Determinants of knowledge transfer strategy in franchising: integrating knowledge-based and relational governance perspectives

This study presents an integrative model on the franchisor's choice of knowledge transfer strategy by deriving hypotheses from the knowledge-based theory and the relational governance view. First, based on the knowledge-based view, tacitness of system-specific knowledge influences the choice of the knowledge transfer strategy of the franchisor. The higher the degree of tacitness of knowledge, the more knowledge-transfer mechanisms with a high degree of information richness (HIR) are used, such as training, seminars, visits and formal meetings, and the more likely the franchisor chooses a personalization strategy (P-S). Conversely, the lower the degree of tacitness of system-specific knowledge, the more knowledge transfer mechanisms with a low degree of information richness (LIR) are used, such as reports, emails, intranet, databases, and the more likely the franchisor chooses a codification strategy. Second, based on the relational view of governance, trust influences the choice of knowledge transfer strategy of the franchisor. If trust reduces relational risk, more trust reduces the franchisor's use of HIR-knowledge transfer mechanisms and increases the franchisor's use of LIR-knowledge transfer mechanisms. If trust increases knowledge-sharing between the network partners, it increases the franchisor's use of both HIR- and LIR-knowledge-transfer mechanisms. The hypotheses are tested by using data on the use of the P-S in the Austrian franchise sector. The data provide some support for the hypotheses. A new model on the franchisor's choice of knowledge transfer strategy, using knowledge-based theory and relational view of governance is developed, and specifically, the knowledge-based view of Windsperger and Gorovaia [(2011). Knowledge attributes and the choice of knowledge-transfer mechanisms in networks: The case of franchising. Journal of Management and Governance, 15(4), 617–640] is extended by considering trust as additional explanatory variable of the knowledge-transfer strategy.     

Rethinking corporate governance in the digital economy: The role of stewardship

Digital technologies are increasingly changing the nature of competition and generating externalities that impact society. On the one hand, digitalization allows organizations to create substantial economic value in shorter periods of time through improved economies of scale, scope, and learning, resulting is increasing returns on capital and competitive concentration. On the other hand, ensuing societal concerns with inequities, regulatory lapses, and lack of transparency and truthfulness represent significant challenges for effective corporate governance. This article addresses the consequences to stakeholders that emerge from the digital economy, discussing how traditional governance mechanisms are ill-equipped to subvert negative externalities. We offer a stewardship-based model of corporate governance as a solution to the pressing problems plaguing consumers, employees, and other salient stakeholders of digital business excesses, with an emphasis on truthful disclosures, enhanced transparency, improvements in equitable allocation of organizational resources, and heightened trust relationships. The focus is on the positive role that organizational leaders can play as exemplars of virtuous stewardship in a highly networked society. The article redefines a modern view of stewardship in a digital economy and applies its principles to the four Ts of virtuous stewardship, a practical corporate governance model that encompasses truthfulness, transparency, trust, and technological equity.     

信息、信任、认知冲突与董事会治理——基于问卷调查

一直以来,公司治理研究偏重董事会结构特征与公司绩效之间的关系,忽略了董事会行为过程影响。文章就董事会行为过程中一系列关键要素如信息获取、努力水平、信任关系和认知冲突对治理有效性的影响进行理论分析,构造了一个行为心理〖CD*2〗治理有效性结构方程模型。利用问卷调查数据,就上述过程变量对治理效率的影响进行实证分析。研究发现,董事会信息获取及其与管理层相互信任状况对治理效率产生显著积极影响;会议频率对战略和服务职能发挥产生显著积极作用;会议出席率、群体认知冲突等因素影响不显著。研究为改善和提高董事会治理效率提供了新的经验证据。     

Resources and governance in “base of the pyramid”-partnerships: Assessing collaborations between businesses and non-business actors

Identifying, building, and maintaining partnerships with non-business actors are crucial challenges for multinational companies (MNCs) when implementing Base of the Pyramid (BoP) projects. Using a multiple-case study we analyze such partnerships through the lens of the relational view, focusing on resources generating inter-organizational value and on mechanisms for governing the partnerships. The cross-case analysis suggests that proficiency in identifying appropriate partners featuring non-tangible synergy-sensitive resources is vital for BoP ventures. MNCs compensate for their lack of local knowledge, contacts, and legitimacy by recruiting non-business actors for this consultancy and brokering function. Once a suitable network of partners has been identified, these resources need to be explored and exploited by developing personal relationships, communication routines, common goals, and partner-specific capacity building. Synergy-sensitive resources facilitate performance and long-term maintenance of BoP partnerships by establishing well-adapted and well-informed management practice and by creating a lock-in that works as an informal self-enforcing governance mechanism.     

Country-of-Origin Effects and Global Brand Trust: A First Look

ABSTRACT

This article reports the results of a global survey that explored the relationship between country of origin and brand trust in 22 product categories. The product categories of interest ranged from high involvement, durable goods (refrigerators, washing machines) to low involvement, fast moving consumer goods (chocolate bars, yogurt, disposable batteries). Respondents included consumers from the United States, Nepal, India, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria. Country-of-origin effects yielded the research's most interesting finding: Global brands might have a regional, or meso level, component which brand trust has uncovered for the first time.     

Loyalty and Trust as the Ethical Bases of Organizations

The last years of the 20th Century have been somewhat contradictory with respect to values like loyalty, trust or truthfulness. On the one hand, (often implicitly, but sometimes very explicitly), self-interest narrowly defined seems to be the dominant force in the business world, both in theory and in practice. On the other hand, alliances, networks and other forms of cooperation have shown that self-interest has to be at least "enlightened".The academic literature has reflected both points of view, but frequently in an ambiguous way, since the concepts of loyalty and trust are somewhat elusive and equivocal. This paper attempts to analyze the concept of loyalty in depth, examining the different conceptions about the word that can be found in the literature. We begin by going to the management classics (specifically, Follett, Barnard and Simon), and we then turn to the anthropological approach of Pérez López (1993), with its built-in ethical analysis, and show how trust and loyalty are crucial to the development of organizations. We end by suggesting in what ways loyalty and trust can be created and fostered in organizations.     

Strategic and institutional effects on foreign IPO performance: Examining the impact of country of origin,corporate governance,and host country effects

Integrating signaling and institutional perspectives, we develop and test hypotheses relating institutions and corporate governance to foreign IPO success. Our investigation highlights the importance of three important drivers of foreign IPO success: home country legal institutions, corporate governance, and host capital market choice. This research demonstrates that board independence and country of origin effects are powerful signals. However, these factors do not have a universal impact on foreign IPO success. Instead, the value of home country institutions along with corporate governance signals are contingent upon the institutional environment in which international entrepreneurs choose to seek capital resources.     

合同治理、信任与经销商角色外利他行为：渠道关系柔性与团结性规范的调节作用

根据复合治理理论,文章分别探讨关系型治理中的柔性规范和团结性规范作为调节因素在合同治理和信任对企业角色外利他行为影响中的调节作用以及角色外利他行为对企业自身绩效的影响。文章通过调查获得了158份来自经销商的有效问卷,应用SPSS17.0和AMOS18.0对数据进行分析并对假设进行了检验。结果表明：合同治理促进经销商角色外利他行为,柔性规范对其有正向调节作用;信任对经销商角色外利他行为有正向影响,团结性规范对其有正向调节作用;经销商的角色外利他行为对企业自身的绩效有显著促进作用。文章最后为企业的渠道管理提出了相关建议,并指出未来可能的研究方向。     

Success Factors in Cooperative Online Marketplaces: Trust as the Social Capital and Value Generator in Vendors-Exchange Relationships

The business reliance on cooperative online exchanges for business-to-business transactions is on the rise. This paper examines the factors contributing to the success of vendor-exchange relationships in this type of marketplace. We use a Critical Realism approach to identify constructs salient to vendors-exchange relationships. A synthesis of value creation, social capital, and trust theories is used for conceptualizing the model. The model is tested using the data from a survey of vendors participating in a cooperative exchange. Results indicated that value creation was the main source of continuance in vendors-exchange relationship. However, the perception of value depended to a larger degree on the relationship quality and to a lesser degree on transactional exchanges (using the exchange's technology solutions as the sources of transaction), indicating the strength and extent of vendors-exchange relationship is an intangible asset for the exchange company. We also found that the exchange company's innovativeness was critical to the perceived quality of transactional exchanges, whereas perception of unfair treatment and communication quality influenced relationship quality. The results also indicated that trust was the main source for the social capital that contributed to perceived value of relationship. The ability of the exchange company to build a community was another factor contributing to the success of this relationship.     

Corporate governance in the post Sarbanes-Oxley period: Compensation disclosure and analysis (CD&A)

In recent years, the entire fabric of corporate governance, certainly in the United States, has dramatically changed. With the passage of what has colloquially become known as SOX (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), US-based corporations have operated under stricter governance guidelines than at any previous time, especially as regards the structure of boards of directors and financial oversight of the corporation. A now perennial governance “hot button” issue not addressed by SOX is concern over continually rising executive compensation. Until the 2006 adoption of new compensation disclosure guidelines by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it had been nearly 15 years since federal attention had been devoted to compensation guidelines or regulations. Beginning with 2007 filings, US corporations must now include a Compensation Disclosure and Analysis (CD&A) section. The intent behind the CD&A is to provide investors access to clear explanations of executive compensation and the philosophy that underlies compensation. As often happens, this good intent is accompanied by several unintended risks that may mitigate the effectiveness of the CD&A.     

Market pioneers, late movers, and the resource-based view (RBV): A conceptual model

Lieberman and Montgomery note that “…we see benefits from linking empirical findings on first-mover advantages with the complementary stream of research on the resource-based view of the firm” (1998, p. 1111); they suggest that such a link will help explain differences in firm performance. Therefore, this study develops a conceptual framework linking FMAs with the resource-based view of the firm (RBV); in doing so, this framework explains the links between entry timing, resource management, and firm performance. Specifically, this study examines FMAs in light of a four-step resource management process [Morgan RM. Relationship marketing and marketing strategy: the evolution of relationship strategy within the organization. In: Sheth JN, Parvatiyar A, editors. Handbook of Relationship Marketing. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, 2000. p. 481–504.; Morgan RM, Hunt S. Relationship-based competitive advantage: the role of relationship marketing in marketing strategy. J Bus Res 1999; 46 (November): 281–90.] consisting of: 1) efficient acquisition (EA), 2) bundling/combining (BC), 3) positioning (POS), and 4) maintenance/protection (MP). The link between FMAs and the resource management process helps explain why so few first movers retain their advantages.     

订单农业中交易关系的治理机制与风险防范——基于辽宁盛德集团的案例研究

采用案例研究方法,以辽宁省盛德集团订单肉鸡养殖为背景,对相对完善的契约条款和农村人际关系是如何有效地规避交易关系中的各种风险及稳定交易关系进行了研究。研究发现:采用复合治理机制(契约治理与关系治理)更有利于订单农业中各种风险的规避和交易关系的稳定;根植于农村社会的人际关系及以此为基础的关系治理机制对订单农业中道德风险和信用风险具有重要的防范作用。     

The Nature of the Firm, Agency Theory and Shareholder Theory: A Critique from Philosophical Anthropology

Standard accounts on the nature of the firm are highly dependent on explanations by Coase, coupled with inputs from agency theory and shareholder theory. This paper carries out their critique in light of personalist and common good postulates. It shows how personalist and common good principles create a framework that not only accommodates business ethics better but also affords a more compelling understanding of business as a whole.Joan Fontrodona is Assistant Professor of Business Ethics and Academic Director of the Center for Business in Society at IESE Business School. He is member of the Academic Board of EABIS and member of the Executive Committee of EBEN-Spain.Alejo José G. Sison is the Rafael Escolá Chair of Professional Ethics (TECNUN) with appointments from the Philosophy Department and the Institute of Enterprise and Humanism of the University of Navarra.     

供应商专项投资与感知的合作风险:关系发展阶段与控制机制的调节作用研究

This study examines the dynamic nature of suppliers’ perceived relational risks arising from transaction-specific investments (TSIs) in their relationship with manufacturers, and the moderating effects of contracts and relational norms, during the developmental process of manufacturer-supplier relationship. An empirical study was conducted with data collected from 261 suppliers and manufacturers in the Chinese consumer electronic appliances sector. We found that suppliers’ TSIs have a positive effect on their perceived relational risks, and in different phases of a relationship effect varies significantly. Results of the research also show that both contracts and relational norms have negative moderating effects on the relationship between suppliers’ TSIs and their perceived relational risks, and moderating effects during are different across various phases of a relationship. Translated from Zhongguo Guanli Kexue 中国管理科学 (Chinese Management Science), 2006, 14(1): 30–36     

Organic consumerism: A comparison between India and the USA

This study is an investigation of consumer perceptions relating to organic food products based on the factors of the theory of planned behaviour and protection motivation theory with consideration of the variances in culture and economic conditions in two different countries viz. India and the USA. The study also examines how these factors affect consumers purchase intention of organic food in developing (India) and developed (USA) countries. Results of multi-group moderation and multi-group moderated mediation analysis with the data collected from India (n = 714) and the United States (n = 656) using an Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) show the existence of significant difference in the proposed relationships viz. Responsive efficacy → Attitude, Responsive efficacy →Purchase intention, Responsive efficacy → Perceived behvioural control, Attitude → Purchase intention, and Perceived behvioural control → Attitude with respect to the country type (i.e. India and USA). Further, attitude and perceived behavioural control perfectly act as mediators for both the country samples. Outcomes of this study recommend for marketers and promoters of organic food products to consider the consumer culture and settings behind the landscape they live in.     

Corporate Moral Legitimacy and the Legitimacy of Morals: A Critique of Palazzo/Scherer’s Communicative Framework

The article offers a critical assessment of an article on “Corporate Legitimacy as Deliberation” by Guido Palazzo and Andreas Scherer in this journal. We share the concern about the precarious legitimacy of globally active corporations, infringing on the legitimacy of democracy at large. There is no quarrel with Palazzo/Scherer’s diagnosis, which focuses on the consequences of globalization and ensuing challenges for corporate social responsibilities. However, we disagree with the “solutions” offered by them. In a first step we refute the idea of a legitimacy of morals, maintaining that morality is a premodern mode of creating legitimacy. Even worse, moral is becoming a dangerous commodity under conditions of fundamental global disagreements and antagonisms. We secondly refute the concept of the “politicized corporation”, maintaining that Palazzo/Scherer disregard the consequences of functional differentiation of modern societies and, in particular, disregard the wisdom of political restraint and constitutional guarantees for the autonomy of different spheres of society. Finally, we refute a seemingly romantic notion of deliberation, maintaining that deliberation and deliberative democracy is a worthy idea, which, however, has no place in the real world of globalized contexts. On the other hand, we also find enough common ground and common concern with Palazzo/Scherer to validate a fruitful discourse. Prof. Dr. Helmut Willke holds a chair for State theory and Global Governance at the Department of Sociology of the University of Bielefeld, Germany. He has published eighteen books, and in 1994 has been award the (German) Leibniz prize. His research areas are systems theory, system governance, global governance and knowledge management. Prof. Dr. Gerhard Willke is professor of economics at the University of Applied Sciences at Nuertingen, Germany. He has published six books and numerous articles. His research areas are economic theory, theory of capitalism, political economy and employment policy.     

有备无患：后续疫情中新冠焦虑对武汉员工防护和工作的影响研究

国内局部疫情陆续暴发,关注已有疫情经历的员工防护和工作行为对疫情防控有一定意义。基于资源保存理论,文章假设新冠焦虑对武汉员工防护行为和工作结果有显著影响,且对防护行为影响大于对工作结果的影响。在2021年初国内局部疫情期间,对52名武汉员工连续5天的调查发现,每日新冠焦虑通过每日新冠耗竭显著提升武汉员工新冠防护行为,但武汉员工每日工作产出不受疫情影响,包括工作绩效、创新绩效、工作导向和人际导向的帮助行为。文章揭示了有2020年新冠肺炎疫情直接经验的武汉员工对待后续疫情防护的谨慎态度,以及在工作结果方面对后续疫情的“抗干扰性”。结合当前情况,讨论了研究结果对疫情防控和经济恢复的实践意义。