Journal of Modelling in Management

Bhadani, Abhay Kumar ; Shankar, Ravi ; Rao, D. Vijay

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-09-2013-0041

Purpose – This paper aims to understand and identify the various barriers in adopting new telecom services in rural areas for improving the penetration and revenue of the telecom companies. These barriers are modeled to study their inter-relationships and prioritize them for strategizing appropriate management action plans. Design/methodology/approach – Delphi technique has been used to form a consensus with the telecom managers working in rural areas to finalize the barriers. An integrated Interpretive Structural Modeling–Analytic Network Process (ISM–ANP) approach has been adopted to establish the complex relationships, cluster the relationships, to understand and prioritize the telecom service adoption barriers. Findings – The major contribution of this research is imposing directions and dominance of various barriers to promote better adoption of new telecom-based mobile services in rural areas. The proposed integrated method can aid in decision making by providing more informative, accurate and a better choice than using either ISM or ANP in isolation. Research limitations/implications – The generalizabilty of these research findings is limited, as it was generated specific to rural telecom service adoption barriers in Indian context. Because decision-making problems are usually complex and ill-structured, every decision is based on the decision-maker’s expertise, preferences and biasness of the experts who showed their interest to participate in the research. Practical implications – This paper forms the basis of identifying the reasons for poor adoption of telecom-based mobile services in rural India. This study would help the telecom companies and the managers to understand and develop strategies to target the rural audience by introducing action plans and innovative mobile services to overcome the identified barriers. By applying the proposed methodology, telecom companies can classify and prioritize their action plans as short-, medium- and long-term plans to systematically overcome the identified barriers. Originality/value – This paper provides a base for understanding various factors that affect the adoption of telecom-based mobile services. It demonstrates the use of an innovative approach to develop an integrated model to understand the barriers.

Costa, Helder Gomes

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-08-2013-0037

Purpose – This study aims to use a graphical approach to highlight the differences between outranking and preference relationships. The outranking principle is based on a structure of non-dominance, which differs from the usual structures of preferences. Design/methodology/approach – To reach the objective, the paper makes a deep analysis of outranking and preference relationships and uses graphical representation to highlight the differences between these two concepts. Graphical interpretation is also used to support the results form ELECTRE I and to highlight misinterpretation of results, such as rank reversal in ELECTRE I. Findings – The results show that the assumption of rank reversal while using ELECTRE I is a mistake. Originality/value – It was not found in literature a previous work paper that demonstrates a result like this one.

Samaranayake, Premaratne ; Laosirihongthong, Tritos

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-01-2014-0005

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework of integrated supply chain model that can be used to measure, evaluate and monitor operational performance under dynamic and uncertain conditions. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology consists of two stages: configuration of a conceptual framework of integrated supply chain model linked with performance measures and illustration of the integrated supply chain model and delivery performance using a case of dairy industry. The integrated supply chain model is based on a unitary structuring technique and forms the basis for measuring and evaluating supply chain performance. Delivery performance with variation of demand (forecast and actual) is monitored using a fuzzy-based decision support system, based on three inputs: capacity utilization (influenced by production disruption), raw materials shortage and quality of dairy products. Findings – Integration of supply chain components (materials, resources, operations, activities, suppliers, etc.) of key processes using unitary structuring approach enables information integration in real time for performance evaluation and monitoring in complex supply chain situations. In addition, real-time performance monitoring is recognized as being of great importance for supply chain management in responding to uncertainties inherent in the operational environment. Research limitations/implications – Implementation of an integrated model requires maintenance of supply chain components with all necessary data and information in a system environment such as enterprise resource planning. Practical implications – The integrated model provides decision-makers with an overall view of supply chain components and direct links that need to be maintained for supply chain performance evaluation and monitoring. Wider adaptation and diffusion of the proposed model require further validation of the model and feasibility of implementation, using real-time data and information on selected performance measures. Originality/value – Integration of supply chain components across supply chain processes directly linked with performance measures is a novel approach for effective supply chain performance evaluation and monitoring in complex supply chains under dynamic and uncertain conditions.

Dandagi, Shivaprasad ; Bhushi, Umesh ; Bagodi, Virupaxi ; Sinha, Deepankar

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-05-2014-0034

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the constructs and establish causal relationship between factors for strategically governing a technical university in Indian context. Further, the paper carries out a systemic study to emphasize on the need for these universities to design strategies that are endurable and sustainable. Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire survey was carried out (207 responses). Factor analysis was carried out to bring out the latent variables representing the attributes, and later, the causality between these variables was established using structural equation modelling (SEM). These relationships between the factors helped in developing a robust system dynamic model for strategic management of technical universities. Findings – The peak points on the contours for varying strategic orientation revealed the adaptability and the time required for attaining that level of adaptability. The contour plots also revealed the limiting values in each case. Finally, it is concluded that university adaptability increases with increasing strategic orientation. The analysis also revealed that the process by which the technical universities formulate their strategies is an important determinant of various factors. Originality/value – Universities looking to implement strategic management-related methodologies for the improved management focusing on developing effective methods for developing strategy can be expected to yield better performance, rather than concentrating on the technologies and supporting infrastructures.

Singh, Jagwinder ; Saini, Shivani

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-05-2014-0038

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a model to understand the role of customer relationship management efforts in building, sustaining and enhancing customer loyalty (CL). Design/methodology/approach – This paper reviews extant literature in customer relationship management (CRM), customer experience management (CEM) and CL, with a particular emphasis on exploring the relationships between these proposed domains. Findings – The CRM efforts, customer acquisition, retention and experience, are suggested to have positive influence on attitudinal and behavioural loyalty. A model for testing the associations of customer relationship efforts to various forms of CL, including the satisfaction, trust and commitment as mediators in CRM-CL link are proposed. Research limitations/implications – This paper represents a first attempt to build and propose a conceptual framework of CRM–CL. This is an indicative research than a conclusive one. Therefore, research implications are to perform the empirical testing of model in different business environments. Practical implications – This application of proposed model in a business environment will be helpful for the marketing practitioners to well understand the customers’ changing expectations as well as to prioritize the marketing functions. The emphasis and right calculation about the acquisition, retention and experience decisions would be helpful to marketers to know the expected profitability of customers. Originality/value – This is the first paper to provide a comprehensive integrated model of CRM and CL to understand the effects of CRM efforts on various forms of CL.

Dabestani, Reza ; Nahavandi, Nasim ; Saljoughian, Mohammad

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-04-2014-0027

Purpose – The purpose of this study is an attempt to identify the most crucial factors and their influence on one another, which can result in predicting the country’s next phase of progress based on these factors’ variation patterns. Design/methodology/approach – The authors proposed a model based on the existing literature and then ran a system dynamics analysis on the data obtained from the World Bank official Web site. The factors including “Research and development expenditure (% of GDP)”, “Scientific and technical journal articles”, “Patent applications”, “Trademark applications”, “Industry value added”, “Researchers in R & D (per million people)” and “High technology export” were considered as the related factors with science and technology. Findings – The findings can also reveal what aspects require more attention and investment if the government demands to facilitate and accelerate the development process. The results show that the most intense increase refers to the number of patent applications and trademark applications, and the lowest increase is related to research and development expenditure and researchers in R & D. Practical implications – The authors hope that tracking the changes of those factors leads practitioners and scholars to have a better understanding of the trends of science and technology development in a country, which in turn leads them to foresee the country’s upcoming opportunities as well as challenges. Originality/value – Proposing a system dynamic model for predicting science and technology trend in a country is relatively novel.

Malekzadeh, Gholamreza ; Kazemi, Mostaffa ; Lagzian, Mohammad ; Mortazavi, Saeed

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-12-2013-0062

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate a novel model for organizational intelligence (OI) in Iranian public universities. OI is an effective concept in organizational behavior for reshaping the organizational rules. Multidimensional nature of OI makes it a very useful management tool. Design/methodology/approach – This model is investigated by using an expert panel opinion and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory technique based on Iranian university professors’ opinions. Findings – The proposed model consists of eight dimensions: structural, cultural, strategic, communicational, informational, functional, behavioral and environmental dimensions. Each one of these dimensions consists of some components. The results showed that the “Structural”, “Cultural”, “Strategic”, “Informational” and “Environmental” dimensions are the cause dimensions, while the “Behavioral” and “Communicational” dimensions are the effect dimensions. Hierarchical levels of these dimensions are also determined. Practical implications – Comprehending this model offers a handful of beneficial insights for university managers. These points are synoptically stated in the form of managerial implications. Originality/value – The paper by using a real case study provides a cause and effect model for OI management in Iranian public universities and can be enhanced for other organizations.

Shahzad, Khuram ; Bajwa, Sami Ullah ; Siddiqi, Ahmed Faisal Imtiaz ; Ahmid, Farhan ; Raza Sultani, Ali

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-07-2014-0061

Purpose – This study aims to identify if an integration between knowledge strategy and knowledge management (KM) processes leads to organizational creativity and performance. Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative strategy and cross-sectional survey method were used to collect data. In all, 219 randomly selected respondents from 173 listed companies provided feedback through self-administered questionnaire. Factor analysis and multiple regression techniques were used to test multiple hypotheses. Findings – Results revealed the significant positive impact of system-oriented KM systems strategy on KM process capabilities, creativity and organizational performance. No significant impact has been found of human-oriented KM strategy on different KM processes and organizational performance. However, it interestingly has a significant negative relationship with organizational creativity. KM processes have significant impact on organizational creativity and performance. Organizational creativity has also been identified as having a strong significant impact on organizational performance. Originality/value – This paper fills the knowledge gap by undertaking a study which has not been conducted before.

Temme, Dirk ; Diamantopoulos, Adamantios

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-05-2014-0037

Purpose – Higher-order factor models have recently been dismissed as a ‘misleading’, ‘meaningless’, and ‘needless’ approach for modeling multidimensional constructs (Lee and Cadogan, 2013; L & C, 2013 hereafter). The purpose of this paper is to show that – in contrast to L & C’s (2013) verdict – higher-order factor models are still a legitimate operationalization option for multidimensional constructs. Design/methodology/approach – Basic conceptual and statistical premises of L & C’s (2013) arguments against higher-order factor models are scrutinized both conceptually and statistically as to their logic and validity. Findings – A thorough analysis of L & C’s (2013) arguments shows that they are fundamentally flawed both conceptually and statistically, rendering their conclusions invalid. Research limitations/implications – Researchers should not remove the well-established higher-order factor models from their methodological toolkit. Furthermore, empirical findings should not automatically be considered suspect simply because higher-factor models have been used to model multidimensional constructs. Originality/value – So far, L & C’s (2013) arguments against higher-order factor models have gone unchallenged in the literature. This rejoinder is a first, much needed attempt to protect applied researchers from getting the false impression that by using higher-factor models, they rely on a “misleading” or “meaningless” modeling approach.

Bhadani, Abhay Kumar ; Shankar, Ravi ; Rao, D. Vijay

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-06-2014-0054

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors influencing investment decisions in mobile services for profitablity and to become a global leader in mobile services sector. Design/methodology/approach – A two-stage methodology is followed. In the first stage, factors are identified from literature, and are validated with telecommunication domain experts using the t -test. In the second stage, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) is used to understand the complex interrelationships among various factors. Further, MICMAC analysis is performed to analyze the indirect relationships and their effect on different factors by stabilizing the rank based on driving and dependence power. Based on MICMAC analysis, four clusters are identified to aid the policy- and decision-makers. Findings – The major contribution of this research is imposing directions and dominance of various factors to make informed decision-making for investment in mobile services to meet the upcoming demand for mobile services in Indian telecommunication sector. Research limitations/implications – The applicability of these research findings is limited to emerging telecommunication market. Practical implications – This paper forms the basis for identifying various factors that act as the driving force for the Indian telecommunication operators to pay special attention toward mobile services, with telecommunication data analytics and developing context-aware services. This paper will aid policy-makers in the government, managers in telecommunication companies and other stakeholders such as content providers, channel partners and application developers to take a lead role in developing appropriate mobile services to meet local needs of Indian users. It will help in developing strategies to collaborate and motivate other stakeholders, including device manufacturers to understand and work collaboratively to become world leader in mobile services. Originality/value – This paper provides a framework for understanding the various factors that encourage telecommunication companies to establish and invest in mobile services and setup a separate vertical in their organization with a focus on mobile services to meet the future demands of Indian market. Appropriate utilization of telecommunication data analytics, personalization of services, customization in local languages and support for convergent services would encourage adoption of mobile services.

Tavakoli, Mohammad Mehdi ; Shirouyehzad, Hadi ; Dabestani, Reza

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-02-2014-0013

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to present a hybrid analytic network process (ANP) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) method for ranking organizational units as well as prioritizing organization’s human capital management criteria. Design/methodology/approach – In the proposed DEA model, human capital management criteria are considered as the inputs and organizational commitment considered as the output of DEA model. Afterward, the organizational unit’s efficiency and the weight of human capital management criteria are evaluated through DEA and the data are considered as the basis of ANP model. Findings – The results of prioritizing the drivers of human capital management were showed that leadership practices, human capital management and learning capacity are the most important ones. Also, the findings proved that the proposed integrated DEA/ANP can be helpful in managerial issues. Research limitations/implications – Filling the super-matrix and designing the questionnaire of ANP have always been the challenge of scholars because of the large number of data it requires. One of the main advantages of the proposed hybrid method in this research is that it resolves the above-mentioned problem of ANP. Practical implications – The results of the proposed method may provide managers this opportunity to better analyze the condition of organizational units from human capital management perspective and focus on the most important activities in this context. Moreover, the proposed hybrid method can help scholars to better use both DEA and ANP techniques and obtain more reliable findings. Originality/value – In this study, DEA efficiency measures of units, and the weights of inputs and outputs of DEA model are used to fill the super-matrix of ANP. In addition to having a logical approach, this method provides more reliable results and enjoys the advantages of both ANP and DEA techniques.

De Angelis, Cristiano Trindade

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-08-2014-0069

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the integration of intelligences plays a great role in changing the organisational and national culture and, in consequence, in changing governmental intelligence (GI). This paper investigates the impact of national culture (NC) and knowledge management (KM) on GI. Design/methodology/approach – This paper explores the development of a culture knowledge intelligence model (CKI) to test a number of propositions through web-based survey methodology administered to 101 civil servants of two national public administrations, Brazil’s Planning Ministry and Germany’s Bundesanstalt. The data were analysed quantitatively through SPSS and SmartPLS (CFA and SEM). In this paper, the relationships between the variables (hypotheses) were empirically tested using structure equation modelling (SEM). Findings – The high correlation between organisational/national culture on GI raises the discussion of these relationships in the academic community. The impact of organisational/national culture on GI is much higher in Brazil than in Germany. In opposition to Germany, in Brazil, the GI is more influenced by culture than by knowledge. This is related to the fact that German culture, in opposition to Brazil, is future- and performance-orientated, getting information from facts, books and statistics, instead of being people-oriented, getting the first-hand (oral) information. The major practical implication is to demonstrate the importance of integration of intelligences to improve GI. Originality/value – The influence of NC on decisions of governments is paramount to understand failures in government decisions, mainly because of the difficulty of public leaders to learn by comparison and collaboration from a global, participative and integrative vision and action. Despite the importance of the relationship between NC and GI, this intuitive juxtaposition has not received attention in the literature.

Tripathy, Sushanta ; Aich, Satyabrata ; Chakraborty, Anurup ; Lee, Gyu M.

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-01-2014-0004

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the success factors for supply chain in Indian small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and establish a causal relationship among them. In the present scenario, the SMEs are under huge pressure to achieve the supply chain competitive advantage and to improve operation and logistic effectiveness and, at the same time, remain tractable to the demand uncertainty and volatility in the market. To enhance the performance of supply chain in SMEs, the managers need to identify the internal as well as the external factors that affect the supply chain performance of SMEs in India. They need to understand the causal relationship of these factors. Design/methodology/approach – There may be a number of factors that are critical for achieving acceptable supply chain performance, and these factors have been identified by principal component analysis (PCA). In all, 29 factors have been identified by using PCA and the dominating 29 factors are categorized into 6 constructs, and finally, the structural equation modelling (SEM) methodology using the AMOS 4.0 program has been adopted as the primary methodology for this paper to assess the causal relationship among six constructs. Findings – In this paper, the authors analyzed the structural relations among information technology (IT), logistic effectiveness, operational effectiveness, customer relationship, supplier relationship and SCM competitive advantage. Results indicate that IT holds the key to achieve the SCM competitive advantage in SCM practices of SMEs in India. Research limitations/implications – The proposed models for enabling factors are tested in firms with a limited numbers of factors in highly competitive environment. More factors may be incorporated, which will help for a clear understanding and establishing the causal relationship among the various enabling factors. Practical implications – Although managers of Indian SMEs are aware of various enabling factors, a systematic approach is required for identifying enabling factors, and as these factors may have complex interrelation between them for analyzing supply chain performance in SMEs, it is essential that such an approach is in place. The paper presented here will help the SMEs managers in identifying the areas in which they need to focus their attention to improve SCM practices. A structural equation modelling is developed to show the complex relationship between the factors that affect the performance. In addition to that, the proposed structural equation model acts as a good guideline to improve the performance of the supply chain in India. Originality/value – The paper provides a structural equation model to develop a map of the causal relationships and magnitude among identified enabling factors.

Hemmati, Maryam ; Feiz, Davood ; Jalilvand, Mohammad Reza ; Kholghi, Iman

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-12-2013-0067

Purpose – This paper aims to develop a framework for competitive advantage by systematic quantitative methodology based on resource-based view and dynamic capability theory. Strategic agility was used as a dynamic capability. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a survey aimed at manufacturing companies from five manufacturing industry in Semnan, Iran. A total of 102 questionnaires were received from 13 companies using convenience sampling. Fuzzy two-stage data envelopment analysis model (DEA) was used to analyse the data collected. Findings – The results indicate that there is close internal relationship among firm resources, strategic agility and competitive advantage, and their inherent relationship makes constant returns to scale (CRS) scores closer to 1. In most of the companies, the second process which transforms strategic agility to competitive advantage is the main cause for unsatisfactory performance in gaining competitive advantage. Originality/value – The innovation of this paper is in its model and method. There is no research has been ever done on the relationship among firm resources, strategic agility and competitive advantage. Moreover, to obtain a competitive advantage structure, DEA technique was adopted which is a new approach in this area.

Yousefi, Ali ; Hadi-Vencheh, Abdollah

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-05-2014-0036

Purpose – Nowadays, most of the organizations have focused through the world on Six Sigma to reduce the costs, improve the productivity and enhance concerned individuals’ satisfaction, especially customers’ satisfaction. Annually, these organizations define and execute thousands of Six Sigma projects which involve a great deal of investments. But are all of these projects successful and do the organizations benefit from the above advantages? How can we reduce the risk of failure in Six Sigma projects? The first step to reduce the risk of failure in Six Sigma projects is selecting optimal ones which have the most profits and the least expected risks. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, the effective criteria are recognized and defined in selecting Six Sigma projects. Then, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to rank the results. Then, a real example is resolved by two important techniques in decision-making process, that is the AHP and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), as well as data envelopment analysis (DEA). The results from the above three methods are compared. Findings – The results of this paper show that by using fewer criteria, the results from AHP and TOPSIS are very similar. Also, the results from these techniques vary from DEA’s ones in many aspects. So regarding the different results and the importance of criteria in selecting the Six Sigma projects, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques are more reliable in comparison with DEA, because decision-maker’s point of view is more effective in MCDM techniques. Originality/value – The paper, using a real case study, provides important new tools to enhance decision quality in Six Sigma project selection.

Yadav, Vinod ; Sharma, Milind Kumar

2016 Journal of Modelling in Management

doi: 10.1108/JM2-06-2014-0052

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a supplier selection model for an automobile company using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach. Supplier selection is now growing to be an important but complex issue, as it involves a large number of factors and decisions. These factors have complicated operational and financial implications. Design/methodology/approach – A case study of an Indian automobile company is used to illustrate and propose a supplier selection model using AHP approach. Findings – Key criteria of the supplier selection problem are identified based on the literature review and case study. Then, a model is proposed for supplier selection using AHP approach followed by a detailed sensitivity analysis. Practical implications – This paper contributes to supplier selection process, and points out the importance of supplier selection. It proposes a supplier selection model for an automobile industry which often faces heterogeneous supply environments. The proposed model provides key criteria for supplier selection in Indian context. This model may have high acceptability, where a large number of suppliers are available to supply the materials or provide the services. Originality/value – The proposed model can provide guidelines and directions for managers involved in purchasing function to effectively select suppliers on the basis of the identified criteria in the heterogeneous manufacturing environment.