Panagiotis Trivellas

A Dynamic Simulation Model of Organizational Culture and Business Strategy Effects on Performance

In the past two decades, organizational culture literature has gained tremendous interest for both academic and practitioners. This is based not only on the suggestion that culture is related to performance, but also on the view that it is subject of direct managerial control and manipulation to the desired direction. In the present paper, we adopt Competing Values Framework (CVF) to operationalise organizational culture and Porters typology to conceptualize business strategy (cost leadership, innovative and marketing differentiation, and focus). Although simulation of social events is a quite difficult task, since there are so many considerations (not all well understood) involved, in the present study we developed a dynamic model to simulate the organizational culture and strategy effects on financial performance. Data obtained from a six‐year survey in the banking sector of a European developing economy was used for the proposed dynamic model development.

Work motivation and job performance of frontline employees: The mediating role of organizational commitment

This paper outlines the critical role of employees organizational commitment in the link between work motivation and job performance. The discussion arises primarily based on the considerable theoretical vagueness and empirical inconclusiveness concerning this relationship that appears in the literature. As of interest to address this gap, a research framework is developed in which organizational commitment acts as the mediator between work motivation and job performance. The empirical findings from a survey of 220 bank frontline employees in Greece confirmed the mediating role of organizational commitment. The main implication of the findings for managers is that motivated frontline bank employees are more likely to achieve better job performance when they are committed, as a result of enforced HRM practices.

A Conceptual framework of Strategy, Structure and Innovative Behaviour for the Development of a Dynamic Simulation Model

According to many researchers of organizational theory, a great number of problems encountered by the manufacturing firms are due to their failure to foster innovative behaviour by aligning business strategy and structure. From this point of view, the fit between strategy and structure is essential in order to facilitate firms innovative behaviour. In the present paper, we adopt Porters typology to operationalise business strategy (cost leadership, innovative and marketing differentiation, and focus). Organizational structure is built on four dimensions (centralization, formalization, complexity and employees initiatives to implement new ideas). Innovativeness is measured as product innovation, process and technological innovation. This study provides the necessary theoretical framework for the development of a dynamic simulation method, although the simulation of social events is a quite difficult task, considering that there are so many alternatives (not all well understood).

Organizational Strategy and Business Environment Effects Based on a Computation Method

According to many researchers of organizational theory, a great number of problems encountered by the manufacturing firms are due to their ineffectiveness to respond to significant changes of their external environment and align their competitive strategy accordingly. From this point of view, the pursuit of the appropriate generic strategy is vital for firms facing a dynamic and highly competitive environment. In the present paper, we adopt Porters typology to operationalise organizational strategy (cost leadership, innovative and marketing differentiation, and focus) considering changes in the external business environment (dynamism, complexity and munificence). Although simulation of social events is a quite difficult task, since there are so many considerations (not all well understood) involved, in the present study we developed a dynamic system based on the conceptual framework of strategy‐environment associations.

Human factor and information security in higher education

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association of lack of awareness and human factors and the association of lack of awareness and significant attacks that threat computer security in higher education. , – Five human factors and nine attacks are considered to investigate their relationship. A field research is conducted on Greek employees in higher education to identify the human factors that affect information security. The sample is consisted of 103 employees that use computers at work. Pearson correlation analysis between lack of awareness and nine (9) computer security risks is performed. , – Examining the association of lack of awareness with these attacks that threat the security of computers, all nine factors of important attacks exert significant and positive effect, apart from phishing. Considering the relationship of lack of awareness to human factors, all five human factors used are significantly and positively correlated with lack of awareness. Moreover, all nine important attacks, apart from one, exert a significant and positive effect. , – The paper extends understanding of the relationship of the human factors, the lack of awareness and information security. The study has focused on employees of the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens, namely, teachers, administrators and working post-graduate students. , – The paper has used weighted factors based on data collection in higher education to calculate a global index for lack of awareness, as the result of the weighted aggregation of nine (9) risks, and extends the analysis performed in the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of security awareness in computer risk management.

Electronic service quality in online shopping and risk reduction strategies

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate risk reduction strategies in online shopping through the perspective of buyer’s trust. , – An explanatory research approach is adopted to identify cause-and-effect relationships between e-quality and customers’ loyalty, satisfaction and trust. This approach is accomplished through field research, which is based on a structured questionnaire that utilizes the E-S-QUAL tool, which is a multiple-item general scale for measuring electronic service quality. The sample is consisted of 92 e-buyers (consumers). , – The field research revealed that three e-quality dimensions, namely, ease of use, customization and assurance, e-scape and responsiveness, have significant positive effects on e-loyalty and e-satisfaction. Regarding e-trust, only customization and assurance exerts a significant positive effect. , – The field research provides in-depth understanding of relationships among e-loyalty, e-satisfaction and e-trust. The majority of the respondents are young people living in Athens, Greece, highly educated, with a relative low monthly income. , – This study investigates how trust is affecting the consumers’ engagement to e-commerce, suggesting the appropriate security that should be taken to mitigate perceived risks. Reviewing security measures can help reduce risks of an e-company and simultaneously enforce the level of trust and customers intentions to buy.

Job satisfaction as a mediator of the relationship between service quality and organisational commitment in higher education. An empirical study of faculty and administration staff

This paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of the individual attitudes and service quality association. It examines the influence of job satisfaction (JS) on the relationship between the quality of services in higher education (HE) and organisational commitment, in the context of a quality reform at a Higher Education Institution in Greece. Drawing upon a sample of 134 faculty and administration members, partial least squared analysis was conducted to test the proposed model. Findings confirm the full mediating role of JS in the relationship between HE service quality and affective commitment, for both faculty members and administration staff. Management implications, recommendations for future research and limitations are also discussed.

Organizational structure, innovation performance and customer relationship value in the Greek advertising and media industry

Purpose n n n n nThis paper aims to explore the impact of organizational structure dimensions on innovation performance as well as its implications on business customers’ relationship value and financial performance in the business-to-business (B2B) market of the Greek advertising and media industry. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nBased on a sample of 180 executives, who are at the helm of 163 Greek advertising and media organizations, the authors apply the partial least square method to test the association of organizational structure with innovation performance, business customers’ relationship value and financial outcomes. n n n n nFindings n n n n nFindings have brought to light that training boosts organization’s capacity to innovate, whereas direct supervision as a coordination mechanism significantly restricts this capacity. Innovation performance in the advertising B2B market fosters business customers’ relationship value and financial performance, while financial outcomes are also beneficially affected by profitable relationships with customer relationship value. n n n n nPractical implications n n n n nBecause of the dramatic decline in their profitability caused by the economic crisis in the past five years, Greek advertising and media companies are threatened with extinction; thus, they are required to enhance their effectiveness through the adoption of a more innovation-oriented structure. Thus, managers should facilitate structures supporting training and delimiting direct supervision to foster the development of a competitive advantage built on innovation, creativity and business clients’ relationship. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThis study contributes to the existing relationship marketing literature because it introduced Mintzberg’s typology to measure organizational structure and led to the diagnosis of the associations between different dimensions of organizational structure and various aspects of performance in the media and advertising industry, revealing the partial mediating role of customer relationship value between innovation and financial performance in the B2B market.

Human Resource Management, Strategic Leadership Development and the Greek Tourism Sector

Human resources management and strategic leadership development are considered essential in all economic sectors, aiming at the design of recruitment, retention and professional development practices of employees and the effective implementation of the strategic planning process. During recent years, in Greece, there has been a shift within the tourism industry towards high quality services including competitive customer service with fairly high-ranking position globally. Several questions arise as regards whether or not the applied strategies—or lack of certain strategies—respond to high quality service needs of tourism organizations and to the overall development of the tourism sector in Greece. A profound understanding of the need to design high-quality human resource management practices is vital for a comprehensive tourism strategic planning. Initially, in order to answer to all issues raised, the relevant literature has been reviewed. Subsequently, the paper describes the current situation of the Greek tourism sector and elaborates on HRM and strategic management concepts. It also examines service quality as an important prerequisite for attracting customers and as an essential strategic tool boosting tourism business performance.

Employee Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility Activities and Work-Related Attitudes: The Case of a Greek Management Services Organization

This chapter investigates the effect of employees’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of their organization on work-related attitudes. Extant research on CSR and consumer perceptions neglects the core assumption of stakeholder theory that a firm’s long-term value is grounded on the knowledge, abilities, and loyalty of its employees, as well as on its relationships with customers, local community, and other stakeholders. Our field survey is focused on employees of Greek port logistics management services. Building on the argument that employees’ perceptions of CSR activities may be significantly related to workplace attitudes, behaviors, and performance, this chapter examines two CSR aspects (social and environmental) and several work-related attitudes (job performance, employee satisfaction, organizational commitment, OCBO, and OCBI). Our findings highlight that different CSR aspects exert selective direct effects on specific employees’ attitudes, while the managerial implications on firms’ accountability and transparency are also discussed. Even though the study is based on a case study of a port logistics management services organization in Greece, the organizational phenomena under investigation provide interesting evidence that can be applied to other national and organizational contexts.