Managerial Practices Research Articles

THE EVOLUTION AND REVOLUTION OF MARKETING MIX FROM 4P TO 4C TO 4E TO E-MARKETING MIX: A LITERATURE OVERVIEW

Marketing mix is an important concept in the world of marketing that was first introduced by an academic named Jerome McCarthy in the 1960s. The marketing mix was created in the early days of the marketing concept when physical products, physical distribution and mass communication were dominant. The marketing mix paradigm, in its famous version of the 4 Ps, went all the way through the evolution of marketing theory being object of discussion both in academic literature as well as in managerial practice. In today’s era of revolutionary change, the digital business represents the more recent of the business contexts and the one with the greater need for a differentiation and upgradation of the mix. Throughout this evolutionary process, researchers have given their views who think the 4 Ps paradigms is able to adapt to the environmental changes by including new elements inside each “P”, and some affirmed that the 4 Ps paradigm is obsolete and propose new paradigms. This paper aims to clarify these two different approaches to marketing mix evolution through a review of the main literature regarding e-marketing mix and its constituents which provides an up gradation to the existing elements of marketing mix as well as focusing on the development of marketing mix theory for the digital context. . In the context of the wars between the upstart internet retailers and the existing brick and mortar retailers, this study would pave the way to consider E-marketing as an innovated way to customer delight. The evolution of 'Product,' 'Price,' 'Place,' and 'Promotion' in the digital era requires a holistic understanding of consumer behavior, technological advancements, and the interconnected nature of the online world.

Work Discipline on Employee Performance Through Work Productivity

Purpose: This study examines the effect of work productivity on employee performance at PT Paguntaka Cahaya Nusantara Papua and West Papua Branch. Research Design and Methodology: Data was collected using a cross-sectional research design through a survey involving employees from various departments. Regression analysis evaluated the relationship between work productivity and employee performance. Findings and Discussion: The results showed a positive and significant relationship between work productivity and employee performance, with a regression coefficient of 0.62 and a p-value of 0.0001. This finding supports theories that link work productivity with performance improvement and confirms the importance of productivity factors in achieving optimal organizational performance. Implications: This study makes a significant contribution to scientific and managerial practice by providing empirical evidence and recommendations for managers to develop policies that encourage work productivity. However, its limitations include its cross-sectional design and limited generalizability. Future research should use a longitudinal design and expand the sample to various industries to gain more insight into the relationship between work productivity and employee performance.

Culturally Sensitive Managerial Innovation: Insights from Imam Ali's Letter 53 for Moroccan Public Organizations

This article delves into the intricacies of managerial innovation within Moroccan public organizations, focusing on the challenges and enablers that shape its adoption. By drawing upon Imam Ali's Letter 53, a seminal work in governance, the study underscores the necessity of a gradual and culturally attuned approach to introducing new managerial practices. The findings reveal that, despite its critical role in enhancing organizational performance, managerial innovation is often underutilized, hindered by resistance to change and the apprehension of disrupting established norms. Letter 53 provides timeless principles that address these challenges, advocating for the careful and respectful integration of innovations while upholding local cultural and ethical values. The study further emphasizes that managerial innovations which are congruent with cultural traditions and benefit all stakeholders are more likely to flourish. Moreover, it highlights the pivotal role of transparent communication and employee involvement in the change process as essential factors in mitigating resistance and fostering acceptance of new practices.

Management Principles from an Islamic Perspective: Exploration of the Interpretation of the Qur'an

This research aims to explore and analyze the managerial principles contained in the Al-Qur'an using an interpretive approach, as well as their relevance to modern managerial practice. Management, as a rapidly developing scientific discipline, is often understood from a Western perspective, while the Islamic perspective in management has not been widely explored. Through literature study and qualitative analysis of Al-Qur'an interpretations, this research identifies key principles in Islamic management, such as justice, trust, responsibility and ethical leadership. The research results show that these principles offer comprehensive and relevant guidance for resource management and leadership in the context of modern organizations. The managerial principles in the Qur'an not only provide direction in terms of strategic decisions but also emphasize the importance of the moral and spiritual dimensions in management. This research provides new insights for academics and practitioners in understanding and applying Islamic managerial principles, as well as suggesting the integration of these principles in contemporary managerial practice.

Managerial Performance and Economic Performance in the Technology Sector

The technology (tech) sector outperformed all other sector stock price averages in 2023. This paper addresses two issues regarding the tech sector. First, relative to other firms, are there any managerial areas in which the tech sector outperforms to explain their superior performance relative to all other firms? Second, within the tech sector, what managerial practices lead to higher profits? Four areas of managerial performance are considered: customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, innovation, and social responsibility. This paper utilizes Bloomberg data and takes the novel approach of utilizing the Drucker Institute Indexes to assess performance in the tech sector. The Drucker Institute has computed a Corporate Effectiveness Index since 2017. The overall effectiveness index is based on performance regarding five dimensions: customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, innovation, social responsibility, and financial strength. The firms they track are United States companies whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Stock Market and meet certain size requirements. Among the four dimensions tested, customer satisfaction is the one dimension that is positive and significant when comparing across tech firms. Second, employee engagement is more important for tech firms than for other firms. The major contribution of this paper’s findings is that while innovation may be the hallmark feature of tech firms, innovation for its own sake does not drive firm performance. A focus on people (customers and employees) is the key to earning higher profits in the tech sector.

Leadership and Conflict Management Styles of Top and Middle-Level Managers of Selected Companies Towards Strategic HR Management

This study investigates top and middle-level managers’ leadership and conflict management styles in selected companies and their impact on strategic HR management. The research explores the relationship between leadership styles, conflict management approaches, and their influence on HR practices and organizational performance. Utilizing a mixed-method design, data were collected from surveys and interviews with managers across various industries. The findings indicate that transformational leadership and collaborative conflict management styles are prevalent among effective managers and positively correlate with strategic HR outcomes. These styles enhance employee engagement, reduce turnover rates, and foster a positive organizational culture. Additionally, the study reveals that top managers are more likely to adopt strategic approaches, while middle managers focus on operational aspects. The implications of these findings suggest that companies should invest in leadership development programs to cultivate these effective styles. The study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the significance of leadership and conflict management in achieving strategic HR objectives and offers practical recommendations for enhancing managerial practices. Keywords: Leadership, Conflict Management, Higher Education, Human Resources

Disciplinary digital capabilities of professionals

This paper is concerned with the digital practices of professionals, and the ways in which educators can support higher education (HE) students with successfully transitioning into professional life by developing relevant digital capabilities according to their disciplines. Digital capabilities have received significant attention in recent years, with various attempts made to develop digital frameworks to support curriculum design in HE. However, few studies have articulated these generic capabilities in terms of specific disciplines. This paper addresses the gap of disciplinary conceptualisations of digital capabilities by exploring how they are planned in HE curricula in two professional disciplines, engineering and management. Originality of the study is achieved in part through a conceptual framework that weaves together Shulman’s notion of signature pedagogies with JISC’s Digital Capability Framework (DigiCap). The study employed a multiple-case study methodology with each discipline as a case, and four undergraduate/postgraduate modules as the units of analysis, drawing on documentary sources, and academic, professional and student perspectives via interviews and focus groups. The research design section presents a practical manifestation of this conceptual framework in the form interview questions, which is one main outcome of this study. The study offers insight into the digital capabilities in engineering and management education, as well as the digital practices of engineers and managers. Findings report on which digital capability elements are prioritised, and how, in the two professions, followed by a discussion of their most distinct, 'signature digital capabilities'. These indicate that the development of digital capabilities is aligned with the respective discipline’s signature pedagogies. In engineering, digital problem-solving and collaboration/communication, followed by data and information literacy, appear to be most prominent. In management, data and information literacy overlap with problem-solving, and, together with digital content communication, form its prominent digital capabilities. The study also identifies management’s overarching signature digital capability. The paper argues that simply just using a descriptive, typological framework (e.g. DigiCap) is not sufficient to identify signature digital capabilities of a subject without tending to their disciplinary aspects. It is the combination of a typological digital capability framework through the lens of signature pedagogies, which can be effective in identifying disciplinary digital capabilities.

Synergizing AI and business: Maximizing innovation, creativity, decision precision, and operational efficiency in high-tech enterprises

The study was conducted on 125 US based high-tech firms from software engineering, hardware production, biotechnology, and telecommunications. Senior-level executives, including CEOs, board members, and CTOs, provided insights through structured questionnaires. Key findings indicate that AI adoption significantly enhances organizational capabilities in terms of employees’ innovation, creativity, and experimentation. Moreover, AI adaptation positively impacts decision making thus yielding more accurate and timely valuable decisions. These findings contribute to both theoretical understanding and managerial practice by guiding strategic investments in AI technologies, fostering innovation, and advocating for ethical AI deployment practices. Future study should examine longitudinal impacts across industries and regions to optimize benefits and minimize risks in digital transformation efforts. It should also integrate qualitative methods for deeper insights and appropriate AI governance systems.

‘To be a Player, not a Piece’: LMX-Relationships in Late-career Employment

This study employs qualitative interviews with employees (50+) and managers from Norwegian private companies to investigate how retirement age norms affect leader–member exchange (LMX) relationships in the late stages of employment.This research reveals that organizational practices incentivizing early retirement establish retirement age norms and create pressures that significantly impact the LMX dynamic. Employees perceive managers as key in alleviating these pressures. However, the ability of managers to shield employees from retirement pressures varies, as managers face several competing challenges, such as providing opportunities and development for younger employees. While high-quality LMX relationships are crucial in reducing retirement pressures for older employees, differing managerial practices lead to varied support levels within the same organization, putting older employees in precarious positions. The article advocates for policy reforms that limit organizational early retirement practices and promote extended working lives, ensuring a more supportive employment environment for aging workers in private organizations.

Assessing the role of information technology in promoting environmental sustainability and preventing crime in E-commerce

AbstractThe rise of e-commerce necessitates sustainable practices for a greener future. While the e-commerce boom offers immense economic opportunities, minimizing its environmental impact and upholding ethical business conduct are essential. Current research on e-commerce heavily focuses on information technology (IT) for understanding and improving consumer acceptance. However, a critical gap exists in exploring IT's potential contributions to sustainability, crime prevention, and environmental safety. This study bridges this gap by exploring the role of IT integration in managerial practices to enhance environmental protection, crime prevention, and foster sustainability within Bangladesh's booming e-commerce sector. Focusing on e-commerce managers' perspectives, the research examines effective leadership strategies for IT implementation. Additionally, it utilizes the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to analyze the relationships between user perception and its impact on e-commerce performance. Using a structured questionnaire, we collected the data from 418 e-commerce managers. The research design incorporates a robust framework, hypothesis formulation, and methodological rigor grounded in TAM principles. The findings reveal a significant positive contribution of IT to environmental protection, crime prevention, and overall sustainability within the e-commerce sector. Managers' perceptions highlight that effective IT utilization ensures environmental safety, safeguards data against criminal activity, and promotes organizational sustainability. Furthermore, this research provides a roadmap for e-commerce businesses to accelerate their sustainability efforts. It also equips academics with valuable insights to advance knowledge on building a secure and sustainable future in the digital age.

‘Do not be Deteriorated by service failures, Learn from them and start managing it’: Conditions and mechanisms for managing online service failures

Online consumers rely on two hospitality channels, direct websites and online travel agents (OTAs), to search for and book hospitality services. Although these online service channels improve service delivery efficiency, service failures have become common and unavoidable. Although online service failures and recovery efforts have received significant research attention, studies have ignored whether customer evaluations following a service failure differ based on the type of failure (informational, functional, or system) occurring in different online service booking channels (direct or OTA). Additionally, despite the significance of customer participation in service recovery, no research has examined the suitability of different recovery types based on varying levels of customer participation, such as firm, joint, and customer recovery. Thus, utilising three between-subjects experiments, this study demonstrated that information failures are more detrimental in a direct channel, whereas functional failures are more harmful to OTAs. However, system failures affect both platforms equally. The results also revealed that firm recovery is most appropriate when an information failure occurs in a direct channel. Joint recovery is suitable for functional failures in OTAs, while customer recovery is sufficient to rectify system failures. Finally, customer expectations (outcome, process, and cost) drive these positive outcomes. This research offers unique contributions to the literature and managerial practice on online service failure and recovery.

Creating a digital platform for the agricultural cooperative system through interorganizational collaboration

In the era of Agriculture 4.0, agricultural cooperatives are struggling to understand the challenges and threats the digital platforms of large agribusiness corporations represent for the competitiveness of cooperative systems. An opportunity in this context is for agricultural cooperatives to enter the platform economy and collaboratively develop their digital platform. This study aims to analyze the process of creating a digital platform through the collaboration of agribusiness cooperatives. The action research method, which involved four interconnected cycles, was followed. The first cycle aimed to generate strategic alignment among thirty cooperatives to promote digital innovation. The second cycle referred to conceptualizing and establishing the project's governance structure and developing three minimum viable products. The third cycle involved the construction of the digital platform. The fourth and final cycle focused on instantiating the platform through diffusion and utilization by the cooperatives. A digital platform was developed, considering the potential for building relationships and adopting cooperative concepts. The platform gives participants access to a digital business ecosystem and direct access to the community of users, the infrastructure and the data. This means the cooperatives can manage them without subordination to large multinational companies that may threaten their long-term survival. The study contributes to theory by proposing a systematic method to create digital platforms following a cooperative approach. It also contributes to the managerial practice by revealing the steps and challenges managers may face when implementing digital platforms in the context of cooperatives. The platform attracted over 13,000 active users in three years and represented more than 1,700,000 ha of land for food production in Brazil.

Sustainable Managerial Practices in Implementation of Circular Economy Concepts in Romanian Agriculture

Sustainable Managerial Practices in Implementation of Circular Economy Concepts in Romanian Agriculture

Due Diligence in Financial Aspects for Mobile Fuel Station Business Development

The fuel sales of motorcycle experience complex dynamics, particularly in satisfying consumer demand for leanness and ease of service. The Mobile Fuel Station (MFS) service innovation, powered by information technology, was created to accelerate the establishment of new sales outlets and enhance the efficiency and convenience of consumer service. However, this option requires substantial expenses, necessitating due diligence on the financial side. The objective of this study is to evaluate and ensure the feasibility of the Mobile Fuel Station Investment Program (PI MFS). The research findings indicate that the Return on Investment (ROI) is 18.46%, with a positive Net Present Value (NPV) and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 23.42% in the sixth year so that PI MFS is feasible to implement. To shorten short-term debt obligations, PI MFS has a current ratio of 2.64 times. Additionally, a 32.06% DER value indicates that a greater proportion of its financing comes from equity rather than debt. This research provides direction for the future development of more efficient managerial practices, as well as generates investor interest by demonstrating the potential for growth and profitability.

THE INFLUENCE OF TRANSPARENCY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND DIGITAL MARKETING ON THE GOALS OF THE KAMPUNG DOLANAN ORGANIZATION WITH THE CONCEPT OF SOCIOPRENEURSHIP

This study aims to analyze the influence of financial transparency, citizens' financial literacy, and digital marketing in realizing the organizational goals of Kampung Dolanan as a social-based business or sociopreneurship. This research focuses on the application of managerial practices in Dolanan Village and its influence on the welfare of residents. This study uses a qualitative approach, by means of interviews with the parties concerned to obtain information about the management of Dolanan Village which will later be processed and analyzed qualitatively to achieve clarity of research results. The results of the study show that transparency has not been carried out by the management team of Dolanan Village. Transparency affects organizational goals that have not been achieved because residents have not been able to fully supervise the management and achievement of organizational goals. The financial literacy of Karanggeneng residents is still low, illustrated by the fact that residents do not understand family financial management. Low financial literacy affects organizational goals because citizens do not know the truth of correct financial management. Digital marketing has not been done properly due to a lack of capable human resources. The lack of maximum digital marketing has affected the organization's goals which cannot attract tourists to come to Dolanan Village.

Safe Transition from Open to Total Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Cancer Utilizing Process Management Methodology.

Background: The global shift from open esophagectomy (OE) to minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for treating esophageal cancer is well-established. Recent data indicate that transitioning from hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy (hMIE) to total minimally invasive esophagectomy (tMIE) can be challenging due to concerns about higher leakage rates and lower lymph node counts, especially at the beginning of the learning curve. This study aimed to demonstrate that a safe transition from OE to tMIE for cancer is possible using process management methodology. Methods: A step-change approach was adopted in process management planning, with hMIE serving as an intermediate step between OE and tMIE. This single-center, case-control study included 150 patients who underwent the Ivor Lewis procedure with curative intent for esophageal cancer. Among these patients, 50 underwent OE, 50 hMIE (laparoscopic procedure followed by conventional right thoracotomy), and 50 tMIE (laparoscopic and thoracoscopic approach). A preceptored training scheme was implemented during execution, and treatment results were monitored and controlled to ensure a safe transition. Results: During the transition, the tMIE group was not worse than the hMIE and OE groups regarding operation duration (p = 0.135), overall postoperative complications (p = 0.020), anastomotic leakage rates (p = 0.773), 30-day mortality (p = 1.0), and oncological outcomes (based on R status (p = 0.628) and 2-year survival (p = 0.967)). Additionally, the tMIE group showed superior results in terms of major postoperative pulmonary complications (p = 0.004) and ICU stay duration (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Utilizing managerial methodology and practice in surgery, as a bridge between interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, demonstrated that transitioning from OE to tMIE, with hMIE as an intermediate step, is safe and feasible without compromising outcomes.

AI’s effect on innovation capacity in the context of industry 5.0: a scoping review

The classic literature about innovation conveys innovation strategy the leading and starting role to generate business growth due to technology development and more effective managerial practices. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) however reverts this paradigm in the context of Industry 5.0. The focus is moving from “how innovation fosters AI” to “how AI fosters innovation”. Therefore, our research question can be stated as follows: What factors influence the effect of AI on Innovation Capacity in the context of Industry 5.0? To address this question we conduct a scoping review of a vast body of literature spanning engineering, human sciences, and management science. We conduct a keyword-based literature search completed by bibliographic analysis, then classify the resulting 333 works into 3 classes and 15 clusters which we critically analyze. We extract 3 hypotheses setting associations between 4 factors: company age, AI maturity, manufacturing strategy, and innovation capacity. The review uncovers several debates and research gaps left unsolved by the existing literature. In particular, it raises the debate whether the Industry5.0 promise can be achieved while Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) remains out of reach. It explores diverging possible futures driven toward social manufacturing or mass customization. Finally, it discusses alternative AI policies and their incidence on open and internal innovation. We conclude that the effect of AI on innovation capacity can be synergic, deceptive, or substitutive depending on the alignment of the uncovered factors. Moreover, we identify a set of 12 indicators enabling us to measure these factors to predict AI’s effect on innovation capacity. These findings provide researchers with a new understanding of the interplay between artificial intelligence and human intelligence. They provide practitioners with decision metrics for a successful transition to Industry 5.0.

Design phase collaborative risk management factors: a case study of a green rating system in South Africa

PurposeWe explore the design risk factors and associated managerial practices driving collaborative risk management for design efficacy in green building projects. By illuminating project design risk as an important project risk category in its own right, the study contributes to our understanding of optimising design efficacies for collaborative project risk management.Design/methodology/approachThe study comprises exploratory interviews conducted with 27 industry project practitioners involved in the design and delivery/implementation of Green Star-certified building projects in South Africa.FindingsThe findings discursively highlight seven sources of design risk. We also identify seven specific collaborative risk management practices for design efficacy emerging from a consideration of how risk environments vary in the Green Star-certified projects, each with its own project design risk implications.Originality/valueThe study advances our understanding of how collaborations emerging from particular relational yet context-specific practices can be optimised to strengthen project risk management.

Developing and validating a scale to measure perceived cultural atmosphere in historic districts

ABSTRACT Nurturing cultural atmosphere and making such atmosphere perceivable are critical for revitalizing historic districts and attracting tourists. However, lacking understanding of and measurement tools for cultural atmosphere impedes both research and managerial practices. To fill the gaps, the present study adopted a mixed-method approach developing a scale of perceived cultural atmosphere in the context of a historic district, Yongqing Fang. Using UGC content and 30 interview data, the qualitative part served for initial item generation. Through two questionnaire surveys with 513 participants, the quantitative part completed scale refinement and validation. A 13-item, four-dimension structure was suggested, including architectural setting, interior decoration, traditional activity, and shared affects. Theoretically, the present study improves the understanding of cultural atmosphere and provides a measurement tool for future studies. Pragmatically, destination managers may apply the scale in cultivating and maintaining a sense of culturalness in historic districts or other heritage sites.

The entrepreneurial transformation process of BTS: initiation, development, growth and expansion

PurposeThis paper explores the entrepreneurial transformation of Bangtan Sonyeondan or Bangtan Boys (BTS), tracing their journey from initiation through expansion. Despite the global prominence of their music, dance and outreach, many aspects of BTS’s meteoric rise remain underexplored. This study aims to illuminate the strategic and organizational developments that have propelled their unprecedented growth in the global media landscape.Design/methodology/approachUsing case study research methods, this paper uses a multimodal approach to examine BTS’s intricate interactions with market dynamics and fan engagement comprehensively. Using entrepreneurial innovation as the overarching theoretical framework, the authors categorize BTS’s transformational processes into drivers, practices and outcomes, thereby elucidating the strategies used to navigate key challenges and pivotal moments in their worldwide ascent.FindingsThe BTS organization exhibits a distinct entrepreneurial orientation and transformation process across its phases of initiation, development, growth and expansion. The authors identify specific drivers, practices and outcomes along with strategic vision, actionable practices and measurable performance outcomes at each stage.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this study draws valuable parallels between BTS’s trajectory and established growth models, it recognizes the limitations inherent in a single-case study approach. The findings highlight the critical role of entrepreneurial leadership in the entertainment industry and suggest further exploration into the universal applicability of these models across different genres and cultural contexts within the music industry.Practical implicationsThis paper underscores the importance of entrepreneurial innovation within entertainment organizations. The conceptual framework provided can assist managers in formulating strategies and policies for the growth and transformation of similar entities.Social implicationsBTS’s case demonstrates how engaging a global audience with culturally specific content and the universal appeal of youthful energy can be transformative. This engagement is facilitated through effective use of music, dance and dynamic interactions on social media.Originality/valueBy analyzing BTS from an entrepreneurial leadership perspective, this study offers unique insights by examining their internal motivations and managerial practices, as well as the external outcomes, spanning from 2010 to 2023.