Bill Lightfoot - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Bill Lightfoot
Journal of Technology Management in China, Jun 5, 2007
PurposeThis paper aims to present the observations of an Italian expatriate who has made China hi... more PurposeThis paper aims to present the observations of an Italian expatriate who has made China his home. It provides insights into the reasons he has been successful, which will help western firms learn how to better do business with the Chinese.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based off an intensive interview with a Western entrepreneur.FindingsThis paper reviews the case of JESA industrial limited featuring comments and the perspective of its expatriate founder as he leads the further evolution of JESA from roots as an industrial market research and outsourcing consultancy focusing primarily on small and medium sized enterprises in Italy, to one that combines western and Chinese knowledge and experience with technical expertise and competency to serve a growing base of western businesses and Chinese expatriates.Originality/valueThis study is original in that it provides insight from the perspective of a successful business person who has gone through the process of integrating into the Chinese business world. Linkages are made to other studies, and literature. The paper helps foreign executives in small, medium, and large enterprises understand some of the nuances involved in doing business in and with China from the perspective of a successful western expatriate.
Communications of the IIMA, Jan 6, 2015
Communications of the IIMA, Jan 5, 2015
Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often ... more Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often used interchangeably. (see http://thesaurus.reference.com). With rapid changes in technology, and the spread of capitalism, networks which use English as the common language are flourishing. Many authors have written about the affects this has had on management and leadership and the differences between the two. This paper reviews common definitions of leadership, explores some of the key concepts associated with the transition from the industrial to the information age, and the evolution of the terminology of leadership, and then reviews the results of a preliminary research project which uses a corpus-based methodology to analyse the text in a diachronic set of documents collated from the Leadership Quarterly 1990 to 2005. Future research will build on this study as the basis for reviewing other sources and domains in the field of leadership, modelling the relationship between cross-cultural issues and leaders in organizations.
The explosive growth of networks and the World Wide Web over the past decade has led to increased... more The explosive growth of networks and the World Wide Web over the past decade has led to increased adoption of new applications by educational institutions. Critical uses of software including courseware such as Blackboard, WebCT, and others have led to an increase in computer literacy amongst faculty and staff. Consistent with this increased literacy, newer applications including the use of the web for tests, surveys, and student evaluation has been increasing. There are many benefits of using web-based surveying and online evaluation techniques (see Table 1). As Mehta and Sivadas (1995) have noted, response times can be reduced from days and weeks to minutes and hours. It is common practice in many universities to have students provide feedback about courses in the form of a questionnaire, at the end of each course. As Felton, Stinson, and Mitchell (2003, p. 2) note, “these surveys are assumed to measure a professor’s performance and successfulness in his or her various classes.” McGourty, Scoles, and Thorpe (2002, p. 5) cited one of the key benefits as the “immediate availability of data for analysis and reporting and more extensive qualitative responses from students to the open-ended questions.” Other studies (see Handwerk, Carson, & Blackwell, 2000; Hmieleski & Champagne, 2000) had similar conclusions. And although not all e-mail users check their e-mail everyday (Kent & Lee, 1999), past research found that e-mail responses generally occurred within the first three days (Comley, 1997; Mehta & Sivadas, 1995).
Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies, Jun 19, 2009
Purpose–Throughout the past 30 years, major economic reforms have been implemented in China; in 2... more Purpose–Throughout the past 30 years, major economic reforms have been implemented in China; in 2001, China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) was a major step, since it enabled the country to formally join the globalised world. But China entered the WTO without market economy status (MES), meaning that other countries can easily use the WTO international settlement body in antidumping procedures against Chinese firms. Since joining the WTO, Chinese authorities have repeatedly attempted to gain this status, ...
Journal of Technology Management in China, Sep 1, 2006
Industrial Management and Data Systems, Mar 1, 2003
This paper critically examines the affect of the Internet on industrial sales channels. The techn... more This paper critically examines the affect of the Internet on industrial sales channels. The technology and strategy of industrial exchanges is discussed. Recent critiques of B2B activities are reviewed within the context of the motion control industry. Conclusions are provided that should assist managers in this industry.
IGI Global eBooks, 2004
The CEO of a large United States-based manufacturer was angry. A service and support plan was not... more The CEO of a large United States-based manufacturer was angry. A service and support plan was not in place for a new line of electronic controls that was a critical part of the company's growth plans. This product was also the first jointly developed product since a French competitor acquired the CEO's firm three years earlier. The executive team was looking for 500% sales growth over the next five years, and had made it clear that everybody's job was on the line if the team failed to produce. The product management and marketing team was given the specific challenge to develop a plan for service, support, and training. They had less than 90 days to review the current situation, and to then develop and begin to implement a new plan that centered on managing the flow of information between a number of key stakeholders.
The Internet has become a powerful tool for gatheringdata, communicating, and processing of trans... more The Internet has become a powerful tool for gatheringdata, communicating, and processing of transactionsglobally. It has also become a major market researchtool used by commercial market research firms todistribute surveys to various populations. Researchto date has focused on comparing response rate,response speed, and cost of direct mail andelectronic mail delivered surveys. This bookpresents and discusses the results of a researchstudy that directly compares response rates andresponse distributions to self-administeredquestionnaires delivered to a population of designengineers using both direct mail and electronic maildelivery media. Additional information is presentedthat discusses tests of the effects of credentials,and incentives on response rates for direct mailsurveys.
Handbook of Research on Managing Managers
Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often ... more Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often used interchangeably. (see
Since 1990, the number of people living in extreme poverty has been cut in half. Today, 1.2 billi... more Since 1990, the number of people living in extreme poverty has been cut in half. Today, 1.2 billion people live on less than $1.25 per day (UNDP, Online). A great deal of credit has been given to the Grameen Bank and Muhammad Yunus for initiating microcredit (or microfinance) programs which are seen as a means by which the poor can move up the economic pyramid. And while a great deal of evidence shows that microcredit helps many people better manage their families finances, other evidence shows that it does not often enable the poor to enter the ranks of the middle class or lead to the creation or growth of entrepreneurial ventures. So what is the answer? To borrow liberally from a famous comment attributed to Mother Theresa, ‘If I focus on the one I may not have much impact, but if I focus on the many, I may help an entire community prosper.’ Creating shared value through the creation of for profit companies in rural villages may be a significant part of the long-term solution that...
Cases on Information Technology Series
The CEO of a large United States-based manufacturer was angry. A service and support plan was not... more The CEO of a large United States-based manufacturer was angry. A service and support plan was not in place for a new line of electronic controls that was a critical part of the company’s growth plans. This product was also the first jointly developed product since a French competitor acquired the CEO’s firm three years earlier. The executive team was looking for 500% sales growth over the next five years, and had made it clear that everybody’s job was on the line if the team failed to produce. The product management and marketing team was given the specific challenge to develop a plan for service, support, and training. They had less than 90 days to review the current situation, and to then develop and begin to implement a new plan that centered on managing the flow of information between a number of key stakeholders.
Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often ... more Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often used interchangeably. (see http://thesaurus.reference.com). With rapid changes in technology, and the spread of capitalism, networks which use English as the common language are flourishing. Many authors have written about the affects this has had on management and leadership and the differences between the two. This paper reviews common definitions of leadership, explores some of the key concepts associated with the transition from the industrial to the information age, and the evolution of the terminology of leadership, and then reviews the results of a preliminary research project which uses a corpus-based methodology to analyse the text in a diachronic set of documents collated from the Leadership Quarterly 1990 to 2005. Future research will build on this study as the basis for reviewing other sources and domains in the field of leadership, modelling the relationship between cross-cultural issues and leaders in organizations.
Communications of the IIMA, 2006
This manuscript examines the evolution of internet value systems in the motion control industry. ... more This manuscript examines the evolution of internet value systems in the motion control industry. We believe the primary reason behind the inconsistent performance of that industry’s adoption of the internet in the supply channel was largely due to poor strategy. Using a the concepts of bias exchanges and game theory it is suggested that internet strategies such as disintermediation and first-mover advantage were elusive because firms focused too much on technology and not enough on customer value. Lessons for managers and future decisions are offered.
Journal of Technology Management in China, Jun 5, 2007
PurposeThis paper aims to present the observations of an Italian expatriate who has made China hi... more PurposeThis paper aims to present the observations of an Italian expatriate who has made China his home. It provides insights into the reasons he has been successful, which will help western firms learn how to better do business with the Chinese.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based off an intensive interview with a Western entrepreneur.FindingsThis paper reviews the case of JESA industrial limited featuring comments and the perspective of its expatriate founder as he leads the further evolution of JESA from roots as an industrial market research and outsourcing consultancy focusing primarily on small and medium sized enterprises in Italy, to one that combines western and Chinese knowledge and experience with technical expertise and competency to serve a growing base of western businesses and Chinese expatriates.Originality/valueThis study is original in that it provides insight from the perspective of a successful business person who has gone through the process of integrating into the Chinese business world. Linkages are made to other studies, and literature. The paper helps foreign executives in small, medium, and large enterprises understand some of the nuances involved in doing business in and with China from the perspective of a successful western expatriate.
Communications of the IIMA, Jan 6, 2015
Communications of the IIMA, Jan 5, 2015
Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often ... more Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often used interchangeably. (see http://thesaurus.reference.com). With rapid changes in technology, and the spread of capitalism, networks which use English as the common language are flourishing. Many authors have written about the affects this has had on management and leadership and the differences between the two. This paper reviews common definitions of leadership, explores some of the key concepts associated with the transition from the industrial to the information age, and the evolution of the terminology of leadership, and then reviews the results of a preliminary research project which uses a corpus-based methodology to analyse the text in a diachronic set of documents collated from the Leadership Quarterly 1990 to 2005. Future research will build on this study as the basis for reviewing other sources and domains in the field of leadership, modelling the relationship between cross-cultural issues and leaders in organizations.
The explosive growth of networks and the World Wide Web over the past decade has led to increased... more The explosive growth of networks and the World Wide Web over the past decade has led to increased adoption of new applications by educational institutions. Critical uses of software including courseware such as Blackboard, WebCT, and others have led to an increase in computer literacy amongst faculty and staff. Consistent with this increased literacy, newer applications including the use of the web for tests, surveys, and student evaluation has been increasing. There are many benefits of using web-based surveying and online evaluation techniques (see Table 1). As Mehta and Sivadas (1995) have noted, response times can be reduced from days and weeks to minutes and hours. It is common practice in many universities to have students provide feedback about courses in the form of a questionnaire, at the end of each course. As Felton, Stinson, and Mitchell (2003, p. 2) note, “these surveys are assumed to measure a professor’s performance and successfulness in his or her various classes.” McGourty, Scoles, and Thorpe (2002, p. 5) cited one of the key benefits as the “immediate availability of data for analysis and reporting and more extensive qualitative responses from students to the open-ended questions.” Other studies (see Handwerk, Carson, & Blackwell, 2000; Hmieleski & Champagne, 2000) had similar conclusions. And although not all e-mail users check their e-mail everyday (Kent & Lee, 1999), past research found that e-mail responses generally occurred within the first three days (Comley, 1997; Mehta & Sivadas, 1995).
Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies, Jun 19, 2009
Purpose–Throughout the past 30 years, major economic reforms have been implemented in China; in 2... more Purpose–Throughout the past 30 years, major economic reforms have been implemented in China; in 2001, China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) was a major step, since it enabled the country to formally join the globalised world. But China entered the WTO without market economy status (MES), meaning that other countries can easily use the WTO international settlement body in antidumping procedures against Chinese firms. Since joining the WTO, Chinese authorities have repeatedly attempted to gain this status, ...
Journal of Technology Management in China, Sep 1, 2006
Industrial Management and Data Systems, Mar 1, 2003
This paper critically examines the affect of the Internet on industrial sales channels. The techn... more This paper critically examines the affect of the Internet on industrial sales channels. The technology and strategy of industrial exchanges is discussed. Recent critiques of B2B activities are reviewed within the context of the motion control industry. Conclusions are provided that should assist managers in this industry.
IGI Global eBooks, 2004
The CEO of a large United States-based manufacturer was angry. A service and support plan was not... more The CEO of a large United States-based manufacturer was angry. A service and support plan was not in place for a new line of electronic controls that was a critical part of the company's growth plans. This product was also the first jointly developed product since a French competitor acquired the CEO's firm three years earlier. The executive team was looking for 500% sales growth over the next five years, and had made it clear that everybody's job was on the line if the team failed to produce. The product management and marketing team was given the specific challenge to develop a plan for service, support, and training. They had less than 90 days to review the current situation, and to then develop and begin to implement a new plan that centered on managing the flow of information between a number of key stakeholders.
The Internet has become a powerful tool for gatheringdata, communicating, and processing of trans... more The Internet has become a powerful tool for gatheringdata, communicating, and processing of transactionsglobally. It has also become a major market researchtool used by commercial market research firms todistribute surveys to various populations. Researchto date has focused on comparing response rate,response speed, and cost of direct mail andelectronic mail delivered surveys. This bookpresents and discusses the results of a researchstudy that directly compares response rates andresponse distributions to self-administeredquestionnaires delivered to a population of designengineers using both direct mail and electronic maildelivery media. Additional information is presentedthat discusses tests of the effects of credentials,and incentives on response rates for direct mailsurveys.
Handbook of Research on Managing Managers
Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often ... more Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often used interchangeably. (see
Since 1990, the number of people living in extreme poverty has been cut in half. Today, 1.2 billi... more Since 1990, the number of people living in extreme poverty has been cut in half. Today, 1.2 billion people live on less than $1.25 per day (UNDP, Online). A great deal of credit has been given to the Grameen Bank and Muhammad Yunus for initiating microcredit (or microfinance) programs which are seen as a means by which the poor can move up the economic pyramid. And while a great deal of evidence shows that microcredit helps many people better manage their families finances, other evidence shows that it does not often enable the poor to enter the ranks of the middle class or lead to the creation or growth of entrepreneurial ventures. So what is the answer? To borrow liberally from a famous comment attributed to Mother Theresa, ‘If I focus on the one I may not have much impact, but if I focus on the many, I may help an entire community prosper.’ Creating shared value through the creation of for profit companies in rural villages may be a significant part of the long-term solution that...
Cases on Information Technology Series
The CEO of a large United States-based manufacturer was angry. A service and support plan was not... more The CEO of a large United States-based manufacturer was angry. A service and support plan was not in place for a new line of electronic controls that was a critical part of the company’s growth plans. This product was also the first jointly developed product since a French competitor acquired the CEO’s firm three years earlier. The executive team was looking for 500% sales growth over the next five years, and had made it clear that everybody’s job was on the line if the team failed to produce. The product management and marketing team was given the specific challenge to develop a plan for service, support, and training. They had less than 90 days to review the current situation, and to then develop and begin to implement a new plan that centered on managing the flow of information between a number of key stakeholders.
Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often ... more Much has been written about leaders and leadership, managers and management. The terms are often used interchangeably. (see http://thesaurus.reference.com). With rapid changes in technology, and the spread of capitalism, networks which use English as the common language are flourishing. Many authors have written about the affects this has had on management and leadership and the differences between the two. This paper reviews common definitions of leadership, explores some of the key concepts associated with the transition from the industrial to the information age, and the evolution of the terminology of leadership, and then reviews the results of a preliminary research project which uses a corpus-based methodology to analyse the text in a diachronic set of documents collated from the Leadership Quarterly 1990 to 2005. Future research will build on this study as the basis for reviewing other sources and domains in the field of leadership, modelling the relationship between cross-cultural issues and leaders in organizations.
Communications of the IIMA, 2006
This manuscript examines the evolution of internet value systems in the motion control industry. ... more This manuscript examines the evolution of internet value systems in the motion control industry. We believe the primary reason behind the inconsistent performance of that industry’s adoption of the internet in the supply channel was largely due to poor strategy. Using a the concepts of bias exchanges and game theory it is suggested that internet strategies such as disintermediation and first-mover advantage were elusive because firms focused too much on technology and not enough on customer value. Lessons for managers and future decisions are offered.