Emerald | Baltic Journal of Management | Table of Contents

Performance in local government HRM: The role of external customers

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Sara Lindström, Sinikka Vanhala) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of the article is to contribute to HRM – performance research by focusing on how HR managers discursively construct performance in local government HRM. Design/methodology/approach - The study is carried out in Finnish local government organizations, where HR managers of ten large and medium-sized cities were interviewed. The study adopted a constructionist approach: performance is constructed through the talk of different stakeholders, in this case, HR managers. The analysis draws upon discourse analysis.Findings - Performance in local government HRM is constructed through three predominant discourses: the service discourse, the process discourse, and the customer change discourse. The central finding of the study is the strong role of local residents, portrayed as external customers to HRM.Research limitations/implications - Typical to discourse analysis, the number of interviews is limited and the results cannot be generalized. Thirdly, according to the constructivist approach, also researchers discursively construct the phenomenon under study. Additionally, this article focuses on performance talk of HRM managers; other actors of HRM, e.g. top management teams, line managers, and HR professionals also discursively construct HRM-performance through their talk. Practical implications - In public organizations and also private sector service companies, the strong role of external customers in HRM and HRM-performance should be considered especially in HRM metrics.Originality/value - Research revealed the central role of external customers in the discourse of local government HRM-performance, and extends thus the scope of the performance concept in HRM studies.

Consumer Attitudes and Behavior Related to the Adoption of Euro Before the Changeover

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to enhance understanding of consumer attitudes and behaviour towards a new currency, Euro, before the process of the changeover. The approach of the current study differs from most past research on the same topic as consumer attitudes are surveyed before the currency change, not retrospectively based on consumer recall. The research attempts to achieve the following set of objectives: 1) To identify the general consumer attitudes towards euro and pinpoint sources of tension, resistance and uncertainty before the currency changeover process 2) To identify the pre-adoption assessment of euro value scales and inflation expectations 3) To identify various emotional factors related to the national and European identity in the euro adoption process Design/methodology/approach - The data analysis of the current research adopts a qualitative methodology. To gather a full insight into the pre- changeover attitudes, opinions, fears and hopes, a total of 29 qualitative interviews were conducted. Findings - The results suggest that consumer attitudes and opinions towards the changeover process are multifaceted and concerns and uncertainties rise from various sources – from rational economic aspects to emotional aspects related to national identity. This research points also to the underestimated role of national pride in the process of transfer from national currency to euro.Research limitations/implications - The study is one of the first attempts to research consumers before a forthcoming changeover; thus it is exploratory in its nature and has the traditional limitations of an exploratory research. Based on the initial findings it would be a possible to design a quantitative research for the subsequent countries adopting EuroPractical implications - The research identifies the attitudes of consumer before the changeover, outlining their doubts, fears and prejudices. The results can be used by subsequent countries adopting Euro while planning their changeover strategies. The efforts of the strategy developers should be directed towards addressing the real challenges people face before the changeover.Originality/value - A distinctive contribution of this study lies in the addressing of the pre-changeover attitudes and opinions before the currency change took place. Although there have been surveys asking respondents to recall their pre-changeover opinions, the accuracy of respondents memory over time has decreased, which is why such surveys may not give a valid picture. This paper contributes to the understanding of the pre-adoption phase in a currency changeover process as seen from the point of view of the consumers.

Analysis of Patent Management Effects on Technological Innovation Performance

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Yong CAO, Li Zhao) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - Given the changing role of patents within enterprises, this research aims to investigate the link between patent management and technological innovation performance in Chinese high-tech enterprises. Also, from theoretical underpinnings this study highlights the managerial implications of effective patent management which will lead to enhanced technological innovation performance.Design/methodology/approach - Hypotheses related to patent management and technological innovation performance in Chinese high-tech enterprises have been developed based on a review of the literature and related field interviews. Data has been collected from 118 high-tech enterprises using questionnaires and analyzed using regression and SEM analysis.Findings - Patent acquisition has a positive impact on both protection and commercialization of patents. Considered together, the combination of patent acquisition and commercialization has a positive impact on technological innovation performance in high-tech enterprises. While patent protection positively affects patent commercialization, it has no direct effect on economic or societal performance. Therefore, the key factors to enhance the link between patent management and technological innovation performance of Chinese high-tech enterprises are effective patent acquisition and subsequent commercialization.Research limitations/implications - This research focuses on the relationship between patent management and technological innovation performance from a micro-level perspective, a subject that has not been investigated in previous research. Differences between the industry type and nationality were not considered in the process of data collection; future research could have a larger sample and therefore reduce this limitation.Practical implications - High-tech enterprises should focus more on patent management to improve their technological innovation performance. Given the relationships among patent acquisition, protection and commercialization, a comprehensive patent management system is essential for the enhancement of technological innovation performance in high-tech enterprises.Originality/value - From a resource-based view, this paper delineates the concept of patent management and validates the link between patent management and technological innovation performance. To our knowledge, it is a relatively new perspective to explore patent management based on a micro-level.

Methodological issues in dynamic capabilities research – a critical review

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Taina Eriksson) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - Since ensuring methodological rigour is a prerequisite for high quality empirical research, this study examines methodological choices in empirical studies on dynamic capabilities (DC), and analyses how well they accommodate the complexity of the concept. Design/methodology/approach - A systematic review of 142 published peer reviewed journal articles on DC.Findings - Although DC research comprises of balanced mix of qualitative and quantitative studies, there are many problem areas in terms of research methods. First, the use of past performance data against current status of DC must be addressed. Second, as DC deals with change, caution needs to be exercised in the use of cross-sectional data. Third, the essence of DC should not be lost in operationalization, and the research setting needs to be meaningful from the DC perspective. Finally, DC scholars must devote more attention to proper reporting of the research process and justification of the choices made.Research limitations/implications - Inadequate rigour encumbers DC research. This study shows the areas for immediate attention. The implications are relevant for DC researchers, journal reviewers and editors as well as readers of scholarly DC articles.Originality/value - This study is a novel contribution towards understanding the methods used in DC research. It introduces the issue of methodological fit into the DC discussion and highlights the methodological aspects that need to be considered and reported in more detail in future research articles. It also has implications on how to conceptualise DC.

Gone fishing for knowledge? The effect of strategic orientations on the scope of open knowledge search

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - Firms need to reach out for external knowledge in order to keep up with the pace of the markets and to renew themselves. Although research on open innovation and open knowledge search strategies is continuously accumulating, there are as yet only few studies examining the antecedents of the decision to use various external knowledge sources for R&D and innovation. The purpose of this paper is to narrow this gap by examining the effects of firms’ strategic orientations on the scope of their open knowledge search.Design/methodology/approach - This study builds on a cross-industrial survey of Finnish firms in exploring the effects of three types of strategic orientations (customer relationship orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, and technology orientation) on the use of open knowledge search strategies.Findings - The results show that the customer relationship orientation is associated with the tendency of a firm to use a market-driven knowledge search strategy. The technology orientation, on the other hand, is associated with science and generic knowledge-driven strategies, whereas the entrepreneurial orientation is associated with the utilization of all the search strategies identified in the study. Practical implications - The value of various sources of external knowledge depends on the firm’s strategic goals and the nature of the industry. Practicing managers utilizing the results of this study should be better able to align their organizations in the desired direction in terms of open knowledge search.Originality/value - The results provide new evidence on firm-specific heterogeneity in the use of external knowledge sources.

The Effects of National Culture and Ethno-linguistic Diversity on Innovativeness

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (George Puia, Joseph Ofori-Dankwa) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - Current research suggests a strong relationship between national culture and a nation’s innovativeness. Despite conceptual, methodological, and empirical justification, researchers have not consistently included within-country cultural diversity in investigating the culture-innovation link. This paper explores the effects of linguistic diversity on national innovation levels. Design/methodology/approach - To test the effects of culture and cultural diversity on innovation, the researchers studied patent and trademark applications in 67 countries. The authors used tested measures of individualism and power distance, with an added diversity dimension from recent studies in linguistics. Findings - Initial findings indicated that culture and cultural diversity are positively associated with national levels of innovation as measured by the number of patents and trademarks granted. Research limitations/implications - In addition to strengthening the existing culture and innovation literature, this research found statistically significant associations between ethno-linguistic diversity and national levels of patent and trademark generation. This opens a potentially major vein of research into the cultural forces that shape a nation’s entrepreneurial context. Practical implications - If national culture were the sole factor in innovativeness, than companies would be limited by their host cultural legacies – entrepreneurs and managers cannot readily change national cultures. The significance of cultural diversity provides entrepreneurs and human resource professionals with important options. Firms can increase diversity; entrepreneurs can train managers to manage better in diverse settings. Originality/value - The paper is the first to combine measures of national cultural values, ethno-linguistic measures, and measures of the political and regulatory context to develop a more robust characterization of variations in national levels of innovativeness.