Alessandra Vecchi

Quality management: a cross‐cultural perspective based on the GLOBE framework

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the extent to which quality management is “culture‐specific”.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents the results of a survey administered across 21 countries that seeks to examine quality priorities and practices by adopting the global leadership and organizational behaviour effectiveness (GLOBE) framework. Data were collected in 2006 as part of the fourth iteration of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey. The methodology involved the use of a self‐administered questionnaire to director/head of operations/manufacturing in best practice firms within the sector of firms classified by ISIC codes (rev.3.1) Divisions 28‐35.Findings – From this study, it emerges that adopting the GLOBE framework provides an invaluable insight into understanding quality management across countries. In particular, the findings show that some national cultures are more conducive to the implementation of quality management than others.Practical implications – The...

Local Firms and Global Reach: Business Air Travel and the Irish Software Cluster

Abstract We study the external linkages of clusters through a typology of forms of temporary proximity (from foreign business meetings to co-located projects). We suggest that here business air travel and information and communication technologies have given significant advantages to small firms. We investigate these arguments through a case study of the Irish software industry in Dublin. Comparing indigenous and multinational corporation (MNC) firms confirms that indigenous firms are as travel intensive as MNCs but are linked to fewer destinations. We conclude that air travel enables small firms to go global without the support of collective cluster institutions.

Quality management: a cross‐cultural perspective

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to present the results of a survey administered across 23 countries that examines quality priorities, practices and performance by adopting Hofstedes national cultural framework. The purpose of this study is to test the validity of the “culture‐specific” argument as an explanatory construct for explaining quality management.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected in 2006 as part of the IV iteration of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey. The methodology involved the use of a self‐administered questionnaire to director/head of operations/manufacturing in best practice firms within the sector of firms classified by ISIC codes (rev.3.1) Divisions 28‐35.Findings – From the findings it emerges that whereas differences in priorities can be affected by masculinity and uncertainty avoidance to a very small degree, all the four dimensions of culture significantly affect quality practice and three of the four dimensions affect performance to a greater extent...

Why all that noise – assessing the strategic value of social media for fashion brands

The importance of social media is evident, as millions of people use it to connect with others, share content and discuss different topics. Although it is clear that social media is powerful and ubiquitous, many fashion brands have been reluctant or unable to develop strategies and allocate resources to effectively engage with the new media. Adopting an exploratory approach, our study provides a critical assessment of the use of social media by three international fashion brands, in order to identify its potential as a strategic marketing tool.

The importance of business travel for industrial clusters? Making sense of nomadic workers

Abstract. This article uses research on business air travel to study the external linkages of clusters. Using a typology of travellers (from commuters, explorers, and nomads to visiting tradesmen and missionaries) we show how elements of the cluster have more complex external connections than proposed by most of the cluster research literature. Maintaining these linkages involves hyper‐mobility of individuals. We explore the implications of such continued physical travel for understandings of the workplace, for work‐life balance and for citizenship. We conclude by warning against any one‐dimensional understanding of the relationships.

RFID supply chain implementation challenges for short-life products

The RFID value proposition allows grocery retailers to remain competitive by boosting the supply chain overall efficiency and by generating substantial cost savings. Although these cited benefits are significant, the exact description of how they are attainable in practice has remained vague. Drawing on the preparation and implementation for a RFID pilot in the supply chain for short-life products, this paper discusses the practical issues that one might encounter and that might undermine the successful implementation of RFID. From the findings it emerges that while there are opportunities, there are also some major practical challenges in implementing RFID. These challenges include the placement of the RFID readers, the automation of the tagging process, tagging identification levels (i.e. case/pallet) and issues that are specific to the application. We argue that a fuller understanding and appreciation of these practical challenges informs the academic discourse around RFID and offers a valuable insight to grocery retailers on how to align their technology decisions with their business practices in the attempt to fully reap the benefits of RFID.

Flying around the globe and bringing business back home

For many managers and professionals today, to work is to travel. Business travel is now so interwoven with doing business that its apparent continued growth is a matter of common sense. Yet paradoxically, these same business travellers are also intensive users of communication technology (phone fax, e-mail, etc), many will use web based technologies to locate information and even do business, while some will use information technologies to work together with colleagues in distant physical locations. Why then the need for physical travel?

Handbook of Research on Global Fashion Management and Merchandising

Innovation and novel leadership strategies have aided the successful growth of the fashion industry around the globe. However, as the dynamics of the industry are constantly changing, a deficit can emerge in the overall comprehension of industry strategies and practices. The Handbook of Research on Global Fashion Management and Merchandising explores the various facets of effective management procedures within the fashion industry. Featuring research on entrepreneurship, operations management, marketing, business modeling, and fashion technology, this publication is an extensive reference source for practitioners, academics, researchers, and students interested in the dynamics of the fashion industry.

A cross-cultural perspective of Family Business Groups.

ABSTRACT Around the world, some of the largest firms in many countries are controlled by family business groups such as Fiat in Italy, Ford in the US, Hutchison Whampoa in Hong Kong, Samsung in South Korea and many others. Further, many family groups have a long history. Although family business groups are a significant and long standing phenomenon in most parts of the world, their resilience to globalization in their use of different organizational structures have received little attention from a cross-cultural perspective. Drawing on our previous work, the study provides a theoretical framework to classify family business groups on the basis of their organizational choices from a cross-cultural perspective.

International Manufacturing Strategy in a Time of Great Flux

International Manufacturing is operating within a time of great flux. While off-shoring of activities dominated over recent decades, nearshoring and re-shoring are increasingly being considered and observed in practice. At the same time, technologies such as 3D-prinitng are gaining greater traction while the role of ICT and data analytics is gaining increasing prominence in the international manufacturing landscape. While issues related to the environment are also figuring more prominently in international manufacturing considerations, uncertainty around the cost of energy has recently arisen with long-time assumptions being called into question. International manufacturing is also experiencing greater servitisation.