Too close for comfort? The strategic implications of getting close to the customer

Article Abstract:

While getting close to the customer is widely recommended as an obvious way of serving the customer better, there is no clear demarcation between being close to the customer and being customer-driven. No longer content with the ability to anticipate customer demand, many suppliers are seeking to influence this demand, moving from being reactive to gently proactive. Increasing involvement in the customer's business may help lock in the customer, but it also leads to increasing involvement of the customer in the supplier's business, locking in the supplier as much as the customer. This incremental integration has important strategic implications that firms must examine carefully. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Analysis, Customer service, Customer relations

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Individual values, Organizational Context, and self-perceptions of employee creativity: evidence from Egyptian organizations

Article Abstract:

Self-direction was found to be a significant antecedent for workplace creativity among Egyptian employees, rather than conformity or power. Organizational context positively influenced workplace creativity if perceived to be nurturing, but data did not support the hypothesis that a hierarchical and controlling environment impedes creativity.

Egypt, Motivational Techniques, Psychological aspects, Case studies, Employee motivation, Self-efficacy (Psychology), Self efficacy, Organizational structure

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Out of control: personal networks in European collaboration

Article Abstract:

The article examines how attempts to adapt personal networks to make them compatible with collaboration affects innovation, using the European Commission's information technology research program Esprit as an example.

Europe, Science & research, Personnel administration, Research, Human resource management, European Union. European Commission, Social networks, Company personnel management

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