  
Remmer Sassen ◽  
Elisa Gansel
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Participatory Process ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Level ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to answer the following research question: What are the key factors of the participatory process for establishing sustainability reporting in German universities? Design/methodology/approach To answer the research question, this study uses qualitative methodology, following the grounded theory approach and triangulation of qualitative methods for accessing data. Findings The findings show that universities face a high level of difficulty in introducing sustainability reporting, which has an external and an internal dimension. Originality/value This paper contributes to the understanding of sustainability reporting processes of universities from an internal perspective, specifically through experts who are involved in the preparation of sustainability reports. Furthermore, it delivers insights for a theory-based discussion, which may support universities in starting sustainability reporting activities and improving reporting processes.

“The Health Education Juggler”

2014 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 398-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gitte Engelund ◽  
Ulla Møller Hansen ◽  
Ingrid Willaing
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Comprehensive Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore educator competencies and roles needed to perform participatory patient education, and develop a comprehensive model describing this. Design/methodology/approach – Data collection in the qualitative study proceeded through two phases. In the first phase, 28 educators were involved in exploring educator competencies needed to perform participatory, group-based patient education. The paper used qualitative methods: dialogue workshops, interviews and observations. In the second phase, 310 educators were involved in saturating and validating the insights from phase one using workshop techniques such as brainstorming, reflection exercises and the story-dialogue method. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse data. Findings – A model called “The Health Education Juggler” was developed comprising four educator roles necessary to perform participatory patient education: the Embracer, the Facilitator, the Translator and the Initiator. The validity of the model was confirmed in phase two by educators and showed fit, grab, relevance, workability and modifiability. Practical implications – The model provides a tool that can be used to support the focus on “juggling” skills in educators: the switching between different educator roles when performing participatory, group-based patient education. The model is useful as an analytical tool for reflection and supervision, as well as for observation and evaluation of participatory, group-based patient education. Originality/value – The study proposes a comprehensive model consisting of four equally important roles for educators performing participatory, group-based patient education.

Divergent goals in supplier-customer co-development process: an integrated framework

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 290-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minna Oinonen ◽  
Anne Maarit Jalkala
Keyword(s):  
Development Process ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Development Literature ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Innovations in business-to-business markets often result from co-development activities between multiple actors, all of which have their own goals for the collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to study how the actors’ divergent goals reflect on their perceptions of the supplier-customer co-development process. Design/methodology/approach – A grounded theory approach is adopted to reveal the actors’ perceptions of eight studied supplier-customer co-development processes, of which, four also involve an expert partner. Findings – The findings suggest that because of the supplier’s aim to commercialize the resulting product, a supplier has a wider ranging perception of the co-development process, whereas the customer and expert partner focus on those phases that support their goals to improve the efficiency of the process or to develop new technology. Practical implications – As each actor operates according to its own goals and is involved in those phases of the process that facilitates their achievement, the study recommends that managers consider each actor’s goals which are reflected on their perception of the co-development. Originality/value – This is among the first studies to focus on the co-development process from multiple perspectives and include data from various actors involved in the process. The paper contributes to the co-development literature both by presenting actors’ divergent perspectives on the process and proposing an empirically grounded dyadic framework of the supplier-customer co-development process.

Building and evolving a culture of excellence: a conceptual exploration

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis W. Provance ◽  
Suresh Babu Ramisetty ◽  
Michael Joseph Urick ◽  
Kelly A. Wieczorkowski
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The People ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
A Current

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conceptually explore building a culture of excellence from the ground up as well as evolving a current culture to one more focused on excellence. Design/methodology/approach This study reviewed extant research related to organizational cultures and cultures of excellence that have implications for building or evolving into these types of cultures. Findings The findings of this study suggest that the “people side” of organizations is crucial to forming a culture of excellence. Specific people-oriented considerations to forming such a culture include leveraging leaders and understanding other influences including diversity as well as external aspects. Changing culture must occur at the assumptions (and not just artifacts) level. Furthermore, there are many barriers to building a culture of excellence, many of which are also related to an organization’s people. Research limitations/implications A qualitative grounded theory approach whereby researchers asked organizational members to define “culture of excellence” could help build a clearer model for the formation of cultures of excellence. Quantitative approaches should also test how successful the influencers, noted in this study are in creating cultures of excellence. This study’s conceptual links between cultures of excellence and performance should also be tested empirically. Practical implications This paper provides practitioners insight into the importance of culture and considerations for how to change an organizational culture. Social implications This paper advocates for the importance of social considerations in the workplace regarding creating a culture of excellence. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first that discusses creating a culture of excellence. Furthermore, it is one of only a handful of articles that links people to excellence.

This place is like the jungle: discussions about psychoactive substances on a cryptomarket

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-261
Author(s):  
Sara Rolando ◽  
Franca Beccaria
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse dynamics amongst members to better understand in what terms and to what extent marketplace forums can be seen as new forms of harm reduction. Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative analysis focused on conversations about psychoactive substances on the forum community of AlphaBay Market. A sample consists of 100 online threads. The data, collected in July 2016, were analysed by applying the grounded theory approach with the support of Atlas.ti. Findings Conversations in the marketplace forum focus mostly on the purchase. Concerns and disputes are voiced in a significant proportion of them, and interactions are affected by a climate of distrust where stigmatisation processes can emerge between users of different drug categories. This casts a certain amount of doubt on the thesis that marketplace forums – like online forums – are new forms of harm reduction and peer-led communities. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on only one marketplace forum. Other such forums should be analysed to corroborate its findings. Practical implications Harm reduction interventions in the online environment should take different form according to the forum type, and take the differences and boundaries that separate users of different substances into account. Originality/value Thanks to its infrequently used qualitative approach, the study provides a more thorough understanding of the relationships on marketplace forums.

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