Servitization: Disentangling the impact of service business model innovation on manufacturing firm performance

As manufacturing businesses operate in an ever more competitive, global economy where products are easily commoditized, innovating by adding services to the core product offering has become a popular strategy. Contrary to the economic benefits expected, recent findings pinpoint implementation hurdles that lead to a potential performance decline, the so-called ‘servitization paradox’. In this paper, we analyze this paradox by disentangling the value creation and value appropriation processes of 44 national subsidiaries of a global manufacturing firm turned product-service provider, in the 2001–2007 period. Our findings show that the firm under study is able to successfully transcend the inherent substitution of products by services and to enact complementary sales dynamics between the two activities. Moreover, labor-intensive services such as maintenance, which imply higher levels of customer proximity, further enhance product sales. Empirical results also reveal a positive yet non-linear relationship between the scale of service activities and profitability: while initial levels of servicing result in a steep increase in profitability, a period of relative decline is observed before the positive relationship between the scale of services and profitability re-emerges. These findings suggest the presence of initial short-term gains but also indicate the existence of a ‘profitability’ hurdle; profitable growth seems feasible only to the extent that investments in service capability are translated into economies of scale. In helping to clarify the performance implications of service innovation, our findings suggest pathways to sustainable growth through servitization for manufacturing firms.     

The impact of using kiosk on enterprise systems in service industry

The hospitality industry services many types of travellers. Each of them needs to be analysed differently in order to accurately determine their respective service quality attributes and customer delight. The effective and efficient enterprise information systems (EISs) play a significant role in traveller’s experience and in the competitive advantages that hotels can gain. For this study, self-service kiosks and guest service agents as part of hotel’s EISs are used to investigate the impact each has on the experience of business and leisure travellers. This study provides empirical results that further investigate how to improve the service quality for both types of travellers during the registration process. This process is the first physical interaction between the travellers and the hotel. Any problem in registering would generate a long-lasting negative first impression on the travellers, thus diminishing the customer delight. In the light of our findings, this study will contribute to the effective and efficient design of self-service kiosk systems, hotel’s EISs, and improved front office management to better accommodate the specific needs of both types of travellers.     

Assessing the impact of green supply chain practices on firm performance in the Korean manufacturing industry

As a growing number of customers tend to view corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a key purchase decision criterion, demands for CSR including environmental sustainability have accelerated in today's business world. To meet such demands, many firms consider embracing environment-friendly business practices. However, many firms are still hesitant to implement those practices due to sceptical views about their real managerial benefits. Although the previous literature confirms the positive link between a firm's commitment to environmental sustainability and its performance, the varying degree of impact of different kinds of environment-friendly supply chain practices on the firm's operational performance is still unknown. To fill the void left by prior research, this paper aims to classify various types of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices and then assess the impact of each of these distinct types on the firm's operational performances (especially manufacturing and marketing performance). Also, this paper examines how the firm's organisational profiles such as firm size affect the particular firm's choice of GSCM practices. Our experimental results reveal that the chosen type of GSCM practices influences the firm's performance differently.     

Mortgage lending in Chicago and Los Angeles: A paired testing study of the pre-application process

In 2000, the Urban Institute paired African-American and Hispanic testers with whites and sent the pairs to visit lenders in Chicago and Los Angeles, in order to inquire about information on obtaining a home mortgage. In Chicago, African Americans and Hispanics systematically received less information and assistance than comparable whites; while in Los Angeles, the treatment of minority and white testers did not differ statistically from each other. Multivariate analyses for Chicago indicate that large lenders treat minorities more favorably than smaller lenders and that lenders with substantial numbers of applications from African-Americans treat African-Americans more favorably than lenders with predominantly white application pools.     

The Economic Impacts of a Terrorist Attack on the Downtown Los Angeles Financial District

Abstract

This paper summarizes a study on the economic impacts of a radiological bomb attack on a major office building in downtown Los Angeles financial district. A radiological bomb will generate effects within an extensive radiation plume that is divided into two zones with varying evacuation times: an Inner Zone with a 1-year evacuation and an Outer Zone with only a 1-month evacuation time. An up-to-date version of a Garin–Lowry-style regional input–output model called SCPM 2005 is employed to simulate household and firm relocation in three scenarios. The impact analysis focuses on business interruption effects only.

Impact économique d'une attaque terroriste sur le quartier financier du centre de Los Angeles

Résumé Cet article concerne une étude sur l'impact économique d'une attaque par bombe radiologique sur un immeuble de bureaux dans le quartier financier du centre de Los Angeles. Une bombe radiologique engendre des effets au cæur d'un vaste panache radioactif, qui est divisé en deux zones possédant des durées d’évacuation différentes. La durée d’évacuation est d'un an dans la zone interne, et d'un mois seulement dans la zone externe. Trois scénarios de délocalisation de ménages et d'entreprises sont simulés grâce à l'utilisation d'une version actuelle d'un modèle régional intrants-extrants de type Garin–Lowry, appelé SCPM 2005. L'analyse de l'impact se concentre uniquement sur les effets de l'interruption du commerce.

El impacto económico de un ataque terrorista en el distrito financiero del centro de Los Ángeles

Résumén?Este trabajo resume un estudio sobre el impacto económico de un ataque de bomba radiológico en un importante edificio de oficinas en el distrito financiero del centro de Los Ángeles. Una bomba radiológica generará efectos dentro de una pluma radioactiva extensiva, dividida en dos zonas con diferentes tiempos de evacuación: una zona interna con un período de evacuación de un año y una zona externa con un período de evacuación de sólo un mes. Se emplea una versión actualizada de un modelo estilo Garin–Lowry, de entrada-salida regional llamado SCPM 2005, para simular la relocalización de viviendas y firmas en tres escenarios. El análisis del impacto sólo se enfoca en los efectos de la interrupción del

     

拓展中国服务贸易市场的思路与对策

服务业和服务贸易在我国国民经济中的比重逐年上升,引起了人们的高度关注。但与西方发达国家相比,我国国际服务贸易发展水平还较低,其竞争力还有待提高。文中分析了我国服务业、服务贸易发展的基本状况和存在的主要问题,提出了在贸易自由化背景下拓展我国国际服务贸易市场的思路和对策。     

Understanding online equity funding ecology: a comparison of the greater Los Angeles area and Silicon Valley

Quality & Quantity - Guided by the community ecology perspective and resource dependence theory, this study examines how organizational forms and resources co-influence the financial flow among...     

Measuring the impact of work reorganization on firm performance: evidence from French manufacturing, 1995–1999

In this paper, we apply the method of selective matching to estimate the causal effect of organizational changes on employment, stock of capital, value added, and factor productivity. Derived from a panel of 2404 French manufacturing firms in 1997, our estimates show that work reorganization improves firm performance overall through a more efficient use of labor and capital, without requiring any increase in the factors of production.     

服务贸易与现代物流的关系研究

提升服务贸易的竞争力,一方面要持续调整服务产业的结构、组织形式以及产品的竞争力,另一方面则需要关联产业对服务业竞争力的保障和支持。文中主要探讨现代物流这一与服务业密切关联的行业对服务贸易的影响,以期通过构建合理的物流服务体系促进并提升我国服务贸易的竞争力。     

Dimensions of manufacturing strength in the furniture industry

This paper explores dimensions of manufacturing competitive strength in the furniture industry. A theoretically relevant set of manufacturing competitive priorities is identified from the operations literature and factor analyzed to determine the core dimensions of manufacturing performance. Relationships between these core dimensions of manufacturing strength and overall business performance are examined. The results identify four dimensions of manufacturing strength in the furniture industry: innovation, delivery, flexibility, and value, with the latter encompassing the combined effects of quality and cost. The study supports innovation as a key order winner in the furniture industry.     

Technology: Measuring the socioeconomic impact of manufacturing automation

In this report the potential savings of computer-directed manufacturing systems are hypothesized. It is contended that computer-directed automation of manufacturing is a continuation of the ongoing technological progress that the United States has been experiencing. Technological progress has significantly contributed to the growth of the GNP, permitting a high rate of return on investment. It is our contention that the development of computer-based automation will yield benefits greater than those produced by conventional technological progress. However, this present paper examines cost savings rather than contribution to growth. The reduction in the production costs of the discrete manufacturing sector made possible by computer-based automation is hypothesized by assuming the existence of an automated factory, although such a factory is in reality perhaps several decades away. Many assumptions are made about costs, their components and relationships. Case studies, literature references, opinions of consultants, and other informed but conjectural judgments provide the basis for the hypothesis.The impacts of computer-directed manufacturing automation upon environment, employment, general price level, urban/rural mix, and international trade are also conjectured. A number of definitions and distinctions are made with respect to automation, productivity, technology, and related points.     

Cheap Labor Strategies and Export-Oriented Industrialization: Some Lessons from the Los Angeles/East Asia Apparel Connection

In today's global manufacturing system, production is increasingly dispersed across borders. Particularly noteworthy is the rapid expansion of industrial exports from third world countries, especially the NICs of East Asia. With the entry of the formerly socialist countries of eastern Europe into the global capitalist economy, the dynamics of global economic restructuring are likely to change. This paper focuses on the lessons that can be learned from studying trans-Pacific global commodity chains, drawing out implications for East-Central Europe. In particular, we explore the role of flexibilization, subcontracting and state policy.     

北京与上海:国际服务贸易发展比较研究

在比较分析北京和上海服务贸易发展现状的基础上,指出两地在服务贸易发展环境、总量水平和结构布局方面都具有共同特征,但基于不同的城市性质和功能定位以及不同的经济发展环境和条件,两地服务贸易发展也存在一定的差异。因此,今后两地在保持已有发展优势的同时,应根据自身发展目标定位和产业基础,在服务贸易支持、贸易促进和战略规划方面充分挖掘新的服务贸易增长点。     

SA8000对外贸企业的影响及对策

SA8000标准又称社会责任管理体系,是全球首个国际道德标准,是以保护劳动环境和条件、劳工权利等为主要内容的管理标准体系。它对工作环境、员工健康与安全、员工培训、薪酬、工会权利等问题指定了最低要求。本文通过介绍SA8000的含义、内容及对外贸企业产生的影响,在此基础上有针对性地提出应对的策略。