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Purpose -Although a high proportion of the Ghanaian population live and work in under-developed areas, research on rural infrastructure development is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges confronting rural infrastructure development and the requisite incentives needed to boost it. Design/methodology/approach -An inductive methodological approach was adopted using a structured questionnaire to survey the perceptions of rural contractors. Findings -Incentive systems identified include the provision of mobilization funds for projects; a plant pool for rural contractors; special allowance for rates of project items; and provision of letters of credit to secure loans for projects. Key challenges confronting rural construction were identified as a lack of financial institutions willing to support projects with funds; lack of potable water; lack of good health care systems; and lack of a goods market to supply materials. Research limitations/implications -Identification of challenges and incentive systems for rural infrastructure development provides an opportunity to reinvigorate rural infrastructural development in sub-Saharan Africa. Practical implications -The study will be of value to all project partners throughout the supply chain who contemplate rural infrastructure development. Originality/value -The paper presents a novel epitome of rural infrastructure delivery in the developing country of Ghana.

a b s t r a c tDespite the generally positive contribution of supply management capabilities to firm performance their respective routines require more depth of assessment. Using the resource-based view we examine four routines bundles comprising ostensive and performative aspects of supply management capabilitysupply management integration, coordinated sourcing, collaboration management and performance assessment. Using structural equation modelling we measure supply management capability empirically as a second-order latent variable and estimate its effect on a series of financial and operational performance measures. The routines-based approach allows us to demonstrate a different, more finegrained approach for assessing consistent bundles of homogeneous patterns of activity across firms. The results suggest supply management capability is formed of internally consistent routine bundles, which are significantly related to financial performance, mediated by operational performance. Our results confirm an indirect effect of firm performance for 'core' routines forming the architecture of a supply management capability. Supply management capability primarily improves the operational performance of the business, which is subsequently translated into improved financial performance. The study is significant for practice as it offers a different view about the face-valid rationale of supply management directly influencing firm financial performance. We confound this assumption, prompting caution when placing too much importance on directly assessing supply management capability using financial performance of the business.

Purpose – The developed world increasingly expects corporations to support the community under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) banner. For developing countries, the situation differs and CSR has yet to be fully embraced. This study aims to examine the CSR in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI). Design/methodology/approach – A multi-stage methodology employs descriptive statistics, the t-test and χ2-test to analyse survey data. Findings – Results highlight three broad classifications of CSR project typology: social; infrastructure; and environmental. Ghanaian firms are found more aligned to social/intangible CSR projects than tangible ones. Research limitations/implications – The study is geographically focussed, but the findings hold relevance to all the developing countries. The findings hold implications for policy making and planning in terms of how Ghanaian communities might integrate corporations within their geographical catchments, to enhance sustainable, local development. Originality/value – This is the first in a series of CSR research within the Ghanaian context. It holds value for others conducting similar work within the developing world.

Business now almost universally accepts that the primary management task is value creation. The impact of leaders’, directors' and executives' personal values in the value creation process has been largely ignored in the literature. This paper seeks to redress the current situation by proposing that the needs and values of leaders and executives drive the vision, goals and strategies to create shareholder value. Yet, while most directors and senior managers will be at ease with pushing the organisation farther and faster in the creation of new methods to create more shareholder value, this is creating dis-ease amongst other directors, executives and the organisations' operator who have different values. This disease potentially stymies leaders' and boards' ability to create more value for shareholders. By understanding the values dynamic and asking different questions, boards and leaders can motivate the culture to create more value. The objective of this paper is to build on previous executive values research by examining the impact of how the values of one executive value group translate into methods of creating shareholder value and proposing the linkage between leaders values and shareholder value. First, a theoretical background is provided. Next, the results of empirical research into executive values are briefly reviewed and combined with data and insights from proprietary market research to discuss how the needs and values of one executive value group impact on strategic leadership factors driving shareholder value creation methods. This is followed by proposing a conceptual framework illustrating the linkages between leaders' values and shareholder value creation with propositions. Conclusion and implications are drawn and finally limitations and areas for further research are provided.