Schwab, Leila

2018-2-20, Schwab, Leila, Gold, Stefan, Reiner, Gerald

2016-6-19, Schwab, Leila, Gold, Stefan, Reiner, Gerald

The research aims at exploring how decisions made by managers of growing firms influence the growth trajectory of their firms and guide them towards sustainable business growth. Based on empirical data of a Swiss family-owned wood construction company, a multi-method model is developed to simulate a growth phase and decision-making process. The expected results suggest that the speed at which decisions are made as well as the diversity of decisions considered influence positively the sustainable growth trajectory. The use of simulation-modelling sheds new light on the study of the dynamic concept of growth in operations management and guide business practice.

2017-7-2, Schwab, Leila, Gold, Stefan, Reiner, Gerald

The research aims at evaluating the risk taken by a growing company when it expands its operations capacity. Previous research has shown that effective decision-making process is key and its facilitation is a major purpose in operations management. A multi-method model is developed to simulate a growth phase and respective decision-making processes. Its calibration is achieved through empirical data of a Swiss family-owned wood construction company; then a compare runs analysis is conducted. Results show that more than 80% of runs, interestingly, lead the company to bankruptcy, which helps managers and counsellors to evaluate growth risks adequately.

2015-6-30, Schwab, Leila, Gold, Stefan, Reiner, Gerald

The research aims at exploring how decisions made by managers of growing firms influence the growth trajectory of their firms and guide them towards sustainable business growth. For this end, during five consecutive years, we analyze all decisions made by a high-growth firm by means of a longitudinal case study of a Swiss family-owned wood construction company. We observe that firms can take advantage of their growth periods to improve their efficiency and responsibility towards stakeholders. The empirical analysis and theory development pave novel ways for research and business practice towards sustainable business growth.

2017-2-8, Schwab, Leila, Gold, Stefan, Reiner, Gerald

Purpose: The objective of this paper is to explore how operations decision-making may keep the growing firms within the boundaries of corporate and societal sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: We classify operations decisions during growth periods according to the three dimensions of the triple bottom line (economic, social and environmental). By means of a longitudinal case study of a family-owned wood construction firm that is in a process of intense growth, we identify, visually represent and analyse the complex sequences of selected managerial operations decisions. Findings: Our empirical data suggests that operations decisions made by managers during growth periods follow specific patterns. From our analysis, we derive various research propositions that investigate how a well-understood and therefore efficient and effective decision-making process can facilitate sustainable business growth. Research limitations/implications: Our findings offer opportunities for future studies to zoom in on specific parts of the decision-making process during growth periods. Moreover, given the exploratory nature of our study, future research should test hypotheses derived from our research propositions. Practical implications: This study investigates operations decision-making during growth, which is crucial for guiding companies through this complex transition phase. Originality/value: This conceptual and empirical analysis explores new theory and contributes to the vastly under-researched subject of sustainable business growth.

2014-6-23, Schwab, Leila, Gold, Stefan, Kunz, Nathan, Reiner, Gerald

The research aims at (1) exploring new theory at the interface of business growth and sustainable development while (2) providing managerial implications for growing firms. For this end, we propose typologies of decisions to be considered by growing firms; by means of a longitudinal case study of a Swiss family-owned SME wood construction company (that is in a process of intense growth), we identify, visually represent and analyze the sequences of selected managerial decisions. The empirical analysis and theory development pave novel ways for research and companies towards sustainable business growth.