Anna Raffoni

From goods to solutions: how does the content of an offering affect network configuration?

Purpose – This paper aims to adopt service-dominant logic (SDL) to empirically explore network configurations resulting from the provision of goods, goods and services, and solutions. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses a single, in-depth, exploratory case study in a truck manufacturer and its supply network. An abductive approach is adopted. In total, 54 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Findings – Three value propositions are clearly discernible within the truck provider. These range from a truck to a “solution”. These propositions have different supply network configurations: dyadic, triadic and tetradic. The extent to which different network actors contribute to value co-creation varies across the offerings. Research limitations/implications – This paper is based on a single, in-depth case study developed in one industrial context. Whilst this represents an appropriate approach given the exploratory nature of the study, further empirical investigation is needed across different indu...

The practice of strategic performance measurement systems: Models, drivers and information effectiveness

Purpose – For over 20 years, management control literature has indicated the importance of supporting the strategy development and implementation process with strategic performance measurement systems (SPMS) and integrating traditional financial indicators with a set of multidimensional forward-looking measures focusing on the long term and linked to cause-effect relationships. Nevertheless, knowledge on the specific SPMS models used in practice and their effectiveness in supporting the managerial decision-making process is still fragmented and ambiguous. The purpose of this paper is to first analyse the SPMS models used in practice, also considering the role of strategy and firm size as drivers of adoption, thereafter analysing the capability of SPMS models to provide managers with measures that are consistent with their strategic information needs. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on a survey involving 88 Italian medium-large sized firms (or subsidiaries of multinational firms) operat...

Business Performance Analytics: exploring the potential for Performance Management Systems

Abstract Business Performance Analytics (BPA) entails the systematic use of data and analytical methods (mathematical, econometric and statistical) for performance measurement and management. Although potentially overcoming some traditional diagnostic issues related to Performance Management Systems (PMS), such as information overload, absence of cause-effect relationships, lack of a holistic view of the organisation, research in the field is still in its infancy. A comprehensive model for operationalising analytics for diagnostic and interactive PMS is still lacking. Adopting an action research approach, this paper addresses this gap and develops a five-step framework applied to a company operating in the construction industry. The results show that in addition to encouraging dialogue, BPA can contribute to identifying critical performance variables, potential sources of risk and related interdependencies. A number of critical issues in implementing data-based approaches are also highlighted, including data quality, organisational competences and cultural shifts.

A multidimensional approach to measuring bank branch efficiency

Abstract Bank branch efficiency measurements range from simple ratio and standard regression analyses to more complex frontier approaches, each with specific strengths and weaknesses. However, in isolation, the indexes that these approaches generate fail to capture the multidimensional nature of bank branch efficiency. This paper develops a three-step procedure that enables combining the strengths of the existing approaches. We begin by taking the widest number of efficiency indexes proposed in literature (step 1), reduce the redundant information through a collinearity analysis (step 2), and categorize bank branches into efficiency classes through a clustering procedure (step 3). We test our approach on 23 branches of an Italian regional bank. The results show that this three-step approach is able to provide a multidimensional view of efficiency based on indexes employing a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches with different ways of conceiving (intermediation vs. production) and measuring (stock, vs. flow, or physical measures) bank outputs and inputs, different definitions of efficiency (technical and cost efficiency), and different measurement approaches (ratios, standard regression analysis and frontier functions). The resulting efficiency ranking is consistent with those that univariate indexes generate and provides a balanced evaluation of branch efficiency when such indexes produce contradictory indications.