Vgr Chandran

Enabling Organizational Change-Leadership, Commitment to Change and the Mediating Role of Change Readiness

There has been little empirical analysis on the complex relationship between leadership, change readiness and commitment to change in the context of Asian countries. In this paper, we propose a research model to analyze the interrelationship between leadership, change readiness and commitment to change using the partial least square technique. Results of the study suggest that leadership positively and significantly affect change readiness but not commitment to change. Consequently, change readiness is found to significantly affect commitment to change. In other words, change readiness is found to mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and commitment to change. This may suggest that the influence of leadership is a sequential process affecting change readiness, and in turn, the commitment to change as opposed to the conventional belief that it affects both change readiness and commitment to change simultaneously. The implication of the study is further discussed.

Firm size, technological capability, exports and economic performance: the case of electronics industry in Malaysia

This paper examines the joint effects of technology and exports on the economic performances of electronics firms in Malaysia. The empirical results based on the Partial Least Square (PLS) estimate procedure show that technological capability plays a multiple role in that it influences both the exports and performance of a firm simultaneously. More importantly, we find evidence that exports act as a mediating variable between technological capability and firm performance. Size is found to influence all three: product capabilities, exports and firm performance but not process capabilities. This paper concludes that researchers, in future studies, need to examine the dynamism between size, technology, exports and performance.

Sino–LAC Ties: Trade Relationships, Trade Potentials, and Asymmetric Dependency

ABSTRACT Previous studies have emphasized the asymmetry in the Sino–LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) partnership, solely based on their trade exchanges. This article extends the boundaries of understanding structural asymmetries in the Sino–LAC trade, by considering unequal opportunities in this partnership. The latter is accounted for by deriving two-way export potentials from the Sino–LAC partnership. On average, the gravity of LAC’s trade promise with China appears to lie in continuing to grow the level of exports in agriculture. The export potentials observed for LAC to China, instead of China to LAC, not only imply untapped possibilities for the former relative to the latter connection, but indicate their disparate opportunities for further integration.

History of microfinance in Bangladesh: A life cycle theory approach

Abstract This study aims to conceptualise and document the historical evolution of microfinance in Bangladesh using the life cycle theory (LCT). Based on the LCT nomenclature, the microfinance sector in Bangladesh shows characteristics broadly consistent with the saturation phase (2006–2015) – which potentially has adverse impacts on both microfinance clients and institutions. The maturity phase (1996–2005) of microfinance has corresponded with competition and several innovations (financial and non-financial). However, the saturation phase sees increasing presence of uncoordinated microfinance institutions and expansion of multiple borrowing, as well as commercialisation and ‘mission drift’, which constitute important challenges for the regulatory authority and management of microfinance institutions.

Relational Capital Quality and Client Loyalty: Firm-Level Evidence from Pharmaceuticals, Pakistan.

– This study aims to examine the influence of relational capital quality on client loyalty, comprising both behavioral and attitudinal, in the pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan. , – The partial least squares technique is used to test the relationship using a sample of 111 pharmaceutical firms. We applied a non-parametric procedure, the bootstrapping method, to estimate the coefficient path of the relationships. Appropriate construct measures were used based on past studies to measure the dimensions of relational capital quality and client loyalty. , – The findings suggest that relational capital quality significantly affects client loyalty. All three dimensions of relational capital quality, commitment, satisfaction and trust, have a significant and positive influence on both attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. However, client satisfaction is found to exert the strongest impact on behavioral and attitudinal loyalty. , – It is important for the pharmaceutical firms in Pakistan to improve client satisfaction to establish behavioral loyalty and sustain their clientele base. Trust and commitment should be managed independently, depending on the focus of firms, either attitudinal loyalty or behavioral loyalty. , – This study is among the few that was able to empirically examine the role of various dimensions of relational capital quality in influencing clients’ attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. In addition, the study uses a new firm-level data set, compiled from a survey of the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan, which is currently facing challenges in terms of customer–supplier sensitivity.

Measuring technical efficiency of insurance companies using dynamic network DEA: an intermediation approach

This study measures technical efficiency of the Malaysian insurance companies using a new framework for performance efficiency, built on the intermediation approach, by decomposing the complex service processes of insurance companies into two functional divisions, premium accumulation and investment capability. The study employs a dynamic network data envelopment analysis for performance evaluation of insurer (life, general and composite insurers) and ownership (local and foreign) types, spanning the period 2007–2014. The findings reveal a lack of efficiency in the investment capability function among local insurers as compared to their foreign counterparts. While the composite or non-specialized segment performs better in the investment capability function, the general segment achieves better efficiency in the premium accumulation function. The results suggest the high usage of input quantities and lack of total investment as key reasons for low efficiency, particularly among the local insurers. Implications for business excellence for insurance companies are further discussed.

The mechanisms behind environmental strategies in chemical manufacturing firms

The evaluation of an effective environmental strategy goes beyond understanding its antecedents and benefits. Identifying and understanding the various mechanisms behind the formulation, design and implementation of environmental strategies is important – yet past studies have not adequately addressed this issue. This paper explores corporate environmentalism, and extends the framework by identifying the internal mechanisms behind the environmental strategies in large Malaysian chemical manufacturing firms. Given the exploratory nature of the study, a case study method using semi-structured interviews was used to ascertain these mechanisms. Interestingly, the results revealed seven important mechanisms of the environmental strategies in large chemical firms. These are a central system, internal system, quantifiable measurement, specific environmental management unit, strategy alignment, collaboration, and collective involvement. The mechanisms are clustered as systems and commitments based on the role that these mechanisms play in the environmental strategy of the firms. Additionally, powerful and influential top management commitments were found to contribute to the initiation of these mechanisms.