Haim Hilman

Innovation strategies and performance: are they truly linked?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the linkage between innovation strategies (process innovation and service innovation) and organizational performance in the context of Malaysia hotel industry. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 475 sets of questionnaires administrated through mail to all three star and above rating hotel managers in Malaysia, and only 24 percent of it, which is 114 were usable. Regression was utilized to test the link of innovation strategies and performance. Findings – The results showed that hotels in Malaysia used process innovation and service innovation as their functional-level strategy. Specifically, both process innovation and service innovation strategies positively linked with performance. But, the paired sample t-test result indicated that process innovation has slightly greater effect on performance than service innovation. In addition, this study found that hotel size significantly affected the performance. Research limitations/implications – This study is...

Market Orientation Practices and Effects on Organizational Performance: Empirical Insight From Malaysian Hotel Industry

Today’s organizations need market orientation practices to strive and generate superior performance and competitive advantage in the modern turbulent marketplace. Thus, this research inspects the respective links between the dimensions of (a) competitor orientation and (b) customer orientation and performance in the context of hotels in Malaysia. Data were gathered through self-administrated mail questionnaires directed to the top- and middle-level managers of three- to five-star-rated hotels in Malaysia. The findings indicated that hotels in Malaysia practiced competitor orientation and customer orientation as their core marketing strategy. Specifically, both competitor orientation and customer orientation positively linked to organizational performance. Few studies have investigated the practices and effects of market orientation on performance in the Malaysian hotel setting. Therefore, this study provided new insights into the understanding of market orientation practices in the hotel industry, particularly in Malaysia. In addition, the significance of this study, potential limitations, and future examination directions are highlighted.

Mediation effect of customer satisfaction on the relationships between service quality and customer loyalty in the Nigerian foods and beverages industry: Sobel test approach

The objectives of this paper are to explore the most common constructs for quality in the food and beverages industry that influence customer satisfaction, and to examine the mediating effect of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty in the context of the food and beverages industry in Nigeria. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 208 valid respondents by a simple random sampling method. SPSS version 18 was used to analyse the data and SOBEL was used to test the mediating relationships. The results of the study show that there is a positive and significant link between customer satisfaction and the constructs of service quality, and further study inferred that customer satisfaction is positively significantly related to customer loyalty. Consequently, firms have to specifically focus on these variables in order to forge long-term and jointly profitability relationships with customers and create loyalty as competitive advantages in the market.

Building new competitive advantage through match between specific types of strategic flexibility and sourcing strategy

Strategic flexibility, sourcing strategy and organisational performance are often a source of contention among firms in manufacturing sector. This paper explores the effects of specific types of strategic flexibility ? related and unrelated product diversification ? that matched with specific types of sourcing strategy ? make and buy. Questionnaires were sent to respondents who were top management officers of firms from four major manufacturing sectors: electrical and electronics, chemicals including petroleum, food and beverages, and fabricated metal. The results confirmed that a specific type of sourcing strategy (make or buy) mediated a specific type of strategic flexibility (related or unrelated product diversification). Specifically, the make strategy partially mediated the relationship between related product diversification strategy and organisational performance, whereas the buy strategy partially mediated the relationship between unrelated product diversification strategy and organisational performance. These findings go along with the theories that support both constructs: industrial organisation theory, transaction cost theory and resource-based view. All these findings would enable practitioners to make better manufacturing and sourcing decisions.

Specific match between specific types of strategic flexibility and sourcing strategy: another strategic approach to build competitive advantage

Strategic flexibility, sourcing strategy and organisational performance are often a source of contention among firms in manufacturing sectors. This paper explores effects of specific types of strategic flexibility and product diversifications (related and unrelated) on strategic sourcing of make and buy. Questionnaires were sent to top management personnel of firms in four manufacturing sectors namely electrical and electronics, chemicals (including petroleum), food and beverages and fabricated metal. The results confirmed that the make or buy sourcing strategy acts as mediators and it partially does so on the relationship between related product diversification strategy and organisational performance. In addition, the buy strategy mediated partially the relationship between unrelated product diversification strategy and organisational performance. These findings go along with the theories that support both constructs, Industrial Organisation (IO) Theory, Transaction Cost Theory and Resource–Based View (RBV). All these findings should enable practitioners to make better manufacturing and sourcing decisions.

Eco–tourism in the Philippines: educational and recreational value of the Alayan cave systems

In this paper, we calculate the related costs of transport, food, accommodation and time involved as well as the rate of visits as compared to the costs, and the benefits from the Alayan Cave System (ACS), by using the Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM) to determine the educational and recreational values of the site. Data came from the linear recreational demand for the site at the Department of Tourism - RO2 statistical records. We also determine the expenditures of the guests on off–site and on–site tourism–related activities and establishments to provide a more solid base for tourism policymakers, planners and decision makers in the region, towards a better tourism tax system for the sustainability of the ACS. Study outcomes provide insight into how the locals or indigenous people living nearby can take advantage of the benefits/opportunities derived from the site.

The Library's Quality Management System and Quality Assurance in Higher Education: A Lesson from Southeast Emerging Educational Hub

As one of the national vision 2020’s implementation programs, the establishment of a national Quality Assurance system focusing on the quality of the programs offered in terms of the general criteria of the structure and process of higher education is timely. In relating to the program, this paper aims to explore the efforts and other issues associated with the development and implementation of quality assurance in higher education due to its role as a service organization, which is required to enhance their quality of services. One of the important pillars determining the quality of higher-education service delivery is the library’s quality management system. By using 46 public universities’ libraries as the main sample, this study tested three hypotheses that are related to the nature of quality management practices by individual construct, as well as by aggregation value, and to what extent the difference to the numbers of staff and the type of organization will influence the quality management practices. We employed mean value and oneway analysis ANOVA as the research method to solve the questions. The validity of the constructs is measured using factor analysis, and its reliability is measured by Cronbach’s alpha. Our study results revealed that the study sample perceived those constructs were important to maintain service quality to its customer. The study also informs that the number of staff and the type of organization do not influence at all on the library’s quality management system. In other words, the awareness and spirit to play an important role in achieving excellent service to its customer is the main platform over the number of staff and the type of organization.

Effect of Knowledge Management Activities and Dynamic Capabilities on Employee Performance in the Banking Sector: Empirical Evidence From Pakistan

Abstract The banking sector is facing constant change and fierce competition. In this scenario, banks need to align themselves with the ever-changing environment by enhancing employee knowledge base to create capabilities. The basic objective of the current study is to examine the effect of knowledge management activities and dynamic capabilities on employee performance in the banking sector of Pakistan. This research employed a quantitative method to analyse the data. The sample was taken from employees who are working in public and private banks in Pakistan. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among employees of public and private banks adopting stratified random sampling technique. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method is used to testify the hypothesis and factor analysis to examine the validity and reduction of the items. This research finds that both knowledge management activities and dynamic capabilities have significant effect on employee performance in the banking sector of Pakistan.

New Tools for Measuring Global Academic Performance

The study is on performance measurement in academia. It aims at developing and validating the measurement scale for the performance of higher institutions. The items were developed based on the extant literature. Data were collected via an online survey in which a questionnaire link was sent to 269 vice chancellors/presidents of the sampled universities. A total of 133 responses were retrieved at the end of the data collection period. This study used proportionate random sampling for sample selection. The goodness of measures was checked via field experts, academicians, and data analysis with SPSS. Overall, the alpha coefficient was .974. The outcome of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) exposed all factors loaded more than 0.50. The results revealed that the instrument was reliable and valid. Hence, the instrument developed was suitable to be used in examining the performance of higher institutions.

Competitive strategies, market orientation types and innovation strategies: finding the strategic fit

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the strategic fit of competitive strategies, market orientation types and innovation strategies. Design/methodology/approach The paper is prepared by reviewing the relevant literatures on competitive strategies, market orientation types and innovation strategies as well as comparing and contrasting the common characteristics to attain fit. Findings The paper presents the criteria for distinguishing the different types of competitive strategies, market orientations and innovation strategies, along with a framework that fits a particular type of competitive strategy, market orientation and innovation strategy. Practical implications The paper provides an action framework based on characteristics of the competitive strategies (business strategy) along with the benefits of adopting a particular market orientation type and innovation strategy (functional strategies). This will facilitate the managers to execute appropriate competitive strategy that could well align with appropriate market orientation and innovation strategy. Originality/value This brief paper presents an original framework, with significant practical applications in a concise manner. The framework will provide a guide to the hotel top management in shaping and fitting an appropriate competitive strategies, market orientation types and innovation strategies.