Managerial Gap Research Articles

Impact of spouses' access to financial services on technological and managerial gaps in rice production

AbstractThe study investigates the effect of the spouse's access to financial services via self‐help groups (SHGs) on technical efficiency, technology and managerial gaps. We use farm‐level data from rice farming households in eastern India, propensity score matching method and selectivity‐corrected stochastic production frontier model. Results show that farms with access to financial services via a spouse's membership in SHGs have slightly higher technical efficiency than their counterparts. Technology and managerial gaps are higher for farms where spouses have access to financial services via SHGs than their counterparts. With access to financial services via spouses, rice farmers reallocated family labour and hired more labour for crop establishment. Thus, women joining SHGs can increase crop productivity, and extension agents should also focus on spouses and their role in farming decision‐making, not just financial management.

Total Quality Management Practices and Performance of East African Breweries Limited, Kenya

Total quality management (TQM) is a continuous process that seeks to point out and eradicate managerial gaps in organizations. It also aligns organizational management, enhances good customer service and empowers the training of employees. TQM uses strategies, data and communication channels to bring together the required quality principles into the organization’s activities and culture. This study examined the relationship between Total Quality Management practices and organizational performance at East African Breweries Limited (EABL) Kenya. The study sought to establish the effect of customer focus on the performance of EABL in Kenya. The research examined the effect of continuous quality improvement on the performance of EABL in Kenya. The study also assessed the effect of strategic approaches on the performance of EABL in Kenya. Contigency thory,Service quality theory, Sigma six quality improvement theoryand system theory of management were reviewed concerning the four variables involved in this study to analyze the gaps that lead to further research. The population target was 60 EABL managers in the departments directly related to TQM practices. Since the population was moderate, there was no sampling. Instead, census method was used and therefore the entire population was included in this study. The study used an explanatory research design where questionnaires were used as a data collection instrument. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data in tables and charts according to the research objectives. Quantitative statistic processes were also used to derive correlation and regression analysis to establish the extent and nature of the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variables. Construct validity showed a description of whether support is given by case studies concerning the interpretation of variables in the study. The findings of the study indicated a positive significance by benefiting East Africa Breweries Limited in understanding to what extent the total quality management practices impact the performance of the company. The findings demonstrate that East African Breweries Limited (EABL) exhibits a strong commitment to Total Quality Management practices and a customer-centric approach to quality, resulting in enhanced effectiveness, customer retention, and market advantage. EABL's focus on customer satisfaction, loyalty, and market performance highlights the strategic significance of TQM in the company's success and competitiveness. The study concludes that implementing TQM practices can lead to improved business outcomes, emphasizing the importance of effective TQM in achieving better organizational results and market success.

Technology gap ratio decomposition in smallholder solar saltworks in Indonesia using meta-frontier data envelopment analysis (MetaDEA)

The increasing population in Indonesia results in the rising demand for consumer goods, including salt. Meanwhile, salt production in Indonesia remains traditional, using direct methods by evaporating seawater in open ponds near the coast, producing a final product called “solar salt”. This process depends on sunlight, air, weather, and seasonal climate conditions. This research aims to analyze the technical, technological, and managerial disparities among traditional solar salt farming businesses operated by local communities across regions in Madura Island—the foremost solar salt-producing region in Indonesia. This study employs primary data collected through surveys conducted during the production season in 2023/2024 in three regencies in Madura: Pamekasan, Sampang, and Sumenep. The structured questionnaires captured the input and output data. Meta-frontier Data Envelopment Analysis (meta-DEA) was applied to assess the technical efficiency of conventional solar salt productions across the research regions. The efficiency analysis revealed that, with the current production methods, solar salt farmers achieved an efficiency rate of 46.98%, with an average technical efficiency of 80.83%. This result shows that the decision-making units (DMUs) can enhance their technical efficiency by 19.07%. Meanwhile, the technology gap ratio (TGR) analysis indicates that Sumenep Regency has the highest TGR value, nearing the threshold of 1, suggesting a relatively low technology gap in this regency. The meta-DEA decomposition indicates that the determinant of the average meta-technical inefficiency among solar salt farmers is the technological disparities, with average technological gap inefficiency (TGI) values surpassing managerial gap inefficiency (MGI) values. Conversely, Sumenep Regency has a larger MGI than TGI value, implying that solar salt farmers in Sumenep possess lower managerial decision-making skills than in other regions. The findings suggest the need to enhance the adoption of the latest production technology innovations to address technological gaps in the research locations.

3D Printer Selection for the Sustainable Manufacturing Industry Using an Integrated Decision-Making Model Based on Dombi Operators in the Fermatean Fuzzy Environment

Three-dimensional printers (3DPs), as critical parts of additive manufacturing (AM), are state-of-the-art technologies that can help practitioners with digital transformation in production processes. Three-dimensional printer performance mostly depends on good integration with artificial intelligence (AI) to outperform humans in overcoming complex tasks using 3DPs equipped with AI technology, particularly in producing an object with no smooth surface and a standard geometric shape. Hence, 3DPs also provide an opportunity to improve engineering applications in manufacturing processes. As a result, AM can create more sustainable production systems, protect the environment, and reduce external costs arising from industries’ production activities. Nonetheless, practitioners do not have sufficient willingness since this kind of transformation in production processes is a crucial and irrevocable decision requiring vast knowledge and experience. Thus, presenting a methodological frame and a roadmap may help decision-makers take more responsibility for accelerating the digital transformation of production processes. The current study aims to fill the literature’s critical theoretical and managerial gaps. Therefore, it suggests a powerful and efficient decision model for solving 3DP selection problems for industries. The suggested hybrid FF model combines the Fermatean Fuzzy Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (FF–SWARA) and the Fermatean Ranking of Alternatives through Functional mapping of criterion sub-intervals into a Single Interval (FF–RAFSI) approaches. The novel FF framework is employed to solve a critical problem encountered in the automobile manufacturing industry with the help of two related case studies. In addition, the criteria are identified and categorized regarding their influence degrees using a group decision approach based on an extended form of the Delphi with the aid of the Fermatean fuzzy sets. According to the conclusions of the analysis, the criteria “Accuracy” and “Quality” are the most effective measures. Also, the suggested hybrid model and its outcomes were tested by executing robustness and validation checks. The results of the analyses prove that the suggested integrated framework is a robust and practical decision-making tool.

Do social cooperatives stimulate social change? An investigation on Italian firms based on DEA-Malmquist approach

The cooperative system and especially social cooperatives are increasingly regarded as a fundamental tool in the transition from the welfare state to the welfare society. In Italy, different types of social cooperatives exist (i.e., Type A and Type B), and in particular, Type B social cooperatives have been recognized as playing a major role in active labour policies. Even if a portion of the literature still attributes a sort of entrepreneurial “adolescence” to social cooperatives, some argue that cooperatives have an anti-cyclical role. In the present paper, we discuss the role of Type B social cooperatives in social change and social innovation, suggesting their impact in labour market, productivity and national growth. In order to explore managerial gap compared to for-profit firms, we looked at three composite indicators of balance sheet items, commonly used in the analysis of for-profit companies (i.e., solvency, efficiency, and productivity) before the Covid-19 pandemic. Results suggest that differences exist and social change can be affected by policies for social cooperatives.

PREVENTION OF LEGALISATION (LAUNDERING) OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDS IN THE MECHANISM OF ENSURING ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE STATE

The purpose of the article is to consider the nature and content of economic security as a component of national security of the state; to determine the peculiarities of implementation of a criminal illegal intention to commit legalisation (laundering) of criminally obtained property; to establish the main destructive features of legalisation (laundering) of criminally obtained property and their correlation with economic security of the state; to define the actual means of prevention of legalisation (laundering) of criminally obtained property in the mechanism of ensuring economic security of the state. A scientific discussion of the problem of ensuring the economic security of the country by reducing the risks of legalisation (laundering) of criminally acquired property is presented. The regulatory and programme documents in the field of ensuring economic security have been characterised. The nature and content of economic security as a component of the state's national security were determined. Statistical reporting of law enforcement bodies in terms of detection, investigation and prevention of predicate offences and direct legalisation (laundering) of criminally acquired property was analysed. The authors emphasise the need to improve the system of timely detection of economic risks and threats in order to avoid regulatory, supervisory, organisational and managerial gaps that facilitate both the commission of predicate criminal offences and direct legalisation of the proceeds of crime. Results. It has been established that the essence and content of economic security as a component of the state's national security consists in such functional features as: 1) ensuring the implementation of full cycle production as a means of increasing the level of resource efficiency of the economy; 2) providing foreign and domestic trade infrastructure as a means of increasing the institutional economic capacity of the state; 3) ensuring the investment attractiveness of the state as a means of improving the foreign and domestic economic policy of the state (investment and reinvestment processes); 4) ensuring economic stimulation for the systematisation of innovative renewal of the products of the activities of business entities; 5) ensuring control over labour migration in order to retain qualified specialists; 6) ensuring protection against economic crimes; 7) ensuring the development and competitiveness of the stock market. The specifics of the implementation of the criminal illegal intention to commit legalisation (laundering) of criminally obtained property have been differentiated: 1) multi-stage, which implies the presence of a complex mechanism of criminally illegal behaviour, often aimed at achieving several goals united by a single intention; 2) a list of possible predicate offences, which are fundamental in terms of property legalisation (laundering); 3) committing a criminal offence as part of an organised group/criminal organisation; 4) involving partners in crime with interregional and cross-border links; 5) ensuring the latency of predicate offences through legalisation (laundering) of criminally acquired property. Modern methods of prevention of legalisation (laundering) of criminally acquired property in the mechanism of ensuring economic security of the state have been proposed: 1) differentiation of legalisation (laundering) of criminally acquired property as an economic and criminal offence based on the object of intervention in/outside the predicate socially dangerous acts; 2) improvement of financial monitoring and registration procedures related to the acquisition of property rights and other economic transactions; 3) a fundamental departure from the generalisation of measures aimed at de-shadowing the economy (taking into account the object of de-shadowing); 4) elimination of shortcomings in economic procedural legislation, which often creates a field for fictitious bankruptcy; 5) elimination of shortcomings in criminal legislation, by revising the sanction of Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Sustainability performance analysis of micro-mobility solutions in urban transportation with a novel IVFNN-Delphi-LOPCOW-CoCoSo framework

Almost all megacities worldwide are under pressure from environmental pollution and excessive resource usage due to rapid urbanization and increasing urban population. Within this scope, micro-mobility solutions (MMSs), an extension to the primary urban transportation network, have become even more critical recently. However, when we executed a preliminary investigation concerning MMSs' sustainability, we noted some critical theoretical and managerial gaps: (1) the number of studies assessing MMSs using decision-making approaches is excessively scarce, (2) no paper in the literature deals with the MMSs' sustainability performance, and (3) there are no commonly accepted criteria set to assess the sustainability of the MMSs in the literature. The current study aims to present a practical and robust decision-making framework that can overcome excessively complicated uncertainties to evaluate the sustainability performance of MMSs. Further, it suggests a novel methodological framework, i.e., Delphi, LogarithmicPercentageChange-DrivenObjectiveWeighting (LOPCOW), and Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) methods with interval-valued fuzzy neutrosophic number (IVFNN) information, which can be defined as a reconciliation tool to set the criteria affecting the assessment processes. Findings present that computing time, scenic adoption, and accidents are the foremost criteria, whereas mini-electric VH, powered standing scooter, and powered seated scooter are the most promising MMSs, respectively. Findings reveal that computing time, scenic adoption, and accidents are the critical factors for the sustainability assessment of MMSs, whereas mini-electric VH, powered standing scooter, and powered seated scooter are the most promising MMSs, respectively. The current paper's overall outcomes and findings can assist practitioners and policy-makers in the urban transportation industry in setting sustainability policies and investing in the more rational and sustainable MMSs.

Person–Skill Fit: Why a New Form of Employee Fit Is Required

Significant recent changes in labor affect organizations, managers, and employees; however, we do not yet fully understand the depth and scope of these changes. For example, although previous research on person–job and person–organization fit is helpful, it has struggled to provide clarity when the very nature of work and jobs is changing and new types of work are emerging. To contribute to the literature on person–job and person–organization fit, this paper proposes a conceptual model that explains the ways in which individual, job and organizational factors interact with diverse work environments. Specifically, I show that a new work environment generates a new form of employee fit, which I call person–skill fit. I argue that changes in the constructs that contribute to employee fit (e.g., competencies, trust, commitment and values) may generate a fit gap that manifests in the form of a managerial gap. Firms should address this gap to improve their dynamic alignment with new forms of work. This framework offers potentially valuable new ways of assisting managers and organizations in their efforts to adjust to the changing nature of work and to transition from standard management practices to new management practices to achieve improved outcomes by utilizing the person–skill fit model.

Impact of Improved Maize Varieties on Production Efficiency in Nigeria: Separating Technology from Managerial Gaps

Researchers and policymakers are concerned about the substantial and increasing yield gap between sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world. High-yielding improved varieties are widely perceived as a means to close this gap. This study combines impact evaluation and production analysis techniques, which mitigate estimation biases stemming from observed and unobserved heterogeneity, to estimate the effects of improved varieties on maize productivity using a unique, recent, and nationally representative household survey. A linear endogenous treatment–effect model based on a matched sample obtained from propensity score matching indicated that the improved maize varieties increased yield by 38.7%. Simultaneously, selectivity-corrected and stochastic metafrontier approaches show that the yield advantage of improved varieties is mainly due to technological change; however, the technical efficiency of improved varieties is similar to those of traditional varieties.

Technology gap ratio decomposition in sugarcane farming in Indonesia

Indonesia's population and income growth have led to a higher demand for raw sugar and its derivative products; for this reason, sugarcane production must be improved, especially in central production areas. However, efforts are constrained by the disparity in resource endowment and technology. This study aimed to analyse technical, technological, and managerial gaps in sugarcane farming in different areas of East Java. The study used primary data collected through a survey during the 2019/2020 sugarcane planting season in Malang, Kediri, and Mojokerto Regencies. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on inputs and outputs. A meta-frontier data envelopment analysis (meta-DEA) approach was used to measure the technical efficiency of sugarcane farming in each research area. The decomposition using meta-DEA showed that, on average, the meta-technical inefficiency of sugarcane farmers was caused mainly by managerial gaps, as the average managerial gap inefficiency (MGI) was more significant than the technological gap inefficiency (TGI). Malang regency showed the largest TGI and MGI, indicating that sugarcane farmers in Malang regency have lower managerial skills for decision-making and a lower level of production technology compared to the other two regions. Based on the findings of this study, the government should improve technological innovation to mitigate the technology gap that was found in our research location.

Spouses' Access to Financial Services: Estimating Technological and Managerial Gaps in Production

Spouses' Access to Financial Services: Estimating Technological and Managerial Gaps in Production

User innovation rings the bell for new horizons in e-health: a bibliometric analysis

PurposeThe study examines the amplifying role of users in the e-healthcare sector and holistically show its current state and potential. The paper aims at contributing to the scientific literature with a comprehensive review of the current state of the art on the application of user innovation (UI) in the e-healthcare sector, as a solid step for discussing the potential, trends, managerial gaps and future research avenues in this field. Despite the crucial importance of the topic and increasing attention toward it in the last few years, there is a lack of comprehensive scrutiny on different angles of involving users in health technology innovations so far.Design/methodology/approachThis study combines two methods of bibliometric analysis and extensive content analysis of 169 journal articles on Scopus and Web of Science to unfold five research questions regarding the mechanisms of involving users, innovations characteristics and the role of users throughout the innovation process.FindingsA clear result of the applied methodology is the profiling of users involved in e-health innovations in seven categories. The results of this study shed light on the current practice of not involving users in all the stages of the innovation process of m-health, telemedicine, self-managing technologies, which is contrary to the best practices of the UI application.Research limitations/implicationsCollection of relevant studies due to lack of comprehensibility of the keywords.Practical implicationsThe offered propositions can act as a roadmap to potential research opportunities as well as to organize such innovations from a managerial perspective in particular healthcare organization managers and the middle managers operating at R&D sectors and policymakers.Originality/valueThis study is the first of its kind that digs out the application of UI strategies such as user-centered design in the context of e-healthcare and provides a bibliometric and extensive content analysis of the studies conducted in this theme over the years.

Precision agriculture adoption and technical efficiency: An analysis of sugarcane farms in Brazil

• Precision agriculture technologies (PATs) are at the core of Agriculture 4.0. • We analyzed the impacts of PATs adoption on sugarcane farms performance. • Selectivity correction SPFs and metafrontier production function were applied. • Adoption of PATs reduces managerial and technological gaps in sugarcane farming. • Farmer schooling, farm size and technical assistance affect the adoption of PATs. Precision Agriculture Technologies (PATs) are at the core of the fourth revolution in farming technology, also called Agriculture 4.0. This study evaluates the determinants of PATs adoption and its impacts on technical efficiency (TE) and technology gap ratio (TGR) of sugarcane farms in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A selectivity correction model for stochastic frontiers is combined with a metafrontier production function approach to estimate the role of a set of determinants of PATs adoption and its impacts on TE and TGR. In person interviews with 131 sugarcane farmers provided cross-sectional farm level data from the 2018/19 crop year. The estimates of a sample selection equation showed that farming size, farmer's schooling and technical assistance positively affect PATs adoption by sugarcane farmers. Estimates of stochastic production frontiers (SPFs) and metafrontier revealed that the average of the TE and TGR scores of adopters are higher than those of non-adopters. The managerial gaps (TE) between adopters and non-adopters are considerably wider than their technology gaps (TGR). The adoption of PATs subsidizes farmers decision-making process which increased the efficiency in inputs use, an important issue for economic and environmental sustainability in sugarcane farming.

Creative industries in russian regions: challenges of establishment and conditions for development

not considered as an object of management research; there is no system for regulating the creative sector of the economy at both federal and regional levels. The choice of methodology remains an open-ended question since there is no single approach to defining the concept and estimating creative industries. The need to fill the methodological, organizational, and managerial gaps in the sphere of the Russian creative economy proves the relevance of the chosen topic and requires its in-depth research. In the article, the researchers present the calculation of the Сomposite Сreativity Index for the regions of the Russian Federation in dynamics for a nine-year period based on the methodology developed by the authors. The purpose of the study is to test the proposed methodology and search for effective organizational and managerial tools for the creative industries development in the Russian regions to establish the programs of territories socio-economic development.

Circular economy and innovation: A look from the perspective of organizational capabilities

AbstractStudies of circular economy and innovation have received increasing attention in academic literature in the last quadrennium. They fill a managerial gap on how to operationalise the transition from the linear model to the circular. They show practices, tools and mechanisms that allow creation of business models based on circularity premises. In this article, we seek to identify the intellectual contours of this emerging field, conducting a review of the basic conceptual framework, with an analysis of articles published on the topic of circular economy and innovation. In summary, a systematic literature review was developed, whose final bibliographic portfolio consisted of 94 analysed papers. The results of the study show that eco‐innovation and innovation in business models are highlighted in this field. They are operationalised, mainly, by activating dynamic, relational and absorptive capabilities. The most important innovation practices in this context are waste management, eco‐design business models, product leasing and collaborative commerce. The main contribution of this study is to pave the way for new conceptual developments in organisational capabilities to make transition sustainable and serve as a support arsenal for the maturation of circular economy studies supported by the theory of innovation and also to link management practices to operational processes in the business and production environment favouring the transition to a circular business model. It generates insights for the scientific progression of studies and shows propositions that can be validated in future quantitative studies.

Creative Industries in Russian Regions: Challenges of Establishment and Conditions for Development

The most important pillar in the strategy for modernizing resource-based economies is the transition to a new, creative model of socio-economic development. It is the ability of creative and technologically dynamic countries to develop new ideas using advanced technologies. However, under current circumstances, the creative economy is not the main driving force of the Russia's economic growth. This is largely due to the insufficient degree of creative initiatives in most regions and, in general, their creative underdevelopment. Creative industries in Russia are still not considered as an object of management research; there is no system for regulating the creative sector of the economy at both federal and regional levels. The choice of methodology remains an open-ended question, since there is no single approach to defining the concept and estimating creative industries. The need to fill the methodological, organizational, and managerial gaps in the sphere of the Russian creative economy proves the relevance of the chosen topic and requires its in-depth research. In the article, the researchers present the calculation of the Сomposite Сreativity Index for the regions of the Russian Federation in dynamics for a nine-year period based on the methodology developed by the authors. The purpose of the study is to test the proposed methodology and search for effective organizational and managerial tools for the creative industries development in the Russian regions to establish the programs of territories socio-economic development.

Environmental efficiency analysis of China's coal-fired power plants considering heterogeneity in power generation company groups

This study conducts an environmental efficiency analysis of 104 coal-fired power plants in China by simultaneously considering multiple undesirable outputs (CO2, SO2, NOx, and PM2.5 emissions) generated during the production process and the heterogeneity caused by differences between the five major power generation companies (Datang, Guodian, Huadian, Huaneng, and Power Investment). In the empirical study, slacks-based data envelopment analysis (DEA) was employed to investigate the “total” and individual CO2, SO2, NOx, and PM2.5 “specific” environmental inefficiency scores for each power plant. These scores allow us to identify which undesirable outputs are the main sources of total environmental inefficiency for each company and power plant. The results show that inefficient PM2.5 and SO2 emissions are the main sources of environmental inefficiency for many plants. Furthermore, a meta-frontier DEA decomposition framework is adopted to identify whether the source of total environmental inefficiency for each power plant is due to technological gaps between the five major power generation companies or managerial gaps within the same power generation company. The results imply that, in most cases, managerial gaps within the same power generation company account for a larger proportion of total environmental inefficiency for each power plant. These findings are used to provide comprehensive policy suggestions for government and corporate managers to improve the environmental efficiency of power plants.

Digital Twin Providing New Opportunities for Value Co-Creation through Supporting Decision-Making

The application of digital twins provides value creation within the fields of operations and service management; existing research around decision-making and value co-creation is limited at this point. Prior studies have provided insights into the benefits of digital twins that combined both data and simulation approaches; however, there remains a managerial gap. The purpose of this paper is to explore this research gap using input from a multiple case study research design from both manufacturing environments and non-manufacturing environments. The authors use ten cases to explore how digital twins support value co-creation through decision-making. The authors were all involved in the development of the ten cases. Individual biases were removed by using the literature to provide the assessment dimensions and allowing a convergence of the results. Drawing on the lessons from the ten cases, this study empirically identified eight managerial issues that need to be considered when developing digital twins to support multi-stakeholder decision-making that leads to value co-creation. The application of digital twins in value co-creation and decision-making is a topic that has developed from practice and is an area where a research gap exists between theory and practice. A cross-case analysis was developed based on the literature and the ten cases (eight industrial and two pilot-scale cases) providing the empirical findings. The findings describe how firms can design, develop, and commercialize digital-twin-enabled value propositions and will initiate future research.

Comments on “Informality, Micro and Small Enterprises, and the 2016 Demonetisation Policy in India”

Comments on “Informality, Micro and Small Enterprises, and the 2016 Demonetisation Policy in India”

Decision-making model for sustainable supply chain finance under uncertainties

Supply chain finance has received increasing attention. The combination of sustainable development and supply chain finance requires a deeper discussion to address the theoretical and managerial gaps. Thus, this study adopts the fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (fuzzy TOPSIS) to develop a sustainable supply chain finance model under uncertainty to identify the existing problems and deficiencies of financing patterns. Expert assessments were performed, and the results indicate that economic factors have a significant effect on other aspects and that delivery management policies are the most effective tools for reinforcing sustainable supply chain finance practices. Moreover, the findings provide a theoretical foundation that can reinforce the understanding of sustainable supply chain finance, and the managerial implications provide a precise guideline for firms to improve their performance.