PurposeThe business benefits envisaged for BIM represent the main criteria for decision-making about BIM implementation – or shy away from BIM. Despite the significance, traditional evaluation ...techniques have difficulty to capture “the true value” of BIM from multiple levels and dimensions – as an effective evaluation method is supposed to. This study aims to identify the significant factors that affect BIM return on investment (ROI), develop an integrated model for companies and examine the influence of intangible returning factors of BIM on the rate of BIM implementation.Design/methodology/approachA cluster sampling technique was used; 92 questionnaires completed by Australian architecture, engineering and construction small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) provided the basis to identify and analyse the key measurable returning factors, value drivers and strategic benefits associated with BIM ROI.FindingsApplying the PLS-SEM technique, findings reveal that a lack of reliable quantification methods for the ROI factors associated with BIM significantly affects the organisation's commitments to implement BIM. In essence, the failure to adequately identify and assess these benefits could result in the system not being appropriately implemented and supported by executive sponsors, who give priority to hard and tangible ROI measurements.Practical implicationsThe outcome of this study would be of direct appeal to policymakers, industry professionals and the academic community alike, in providing data-informed insight into the intersection between the implementation of BIM and the concept of ROI. Findings would provide a springboard for further research into using ROI factors to increase BIM implementation. Though the findings are directly applicable and contextualised for Australia, they provide lessons and offer a blueprint for similar studies in other countries and settings. That is, regardless of the context, findings raise awareness and provide a point of reference for the quantification of intangible returning factors rather than the tangible returning factors, as one of the first studies in its kind.Originality/valueThe study provides original insight in drawing attention to an untapped area for research in BIM implementation, namely BIM ROI. Apart from raising awareness around BIM ROI, the study is novel in providing a quantified model that establishes the links and level of impacts of various factors associated with BIM ROI. Findings of this study, particularly add value to the body of knowledge related to the business implications associated with BIM implementation in the context of Australian SMEs, while providing lessons for other countries and settings.
PurposeThe study seeks to reduce the blurriness remaining around the value that HRM can bring to innovation in the specific context of start‐ups, it advocates that the early adoption of appropriate ...HRM practices, can act as a catalyst for innovation because they constitute a powerful means to systematically promote and facilitate employees' innovative behaviours.Design/methodology/approachIn the aim of complementing the existing quantitative work, this paper employs a multiple case study approach to explore the role of HRM in fostering employees' innovative work behaviour in four Tunisian tech companies.FindingsThe study found substantial support for the importance of establishing a work environment for learning where employees can build their innovative capacities by upgrading their knowledge and skills through both formal and informal methods. Work autonomy and freedom are found to be essential parts of this environment. Workspace design that takes into account employees' comfort and the collaborative nature of their work, also stands out as a major contributor to innovative work behaviour.Originality/valueThe adopted qualitative approach enabled a grasp of the less apparent aspects underpinning the HRM and innovation relationship in start‐ups. “Ownership of space” is revealed as a key element of the innovation-supportive work environment. By having a feeling of control on the workspace, employees can develop a sense of ownership towards the organisation which enhances their eagerness to exert innovation efforts. It also demonstrated that developing an overly creative workforce can turn into a source of stagnation which can be mitigated by cultivating “an environment for idea ownership”.
Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is increasingly gaining acceptance in the software engineering community, however its adoption by the industry is far from successful. The number of companies applying ...MDE is still very limited. Although several case studies and reports have been published on MDE adoption in large companies, experience reports on small enterprises are still rare, despite the fact that they represent a large part of the software companies ecosystem.
In this paper we report on our practical experience in two transfer of technology projects on two small companies. In order to determine the degree of success of these projects we present some factors that have to be taken into account in transfer of technology projects. Then, we assess both projects analyzing these factors and applying some metrics to give hints about the potential productivity gains that MDE could bring. We also comment on some lessons learned. These experiences suggest that MDE has the potential to make small companies more competitive, because it enables them to build powerful automation tools at modest cost. We will also present the approach followed to train these companies in MDE, and we contribute the teaching material so that it can be used or adapted by others projects of this nature.
•Description of two MDE projects carried out in two small companies.•Metrics show productivity gains.•The selection of the pilot project is a key issue.•To foster adoption the research team must advice the company about new developments.
PurposeThis work aims to propose guidelines for small industrial businesses to take their first steps toward implementing systems, programs and tools (SPTs) for environmental management in a ...structured way.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted case studies in large companies certificated ISO 14001. They ran tests for construct validity, external validity and reliability. Cross-analysis of the information collected led to identifying patterns and strategies adopted by these companies to implement environmental management. Based on the literature on environmental management in small businesses and the author's experience, the practices learned from large companies were adapted to the reality of small ones, thus resulting in the proposed guidelines.FindingsThese guidelines enable small companies to develop their environmental management following the logical evolution of SPTs: ISO 14001, green supply chain management (GSCM), cleaner production (CP) and green design (GD). The implementation should happen gradually, through the PDCA cycle, according to three specific levels of environmental evolution.Research limitations/implicationsSince the guidelines focused on small industrial companies, future studies should consider other sectors, such as services, to benefit from the solutions presented. As for the implications, besides improving the small company's performance and enhancing its image, implementing the guidelines creates a green synergy along the supply chain, thus benefiting society beyond the company's borders.Originality/valueThe main theoretical-scientific contribution of this work is to deepen a block of knowledge that articulates environmental management and small businesses, creating a basis for further research and a reference for analyzing and discussing empirical studies in small companies. As an applied-management contribution, the guidelines allow small companies to effectively develop SPTs to move toward environmental sustainability.
This study examines whether the implementation of the 2003 Australian Securities Exchange Limited governance recommendations influenced the governance choices of small companies and whether ...compliance improves their accounting and market performance and earnings quality. Our analysis examines small and large companies because we are interested in the different effects of the governance recommendations on the two groups. The analysis shows a significant shift by small and large companies to comply with the recommendations around the time of their introduction. We find that formation of an audit committee surrounding the reform period is significantly associated with improved earnings quality for small and large companies. However, compliance with other governance recommendations is not systematically associated with improved performance or earnings quality.
This study examines the effect of Dodd Frank's Act of 2010 (Dodd's Act) on the duration of the auditor‐client relationship. One of the provisions of Dodd's Act was to permanently exempt ...nonaccelerated filers from mandatory internal control audits and to maintain the internal control requirement for accelerated filers. The results indicate that average audit firm tenure has increased significantly in the post‐Dodd period, and there is a post‐Dodd increase (decrease) in long and medium (short) tenure. Furthermore, the increase is more pronounced for nonaccelerated filers on average, and varies across big4 and non‐big4 auditors. The inferences are robust to the inclusion of various controls, and to the exclusion of the financial crisis period (2008–2010). Collectively, the findings suggest that Dodd's Act permanent exemption has resulted in lower margins for auditors, and thus motivated audit firms, particularly non‐big4 auditors, to extend their tenure with clients.
Environmental Management Systems (or EMSs) have become an important tool for those organizations looking to manage their environmental issues such as pollution prevention, legal compliance, and ...minimizing the impacts their activities cause to the environment. Indeed, the benefits of having an EMS and ISO 14001 certification are mainly realized by large organizations, as small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have smaller turnover rates and thus a correspondingly smaller return on the costs of certification. This paper presents the results of a study aimed to check the views of small and large companies in the Southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina on which should be the 17 requirements of an EMS that best suits the needs and realities of small businesses, according to ISO 14001. Given its objectives, this study is classified as exploratory research. As to its approach, this study represents quali–quantitative research, as it utilizes techniques and methods which are both quantitative and qualitative. With respect to the nature of this study it is classified as applied research, using bibliographic and field research as procedural techniques. The survey was conducted in two phases, the first of which researched the view of small businesses and the second, the view of big businesses. A T-test for independent samples was used to examine the hypothesis test. The small companies pointed out nine requirements with high levels of importance while the large companies pointed out only seven requirements. The results of both samples showed similar views, but with some differences for each set of companies surveyed.
Organizational culture is an important factor influencing knowledge management processes in small companies. Small entities usually have limited resources, both human and financial, to be able to ...develop advanced knowledge management systems. However, little research has been done so far to investigate the characteristics of organizational culture in small companies, in terms of knowledge management processes. Therefore, the aim of this research is the examination of organizational culture in small Polish companies with the application of a symbolic-interpretive perspective.
AbstractProcesses of innovation in the supply chain are frequently examined in depth within large firms across various economic sectors operating in developed economies. However, studies applied to ...small companies operating in emerging markets is still incipient, especially due to the few resources they have, which in turn affects their capacity for innovation. Taking into account the social and economic importance of small enterprises in the economic growth of developing countries, this study focused on the analysis of such enterprises, through a sample of 413 entrepreneurs who own small restaurants in Colombia. The data processed through PLS-SEM, analyze the perception of this type of companies, regarding the use of new technologies in the supply chain, through an indirect process of technological innovation, where they had to embrace the use of various platforms, such as apps or websites, to procure the supplies necessary for their restaurants. The results of this research show that Perceived Usability and Perceived Usefulness are antecedents of the quality of the Website and e-satisfaction is considered a result, through which you can indicate the success of the adoption of these technological tools, which allow a better daily operation for such small businesses.
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