Browsing by Author "Phelps, Bob"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    International Banking Strategy and Efficiency: issues and directions.
    (2003-07-01T00:00:00Z) Phelps, Bob; Figueira, Catarina; Nellis, Joseph G.
    This paper reviews measures of banking efficiency and analyses the efficiency construct and its applications. We discuss the issues of data availability and methodological problems that occur when trying to obtain realistic local and global efficiency indicators for banks. We conclude by suggesting directions for future research that both inform theory and have practical application.
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    A review of the literature addressing the role of knowledge and expertise at key stages of business growth and development. Final Report
    (Dti - Department of Trade and Industry., 2005-08) Bessant, John; Phelps, Bob; Adams, Richard
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    The role of formal models in theory building: an application to strategy theory.
    (2003-07) Phelps, Bob
    A problem of the management field is that concepts are often vague and this breeds fragmented theories, each concentrating on different aspects of an underlying issue. This paper proposes the development of formal models in management to clarify and integrate the issues of the field. It illustrates this approach with a model of competitive advantage.
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    Which factors drive firm survival within an industry boundary over time? The UK onshore oil and gas production industry 1984-1999
    (Cranfield University, 2004-05) de Nahlik, Carmel F.; Phelps, Bob
    This thesis looks at the UK onshore oil and gas production industry and follows the history of a population of firms over a fifteen-year period following the industry's renaissance. It examines the linkage between firm survival, selection pressures and adaptation responses at the firm level, especially the role of discretionary adaptation, specifically exploration and exploitation strategies. Taking a Realist approach and using quantitative and qualitative methods for triangulation on a new data base derived from archival data, as well as informant interviews, it tests seven hypotheses' about post-entry survival of firms. The quantitative findings suggest that firm survival within this industry is linked to discretionary adaptation, when measured at the firm level, and to a mixture of selection and adaptation forces when measured for each firm for each individual year. The qualitative research suggests that selection factors dominate. This difference in views is unresolved. However the small, sparse population and the nature of the oil and gas industry compared with other common research contexts such as manufacturing or service firms suggests the results be treated with caution as befits a preliminary investigation. The major findings include limited support for the theory that the external environment is the major determinant of firm survival, though environment components affect firms differentially; resolution of apparent literature differences relating to the sequencing of exploration and exploitation and potential tangible evidence of coevolution. The research also finds that, though selection may be considered important by industry players, discretionary adaptation appears to play the key role, and that the key survival drivers for this population are intra-industry ties, exploitation experience and a learning/experience component. Selection has a place, however, in determining the life-cycle of the firm returning to be a key survival driver at certain ages of the firm inside the industry boundary.