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Surveys in business process management - a literature review
|
[
"Surveys",
"Business process management",
"Literature review",
"Business process orientation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Research in business process management (BPM) started in the late 1980s triggered by the seminal work published by Davenport and Short (1990) and Hammer and Champy (1994). Because BPM turned out to be not another temporary management fashion, scholars have published a huge number of both theoretical and empirical contributions allowing BPM to reach a certain maturity (Houy et al., 2010). In this study, we focus on empirical work and more precisely on surveys in the BPM domain. We mean by the terms survey and study a quantitative method collecting information in a structured format about BPM in practice by asking individuals (Malhotra and Grover, 1998). From our point of view, survey research is an important methodology within the BPM domain because, first, empirical research is important for the development process of BPM and survey research is quite often used within the BPM domain (Houy et al., 2010) and, second, surveys will become a more useful methodology to elaborate, clarify and challenge existing theory (Edmondson and McManus, 2007) as BPM research and thus BPM theory matures. A plethora of published surveys has followed, since Elzinga et al. (1995) published their survey results in 1995. However, that bears the risk that scholars lose track. Unfortunately, to date and to best of our knowledge, no similar review has been published in the literature so far. Houy et al. (2010) analyzed empirical BPM-publication in their literature review by examining the meta-perspective, the content-based perspective and the methodical perspective. However, their analysis from the content-based perspective was done only on high level. In another literature review Kohlbacher (2010) examined the performance effects of business process orientation (BPO) by analyzing the findings of empirical work. Therefore, we would like to answer the following research question (RQ) in this contribution:\n2. Definitions and research approach: In this section we first define the term BPM and explain the Business Process Management Maturity Model (BPMMM) used in this paper for our further analysis. Afterwards, we explain our research approach, i.e. the steps conducted in this review.\n3. Surveys in BPM: Having introduced BPM, explained our research approach and introduced our analysis framework in the previous section, we present and discuss our results in the current one. Additionally, we explicate our deduced conclusions in the Section 3.3.\n4. Summary: Our literature review contributes to the existing BPM body of knowledge by shedding light on surveys within the BPM domain. It provides an overview of surveys that have been published so far. The retrieved surveys were analyzed, categorized and briefly described. Finally, by discussing the results, conclusions were deduced and explicated:\n",
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"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to conduct a literature review to provide an overview of surveys focussing on business process management (BPM)/business process orientation (BPO) or on BPM-related topics in order to describe the status quo, uncover trends, classify survey contributions and assess the possible further development of survey research.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In order to achieve the research goals, the authors conduct a literature review. The authors analyze the retrieved literature by means of a developed analysis framework which allows the authors to examine the surveys from the meta-perspective and content-based perspective.\nFindings: A lot of surveys focussing on BPM/BPO or on BPM-related topics have been published in German- and English-speaking literature over the last years. Nevertheless, the authors find out that while some topics, countries/regions and industries are well explored others were neglected in the past. Moreover, the authors provide first evidence that companies have a different BPM demand. Finally, the authors conclude that although the implications of the incorporated surveys provide a good starting point for practitioners they seem to be too abstract to be helpful for them. Thus, the authors recommend the conduction of qualitative research endeavors to develop adaptable theories for practitioners.\nResearch limitations/implications: This literature review focusses on survey research in BPM. It could be repeated in order to verify the findings and moreover to track progress. However, although the authors followed the steps proposed for a literature review, the selection of relevant articles might be a limitation of this paper.\nOriginality/value: The literature review provides an overview of surveys focussing on BPM/BPO or on BPM-related topics that have been published so far. The developed and strictly applied analysis framework supports a systematic analysis of survey research and could therefore provide a detailed picture of the current state of this research field. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no comparable literature review has been undertaken until now.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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All that is solid melts into air: the servicescape in digital service space
|
[
"Avatars",
"Digital service-space",
"Marketing imagination",
"Operant resources",
"Service design",
"Time-logic of exchange"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Servicescape is the contextual landscape for service. It was first defined by Booms and Bitner (1981) as the service environment that shapes both the expectations of the customer and their satisfactions (Bitner, 1990). The servicescape is traditionally concerned with physical design issues but, most of all, the ambience of the \"built in\" attributes which impact on customers' perceptions of their service experience (Bitner, 1990; Reimer and Kuehn, 2005) and how the firm's image and purpose is thus communicated to customers.\n2. Classic servicescape logic: The most widely cited model of the service setting is Bitner's (1990, 1992) servicescape. This is presented as a physically bound context for service that influences the customers' sense of well-being, directly and indirectly. It offers an explanatory logic of how customers clarify their expectations and satisfactions in the context of a servicescape. It also brings together a mix of environmental and psychological stimuli associated with the place of the service experience.\n3. New theoretical considerations: S-D logic sees marketing exchange as a process where parties use their specialised knowledge and skills as resources for each other's benefit - that is, service is exchanged for service (Vargo and Lusch, 2004, 2006, 2008). This new logic has raised questions about whether suppliers can maintain control over what is on offer. The consensus so far is that control is more realistically shared between service participants and that the value derived from customer and supplier interaction is said to be co-created. In our view, this opens up new ways of conceiving servicescape design in digital service-space. Design modifications become something that customers can co-create. Also relevant is the distinction made by Vargo and Lusch (2004, 2006, and 2008) between operand resources (used in the production of service) and operant resources. The former is acted upon, and the latter acts on them. This raises the question of what is the status of servicescape in a virtual environment, especially when customer-controlled virtual agents called avatars are embedded in it, but their actions are directed by people in the physical world (Garnier and Poncin, 2013; Saren et al., 2013). Our view is that the categorical status of the virtual servicescape is operand resource, as in a bricks and mortar world. Avatars in the virtual world are also an operand resource; however, human participants maintain an active operant role in the physical world. These complexities of identifying the locus of control are explored further in the next section.\n4. The servicescape in digital space: Bitner (1992) recognised that customer and employee behaviours are influenced in part by a person's internal responses to physical servicescape design, or service atmospherics, and she elaborated various servicescape cues that she likened to nonverbal communication. Most customers (and employees) give little or no conscious attention to their role in the construction of these place meanings. In other words, the servicescape acts as a window into a socially constructed reality. Its meanings are humanly appraised individually, interpreted by personal and social conventions and shaped further in conversation by word-of-mouth. From this perspective, a servicescape becomes a social phenomenon, constructed through human conduct and the interpreted experience of \"being there\" or immersed in the experience (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980).\n5. The epistemic shift to virtual realities: It is most commonly taken for granted that what exists in a physical setting does so independent of a person's perception of it. In other words, the furniture, fittings and atmospheric embellishments of a servicescape would \"be there\" even if no person was there to experience it. This is the objective world view. However, there are subjective differences in perception between individuals because of a host of individual-specific or cultural differences. Even servicescape colours and sounds are subjectively perceived and require inter-subjective validation. Hence, a particular servicescape in a physical setting might be seen as easy to navigate by one participant and as confusing by another. Background music might be perceived as soothing by one and perhaps mindless by another.\n6. Comparative realities - physical places and digital spaces: We have argued that servicescape design can strongly influence individual and social behaviour within that setting in ways that constrain or support the service experience of customers and staff at a functional level and in symbolic ways. We summarize in Table I what we see as the major changes needed in servicescape design. The changes marked with an asterisk signify more advanced and still evolving aspects of virtual servicescape design.\n7. Contemporary servicescape designs in digital service-space: Currently, people everywhere are spending more time in digital environments and are able to be entertained, shop, learn, socialize and work within this expanding context. Young people especially are immersed in a world of technology but with an overarching social dimension. We have reviewed the most popular English-language virtual sites, selecting exemplars from trade magazines and websites and outline below some of the emergent trends in practice. We make no claim that these exemplars are typical examples, in fact the reverse; we were looking for demonstrations of uniqueness, creativity, technical competence and participant popularity.\n8. Conclusions: In this article, we have signalled that bricks and mortar servicescape concepts are in need of radical appraisal and reinterpretation. We have through exemplar cases demonstrated the transition under way. In the shift from physical to a new digital media context, the service design orientation shifts from a physical place where the customer experience is mediated by designed-in objects and symbols to interactive digital space in which the customer might be engaged through their smart phone, or a \"mouse click\", or through the agency of a suppler generated avatar-presenter, or a participant-generated avatar-persona.\n9. Opportunities for future research: Virtual servicescapes challenge our sensory derived notions of what is objectively real. Avatars for example provide opportunity to participants in forming relationship links in servicescape environments by presenting an alternative self-identity through their avatars. This suggests we are collectively immersed in a paradigm shift, driven by new digital technology and with its meanings yet to be fully derived. Some specific research directions are as follows:\n10. Limitations of this research: Because of the speed of changes in digital servicescapes, there is a danger that research reports and contemporary practices may become out of date as new developments emerge. However, our research findings are based on scholarly research of the relevant literature to date, from practitioner reports and evidence emerging from our examination of many digital web-sites. It has not been our intention to objectively represent current servicescape realities but more to indicate the major directions of innovation with exemplar examples.\n11. Managerial implications: The digital era is changing consumer behaviour. Service managers need to take into account that many customers are already equally as engaged with digital-space social networks as they once were with bricks and mortar stores. The more time consumers as participant-actors spend in social networks, the decision on what and where to buy is decided by interactions with friends and other influencers. Social media platforms are enabling organisations to learn more about their customers and also to engage them more.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: The emergence of new social media is shifting the market place for business towards virtual market space. In the light of the emerging digital space for new forms of marketing, the traditional servicescape concept is critically examined. This paper aims to show why servicescape concepts and attitudes need to be adapted for digital media.\nDesign/methodology/approach: First, the authors explain how the traditional servicescape concept adds meaning to a service provider's value-proposition by modifying customer expectations and customer experience. Second, recognising that the environment for service is no longer bound to a physical place, the authors discuss the implications of the epistemic shift involved.\nFindings: The authors' examination shows that digital service space challenges traditional concepts about what constitutes a customer experience and derived value. The authors conceptually \"zoom out\" into a virtual service eco-system and show with exemplar examples why the servicescape in digital space is more socially embedded and necessarily more fluid in its time-space design. In the more advanced sites, interactions between various artificial bodies (avatars) are co-created by controlling off-line participant-actors; yet, these participant-actors remain strangers to each other at an off-line level. This is entirely a new and radical development of old times.\nResearch limitations/implications: The research findings are based on scholarly research of the relevant literature, from practitioner reports, and evidence emerging from the examination of many digital web-sites. It has not been the authors' intention to objectively represent current servicescape functionalities but more to indicate the major directions of change with exemplar examples. The future cannot be predicted, but their interpretive conclusions suggest major challenges in service marketing and management logic ahead. New forms of digital servicescape are still being created as technology and service imagination enables, so further research interest in virtual atmospherics can be expected.\nPractical implications: Social media platforms are enabling organisations to learn more about their customers and also to engage them more. In these changing times, bricks and mortar stores would be well advised to review their servicescape presence to allow and encourage engagement with the more involved consumers. And, by integrating their digital space into their physical place, bricks and mortar stores might take on more relationship oriented process-like characteristics, both in the digital space and in their physical places, with developments on one platform leading to possible service innovations on the other.\nSocial implications: The digital era is changing consumer behaviour. Service managers need to take into account that many customers are already equally as engaged with digital-space social networks as they once were with bricks and mortar stores. The more time consumers as participant-actors spend in social networks, the decision on what and where to buy is decided by interactions with friends and other influencers.\nOriginality/value: New forms of digital servicescape are being created as technology and service imagination enables. Further scholarly research interest in virtual atmospherics can be expected, impacting on the authors' sense of place, and self-identity.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Combining social and nutritional perspectives: from adolescence to adulthood (the ASH30 study)
|
[
"Research methods",
"Diet",
"Nutrition",
"England"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: There has been an \"explosion of international public concern about food\" (Murcott, 1998a) in the industrialised world; questions about food safety and the impact of various aspects of diet upon health are seldom out of the news. Though the media debate may sometimes be characterised by scaremongering and misinformation, nutrition and health are inextricably linked. It is well established that dietary habits in early life influence the risk of developing several chronic diseases and the promotion of healthy eating is a priority of national and global health policies (Kleinman, 2000; World Health Organisation, 2003; Department of Health, 2004). Given what is known of the diet-disease relationship, understanding the development of food choices and attitudes is critically significant to developing any preventative health policy (Wardle et al., 1995).This predominantly health-focused concern with what people eat has overlapped with \"a surge of sociological interest\" (Beardsworth and Keil, 1997, p. 3) in the study of food behaviours. Food and eating are also strongly represented within contemporary popular culture in books, magazines and television programmes (Warde, 1997; Wright et al., 2001). Food behaviours can be viewed as cultural practices, central to the development and maintenance over time of individual and collective identities (Visser, 1999). Food choices involve a complex interrelationship between biological and socio-cultural factors. Food may be physiologically essential for the body to function, yet socio-cultural determinants have a strong role in deciding which foods are consumed. In order to understand \"why we eat what we eat\", we need to appreciate the role of factors such as time, space, social relationships, nature and culture (Caplan, 1996).Combining nutritional scientific approaches and sociological perspectives is essential to understanding the nature and significance of the development of food choices over the life course (Devine, 2005). Interdisciplinary collaboration brings added depth to the research which cannot be achieved by application of a single discipline or method. The overall aim of the ASH30 longitudinal dietary survey was to explore longitudinal change in dietary intake from adolescence to adulthood. This paper will focus specifically on the benefits of using mixed methods to investigate dietary change from adolescence to adulthood exemplified using the findings from the ASH30 longitudinal study (Lake et al., 2006).\nMethods used in ASH30 study: Dietary data using quantitative food diaries were collected at two time points twenty years apart. The first collection point was when individuals were 11-12 years old, at middle school and living in Northumberland, and the second at age 31-32 years, when many of the respondents had partners and families and most were working. The original research in 1980 for the ASH study (Hackett et al., 1984) focused on nutritional intake and socio-economic status of the young people's parents. The objective of the ASH30 follow-up study (Lake et al., 2006) was to investigate dietary change from adolescence to adulthood. Using socio-demographic data and participants' own perceptions of, and attributions for, their dietary change. The 1980 study was not designed to examine social processes nor participants' perceptions of eating behaviours. In 2000 the longitudinal design expanded the nutritional aspect of the survey and included a primary objective of exploring participants' perceptions of factors influencing their change in eating patterns and behaviours over time.Foods consumed (at both time points) were assigned to one of the five food groups from The Balance of Good Health (Food Standards Agency, 2001)[1] and expressed as a percentage contribution to total food weight. Qualitative data was not collected at the first time-point, but in 2000, two self-completion questionnaires were used to obtain the individual's perceptions of, and their attributions for, dietary change, eating habits, food choice and behaviours and to relate findings with the change in food intake from adolescence to adulthood (Lake et al., 2004). Within the questionnaires, combinations of both quantitative and qualitative questions were used to elicit perceptions about their dietary change. Two independent analyses of the open-ended questionnaire responses were carried out to derive the dominant themes using content analysis (Krippendorff, 1980) with QSR N5 NUD*IST. These independent analyses were consistent with regard to the dominant themes.\nThe benefits of using a mixed-method approach: In relation to exploring dietary change, combining both quantitative and qualitative data was deemed important to achieve the objectives of the ASH30 study. Quantitative research methods are employed in dietary data analysis, while respondents' understanding and perception of their dietary change tends to be collected using qualitative methods. The \"deeper insight\" (Fade, 2003) offered by qualitative research methods to understand \"the meanings, the concepts and symbols\" (Gregory, 1995) relating to their dietary change enables research to offer possible explanations for and to understand change.Choosing which qualitative research method to use is dependent upon an overall research strategy. Methods include participant observation, focus groups, case studies, life histories, diaries, semi - and unstructured interviews (Gregory, 1995; Davison, 1995).Historically there has been a \"quantitative - qualitative debate\" which argues that the methods are \"not logically linked\" (Roberts, 2002). However, while quantitative and qualitative methodologies have their individual strengths and weaknesses, combinations of the methods are seen to be beneficial by drawing on the relevant strengths of each methodology (Jones, 1997). Quantitative methods illustrate how diet has changed, but are not adequate to explain the complex area of dietary change. Mixed-methods approaches allows the subject area to be examined from \"multiple perspectives and/or paradigms\" (Chenail, 2000) to gain a fuller understanding of the research area. Nau (1995) argues that \"qualitative and quantitative methods used in conjunction may provide complementary data sets which together give a more complete picture than can be obtained using either method singly\". Both approaches produce different types of data that can be used in the \"explanation of social action and meaning\" (Roberts, 2002).One of the limiting factors within the design of the second phase of the ASH30 Study was the use of questionnaires as the means of collecting qualitative data. Time limitations and the need to reach the maximum number of respondents meant that questionnaires were deemed to be the most appropriate tool within the constraints of this particular study. Further studies in this area should consider the use of additional approaches, including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Within the ASH30 Study, the combination of methods achieved the aim of elucidating factors contributing to dietary change from adolescence to adulthood and comparing these with measured change in diet (Lake et al., 2004). The benefit of using mixed methods in a dietary change survey is that the data generated inform us not just of how diets have actually changed but also of the explanations which people offer for such change.\nFindings from the ASH30 longitudinal study: Significant changes between diet in 1980 and in 2000 were observed in the 198 ASH30 participants. Intakes of foods containing fat and/or sugar and milk and dairy foods decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.031 respectively), while intakes of fruit and vegetables increased (p < 0.01) (Lake et al., 2006). Questionnaires were designed to investigate participants attributions for dietary change. During these 20 years major life events, to which some of the responses alluded, occurred. These included attending secondary school, going to university, leaving home, travelling, undertaking work, gaining financial independence, moving to elsewhere in the UK, meeting and cohabiting with partners and having children. In parallel with these individual changes, there have been wider societal transformations such as major changes in employment opportunities following the end of coal mining in the region, the increased availability and variety of foods provided through large supermarkets, the \"food scares\" of the late 1980s and 1990s, the increased awareness and media profile of nutrition and numerous other events which may have played some role in shaping how an individual's diet changes. Five key attributional factors, derived from the open-ended questionnaire responses, were found to be associated with degree of dietary change over 20 years; these were nutritional awareness, lack of time, employment, parental influence and the influence of partners (Lake et al., 2004). For example, individuals who attributed changes in their personal eating habits to \"nutritional awareness\" had, over 20 years, increased their intake of fruit and vegetables and decreased their intake of meat, fish and alternatives significantly more than individuals who did not cite such awareness as a factor driving change (Lake et al., 2004).The qualitative data, derived from the ASH30 responses to the open-ended questionnaire items, indicated that there was a general consensus among the ASH30 Study respondents that in 2000 there was a higher level of awareness about diet, nutrition and health than in 1980. This point is well illustrated by one respondent's reflections:Though I was interested in my diet when I was 12, and my education had begun as regards healthy eating, I think I'm a lot more aware now than I was. I think it's probably easier to access information now than it was 20 years ago - there are certainly a lot more magazines/TV stations/books on the subject. I think the average 12 year old today would know far more than I did when I was 12 (Questionnaire 1: Female ASH30 respondent).Quantitative dietary data alone would not have revealed this thoughtful insight into the cultural shift over 20 years. Dietary habits, in particular those related to change in food intake over time, are a culturally interesting phenomenon. Attributions for change are difficult to quantify but these data present an opportunity for researchers to understand the dietary change phenomenon during an important phase of the life course. The ASH30 Study results have demonstrated that while diet is changeable, remarkably flexible and receptive to influences from psychosocial, commercial, political and biological environment, there was evidence of tracking of intakes over 20 years.\nDiscussion: The following discussion section will set the ASH30 findings and its approach in context of the following sub-headings, the stability of diet and dietary change; the life course and food choices; the science of nutrition and health policy, public understanding of nutrition and moral panic.The stability of diet and dietary change\nConclusions: Dietary behaviour involves negotiated choices within social settings which are open to a wide variety of influences; all of these shift over time. The use of food diaries and the quantitative analysis of consumption in nutritional terms provides evidence of changing diets over time. The investigation of people's attributions for changes in their own dietary behaviour add a social context to the measured dietary change and provide an \"explanation\" for the change.Eating is one of the most basic and yet most complex of human behaviours. Further work is needed to develop a good understanding not only of the factors influencing this behaviour at any given time, but also of the factors influencing the even more complex phenomenon of dietary change. Having an in-depth understanding of those factors which influence and contribute to dietary change will have health implications and so may be attractive to funding agencies with utilitarian objectives. For example, little is known about the diversity, or otherwise, of factors which influence food choice at different stages of the life course, or in different socioeconomic groups, or among those from different ethnic backgrounds. The social context of the framework of ideas and understandings in which dietary changes are made cannot be ignored and are central to the theme of public health nutrition. Adopting mixed method approaches to exploring dietary change should offer a rich perspective from which to base realistic interventions.\n",
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"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to focus specifically on the benefits of using mixed methods to investigate dietary change from adolescence to adulthood exemplified using the findings from the ASH30 longitudinal study. The ASH30 study is a longitudinal dietary survey which provided quantitative evidence of dietary change and investigated factors influencing dietary change from adolescence to adulthood.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Two three-day food diaries were collected both in 1980 (aged 11-12 years) and 2000 (aged 31-32 years) from the same 198 respondents in North East England. In 2,000 questionnaires were used to collect perceptions of, and attributions for, dietary change and open-ended responses were analysed using content analysis.\nFindings: - The use of mixed methods brings added breadth and depth to the research which cannot be achieved by a single discipline or method. Determining what has influenced change in dietary behaviour from adolescence to adulthood is a complex and multifaceted task. Eating habits are influenced by multiple factors throughout the life course. Change in food intake between adolescence and adulthood related to life-course events and trajectories. The qualitative findings highlighted relevant contextual information such as themes of moral panics, the concept of \"convenience\" and \"fresh\" foods.\nPractical implications: - Adopting mixed method approaches to exploring dietary change should offer a rich perspective from which to base realistic interventions.\nOriginality/value: - Longitudinal dietary surveys present an opportunity to understand the complex process of dietary change throughout the life course in terms both of how diets have changed but also of why they have changed.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Acceptance and usage of social media as a platform among student entrepreneurs
|
[
"Social media",
"Adoption",
"Business platform",
"Student entrepreneur"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Student entrepreneurs are young adults who establish new enterprises to commercialize opportunities using the knowledge that they acquire through their university studies by means of transforming knowledge into revenue that generates new products and services with the help of innovative technology (Bailetti, 2011). Student entrepreneurs not only contribute to the economic development of a region, but they also boost the return on government investment in university research and development, which concerns both policy makers and taxpayers alike (Michelacci, 2003; Bailetti, 2011). According to the research, there is great potential for university graduates in increasing entrepreneurial activities (Kolbre et al., 2005); however, it has been found that most university graduates express little interest in becoming entrepreneurs, which suggests that student entrepreneurship is a global problem (Shambare, 2013).\nLiterature review: Social media adoption and entrepreneurship\nMethodology: This study employs a cross-sectional design and a quantitative approach to measure the effect of the performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, facilitating condition, and perceived enjoyment that contribute to the depth of social media usage as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia.\nData analysis: Descriptive analysis\nDiscussion: The findings from the study reveal that performance expectancy has a positive and significant effect on the adoption of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia (H1). This could be interpreted as the student entrepreneurs' belief that adopting social media will enhance the performance of their online businesses. Perceived risk is proven to have a positive and significant effect on the adoption of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia (H2), which indicates that student entrepreneurs consider and accept the risk of negative outcomes while they adopt social media as a business platform. Perceived trust is also found to have a positive and significant effect on the adoption of social media, which shows that H3 is confirmed and could be interpreted as supporting the existing literature (Gefen et al., 2003), as student entrepreneurs express their trust for social media and the benefits associated with it, including enhanced performance for their online businesses. Facilitating conditions have a positive effect on the adoption of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia. However, despite the positive effect that is identified among the respondents, the effect of facilitating conditions on the adoption of social media is not statistically significant (H4). This may be because many young entrepreneurs are uncertain about the technological and organizational infrastructures that support the adoption of social media as a business platform. Lastly, perceived enjoyment has been found to have a positive and significant effect on the adoption of social media among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia (H5). The finding complements the existing literature (Guo, 2015), and it reflects that student entrepreneurs in Malaysia obtain the enjoyment and fun that is associated with the adoption of social media as a business platform.\nConclusion: The adoption, usage, and value of electronic businesses have emerged as a dynamic research arena (Straub et al., 2002). This study contributes to the existing literature by positing a promising extended UTAUT model to explain the adoption and use of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia. The major contribution of the study is the form of the construct, depth of social media usage, and its relationship with the adoption of social media, which has been integrated into the original model for the purpose of this study. Thus, the findings extend the scope of the theory and thereby contribute to the body of knowledge and enrich the existing literature that is related to social media adoption, specifically in the Malaysian context. In terms of practical implications, the knowledge that is generated from this study can support policy makers of both the government and organizations (operating social platforms) in the refinement of current policies to champion strategies that are related to innovative technologies and aid student entrepreneurs. Such student entrepreneurs could use these findings to make informed decisions that are related to the adoption and usage of social media for business and thereby improve their participation in economic activities in the light of a more liberalized and internationally challenging environment. The study can also serve as a guide for future researchers and facilitate their understanding of the acceptance and usage of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs of Malaysia. Furthermore, future research could attempt to integrate more constructs into the study's model or implement the same model in different cultural or geographical settings to reveal a deeper and more generalized understanding of social media and its influence on young entrepreneurs.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: While it is perceived that adoption reflects acceptance, the purpose of this paper is to argue that individual usage is critical and cannot be guaranteed by mere adoption. This study, therefore, focuses on the factors (i.e. performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, facilitating condition, and perceived enjoyment) contributing to the adoption and ultimately usage of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia under the premise of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT).\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study adopts a cross-sectional design and quantitative data are collected from 300 selected respondents listed as student entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurship centers of all public universities within Peninsular Malaysia.\nFindings: Performance expectancy, perceived risk, perceived trust, and perceived enjoyment have a significant effect on the adoption of social media leading to its usage as a business platform. Findings also report a significant mediating effect of adoption of social media on the relationship between performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, and perceived enjoyment with the depth of social media usage.\nResearch limitations/implications: In order to promote entrepreneurial activities among student entrepreneurs using social media as a business platform, programs and policies should focus on improving cyber security and value-added services.\nOriginality/value: This study puts forward and tests the original UTAUT model to assess the adoption and depth of social media usage as a business platform among young student entrepreneurs in Peninsular Malaysia, which provides a foundation for the design and implementation of programs and policies that promote entrepreneurial activities using social media among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Comparing managers' and non-managers' learning and competencies
|
[
"Learning styles",
"Management development",
"Management skills",
"Competency development",
"Experiential learning theory",
"Government officers"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: For over a half century, managers have been seen as key players in the survival and effectiveness of organizations. Considering today's rapidly changing organizational milieu, competent managers remain in high demand (DeSimone et al., 2002; Espedal, 2005). To achieve their strategic goals, organizations must develop and use management and leadership skills (Bennis, 2003; Kotter, 1999). This strategic view is particularly relevant for the development of public-sector officers who need to learn managerial skills in the workplace (Pynes, 2009). More specifically, public-sector organizations require competent managers to execute strategic goals (Davy, 1973), to make critical decisions about organizational performance (Carton and Hofer, 2006) and to successfully motivate employees (Fernandez, 2004). These organizations face ongoing economic, political, technological and environmental transitions where they must adapt quickly and efficiently (Bonder et al., 2011). The public sector is, thus, a good research site for investigating how employees learn and develop in an effort to become a competent manager. Mintzberg (1973) explained that managerial work differs qualitatively from non-managerial work. Managers possess interpersonal, informational and decisional roles that are distinct from non-managerial roles (Mintzberg, 1989). This study defined managers as those with a management position formally established in the organizational hierarchy and non-managers as those who are supervised by managers and have no official management position. Those two positions are typically discernible through organizational titles.\nCompetencies: The term competency was introduced by Boyatzis (1982) as an important attribute of high performers of private as well as public organizations. Since then, multiple definitions and meanings of the term competency have been presented in the literature (Meyer et al., 2015), as well as in the workplace (Garavan and McGuire, 2001). According to the competency study of Sant'Anna et al. (2013), although there is no consensus about the concept of competency because of different philosophical and ideological views, two major streams of thought are prevalent. The first, based on Anglo-American sources, emphasizes aspects related to performance requirements in organizations (Sant'Anna et al., 2013). From this view, as presented in the introduction, competency describes an underlying characteristic of individuals who exceed average performance (Boyatzis, 1982), while skills refer to the ability to manage and organize a series of behaviors that achieve a performance goal (Boyatzis, 1982). Taken together, a competency corresponds with a skill with intent, motive and drive (Spencer and Spencer, 1993). This view also describes behavioral repertoires, which, as proposed by Markus et al. (2005), underline a general and wide range of human behaviors and performance. Because of its greater focus on an individual's behaviors and performance requirements rather than specific tasks, the approach is also thought to be similar to the worker-oriented approach discussed by Garavan and McGuire (2001).\nExperiential learning theory: Appropriateness of the approach\nMethods: Samples and procedures\nResults: The present study compared managers and non-managers in three areas:\nDiscussion: Based on the results presented, this study raises four discussion points related to differences between managers and non-managers in competencies and learning style in the specific work context of the Indonesian government, which represents the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to empirically explore how managers differ from non-managers with regard to learning skills as competencies and learning style in a public-sector work setting. The paper also examined how learning style affects competency development.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study applied Kolb's experiential learning theory concomitant with its instruments to analyze 12 skills and 4 learning styles. A total of 457 government officers from the Indonesian Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Internal Affairs participated in this study, including 112 managers and 345 non-managers.\nFindings: The study had four major findings. Although the two groups were similar in technology skills, managers had stronger skills than non-managers in leadership, relationship, helping, sense making, information gathering, information analysis, theory building, quantitative analysis, goal setting, action and initiative. Relationship skills were important for both managers and non-managers. Managers were more abstract and less concrete learners than non-managers. The learning style with more thinking over feeling affected learning skills development much more than the learning style with more acting over reflecting.\nOriginality/value: Using experiential learning theory, this study has clarified what competencies of managers are more developed than those of non-managers and how the two groups learn differently.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Enacting social media success in local public administrations: An empirical analysis of organizational, institutional, and contextual factors
|
[
"Social media",
"Public sector management",
"Public administration",
"Social networks",
"Neo-institutionalism",
"Institutional theory"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The diffusion of social media has occurred rapidly, particularly in the last 15 years. Some social media services that grew extremely fast and that were early objects of study, such as SixDegrees, have either disappeared or are on their way to doing so, while others have developed more recently, such as Facebook and Twitter, and have hundreds of millions of users across the world (Boyd and Ellison, 2007). In sum, the data show a high level of penetration in advanced societies of these social technologies. It has been calculated that there are around 2.44 billion social media users around the globe (Statista, 2016), which helps us understand the scale of this phenomenon.\n2. Theoretical and analytical framework: The rapid diffusion of social media in public administrations across the world has generated widespread interest from academics. The study of this phenomenon is relatively recent and has a multidisciplinary character (Boyd and Ellison, 2007), including the fields of computer science, business, law, sociology, political science, and public management, among others. Each of these disciplines has a common aim: to understand technologies whose social component converts them into something potentially disruptive. From the side of public administration studies, some authors, like Mergel (2012b), argue that the application of these tools in the public sector can be considered the \"fifth wave\" of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This state of development, in the case of public administrations, would situate us in a process of transition from e-government to Government 2.0, characterized by the co-creation of services and more inclusive public decision making (Chun et al., 2010, Nam, 2012a).\n3. Research design and methods: This paper is going to use the EEGS model as a point of departure to develop a proposal for an analytical model adapted to social media. We selected this starting point for three reasons. First, because it has been successfully tested in previous studies of the public sector. Second, we have drawn on a model designed to analyze e-government, which can also encompass the study of social media in public administrations (Gil-Garcia, 2012). Lastly, a neo-institutional focus, like the one found in the EEGS model, provides tools to understand complex phenomenon in the relationships between information technologies and public administrations (Criado, 2009, p. 18; Criado and Rojas-Martin, 2015b; Gil-Garcia, 2012, p. 53).\n4. Results and implications: In this section, we present the main results from the application of the model. For the analysis of the variables, we selected multiple linear regression. Following a pilot analysis, we begin with a bivariate analysis to identify the main tendencies that the model presents. In a second step, a multiple linear regression has been carried out by using the stepwise method. The results of the analysis, by means of multiple linear regression, present heterogeneous data, as can be seen in Table IV.\n5. Concluding remarks: This study sought to respond to the research question:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The diffusion of social media among public administrations has significantly grown in the last years. This phenomenon has created a field of research that seeks to understand the adoption and impact of social media in the public sector. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that make social media successful in Spanish local governments.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper is based on an adapted version of a neo-institutional model: Enacting Electronic Government Success (EEGS). The data have been collected through three main sources: primary data from a questionnaire designed and conducted by the authors, secondary data of statistical sources, and tertiary data collected through Klout Score.\nFindings: The results from a survey and statistical analysis provide preliminary validation of the model and show a direct relationship between organizational, institutional, and environmental factors with the successful use of social media in local public administrations. The data analysis shows that ten variables jointly explain 54.6 percent (adjusted R2=0.546) of the variability observed in the dependent variable.\nResearch limitations/implications: First, the analysis model used represents a limited sample size to carry out a complex quantitative analysis. Second, the use of Klout Scores can offer some bias. Finally, certain variables complicate the comparative potential of the study.\nOriginality/value: This study provides original primary data and contributes to the growing field of study related to social technologies in public administrations. This research also confirms in an exploratory way the validity of the EEGS model.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Briefing for accessibility in design
|
[
"Architecture",
"Design",
"Project brief",
"Disabled people",
"United Kingdom"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The aim of this paper is to report on a study that was undertaken into the practice and process of briefing within the UK. The purpose of the study was to assess the nature and extent to which accessible environments for new public buildings are considered at the briefing stage of the design process.It has been accepted for some time, not only in England and Wales, but also in other countries, that accessibility of the built environment is critical in order to create a socially inclusive society. Buildings and the environment facilitate social inclusion for everyone, including disabled people and older people. If people are excluded from facilities that provide homes, education, employment, leisure, entertainment, services and amenities then not only does discrimination occur but also opportunities for integration are lost. Integration is also lost if facilities and services are segregated, separate or stigmatizing such that disabled people become unnecessarily dependent on others for support in using the built environment. An inclusively designed environment considers people's diversity and removes unnecessary barriers and exclusions in a way that benefits us all.The social model of disability, which is a basic premise of this study identifies that it is the barriers that society creates (building design for example) that are the disabling factors, rather than a person's impairment (Oliver, 1990). Removing barriers to access of the built environment reduces the disabling element, empowers the individual and shifts the focus away from a person's impairment. No one particular impairment is more prevalent than another and older people, parents pushing buggies and children are just as likely to be excluded from the built environment due to poor design, as are disabled people. The social, moral, legal and commercial benefits of inclusive design (DPTAC, 2003) form a powerful case for adopting this approach in developing the built environment for the future. However, just because the benefits can be justified, it does not mean that these are translated into reality in terms of accessible and useable buildings.\nOverview of the research: The aim of the research was to assess the nature and extent to which accessible environments for new public buildings are considered at the briefing stage of the design process. The research was funded because of the increasing importance of effective design for accessibility within building procurement. Latham (1994) and subsequently Egan (1998) have continued to emphasise the need for increased client satisfaction. Also, the Disability Discrimination Act DDA, 1995 Part 3 for buildings, effective from 2004, legislates that buildings where a service to the public is offered, whether paid for or given freely, need to provide \"reasonable\" access. There are no guidelines on what is reasonable and how this reasonableness may be achieved. Clearly, an understanding by the industry of how architects consider accessibility at the briefing stage, based on thorough research findings, is the start of providing answers to the current questions raised.A primary methodology based on case studies and questionnaires was considered the most appropriate for this research. This paper reports on the analysis of the questionnaires. A sample provided by the Royal Institute of British Architects of UK architectural practices was used for distribution of the questionnaire, which represented 23 per cent of the architectural and design practices in the UK. Over a 3-month period, a total of 2,017 questionnaires were distributed initially and 1,327 in a follow-up round. The first round yielded 690 responses and the second 478, a total of 1,168 (57 per cent). The useable number of questionnaires from this was 961 (48 per cent).The questionnaire comprised 27 separate questions containing 105 variables. A variety of questions were used to give both closed and open responses. Definitions were provided for key terms and information was provided in a form to be readily understood by building designers. Cross-checking questions were used to establish consistency of respondent answers. The length of the questionnaire was kept to four sides of A4. While a more comprehensive questionnaire may have yielded more data, it was felt that the response rate would fall dramatically. The questionnaire was divided into sections which established the profile of the respondent; their design practice; extent of consideration of access issues; knowledge of current and future legislation; and level and nature of training on accessibility. The response to each question was analysed and cross tabulations were made using SPSS. The significance of this analysis was then assessed, and the conclusions that could be drawn from this are given below. For clarity, detailed analysis including number of responses has not been provided for every question because the response rate and number of nil responses were consistent. The number of responses has been given where it is relevant to the analysis, and also if a question permitted multiple responses. A full copy of the results is available from the authors on request.\nFindings from the research: Knowledge and understanding of access issues\nConclusion: We know that buildings and their environment can facilitate or hinder social inclusion. Clearly, design is a major contributor to this in that an inaccessible building will automatically exclude some people from using it. The building with steps hinders people with mobility impairment, parents with pushchairs; the building with poor lighting and inappropriate colour/tonal contrast excludes people with sensory impairment.The research reported on in this paper was a major survey of architecture practice within the UK, and as such, generalisations can be made from the analysis of the results. Within the context of briefing for accessibility and the role of the designer, it can therefore be concluded that:* personal experience of disability is the predominant influence in generating an understanding of disability issues and how these issues transcribe into accessible features of buildings and their environments;* responsibility for ensuring that accessibility is achieved is a shared responsibility between the designer and the client, with other professionals inputting to a lesser extent;* access issues are considered as part of the briefing process, generally within the context of Stages A to C within the RIBA Plan of Work;* while minimum standards in accessibility are achieved through Part M of the Building Regulations, there is less reliance on guidance and codes of practice;* there is limited understanding of the UK Disability Discrimination Act DDA, 1995;* consultation with end users is an important element of the briefing process, but specific consultation with disabled end users is less prevalent; and* features of a building that support inclusion are more focussed towards people with mobility impairment such as sanitary conveniences and level access, rather than supporting the less obvious impairments such as hearing and sight.However, the context within which designers operate should not be under-estimated. Lawson (2004) suggests that the difficulty in achieving good design is that designers do not solve well-formulated problems but ones which are ill-structured, open ended and often referred to as \"wicked\". He goes on to suggest that the process of designing is like playing chess but \"with a board that has no divisions into cells, has pieces that can be invented and re-defined as the game proceeds and rules that can change their effects as moves are made. Even the object of the game is not defined at the outset and may change as the game wears on\". Overall, it can therefore be concluded that while designers are keen to ensure that buildings and their environments facilitate social inclusion, there are significant barriers to achieving this, particularly due to a lack of understanding of disability and how a person with a disability interacts with a building, and, how the regulations and legislation can support this interaction rather than just providing minimum standard.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The aim of this paper is to report on a study that was undertaken into the practice and process of briefing within the UK. The purpose of the study was to assess the nature and extent to which accessible environments for new public buildings are considered at the briefing stage of the design process.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A questionnaire was distributed to 2,017 design practices in the UK, resulting in a usable response rate of 961 questionnaires.\nFindings: - The analysis of the questionnaires showed that, while designers are keen to ensure that buildings and their environments facilitate social inclusion, there are significant barriers to achieving this, particularly due to a lack of understanding of disability and how a person with a disability interacts with a building, and how the regulations and legislation can support this interaction rather than just providing minimum standards.\nPractical implications: - The implications of the research are that designers and clients are procuring buildings that are not fully inclusive, thereby excluding people from fully participating in the activities that are undertaken in that building.\nOriginality/value: - The paper provides an insight into the relationship between designers and users by demonstrating that, while designers are keen to ensure that buildings and their environments facilitate social inclusion, there are significant barriers to achieving this.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Developing a quality management system implementation process for a medical device manufacturer
|
[
"Manufacturing strategy process",
"ISO 13485:2003",
"Medical device manufacturer",
"Process approach",
"RDC No. 59:2000"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The threat that medical devices can pose to human health and safety makes the application of operations management techniques by healthcare companies a necessity. An operations strategy model assures compliance with safety and quality standards throughout the device production line (Ullmann et al., 2013; Troschinetz, 2010).\n2. Conceptual frameworks: This section presents conceptual frameworks for guiding the implementation of a strategic operations management system for a medical device manufacturer. This process is based on ISO 13485:2003 and RDC No. 59:2000 standards, which structurally define the proposed framework. The process view is supported by the \"Cambridge Process or Engineering approach\", proposed by Platts (1993).\n3. Procedural model description: Section 2 presents the conceptual framework and in Figure 2 an initial process based framework is proposed for guiding QMS implementation.\n4. Implementation case: An implementation test case was developed in a medical device manufacturer, hereinafter called XMEDCOM. The company is a dental implant and orthopedic prosthesis manufacturer, with 150 employees. The company has a QMS certified by ISO 13485:2003, ISO 9001:2008, CE marking (European Community) and RDC No. 59:2000. ANVISA, European Community and all traded products are FDA registered.\n5. Managerial and practical implications: Competitive performance GAP analysis is an opportunity for suggesting improvement actions that could be an important exercise for guiding the development of the QMS implementation process. Practitioners would benefit from this activity in setting concrete strategic goals for implementation.\n6. Conclusion: A great effort was made to create coherence and consistency throughout the QMS implementation planning process, that is, coherence to see QMS as part of the strategic system, responsible for operations strategy implementation. QMS performance indicators assess the company's capability to attain their strategic objectives, assuring strategic consistency.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a quality management system (QMS) implementation process for a medical devices manufacturer, which are covered by ISO 13485:2007 and RDC No. 59:2000 and based on operations strategy content definitions.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The research strategy is based on the Cambridge approach which is supported by action research techniques for producing \"application\" processes. This research strategy is also known as the \"Process Approach\" or \"the Engineering Approach\" and was developed in the mid-1990s by researchers from the \"Institute for Manufacturing\" (IFM/University of Cambridge).\nFindings: The results reveal how real conditions \"shape\" implementation, indicating solutions for integrating procedures for performance and control indicators that represent manufacturing strategy objectives. The regulatory framework and the manufacturing environment offer these real conditions. The operations strategy that is underlying implementation shows how to reconcile regulation and strategy through its content.\nResearch limitations/implications: The developed process can be improved by increasing the number of test cases until they bring no new contributions for its evolution. However, because it is a long-term and complex implementation process, the present research was concluded with a full understanding of process development.\nPractical implications: The QMS implementation process based on the Cambridge Engineering approach creates several opportunities for discussing QMS design requirements, but also in testing procedures for quality policy deployment. Learning by doing is a practical contribution of the process as a participative component effectively applied in different moments at the mentioned workshops - WSH. The logical organization of the QMS implementation process shows causalities among manufacturing strategy, QMS and performance measurements, creating strategic coherence among the connected elements.\nOriginality/value: Although many studies had approached the QMS implementation, few of them actually addressed the system integration with the business strategic objectives. None of the studies to date related the implementation to the ISO 13485:2003 and the RDC No. 59.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Tax avoidance in management-owned firms: evidence from Brazil
|
[
"Tax",
"Tax avoidance",
"Tax management"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: This paper analyzes the relationship between the concentration of managerial ownership and the behavior of tax avoidance in Brazilian public companies.\n2. Background and empirical predictions: 2.1 Ownership structure and tax avoidance\n3. Sample and research design: 3.1 Research design\n4. Empirical results: Table V presents the result of the descriptive statistics of the series used in our study. In addition to descriptive statistics, we present the test of normality proposed by Jarque and Bera (1980).\n5. Conclusion: This paper examines if Brazilian firms with a greater concentration of ownership present evidence of lower levels of tax avoidance behavior. The results indicate that a greater concentration of ownership in Brazilian firms does not imply less tax avoidance. However, it was evidenced that the different levels of managerial ownership are associated to different levels of tax avoidance behavior. Firms with management ownership between 20 and 30 percent are associated with higher levels of tax avoidance behavior considering both measures used for tax avoidance (ETR and BTD) compared to all other levels. With regard to the ETR, we find that tax avoidance behavior increases in levels of management ownership between 40 and 50 percent, and more than 50 percent. These results: do not confirm Fama and Jensen (1983) prediction; are not similar with Badertscher et al. (2013) and Chen et al. (2010) results; and are aligned with and Martinez and Ramalho (2014) study.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to test if companies with a greater concentration of management ownership (and thus more risk-averse managers) avoid less tax.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors use a regression analysis with panel data, using as a sample of Brazilian companies from 2001 to 2015. The authors investigate the impact of insider ownership on tax avoidance, testing how and how much different ownership levels of inside owner are associated with tax avoidance measured by effective tax rates and book-tax differences.\nFindings: The results indicate that different levels of management ownership are associated with different levels of tax avoidance behavior.\nOriginality/value: This paper contributes to the literature showing that ownership and decision making are not always focused on only a few decision makers. The owners are likely to be more risk averse and therefore less willing to invest in risky projects such as tax avoidance.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Understanding users' attitude toward mobile payment use: A comparative study between China and the USA
|
[
"Trust",
"Attitude towards mobile payment use",
"Payment culture",
"Perceived security",
"Security measures"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Mobile payment, a payment method that uses mobile devices to initiate, authorize and confirm a commercial transaction (Au and Kauffman, 2008; Dahlberg et al., 2008; Kim et al., 2010; Dahlberg et al., 2015), has led to a disruptive revolution in our society and a deep social and economic impact on payment ecosystems. With its high penetration in many countries, mobile payment not only brings customers convenience, but also generates returns for individual companies and improves a country's overall financial service standards (Amoroso and Magnier-Watanabe, 2012; Zhou, 2013; Phonthanukitithaworn et al., 2016).\n2. Research model and hypotheses: 2.1 Theory of perceived value\n3. Method: 3.1 Survey design\n4. Results: First, validity test, reliability test and common method bias (CMB) test were made to prepare for structural equation modeling (SEM) test. Then, partial least squares (PLS) path modeling was used to test the hypotheses in this paper, and a multigroup comparison test was conducted to find out whether the proposed relationships are different between China and USA.\n5. Discussion: In this paper, we attempted to see how the antecedents of PS and trust affect users' attitude toward mobile payment use in China and the USA. We also used multigroup analysis to figure out the differences of mobile payment between China and the USA.\n6. Contributions: 6.1 Theoretical contributions\n7. Research limitation and future research: Since young educated population were the major users of mobile payment in 2015, respondents of this study are selected from them (Liebana-cabanillas et al., 2015). However, recently with the increasing penetration of mobile payment, major mobile payment users are not only limited to young educated population, and thus there may be new findings after extending the range of respondents' age. Besides, we could also expect that demographic variables, such as age, education and gender, would have moderating effect on the relationship between PS and attitude or the relationship between trust and attitude (Jose Liebana-Cabanillas et al., 2014; Liebana-Cabanillas et al., 2015). For example, middle-aged and elderly people need more time and effort to trust, accept and adopt a new technology, especially those related to financial transactions, than the younger need (EUROSTAT, 2011; National Statistics Institute, 2012).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The authors position security measures and payment culture as key determinants of perceived security (PS) and trust. The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate how PS and trust affect users' attitude toward mobile payment use and why mobile payment has developed differently in the USA and in China.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Empirical data were collected from a survey conducted both in China and in the USA. The whole sample consists of 186 Chinese and 196 Americans. Partial least squares analysis was conducted to test the proposed relationships and multigroup comparison analysis was performed to examine the differences in the coefficients of those relationships between Chinese and the US model.\nFindings: The findings show that payment culture (measured by coverage of mobile payment context (CMPC) and uncertainty avoidance (UA)) and security measures (measured by security technology protection (STP), security rules and policies (SRP), and security responsibility commitment (SRC)) have significantly positive impacts on the PS and trust, except that the positive impact of security on trust is not supported. The impacts of CMPC and PS on trust in the USA are significantly smaller than those in China, whereas the impacts of security measures and UA on PS and trust do not show significant differences between the two countries.\nResearch limitations/implications: Respondents of this study are selected from young educated population, the major users of mobile payment in 2015. However, recently with the increasing penetration of mobile payment, major mobile payment users are not only limited to young educated population, and thus there may be new findings after extending the range of respondents' age. Since the research subjects in this study are the mobile payment of China and the USA, the authors could also expect different findings when the research subjects are extended or changed to other countries because of different mobile payment cultures across countries.\nPractical implications: Findings in this paper will help mobile payment service providers to know the determinants of their users' behavior intention and to take measures to improve these determinants, and these findings can also provide mobile payment service providers with insights into the differences in mobile payment use between the two countries and suggestions of measures that they can take to increase users' attitude toward mobile payment use. Furthermore, the findings of this paper also help these providers globalize efficiently by paying more attention to those antecedents.\nSocial implications: The findings in this paper show that there is no difference in the impacts of UA and security measures on PS and trust between China and the USA. However, the impacts of PS and CMPC on trust in China are significantly higher than those in the USA. This is because that globalization has made people from different countries hold similar UA, whereas the CMPC, a construct refers to the business environment of mobile payment, is still very different between China and the USA.\nOriginality/value: This study extends prior studies of attitude toward mobile payment use through proposing that security measures and payment culture are key determinants of PS and trust and examining the role of PS and trust on the attitude. Furthermore, the empirical findings will not only provide mobile payment service providers with important insights into the differences in mobile payment adoption between the two countries, but also help these providers globalize efficiently by paying more attention to those antecedents.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Metachoice for benchmarking: a case study
|
[
"Performance measurement",
"Benchmarking",
"Financial statement analysis",
"Metachoice",
"Multicriteria methods",
"Shareholders value analysis"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In some previous studies we described the advantages of using a multicriteria methodology to evaluate business performances (Laise, 2004; Iazzolino et al., 2012; Biggiero et al., 2005). The purpose of this work is to extend the above analysis to a new analytical context.\nA metachoice problem: how to choose an algorithm to choose: There are many problems that cannot be solved by using an algorithm. A metachoice decision-making question belongs to the set of problems that cannot be solved algorithmically.\nThe database of the case study: Generally, the database for multicriteria benchmarking analysis is represented by a matrix, like the one shown in Table I, in which the lines indicate the firms under analysis and the columns indicate the adopted evaluation criteria.\nThe set of criteria: The criteria used to evaluate the performance of companies under consideration are those generally used in financial analysis.\nThe construction of the multicriteria matrix and the ELECTRE III type methodology: the case study: The multicriteria problem to be solved can be summarized as follows:\nThe AHP-type methodology: In the previous section we noted that the ranking of firms depends on the weight assigned to each criterion by the decision maker.\nDiscussion: The research described in the paper can have several practical applications. In order to discuss them, we can refer to many issues addressed by the managerial theory.\nConclusions: In the debate on multicriteria benchmarking, two perspectives can be distinguished:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: In a previous paper the authors emphasized the advantages of multicriteria methodologies to evaluate business performance. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the metachoice problem that always arises in a benchmark multicriteria analysis that can be synthesized as follows: \"how to choose an algorithm to choose?\"\nDesign/methodology/approach: In order to perform a benchmark analysis, a set of criteria must be chosen. In the Balanced Scorecard approach, for example, key performance indicators (KPIs) are grouped in four different perspectives: financial, customer, internal processes and learning and growth. In this paper, the authors focus on multicriteria benchmark analysis applied to KPIs of the financial perspective. The paper considers a set of criteria used in financial statement analysis based on balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. A case study is described.\nFindings: The main findings of the paper are when the evaluation of a firm is based on different genuine criteria, a metachoice problem arises: multicriteria ranking algorithms cannot be selected using a multicriteria algorithm; the choice of an algorithm ultimately depends on the subjective preference of the policy maker; and the authors metachoice solution to the benchmarking problem is in accordance with Simon's satisfacing solution, describing a non-maximizing performance measurement methodology.\nPractical implications: The paper provides several practical implications in all cases in which a ranking has to be assigned to a group of firms based on financial performances. More in general the problem is very relevant when a ranking has to be carried out with respect to a set of projects, a set of strategies, a set of organizational units, etc.\nOriginality/value: The adoption of a set of criteria is certainly an advantage to avoid uni-criterial myopic evaluation. However, this also creates some methodological problems. The paper demonstrates the \"relativity\" (subjectivity) of results of the evaluation process when there are many evaluation criteria, as in a benchmark context. This is a metachoice problem that cannot be solved by using another multicriteria algorithm.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Factors affecting employee performance: an empirical approach
|
[
"Adaptability",
"Proactivity",
"Employee performance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Firms have realized that they have to develop unique dynamic characteristics that empower their competitive advantages in order to survive in a constantly changing market environment. Thus, they are focusing on the exploitation of their human resources (HR), particularly on employee performance (EP), as a source of strategic advantage (Wright and Snell, 2009).\n2. Theoretical framework and hypotheses: 2.1 Proposed employee evaluation model\n3. Research methodology: 3.1 Data collection and measurement development\n4. Data analysis and results: 4.1 Construct validity\n5. Discussion: 5.1 Impact of the independent factors on employee performance\n6. Conclusions: The proposed model incorporates a wide range of factors that affect EP. In specific it underlines the crucial roles that management support, organizational climate, job environment, adaptability and intrinsic motivation play in determining EP. In particular, a lack of management support to employees' actions has a direct negative impact on EP, organizational climate and job environment. This negative impact on organizational climate and job environment leads to a series of negative impacts on the other factors incorporated into the proposed model. In turn, it is likely that this negative impact on organizational climate directly (and negatively) affects job environment and employees' training. The negative impact on training culture (e.g. frequent absenteeism, low motivation) results in a decrease in employees' levels of skill flexibility and adaptability. This effect, combined with a reduction in employees' proactivity levels, leads to a decreased level of adaptability and, ultimately, to low job performance (Pulakos, 2009).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Nowadays, the phenomenon of increased competition between firms and their need to respond effectively to rapidly changing operational conditions, as well as to personnel requirements, has escalated the necessity to identify those factors that affect employee performance (EP). The purpose of this paper is to examine the interrelations between firm/environment-related factors (training culture, management support, environmental dynamism and organizational climate), job-related factors (job environment, job autonomy, job communication) and employee-related factors (intrinsic motivation, skill flexibility, skill level, proactivity, adaptability, commitment) and their impact on EP.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A new research model that examines the relationships between these factors and EP is proposed utilizing the structural equation modeling approach.\nFindings: The results indicate that job environment and management support have the strongest impacts (direct and indirect) on job performance, while adaptability and intrinsic motivation directly affect job performance.\nResearch limitations/implications: A potential limitation of this research is that it is not focused only on one business sector (i.e. the sample is heterogeneous).\nOriginality/value: In this study, firm/environmental-related factors, job-related factors, employee-related factors and EP are incorporated in a single model using data from small- and medium-sized enterprises. Overall, the final model can explain 27 percent of EP variance (first-level analysis) and 42 percent of EP variance (second-level analysis).\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
E-commerce channels for additive manufacturing: an exploratory study
|
[
"Additive manufacturing",
"Strategy",
"Supply chain",
"E-commerce"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies, once exploited almost exclusively for the production of functional prototypes in the design phase of new product development (NPD), are now emerging as viable processes for low volume and customized manufacturing (Eyers and Dotchev, 2010; Tuck et al., 2008). Whilst often used in a wide range of industrial applications (Petrovic et al., 2011), AM is no longer the domain of wealthy companies; even domestic customers keen to engage in do-it-yourself manufacturing can exploit these technologies (Fox, 2013). The main advantage of AM is the capability for direct product fabrication from a three-dimensional (3D) computer model, negating the need for tooling and simplifying many manufacturing considerations. Compared to many traditional approaches, AM can produce parts at any level of geometric complexity without additional cost (Hague et al., 2003), promoting complex and elaborate product designs (Plate 1).\n2. What is AM?: The phrase \"AM\" refers to the \"process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies\" (ASTM International, 2009). It is an expression for a wide range of technologies that have previously been classified using various terminologies including Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Tooling, Rapid Manufacturing, 3D printing, and Digital Manufacturing. Although AM technologies each have their own individual characteristics, all share a similar four stage process chain as illustrated in Figure 1.\n3. Research method: To better understand the way in which eCAM may be realized and the implications for the supply chain, it is necessary to bridge research in e-commerce, AM, and supply chain management. To achieve this, a systematic review of the literature was conducted based on the technique described by Denyer and Tranfield (2009) in order to understand the extent of existing knowledge. Systematic reviews take a structured, measurable, and repeatable approach to examining existing research. They offer the potential to reduce bias in reporting, and are able to address specific questions, rather than to achieve \"all there is to know\" about a particular issue (Petticrew and Roberts, 2006). The two questions explored by this review were:\n4. A conceptual framework of eCAM: The systematic literature review identified that consideration of channel strategy has been neglected in the existing research, with most studies instead focusing on the development of actual systems to facilitate direct channels. However, a few studies have considered approaches that either support or enable other channel configurations which can instead be considered indirect. From these observations it is possible to identify similarities between the eCAM models and generic models from the e-commerce, engineering, and supply chain management literatures (e.g. Barnes-Vieyra and Claycomb, 2001; Dilts et al., 1991; Wang et al., 2007). Based on these, this paper develops a framework consisting of four different channel implementation models shown in Figure 2.\n5. Illustrative case examples of eCAM channels: Based on the interviews and secondary research conducted in this study, this section provides a categorization of empirical cases against the proposed models illustrated in Figure 2. Using the CAGO approach to design principles (Holmstrom and Romme, 2012), the intervention action is changed for each case study to a different eCAM implementation, and the implications for a changed outcome are described. From the primary research, examples were found for three of the four structures, with tele-manufacturing being the most commonly observed. Despite the enthusiasm for localization of production observed in the literature, no primary examples could be identified, and so our assessment is based on the secondary literature explorations. In this section we now provide evidence to support these structures and examine the motivations behind their adoption.\n6. Supply chain implications of eCAM models: The new business models identified through eCAM have a number of implications for the supporting supply chain, for which this section makes some initial observations. One area that is most significantly affected is related to production. Implementing AM for commercial operations requires a significant investment in equipment, and since the depreciation of this capital expenditure constitutes a major component of costs (Ruffo et al., 2006), generating a significant throughput of orders is essential to lower production costs. This is therefore an inhibitor to the localized manufacturing model. By contrast, the tele-manufacturing case noted that the use of e-commerce furthered the reach of the supply chain, thereby increasing the number of orders and supporting the viability of this business model. Furthermore, because the manufacturing units in user manufacturing are not necessarily operating at commercial volumes or quality requirements, lower cost equipment can be used. The parts from the RepRap system, for example, cost around 5% - 10% of the cost of those from larger commercial machines, however it should be noted that the interviewees highlighted that the quality of products produced through user manufacturing is currently lower due to the capabilities of the available technology.\n7. Conclusions: The main contribution of this paper is the proposal of four eCAM models that have been developed from a systematic review of the existing literature and empirical studies. Relating this framework to both engineering and business/e-commerce models has allowed this research to build on the existing systems-development investigations to include a consideration of the potential implications for e-commerce channels. As a result, this study serves to provide a framework within which to locate the various different technical implementations, allowing an identification of the benefits and implications which arise from their utilization.\n8. Limitations of this study and opportunities for further research: One of the most important topics for future consideration is a consideration of the challenges and implications of multichannel distribution for AM. Although this paper has focused exclusively on the electronic channels, interview respondents in all participating companies confirmed that the electronic distribution channels are only part of their overall strategy. Multiple channels are therefore a reality which have a number of inherent difficulties particularly in terms of co-ordination and conflict (Rosenbloom, 2007a; Tsay and Agrawal, 2004; Webb, 2002), for which future research should give due consideration. In doing so, the use of design principles as shown in this study may offer a valuable resource for the exploration and communication of the complexities of a multi-channel strategy. However, researchers would need to attend to the changed contexts, and in doing so consider the implications for the generative mechanisms and outcomes.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Whilst there has been considerable research on the use of electronic communications technologies to transfer design files for Additive Manufacturing (AM) between designer and manufacturer, corresponding studies that explore the resulting implications are limited. Often it is assumed that such an electronic approach is optimal; this paper serves to explore this assumption by reviewing the technical solutions, and identifying the practical implications. The paper aims to discuss these issues.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The results of a systematic literature review are used to develop four e-commerce channel designs, which are then explored using primary and secondary case studies.\nFindings: It is shown that the use of e-commerce with AM has often been oversimplified, suggesting that it will bring about universal benefits through increased efficiency and cost reductions in information transfer, particularly as a result of supply chain disintermediation. Instead, this paper reinforces current e-commerce research suggesting that e-commerce channels can lead to both disintermediation but also re-intermediation of the supply chain; cost reductions and increased efficiency may not automatically follow.\nPractical implications: For AM suppliers, channel strategy is likely to be a critical consideration. This paper provides a framework of currently available approaches, links these to the original research, and explains the implications arising from each option.\nOriginality/value: Whilst there are many technical studies in this area, the potential implications of their adoption are often hypothesized, but seldom explored empirically. This study makes an original contribution through the classification and analysis of the channels from a management perspective.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Factors affecting teachers' motivation: An HRM challenge for public sector higher educational institutions of Pakistan (HEIs)
|
[
"Human resource management",
"Teachers motivation",
"Teachers job retention",
"Higher education"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Understanding the importance of human resource is increasing in the present business environment (Davidson, 2005). Human resource is being considered as the nucleus of an organization; it is, no doubt, has become one of the biggest source of competitive advantages for organizations (Rasheed et al., 2010). In the competitive environment of today world, any competitive advantage achieved by the organization is copied or imitated by its competitors in the minimum time but there is very rare case to copy the talent and abilities associated with motivated staff, hence organizations need to invest more and more in human resource to improve qualities and skills of their workers for achieving organization's strategic goals and objectives (Kanungo, 1994; Edginton, 2000; Al-Alawi, 2005; Robins and Coulter, 2005).\n2. Literature review: The efficiency of organizations depends on the condition that how they are managing their human resource (people/employees), which no doubt has become the most important resource in the recent competitive and dynamic environment (Robins and Coulter, 2005). Martin (2003) argued that if an organization wants to be successful and aims to maintain its success for a longer period of time it is important for it to have a motivated workforce consisting of employees who are ready to learn.\n3. Research methodology: A combination of quantitative as well as qualitative research strategies have been used in this research to study the relationship of above stated four factors of teachers' motivation. The basic objective of the study is to explore that how these factors affect teachers' motivation in public sector HEIs of Pakistan.\n4. Data analysis and discussion: 4.1. Demographics of the respondents\n5. Conclusion: The present research examines the role of compensation packages, job design and working environment, performance management system and training and development on teachers' motivation in public sector HEIs of Pakistan. The results of the study confirm the significant positive influence of these variables on teachers' motivation.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore/investigate various issues of teachers\nDesign/methodology/approach: This is an exploratory research where surveys have been conducted in the well known public sector Universities of Pakistan; primary data have been collected through questionnaire and in depth face to face interviews.\nFindings: Findings of the research have shown that although compensation packages and financial incentives are important factors for employees in the competitive market environment of the higher education sector but some other factors like job design and working environment, performance management system, and training and development are also significant. The research has also explored various issues being faced by teachers in public sector HEIs related to the above mentioned factors.\nOriginality/value: This study can play a vital role in compelling the higher education authorities to ponder over the motivational issues of teachers in universities. The research can prove to be an effectual document for other worldwide universities where teachers are facing similar issues.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Marketplace footprints: connecting marketing communication and corporate brands
|
[
"Corporate branding",
"Corporate identity",
"Marketing communications",
"Corporate communications",
"Advertising"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: The importance of branding and brand equity for products, companies and organizations has become almost axiomatic over the past decade. Its connection to corporate reputation and company value has spread to most organizations. There is no longer much debate about whether a strong brand is important; rather, research is now focused on how much it is worth and how brands are created, maintained or damaged. We look here at one such relationship, the connection between marketing communication activity and the evaluation of the company as a brand.\nBackground: The current studies were inspired by the research of Aaker and Jacobsen (1994, 2001) and Jacobsen and Aaker (1987) that examined company valuation and branding. Based on firms in technology-related industries, they concluded that \"... brand attitude, a component and indicator of brand equity, has value relevance.\" Because brand attitude is a major component of brand equity, the questions left after their analysis is \"what drives brand attitude?\" As in their study, corporate rather than product branding is the focus of the current study. Product brands are those where the product or service carries a different name than the parent company (i.e. Persil, Weetabix, Budweiser, and Kleenix). Corporate brands, however, are defined when the name of the company is inseparable from the brand (i.e. McDonald's, Microsoft, Ford, IBM). Our research examines the media related antecedents of corporate brand attitude and value to which Jacobsen and Aaker allude. The research draws on conceptual work on legitimacy theory, social cognition and corporate reputation, as well as an empirical foundation in branding and media effects.Legitimacy theory\nResearch questions: Two exploratory research studies examine how the marketing communication footprint of advertising and publicity discriminates between firms with differing levels of company brand opinion (CBO) and company brand value (CBV). These differences are further examined in relation to overall corporate reputation (CR). Study one explores the following question with respect to the relationship between different levels of Corporate Brand Opinion (CBO) and marketing communications activities:RQ1a. Do firms with low CBO differ from firms with high CBO with respect to publicity volume and valence, and advertising spending?Study two explores the same question with respect to the relationship between different levels of corporate brand value (CBV) and marketing communications activities:RQ1b. Do firms with low CBV differ from firms with high CBV with respect to publicity volume and valence, and advertising spending?Wartick's (1992) study of the publicity and corporate reputation relationship found that publicity valence is correlated more with the corporate reputations in the overall sample as well as the sub-set of firms with lower reputations. The social cognition work by Zajonc (1968), Hawkins and Hoch (1992), and Heath and Tversky (1991) cited earlier, however, suggests that a volume effect acting through repetition, in both publicity and advertising, should be more dominant in predicting brand evaluations. Doubt is cast on a pure volume effect with mixed results from past advertising and publicity volume research (Basuroy et al., 2003; Lodish et al., 1995; Reddy et al., 1998). These conflicting results cloud the expected relationship as to the discriminating strength of publicity volume and valence for firms with higher and lower brand evaluations. It is unclear whether publicity volume or valence will prevail and whether advertising or publicity will be important in predicting high and low CBO or CBV firms.Because the customer focus in study 1 is on firms selling to other businesses and the respondents are technology managers, it is expected that B2B advertising and the valence of publicity might play a strong role in predicting low from high CBO. By contrast, the more end- customer focused firms in study 2 would be expected to build higher CBV with B2C advertising and publicity volume and positive valence.In the spirit of Wartick's (1992) investigation of publicity and corporate reputation, the intervening effect of prior corporate reputation is used in our research to investigate the extent to which the discriminating effects of publicity and advertising spending change in firms with stronger versus weaker corporate reputation. In keeping with research showing information effects that depend on stakeholder perceptions (Wartick, 1992; Ahluwalia et al., 2000), we account for stronger and weaker prior company reputation (CR) in our analysis. In fact, Wartick found such mixed effects with the valence of publicity correlated with greater change in CR overall and in weaker reputation firms; while for firms with average or strong CR, publicity volume was most correlated. Thus, the second research question for studies one and two respectively are:RQ2a. Does having a weaker or stronger corporate reputation (CR) affect the relationship between media publicity, advertising spending, and companies with low or high CBO?RQ2b. Does having a weaker or stronger corporate reputation (CR) affect the relationship between media publicity, advertising spending, and companies with low or high CBV?Drawing on Wartick's findings, in both studies it is expected that publicity valence may be more important for weaker reputation firms than for strong reputation firms. For stronger reputation firms, volume rather than valence should be more closely related to strong brand performance.\nData sources for studies: Five sources of data on publicity (volume and valence), advertising spending (B2B and B2C), company brand opinion (CBO), and corporate brand value (CBV) and corporate reputation (Fortune's global most admired corporations CR) were combined from industry sources in the US market during the period 1 January 2000 to 1 July 2003.Publicity data\nAnalysis and results: Study 1\nDiscussion: The result of the two exploratory studies provides evidence that marketing communication activities differ in firms with lower versus higher levels of corporate brand evaluation and with firms with stronger and weaker corporate reputation. Publicity volume appears to be an important driver in differentiating between firms with lower and higher brand evaluations as measured by opinion (CBO) and value (CBV). Overall, publicity valence, in and of itself, had little effect outside of the volume of positive and negative stories.A notable result from Study 1, for both the overall sample and for weaker and stronger reputation groups, is that publicity volume was the most significant differentiating variable. Wartick (1992) found that companies with stronger versus weaker reputations were affected differently by the volume and valence of publicity. Valence was key in his overall sample and for weaker reputation firms, but not significant for stronger reputation firms. In study 1 publicity valence is significant in the overall sample and for weaker reputation firms but not at all significant for stronger reputation firms. In contrast to Wartick, however, publicity volume is much more important than valence as indicated by its higher discriminant loading. With the firms in Study 1 focused mainly on business customers in the technology sector, it was expected that B2B ad spending would be a more important discriminating factor for firms with higher brand opinions. This was true for the overall sample and weaker reputation firms, but B2B was still less important than overall publicity volume, publicity valence and B2C advertising.Results for Study 2 show that B2C advertising volume and publicity volume were most important in discriminating between firms with higher versus lower corporate brand valuation (CBV). This result is similar to the marketing communication pattern found in study 1, though in that study publicity volume was most dominant followed by B2C spending, B2B spending and publicity valence. In study 2, B2C spending had the largest discriminant loading in the overall analysis and for the weaker reputation firms. For the stronger reputation firms publicity volume is dominant (0.834) followed by B2B spending (0.600). B2C spending is of less importance (0.530, p=0.069) for these firms.Relating these results to past research we find that the volume effects are quite universal for publicity and advertising spending, which is consistent with the social cognition research that volume effects are dominant and derived from greater familiarity, repetition and availability (Pollock and Rindova, 2003). The results here do not support Wartick's (1992) research that found a dominant valence effect overall and for weaker reputation firms.The publicity volume effect for stronger reputation firms is consistent with Wartick's (1992) result for stronger reputation firms. The noticeable lack of stronger and more pervasive publicity valence effects in the overall samples and for the weaker reputation firms may be attributable to several factors. First, the Wartick study did not investigate the impact of B2C or B2B spending. Second, the Wartick study was examining change in reputation whereas our two studies explored the differential effect of reputation on higher and lower levels of corporate brand evaluation (CBO and CBV). Third, his was a correlational study. Had a similar analysis been conducted here and excluded advertising spending, it is possible that the role of valence may have changed. In light of the strong ad spending effects found in the current studies, it is likely the inclusion of advertising spending in Wartick's data may have resulted in different results, possibly overshadowing his publicity valence effects.\nLimitations: This is an exploratory investigation and the effects observed are clearly related to a partial set of marketing communications factors that may influence corporate brand evaluations in a relatively small set of firms over a brief period of time. Availability of data, especially when gathered from multiple, independent industry sources, can restrict investigation. This study would benefit from more data points both in terms of the number of firms and the number of time periods. The results allow us to glean some important, though preliminary, evidence of relationships between corporate brand evaluations and marketing communications tactics. Firm size was taken into consideration, but other variables such as industry differences or economic conditions could account for some of the findings.It is also necessary to acknowledge the issues related to construct measurement. The Techtel data provide a relatively sound measure of corporate brand opinion (Jacobsen and Aaker, 1987; Aaker and Jacobsen, 1994, 2001) among those in a specific industry stakeholder group, managers. Interbrand measures of valuation are not without controversy, but are generally related to the financial performance of the firm. Finally, Fortune's \"most admired\" corporations ratings is just one of several measures of corporate reputation, but the only one widely available for the time periods and companies studied.While all measures have received some level of criticism, no measure reflects assessments for as large a group of global corporations by as large a group of stakeholders. Finally, the Fortune MAC scores for this group of companies over the time period studied appears to be distinct from Techtel's corporate brand opinion and Interbrand's corporate brand valuation. It had low correlation with Interbrand at 0.29 (p<0.05), and slightly higher correlation with the Techtel at 0.45 (p<0.05).\nSummary and conclusion: The task of this research was to explore the marketing communications related antecedents of a company's performance as a brand; namely, aspects of publicity and advertising in a set of relatively large, multinational firms. The studies bring together unique and important sets of industry communication and brand indicators and lead to the following summary:* It is possible to differentiate between firms with higher and lower corporate brand opinions and value very well using publicity and advertising indicators. Firms with high CBO or CBV always had more publicity (positive and negative) and more B2C and B2B ad spending than firms with low CBO or CBV.* Publicity volume is clearly more important than publicity valence in classifying companies into high or low CBO or CBV groups.* The business-to-business oriented firms in study 1 spend much less on consumer advertising per sales dollar than the more consumer-oriented companies in study 2. This does not mean that consumer advertising is irrelevant for the Techtel firms. However, it is proportionally much less important as a part of the communication mix when evaluating company brand performance using IT manager opinions (CBO).* The amount of spending on B2C and B2B is significant in the overall models in both studies. For weaker reputation firms in study 1 both types of advertising were significant, while in study 2 just B2C advertising helped discriminate between these firms with low versus high CBV. For stronger reputation firms in both studies the effect of advertising spending was marginally significant at best.* Brand evaluations for the stronger reputation firms in both studies are significantly and primarily related to publicity volume. There was a higher volume of negative and positive publicity for the firms with high CBO or CBV even after adjusting for company size.* For the overall sample and for weaker reputation firms a broader marketing communication mix discriminates quite well between firms with high and low CBO or CBV. The descriptive statistics in Figure 2 show that the general volume of positive and negative publicity is lower and tilted toward more negative than positive stories in the companies that have low CBO or CBV. These are firms with low brand evaluation and weaker reputations, so it is not surprising to see a shift toward more negative stories.* The Techtel firms in study 1 with weaker Fortune reputation are predicted well by publicity volume followed by publicity valence, B2C ad spending and B2B spending. The weaker Fortune reputation Interbrand firms in study 2 are predicted with B2C advertising and publicity volume. The higher importance of publicity valence and B2B spending for the Techtel firms probably reflects the business customers on which most of these firms focus.As the literature suggests, the legitimate organization is perceived not only as more worthy, but also as more meaningful, more predictable, and more trustworthy. Using brand opinion and value as indicators we see that companies with lower brand evaluations have a different marketing communications \"footprint\" than those firms with higher brand evaluations, and this changes depending on prior corporate reputation. It appears that the mix of signaling information varies systematically and in important ways which help reveal the role of advertising spending and publicity volume and valence.Future research needs to utilize a dataset consisting of marketing communication activities and measures of reputation and brand evaluations with a larger sample of multinational companies over an extended period of time. Other marketing components such as consumer satisfaction, product quality, sales force size and spending may add to the ability to discriminate stronger from weaker corporate brands and provide guidance as to what marketing communications profiles companies need to enhance their brand.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The goal of this paper is to understand the relationship between advertising spending and the volume and valence of publicity, and assessments of corporate brands (opinion, value and reputation).\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Two studies examine major multi-national companies as brands by bringing together five unique industry datasets to understand the connection between the assessments of the corporate brand and marketing communication activity. Discriminant analysis is used to study the differential impact of advertising and publicity on corporate brand attitude and value.\nFindings: - Publicity and advertising volume are important drivers in differentiating between firms with lower and higher brand evaluations. Overall, publicity valence, in and of itself, had little effect outside of the volume of positive and negative stories. Further, the role of prior corporate reputation works in conjunction and has unique effects that influence the communication activities of firms with high and low brand attitudes and value. The valence of publicity matters least for firms with strong prior reputations. Instead volume dominates for these firms. For lower reputation firms, the mix of communication that distinguishes stronger and weaker performance is more complex with both publicity valence and publicity and ad volume playing slightly different roles in the two studies.\nPractical implications: - The findings suggest that companies with different levels of brand evaluation (opinion and value) have distinct marketing communication profiles which can be labelled communication footprints. Further, this relationship is moderated by prior corporate reputation. Firms seeking to change stakeholder evaluations must pay particular attention to both the overall volume of publicity received, as well as the ratio of positive to negative publicity volume. Advertising spending plays an important supportive role in these evaluations.\nOriginality/value: - The study adds to the understanding of the communication signals that influence corporate branding. Specifically, it brings together a unique set of industry data to investigate the influence of marketing communication activities on brand opinion and value. Further, the findings contribute to the discussion of the role that company publicity and volume play in developing the corporate brand.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The consumer testing of food package graphic design
|
[
"Design",
"Consumer",
"Food",
"Graphic",
"Package",
"Test"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: This paper examines how the impact of graphic design on food consumer evaluation and selection of packaged food products at the point of sale may be accurately and reliably measured within reasonable time and cost parameters.\nResearch context and framework: Academic research on consumer response to holistic graphic design\nMethod: Experimental design\nWorked examples: The three examples used in this paper were generated as an outcome of the graduate course in food marketing offered by the University of Otago over the period 2012-2014. This course requires student groups to develop a prototype graphic design in response to a brief by a local commercial food industry \"client\". As a non-graded outcome of the course, the performance of these prototypes are then measured against the client's existing design, any proposed designs and those of competitors, if these are available.\nDiscussion: These results demonstrate that graphic design has a massive and measurable impact upon consumer evaluation and choice of food products. This impact is far greater than that of any individual brands or cues that have been investigated using similar instruments at this institution.\nConclusions: This paper has demonstrated that the impact of graphic design on consumer response to packaged goods are substantial and that they can be quantified in a manner that is both theoretically and commercially useful. The method described takes an \"Occam's Razor\" approach, in that procedural complexity, and thus the theoretical and methodological assumptions made, are kept to a minimum (Baker, 2003).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This purpose of this paper is to present a technique for measuring the impact of package graphic designs on consumer choice and purchase intentions. The technique allows several proposed graphic designs for the same product to be compared, both with one another and with their immediate competitors up to a maximum of eight designs.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The approach is based upon a fractionally replicated Latin square design with two sets of four package graphic designs and five consumer groups as the independent variables. The dependent variable is consumer choice.\nFindings: Three fully worked examples of the test are presented. The results show that graphic design has a massive and statistically significant impact on consumer choice, ceteris paribus. The test is able to discriminate strongly between package graphic designs that only apparently differ in detail.\nResearch limitations/implications: The results show that graphic design has a significant impact upon consumer choice, but it also shows that this impact is highly product and situation specific. This may have considerable implications for any claimed wider \"empirical generalisations\" relating to the impact of graphic designs, or components thereof, on food consumer choice.\nPractical implications: The methodology presented allows graphic designs to be tested before they enter the marketplace. It replaces opinion with a reliable and quantifiable output that can be easily interfaced with econometric and market share models that have been developed within the choice modelling literature.\nOriginality/value: This appears to be the first paper to appear within the literature that presents a reliable, simple and easily administered test that is capable of quantifying the performance of alternative graphic designs on food packaging.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
An examination of product innovation and buyer-supplier relationship in Pakistani firms
|
[
"Structural equation modelling",
"Buyer-supplier relationship",
"Emerging economy",
"Hierarchical regression",
"Product innovation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Innovation is an important driver of competitiveness (Quinn, 2000). It represents the efforts of a diverse set of stakeholders across the supply chain in response to competitive, regulatory, and economic forces (Kok and Biemans, 2009). These forces are driving a need for more innovative, responsive, customer oriented, and flexible supply chains. The challenge organizations face is to develop supply chains that can innovate consistently and thus create sustainable competitive advantage (Roy et al., 2004). The literature identifies product innovation as an outcome of organizational and supply chain innovativeness (Dougherty and Hardy, 1996; Lau et al., 2010). It is one type of innovation that results from multistage innovation processes designed to achieve advantageous competitive positions (Baregheh et al., 2009). Product innovation can refer to the frequent introduction of new and valuable products or significantly modified existing products (Un et al., 2010). While interest in product innovation management at the organizational level is not new, in recent years there has been increasing interest in innovation in a supply chain context. Appropriate supply chain capabilities and practices are essential to achieving sustained competitiveness through innovation (Melnyk et al., 2010). Data suggest that there is a direct relationship between innovation-oriented supply chain practices and levels of innovation (Modi and Mabert, 2010). Moreover, it is accepted that supplier involvement and collaborative efforts are essential drivers of innovation (Sivadas and Dwyer, 2000; Guenter and Grote, 2012).\nResearch framework: A firm's strategic focus on innovation can be characterized by an organizational commitment to developing and delivering new products and those with the latest technology, and to proactively adjusting supply chains, in advance of the competition, in response to evolving customer needs (Li and Atuahene-Gima, 2001). This focus should also be aligned with broader firm-level strategies (O'Reilly et al., 2010). In a supply chain context, the combined efforts of supply chain partners are likely to produce more innovative ideas and products than uncoordinated efforts of individual firms. This suggests that a challenge a buyer faces is to align its strategies and resources with those of its suppliers, and to develop supply chains that can introduce innovative products faster than the competition.\nResearch methodology: A survey instrument was developed based on prior literature. Saleh and Wang (1993) argued for innovation strategies that encouraged risk taking, proactiveness, and commitment from senior leadership. Alegre-Vidal et al. (2004) identified flexibility as a component of the strategy of innovative firms, while Qi et al. (2009) referred to agility as a factor in innovation strategy. These studies and the work of Sanchez and Perez (2005) on supply chain flexibility, agility, and strategy provided the motivation for items related to buyer innovation focus. There are few studies that offer measurement items related to supplier innovation focus. However, several qualitative and theoretical studies provided insight in developing corresponding survey items (e.g. Dobni, 2008; Ahmed, 1998; Martins and Terblanche, 2003; Roy et al., 2004; Henke and Zhang, 2010; Lee, 2004). Studies on purchasing strategy, supply management, and supply chain integration by Flynn et al. (2010), Hoegl and Wagner (2005), and Swink et al. (2005) were used to develop items related to collaborative innovation. Several prior empirical studies were used to develop items for product innovation (Prajogo and Sohal, 2003; Alegre-Vidal et al., 2004; Wang and Ahmed, 2004; Li et al., 2006). Finally, the work of Kim and Lee (2010) and Kristal et al. (2010) was used to develop the market performance construct.\nResults: To improve convergent and discriminant validity, only scale items with factor loadings in excess of 0.70 were included in the measurement models (Table II). Values of Cronbach's a in excess of 0.70 provide evidence of the reliability constructs (Nunnally and Bernstein, 1994). Moreover, all constructs have values of the comparative fit index (CFI) in excess of 0.90 in a single factor confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model, thus satisfying unidimensionality requirements. CFA of all variables indicates good model fit (kh2=253.599; kh2/df=1.786; RMR=0.042; RMSEA=0.064; CFI=0.948; TLI=0.938; IFI=0.949; NFI=0.891). Values for average variance extracted (r\nDiscussion and conclusion: The results of this study lend support for the notion that long-term collaborative relationships with suppliers can play a critical role in the successful implementation of a firm's innovation-focussed supply chain strategy (Henke and Zhang, 2010). Evidence of this in the context of an emerging economy, in which cultural norms that may impact inter-firm collaboration differ from environments previously studied, is an important new finding. The results illustrate that in the Pakistani context, the selection of and partnering with suppliers that share a similar orientation toward innovation orientation can lead to the generation of new ideas across the supply chain. Moreover, it can lead to exchanges of knowledge related to a wide spectrum of issues, as well as product and process technologies. Buyer-supplier relationships that are open to testing new ideas can stimulate product innovation and serve as a motivation for suppliers. However, consistent with prior research, the results also highlight the importance of creating long-term strategic alignment around innovation, and the need to build mutual understanding, commitment, and trust. Enhancing competitive capabilities, whether through innovation, flexibility, or quality, requires a long time horizon and appropriate allocation of resources. The congruence of buyer and supplier goals at both the strategic and operational levels, and the development of structural mechanisms that foster cooperation, are thus critical.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the interface between buyers and suppliers in the context of product innovation in an emerging economy. Specifically, it examines the strategic and tactical initiatives necessary to drive inter-organizational alignment and thus positive innovation outcomes. It also examines the impact of organizational characteristics on product innovation.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Using survey data from 191 organizations in Pakistan, a structural equation model of the relationships between buyers' and suppliers' strategic focus on innovation, supplier innovation focus, collaborative innovation, and measures of product innovation and market performance is tested. In addition, hierarchical regression analysis is used to identify the impact of various organizational characteristics on product innovation performance.\nFindings: The results suggest that a firm's product innovation performance is positively influenced by strategic buyer-supplier alignment with regard to product innovation, and the existence of mechanisms that foster inter-organizational collaboration. This in turn has a positive impact on market performance. Product innovation performance is also influenced by a firm's age, the nature of its ownership, and the extent to which it exports its products.\nOriginality/value: The study offers new insight into the role of inter-organizational collaboration as a driver of product innovation. Moreover, it adds to a limited literature on supply chain management in emerging economies generally, and on product innovation in the Indian sub-continent specifically.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Building virtual collection and Spanish colonial imprints of the Philippines
|
[
"Spanish printing in the Philippines",
"Open Access",
"Virtual collections",
"Web librarianship",
"Digital curation",
"Digital collection"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The discovery of the \"New World\" by Columbus and the subsequent colonization of the American continent by Spain, along with the formation and evolution of the printing first in Mexico in 1539, and then later in the other parts of Latin American colonies, are well documented. Equally interesting is the scenario about Spanish colonial printing in the Philippines that has remained under-emphasized in the North American Library and Information Studies literature. Furthermore, access to the originals remains problematic due to the rarity and scarcity of these print materials in the North American academic libraries. On the other hand, the Web-based open access platforms represent an alternative way for a reference librarian to provide researchers with the necessary tools to interrogate the Spanish Colonial histories of the linked worlds, i.e. New Spain (Mexico) and the Philippines.\nLiterature review: Although Magellan reached the Philippines in March of 1521, full-scale colonization commenced with the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi from Mexico in the archipelago in 1565 and the founding of Cebu City. He later founded Manila in 1571, the capital of the Spanish East Indies (Francia, 2014; Morga, Antonio de, Rizal, Jose, National Historical Institute (Philippines), 1990). The economic aspects of the trade that flourished over 300 years between the port of Acapulco and Manila have been well studied by several including Flynn and Giraldez (1996).\nScope and limitations: As this is an introductory article, the author focused on print editions. The author did not examine in depth the history of the evolution of the printing presses in the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. Many local pamphlets that were published in the same period were not taken into consideration due to the lack of reliable bibliographic documentation of these ephemeral objects. In the context of the Spanish Philippines, Chinese migration and trade have been studied in detail by Chia (2006), Bjork (1998) and Gebhardt (2017). The author notes that the Chinese had been block printing since medieval times in the Philippines (Little, 1996). The Chinese language publications of the Islands were excluded from the analysis for this paper. Following are the four research questions of this study:\nData analysis: As discussed earlier, a data set of 118 titles that were published from 1593 through 1750 within the boundaries of the current Philippines was created (Appendix available at: https://tinyurl.com/filipinoperiodicalsdata). Figure 7 shows the distribution of these 118 titles by the years of publication. Among these for bibliographic purposes, the author included some titles for which there are no existing corresponding copies. There were eight such titles and in the data set, there was one duplicate title with slightly different authors/creators. Thus, the total active data set consists of 109 overall titles with existing physical copies. With the image below, one can see the distribution of the titles by the years of publication. The author has distinguished between the books in Spanish and bilingual/non-Spanish editions. We do not, however, see significant publications in the non-Spanish languages of the region. For the period between 1593 and 1621, we observe the five books in bilingual format. The situation, however, changes after 1621, where until 1729 not a single bilingual edition was published in the Philippines. The complete bibliographic data is in Appendix of this article.\nOpen access and the Filipiniana: Access to the physical copies of these items remains problematic due to their rarity and conditions. Special Collections hold most of these books and access to these is usually under a controlled environment. In many cases, scholars cannot visit the special collections where these items are physically held due to geographical distances. Thus, Open Access in the case of these publications also acquires significance.\nConclusion: The goals of this article were to not only survey the early Spanish printing of the Philippines but also provide the reader with a somewhat complete picture of how the printing began in the Spanish Philippines. We reported some of the first books were printed and how one can access them given their rarity and fragility. Collection building paradigms are undergoing significant shifts, and the focus of many academic libraries is shifting toward providing access to these items. As these high-value low-use items continue to be part of Special Collections, access to them is problematic. Virtual collections thus serve as a viable alternative that enables further research and access. While the creators of these works are long gone, the legacy of the Spanish colonial domination, printing and the religious orders in the Philippines remain alive through these works.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The access to the rare originals of the early Spanish colonial imprints of the Philippines remains problematic. The reference librarians often are restricted to directing the students and scholars to the secondary resources that are available both in print and as a part of the digital assets within the North American academic libraries. This paper aims to focus on the select primary source editions including select Spanish language colonial imprints that are available electronically on the Web along the Open Access. These Web-based resources serve as the reference tools for the early history of the Philippines and Southeast Asia. As many of these publications are rare and extremely expensive for most libraries, the Open Access resources serve as an aid to building a virtual collection of these items.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The author had to create a data set of the early imprints of the Spanish Philippines using several bibliographic resources. The data set will be submitted as an Appendix for this research paper. The author did both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data set along with the voyant-based digital humanities approach for topic modeling.\nFindings: The goals of this paper were to not only survey the early Spanish printing of the Philippines but also provide the reader with a somewhat complete picture of how the printing began in the Spanish Philippines, what kind of the first books were printed and how one can access them given their rarity and fragility. The collection building paradigms are undergoing significant shifts, and the focus of many academic libraries is shifting toward providing access to these items. As these items high-value low-use items continue to be part of the Special Collections, the access to these is problematic. The virtual collections thus serve as a viable alternative that enables further research and access. While the creators of these works are long gone, the legacy of the Spanish colonial domination, printing and the religious orders in the Philippines remain alive through these works.\nResearch limitations/implications: As this is an introductory paper, the author focused on the critical editions rather than providing a comprehensive bibliographic landscape of the presses that produced these editions. He also did not take into consideration many pamphlets that were published in the same period. He also did not consider the Chinese language publications of the Islands. The Chinese had been block printing since medieval times (Little, 1996). In the context of the Spanish Philippines, the Chinese migration and trade have been studied in detail by Chia (2006), Bjork (1998) and Gebhardt (2017). The scope of this paper also was centered toward building a virtual collection of these rare books.\nPractical implications: Rare books are often expensive and out-of-reach for many libraries; the virtual collection of the same along the Open Access model represents an alternative to collect and curate these collections. The stewardship of these collections also acquires a new meaning in the digital milieu.\nSocial implications: This research paper will allow scholars to see past the analog editions and help them focus on curating a virtual collection. The questions of electronic access are often ignored when it comes to visiting and using them in a controlled environment of the reading room in the Special Collections. The author argues that one way to enable access to these rare and expensive books is to provide access to their digital counterparts. These digital/virtual surrogates of the originals will facilitate further research.\nOriginality/value: The author could not find similar research on the publications of the early Spanish colony of the Philippines.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Neither-nor: career success of women in an Arab Middle Eastern context
|
[
"Women",
"Lebanon",
"Career success",
"Gender inequality",
"Arab Middle East",
"Hegemonic masculinity"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Despite the widespread scholarly interest in and extensive research on managerial careers and career success in Anglo-Saxon countries, little attention has been paid to the conceptualizations of the career success of managers in developing, Arab Middle Eastern (AME) countries. This unevenness of attention (Ituma et al., 2011) has created a serious gap in our knowledge of career success, particularly as more studies suggest that careers are not free of the social context in which they unfold (Melamed, 1996; Ituma et al., 2011) and that the meaning of career success is socially constructed (Mayrhofer et al., 2004; Gunz and Heslin, 2005; Chudzikowski et al., 2009; Dries, 2011). Hence, career scholars have increasingly called for more country-specific career studies (Ituma et al., 2011) that discover how career success unfolds in different social settings (Mayrhofer et al., 2004; Gunz and Heslin, 2005) and how its construction is a culturally specific process.\nResearch context: Lebanon in light of the IT and hegemonic masculinity: Hughes (1937) argued that a proper understanding of career success involves an understanding of the structures and institutions of societies and how they impact the manner in which individuals experience or define this construct. In the following section, we will set the stage for this exploratory study by reviewing the societal and organizational factors that impact the careers of women in Lebanon by leveraging the IT (Scott, 1995, 2001, 2005) as a theoretical framework. Scott (2005) defines institutions as social structures with high levels of flexibility. They comprise three pillars that provide meaning and support to social life. While the cultural-cognitive pillar refers to the social production and interpretation of national cultures and traditions within institutions, the regulatory pillar refers to rules and laws that control the functioning of these institutions. The normative pillar highlights the norms and beliefs in these institutions, along with the standards of behavior of individuals operating within them (Scott, 1995, 2001, 2005).\nReview of the literature: Between the traditional and contemporary careers: changing conceptualizations of career success\nRole of gender and culture in the conceptualizations of career success: The objective and subjective approaches to career success have their critics. Recent studies contend that the objective/subjective career success dichotomy has been developed in accordance with economic and organizational developments in the western, developed world. A key argument therefore is the ability of these conceptualizations to contain the conceptualizations of individuals from different cultures and across genders (Mayrhofer et al., 2004; Dries et al., 2008; O'Neil et al., 2008; Chudzikowski et al., 2009; Dries, 2011).\nMethodology: With minimal research attending to the career-related perceptions of individuals in developing countries (Counsell and Papova, 2000) and with calls for more qualitative research into the conceptualization of career success in different national contexts (Hall and Chandler, 2005; Heslin, 2005; Gunz and Heslin, 2005; O'Neil et al., 2008; Ituma et al., 2011; Dries, 2011; Bowles, 2012), this study adopts a qualitative, face-to-face, semi-structured interview-based approach. The interview-based approach facilitated the process of understanding career success as defined by the Arab women themselves, using their own words (Heslin, 2005; Dries et al., 2008) and how career success unfolds given that it is \"at the heart of lives as they are lived\" (Gunz and Heslin, 2005, p. 109).\nResults: The results of the interviews were organized around three major research questions: whether women managers perceived themselves as successful or not; their conceptualizations of career success; and the ability of the individual, behavioral, and structural approaches to explain or predict the career success of the Lebanese women managers.\nDiscussion: This study is an exploratory investigation of Lebanese women managers' conceptualization of their career success and the predictors of this success in Lebanon, a research context that is frequently ignored in the career management literature. It is also the first study to explore the predictors of the career success of women managers in an Arab context using the individual, behavioral, and structural approaches. As expected, some of the career success factors that appeared and the approaches used by women managers in this study share commonalities with career studies in Anglo-Saxon contexts. However, the emerging themes and contextual findings make the current study a wonderful opportunity to underscore the uniqueness of the career-related experiences of women in Lebanon. They also demonstrate the inter-relatedness of various institutional factors, along with gender inequality and masculinities, and their impact on the career success of Arab women.\nImplications: This study is the first of its kind to reflect on the career success of women managers in Lebanon and while it is an exploratory rather than a confirmatory study, its findings have important implications. The implications of this study are necessary, urgent, and timely as they will allow organizations to better prepare to embrace the changes taking place at various political, economic, and social frontiers in the Arab world.\nLimitations of the study and recommendations for further research: The findings of this study are exploratory and informative and serve to stimulate interest in further research on the careers of women in the AME region. Nonetheless, certain limitations need to be acknowledged. The current study focussed on the conceptualizations of the career success of women managers, which may differ from those of women in non-managerial positions. If the interviewees had been non-managers, different results might have been reported. Another limitation is the small sample size and the qualitative nature of this study, which limited the ability to establish causalities or correlations between factors such as demographic characteristics and career success. Future studies might consider using a larger sample size and the triangulation of methods between qualitative and quantitative techniques. Also, comparative studies between males and females and across different countries in the AME would be very important and informative. It would be a worthwhile venture to examine how male managers conceptualize their career success and their approaches to making successful careers, and to determine how these conceptualizations compare to those of women managers. Despite the reference made to several theories, the current study did not examine post-colonial theories or critical race theory; these can provide further insight into research on the careers and career success of women in the region.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Few studies examine the career success of women in the Arab Middle East. With that in mind, the purpose of this paper is to explore the conceptualizations of the career success of women managers in Lebanon. Drawing on the individual, behavioral, and structural approaches, this study also investigates the women's approaches to career success. Capitalizing on the institutional theory (IT), the current investigation accounts for the complexity of the local context by illustrating how a diverse set of socio-cultural values and norms, institutional constraints, and individual agency impact the overall experience of career success among Arab women.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study is exploratory in nature and draws on a qualitative approach. In-depth, face-to-face, open-ended interviews were conducted with women managers across the managerial hierarchy in a wide range of industries, sectors, and organizations.\nFindings: The findings suggest that the Lebanese women managers' career success was not conceptualized exclusively using the objective or the subjective measures. Rather, it was conceptualized on a continuum between these measures, thus challenging the rigid objective/subjective dichotomy in the context of Lebanon. The results also suggest that the career success of these women managers is better predicted and explained by the individual and behavioral approaches than by the traditional, structural approach. This empirical work sheds light on the gendered working conditions that women experience and how they capitalize on their individual agency to survive the hegemonic masculinity embedded in their workplaces, along with the inequalities that it promotes.\nOriginality/value: This study is the first to explore the conceptualizations and the determinants of the career success of women managers in Lebanon. However, the originality of this paper is not only limited to its contribution to the limited research on the careers of Arab women; it also extends to its usage of various approaches to predict career success as well as to adapt IT as a theoretical framework for capturing the myriad of factors that impact women's careers and success. The originality of this study also lies in advancing the theoretical concept of hegemonic masculinity into studies looking at Arab women's career experiences by shedding some light on how the reproduction of gender, gendered working practices, and agency impact their career success.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Mainstreaming sustainability in design education - a capacity building framework
|
[
"Curriculum",
"Sustainability",
"Capacity building",
"Design education",
"Ecodesign"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: The role of design education is evolving due to structural changes in industry and society. These changes include the strategic positioning of design in business, new demographics of ageing, globalisation and the sustainable development agenda. It has been suggested that we are at a critical point in time where a radical transformation of socio-technical systems is required to avert the worst potential impacts of climate change, social inequality and resource depletion (Steward, 2008; Rennings, 2004; Tukker et al., 2008; Schienstock, 2005; Vezzoli and Manzini, 2008; Andersen, 2004). Therefore, the competencies that professional designers require are increasingly trans-disciplinary and diverse. These new competencies need to be reflected in design education, lifelong learning and entrepreneurship training.\n2 Methodology: The research utilises a variety of data sources and methods to provide answers to the research questions. Empirical data was collected through the course of a two year government funded programme of capacity building with design educators in Wales (UK). This two year programme incorporated a series of workshops and scoping discussions with teaching staff alongside guest lectures with students. Additional data was collected through a literature review, and desk research on design teaching resources that incorporate sustainability issues. Thus, the research did not follow a linear process. Instead it was performed according to an iterative process, evolved by interaction between a theoretical foundation (capacity building, ecodesign education) and empirical material (workshops with teaching staff, guest lectures with students).\n3 Introduction: The first Earth Summit in 1972 identified education as fundamental for sustainable development. Since then progress towards the alignment of sustainability with education has progressed well but in an ad hoc manner. The United Nations re-injected a sense of urgency in 2005 by adopting the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. This decade long programme:\n4 Changing context of design practice: Design is often the link between technology, creativity, business and the people (Rasmussen, 2011). Design is a complementary asset for competitiveness it can also been seen to be a facilitator of solutions for societal problems (Richardson et al., 2005; EC, 2009; O'Rafferty et al., 2010; Burns et al., 2006; Design Commission, 2012; Bhamra, 2004; Fletcher and Dewberry, 2002). These societal problems include sustainability challenges such as climate change, changing demographics such as an aging population and social exclusion. The new economic contexts of globalisation mean that designers require new competencies in terms of design management, innovation, service and strategic design. The new social contexts mean that they require new competencies in terms of transformation and participatory design, socio-entrepreneurship, user-centred and ethnographic design. Also, the new environmental contexts mean that designers require new competencies in terms of ecodesign, sustainable innovation and responsible design. Figure 1 outlines some of these key disciplinary and thematic aspects of design.\n5 Current approaches to embedding sustainability in mainstream design education: The education for sustainability approach can lead to debate over what constitutes good design education, the role of higher education in society, the potential politicisation of students and existing skills competencies within universities (Gough and Scott, 2009). There is a long tradition in the UK of integrating sustainability in design education with a number of leading international universities offering undergraduate modules and postgraduate courses with a dedicated emphasis on sustainability. A pertinent question in relation to these developments is whether sustainability should be embedded within mainstream design curricula or offered as discrete modules or postgraduate programmes.\n6 Exploring capacity building: Building capacity for sustainable development in education is one of the key areas within the international implementation scheme for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Capacity building is an iterative process that incorporates the building of frameworks, work cultures, policies, processes and systems enabling an organisation or individual to improve performance to achieve successful outcomes.\n7 Conceptual capacity building framework for design education: On the basis of these empirical and theoretical insights the authors stress the need to develop new, and strengthen existing, design education programmes to move forward with integration of sustainability principles. In order to facilitate this, there needs to be a broader consideration of capacity building and related competencies required in design for sustainability. It is important to develop a shared framework of design competencies born out of mutual values and understanding of sustainable development, ecodesign practice and design education. Therefore, the authors propose a conceptual capacity building framework including competencies extrapolated from the literature and previous research by the authors with four universities in Wales (Figure 3). This framework is split across the two dimensions of \"exploration\" and \"exploitation\", as identified by March (1991), and presents an integrated framework of six competency clusters. The rationale for using these dimensions as opposed to the more designerly dimensions of \"divergence\" and \"convergence\" is that it could be argued that convergent thinking is somewhat imprecise in explaining the process of realising a solution.\n8 Conclusions: This paper sought to explore the context of capacity for sustainable development as it relates to design education. It briefly highlighted some gaps in the literature on capacity building for sustainability in design education along with proposing a conceptual framework of key competencies. The intention is to initiate a dialogue with the design education and education for sustainable development community on the means by which these can be integrated into mainstream design education, lifelong learning and entrepreneurship training.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to advance the understanding of the role design education plays in sustainable development. It presents a capacity building framework that can be accommodated in various levels of design curriculum development. The framework allows for a macro-view on the key clusters of competencies for ecodesign while allowing for alignment with quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluation and assessment. The proposed framework does not intend to be universally prescriptive, and it should provide a context for the development bespoke educational programmes and activities.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The research utilises a variety of data sources and methods to provide answers to the research questions. Empirical data were collected through the course of a two-year programme of capacity building with design educators in Wales. This two-year programme incorporated a series of workshops and scoping discussions with teaching staff. Additional data were collected through a literature review and best practice scanning. Thus, the research did not follow a linear process. Instead, it was performed according to an iterative process, evolved by interaction between a theoretical foundation (capacity building, ecodesign education) and empirical material (workshops, literature review).\nFindings: Design education may need to situate itself away from the traditional art or engineering setting to facilitate greater interdisciplinary learning. This repositioning of design education will allow for multidisciplinary relationships with other schools and communities such as social science, business or planning. There will be a role for the promotion of international design institutes that provide a more concentrated experience of the value of design and design education.\nResearch limitations/implications: This paper sought to explore the context of capacity for sustainable development as it relates to design education. It briefly highlighted some gaps in the literature on capacity building for ecodesign education along with proposing a conceptual framework of key competencies. The intention is to initiate a discussion on the means by which these can be integrated into mainstream design education, lifelong learning and entrepreneurship training.\nOriginality/value: There is no similar framework presented in the literature. Much of the research originates from original research conducted with four universities in a unique programme of capacity building. The paper provides the basis for deeper insights into the interdisciplinary perspectives required. This is something the authors hope to report on this year.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A career with a heart: exploring occupational regret
|
[
"Attitudes",
"Careers",
"Emotions",
"Commitment"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The career has been defined as \"the evolving sequence of a person's work experiences over time\" (Arthur et al., 1989, p. 8). A satisfying career is integral to well-being, particularly if work is a key source of identity (Judge and Klinger, 2007). However, research has also found that the career is a life domain about which individuals have the greatest regret (Lecci et al., 1994). A meta-analytic review based largely on American college samples (Roese and Summerville, 2005) found that career choices were second to educational choices as a source of regret; and for many occupations education is a key factor in shaping career choices. Subsequent more representative research confirmed the career as a key source of life regret (Morrison and Roese, 2011).\nMethods: Procedure and participants\nFindings: All variables were inspected for distribution characteristics, missing values and outliers. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation models. Mplus, Version 7, was used to analyse data. To test for direct and indirect effects, we calculated 95% confidence intervals and applied a bootstrapping technique with 5,000 bootstrapping samples as recommended (Preacher et al., 2010).\nResults: We first discuss the direct pathways in our model. These are presented in Table II and Figure 2.\nDiscussion: This study developed and tested a model of occupational regret, drawing on theory from various disciplines. An individual's occupation is usually key to their identity and given the ubiquity of career-related regret and its potentially negative implications, understanding more about regret and how managers can help to mitigate its effects, is important. Professional careers are in flux, with some commentators (e.g. Susskind and Susskind, 2015) pessimistic about their future, raising the possibility of more prevalent occupational regret.\nConclusion: For many reasons, individuals regret their occupational choice and with rapid change in occupations, occupational regret seems likely to increase. The centrality of work in many lives makes occupational regret a particularly important emotion to understand. Unlike regrets about past events, the effects of which have come and gone, and hypothetical regrets for something not done, regret about the decision to enter a profession remains current and has to be \"lived\" (Wrzesniewski et al., 2006). This study has explored the antecedents of occupational regret and its implications for individuals, organisations and the profession.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of career regret. It examines processes that give rise to it including social comparison, social influences on career choice and career satisfaction and explores its association with occupational commitment and intention to quit the profession.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Hypotheses were tested among 559 British cardiac physiologists, using an online survey and structural equation modelling.\nFindings: Research propositions were supported; social influences and social comparison are both associated with career regret. Direct and indirect pathways were found between career regret, occupational commitment and intention to quit the profession.\nResearch limitations/implications: The paper provides a starting point for future career regret research using a range of methods.\nPractical implications: Careers advisers both at the point of career choice and within organisations should encourage realistic occupation previews. Managers should become aware of career regret and help to mitigate its effects - for example, facilitating job crafting or reframing of experiences.\nOriginality/value: This paper is one of the first to investigate career choice regret and its associated psychological mechanisms.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
FinTech banking industry: a systemic approach
|
[
"Innovation",
"Banking",
"Economic forecasting",
"Strategy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: This paper applies the concept of Rogers's innovation diffusion theory (Rogers, 1983, 1995, 2003) to analyse the dynamics of the banking industry. Rogers's innovation diffusion theory (Rogers, 1983) has influenced the concepts of technological change, and a number of scholars have later expanded the concepts based on his works. Nevertheless, one of the shortcomings of the innovation diffusion theory has been the dimension of systemic characteristics and the extent to which the systemic nature influences the trend on the diffusion of innovation. (The concept of systemic innovation in this paper refers to the multi-party interdependence in the development process of innovation. Please see further discussions on the concept of systemic innovation in Section 2.2). In particular, this study will analyse the diffusion of financial technology or FinTech in the banking industry.\n2. Theoretical framework: 2.1 Innovation and financial innovation\n3. Research methodology: There is a wealth of literature on the innovation system (Lundvall, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2003; Patel and Pavitt, 1994; Niosi and Bellon, 1995; Lee and von Tunzelmann, 2005; Carlsson, 2006; Fagerberg and Srholec, 2008). However, to date, only limited research has been carried out to explore the financial innovation system with respect to the systemic characteristics. Therefore, it seems reasonable to carry out the research with particular focus on FinTech-based innovations in the banking industry.\n4. The diffusion of FinTech-based innovations in the banking industry: Before exploring the systemic characteristics of FinTech-based innovations in the banking industry, Figure 2 portrays the development of FinTech-based innovations in the global financial services industry up to present. It is interesting to see the changing landscape from brick-and-mortar banking system towards digital banking system. The global financial services industry has witnessed a significant reform from the development of cheques, electronic cards and fund transfer system towards electronic payment system (Visa, MasterCard, Mondex), online (internet banking), mobile banking and digital banking. Under the changing banking landscape, many banks have adopted FinTech to improve the efficiency of financial services. New competitors like non-banks also step into the financial system and use FinTech in offering financial products and services to compete with banks.\n5. Research implications and conclusions: This paper is concerned with the diffusion of financial technology or FinTech in the banking industry. The study mainly contributes to the body of knowledge in financial innovations with respect to the systemic characteristics. The development of systemic innovation model provides a better understanding on the systemic characteristics, as well as the progress and pattern of technology development and diffusion. This research study provides useful implications to support the FinTech landscape of the banking industry.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to explore FinTech and its dynamic transitions in the banking industry. In particular, the study analyses the systemic innovation nature of FinTech-based innovations. The main contribution of this research study is the development of systemic innovation model which can be used as a dynamic tool to track the progress and pattern of technology development and diffusion. The research also discusses the latest financial innovation of PromptPay FinTech - the e-payment system in Thailand.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This research uses the case study approach to analyse the systemic innovation characteristics of FinTech-based innovations. This research offers a new systemic innovation model which is developed and can be used as a dynamic tool to track the progress and pattern of technology development and diffusion. The study uses FinTech-based innovations as case study samples to gain a better understanding concerning the systemic characteristics and the pattern of technology diffusion under the analytical framework of systemic innovation model. This research involves qualitative interviews with five major commercial banks in the financial services industry of Thailand.\nFindings: The analyses of findings show the systemic characteristics of FinTech-based innovations in the banking industry, both at a global scale and Thailand case. The analyses have shown that systemic characteristics of the innovation process are the outcome of interactions between the complexity of the innovation and the capabilities of innovators in managing the innovation. The insightful implications on the systemic nature of innovation give the trend and direction of FinTech-based innovation development in the banking industry.\nOriginality/value: The main contribution which shows originality and value of this paper is the development of systemic innovation model. This research study develops a systemic innovation model to analyse the systemic characteristics which can be applied to all innovations in any industry. The model can also help track the progress and pattern of technology development and diffusion. Therefore, the model can be used to project the trend and diffusion of innovation competition in the banking industry.\n",
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Cyberactivism as emergent language in Venezuela: Proposal of documentation and digital preservation using Omeka software
|
[
"Digital documentation",
"Artivism",
"Cyberactivism",
"Emerging languages",
"Software repository",
"Venezuela"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The political and socioeconomic situation that is living in Venezuela during the last four years, which have caused a turmoil since 2017, have led to strong protests and social movements as expression mechanisms of social dissatisfaction. An increasing climate of disputes motivated by the intensification of the economic crisis, the increase of crime indexes and the constant actions related to the systematic violation of human rights by the security of the state and institutions attached to Chavism or the Bolivarian Revolution have emerged since the rise to power of Nicolas Maduro (Said-Hung and Valencia-Cobos, 2017).\n2. Methodology: 2.1 Selection of units of analysis\n3. Proposal of documentary description of digital objects: There are several standards for the treatment and report of documentary description and digital contents, some of them used for digital repositories (Alhuay-Quispe et al., 2017) such as simple and qualified digital content (Dublin Core), (Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS), PREservation Metadata Implementation Strategies (PREMIS), NISO MIX (Z39.87); for the management of scientific information (Dodero et al., 2012) such as OpenAIRE, DataCite, Linked Open Data-enabled Bibliographical Data (LODE-BD), Common European Research Information Format (CERIF) or for educative resources (Pelaez and Alarcon, 2017) such as Learning Object Metadata (LOM), Agent Based Learning Object (OBAA) and Metadata Learning Resources (MLR).\n4. Analysis and results: According to first group pieces created by De La Fuente, Franco, Chumaceiro and Jose in which they resort to paintings and graphic arts using the three national colours to express emotions such as fury, impotence and sadness combined with satirical elements. The colours of the national flag that for Venezuelans evoke the richness of the territory and the elements of the motherland history are used as counterexamples of the values of exaltation of the national.\n5. Discussion and conclusions: The pieces selected and analyzed are only a sample of the production that has been developed about the process in Venezuela in recent years. It is required, then, to implement a digital documentation proposal that not only allows to gather and systematize available information about pieces and expressions of Artivism in Venezuela, but that also describes it following documentation criteria and establishing sections and fields that enable a deeper contextual, semiotic and psychological analysis which, certainly, will bring us a greatest comprehension of these documents with high testimonial and historical potential.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present a conceptual analysis to artistic manifestation represented through graphic and multimedia pieces that are available in social media networks as document-speeches in relation to protests in Venezuela during April-July, 2017. Also, this paper proposes the implementation of digital documentation tool that allows retrieval, organization, systematization and preservation of visual contents.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Semiotic analysis based on 44 artistic pieces (images and videos) posted on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to protest in Venezuela against the government of Nicolas Maduro in 2017. The authors defined a metadata group for content creation of multimedia and testing information retrieval from general data, textual contents, file formats and semiotic description using Omeka software.\nFindings: The digital documentation of artivism proposed has the potential to sustain over time as documents likely to be studied. It also constitutes an important analysis and a historical reconstruction, which must be taken into consideration to conduct research in the future political and social process of Venezuela.\nSocial implications: Cyber-artivism, a concept related to online activism, is conceived as an artistic expression mediated by technologies and social media emerging in the context of social environments with a political-demographic character.\nOriginality/value: Digital preservation of multimedia contents by their semiotic and historic value as artistic cyber-activism.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
New graduate occupational therapists' perceptions of near-misses and mistakes in the workplace
|
[
"Australia",
"New Zealand",
"Occupational therapists",
"Training",
"Working practices",
"Human error",
"Near‐miss",
"Mistakes",
"Incidence reporting",
"Allied health"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: As with other healthcare professionals, occupational therapists make errors in clinical practice. Since the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System (Kohn et al., 2000), efforts to reduce adverse events, such as practice errors and improve patient safety have received increased attention. Significant progress has been made toward understanding the nature, causes and consequences of near-misses and mistakes in healthcare areas such as medicine and nursing. However, to date these aspects of quality and safety in occupational therapy remain a largely under-investigated research area (Mu et al., 2011).There is some common ground in defining a near-miss in that it involves an event that could have caused an accident, injury or illness, but was averted owing to chance or intervention (Iowa Department of Public Health, 2008; Wagner et al., 2006). Comparatively, a mistake is any untoward, undesirable and usually unanticipated event in which harm has occurred to the patient or harm done to the mission of the organisation (Ebright et al., 2004). The consequence of mistakes may be client harm or even death (Gurwitz et al., 1994; Wagner et al., 2006). Collectively, near-misses and mistakes are commonly referred to in the literature as \"practice errors\" or \"adverse events\", as such, these terms are used interchangeably in this article.Studies have been undertaken examining practice errors in allied health therapy in rehabilitation, geriatric and critical care settings (Cochran et al., 2009; Hahne et al., 2011; Mu et al., 2006). Wade (2009), however, highlighted the \"urgent need to investigate harm systematically\" within rehabilitation settings (p393). Several authors have investigated practice errors specifically within occupational therapy practice. Researchers have used case analysis (Scheirton et al., 2007; Lohman et al., 2008), focus groups (Lohman et al., 2004; Mu et al., 2011) and a national survey in the USA (Mu et al., 2006) with occupational therapists working primarily in geriatric or physical rehabilitations settings. Findings from these studies show that most practice errors occur in the intervention phase of occupational therapy practice and that they varied from minor to severe (Mu et al., 2006); often having a moral or ethical dimension (Scheirton et al., 2007).The most common causes of practice errors have been identified as misjudgement, lack of: preparation; experience; knowledge; and insufficient communication (Mu et al., 2006; Lohman et al., 2008). Factors associated with the frequency, type and impact of error occurrence include fewer years of practice, workplace attitudes and reporting procedures, and orientation and mentoring opportunities (Mu et al., 2006, 2011). Strategies suggested by therapists to reduce practice errors focused on mentoring and performance competency checks, particularly for new graduates, as well as addressing the need for cultural and systematic change within the workplace (Mu et al., 2011).Historically, identifying practice errors in healthcare settings has relied largely on self-reporting. Mu et al.(2006) said that therapists who disclosed practice errors demonstrated more constructive coping strategies than those who did not and error reporting was influenced by the organisational culture and response. Mandatory reporting of incidents is soon to be implemented under a national scheme for the registration and accreditation of health professionals (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2010). Currently, registration status of Australian states/territories and other countries vary. However, commencing 1 July 2010, an Australian national scheme for the registration and accreditation of health professionals was introduced. Occupational therapists in Australia join the registration scheme in July 2012, bringing them in line with their Aotearoa/NZ counterparts.To date, practice errors in Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand allied health professionals remains largely unexplored. Given that incident reporting will be mandatory and that lack of preparation, knowledge and experience play a major role in practice errors, the authors sought to examine Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) new graduate occupational therapists' experiences of near-misses and mistakes. New graduates provide an ideal window to study practice errors, given their recent education, and the potential for harm to both themselves and others by inexperience (Mu et al., 2011). The authors proposed to explore:* How many new graduates had experienced a near miss or mistake in their first year of practice?* How many had reported this experience?* What factors affected reporting a near miss or mistake (specifically factors identified in previous studies such as the experience of workplace supervision, knowledge of reporting procedures and the perceived encouragement in the workplace to report practice errors)?As most studies have been drawn from therapists within physical rehabilitation or geriatric practice settings, the authors also investigated the experience of therapists in several practice settings. Given that previous researchers highlighted concerns about the experience of new graduate therapists working in rural settings, a comparison between metropolitan and rural practice settings was particularly interesting (Mu et al., 2011). It is anticipated that information from the study will be valuable in identifying strategies to reduce practice error occurrence.\nMethod: Survey research is characterised by the structured collection and analysis of case data to provide description and comparison of cases (De Vaus, 2002). Surveys allow an economical and efficient way of collecting data over a large geographic area from respondents who are thought to be the best source of accurate information about the topic under investigation (Schofield and Knauss, 2010). An online survey (www.surveymonkey.com.au) was used to examine work preparedness and the work environment of new graduate occupational therapists in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) in their first year of practice. Near-misses and mistakes was one of five survey focus areas. In this focus area, participants were asked to provide feedback on several questions regarding the supervision they received; their experiences (including disclosure) of situations where a near-miss or mistake had occurred, the event reporting mechanisms that encourage event reporting. Most questions were in closed-choice format using either a \"yes\" or \"no\" response, or a horizontal rating scale. Three opportunities were provided for open-ended responses. Participants were invited, if relevant, to indicate the reasons for non-disclosure of an adverse event and to describe the mistake that they had made or had witnessed (Table I). Definitions for near-misses and errors were provided to the participants. Structured supervision was defined as regularly scheduled formal meeting time with a more senior colleague that provided opportunity for reflection, discussion and learning.Participants\nFindings: A total of 228 new graduate participants responded to the survey (Australia n=178, Aotearoa/NZ n=50); 90 per cent and 96 per cent respectively were female. The median age for both cohorts was 23 years (range 21-56).Near-misses\nDiscussion: Our study shows that newly graduated occupational therapists from Australia and Aotearoa/NZ experience near-misses and mistakes in practice settings. Findings show that 18.7 per cent reported experiencing a near-miss and 8.0 per cent reported experiencing a mistake that had put the client at risk. Several participants (11.2 per cent) also reported witnessing a mistake by another occupational therapist that put the patient, themselves or a colleague at risk. Most mistakes reportedly made by therapists related to client interventions; including clients falling and creating an unsafe situation during intervention for themselves or colleagues. Mu et al. (2006) also found that most errors occurred during the occupational therapy process intervention phase.Disclosing near-misses and mistakes rates was similar between Australia and Aotearoa/NZ participants. The percentage of therapists reporting a mistake committed by another occupational therapist was similar to self-reporting percentages. Unexpectedly, country differences were not statistically significant, nor was there a significant association between gender, age and near-misses and mistakes. It appears that regardless of demographic factors, new graduates were similar in their practice errors and reporting behaviour. Non-disclosure of mistakes may hold safety risks for professionals and clients. Non-disclosure does not facilitate a formal process for system learning from errors and thus does not reduce the likelihood of similar events in the future.One influential factor on near-miss and mistake rates was practice location, with new graduates practicing in rural/remote areas experiencing significantly more practice errors than their metropolitan colleagues. Despite experiencing fewer near-miss events, metropolitan new graduates reported that workplace colleagues were more likely to encourage disclosure compared to their rural/remote counterparts.Structured supervision also influenced perceptions and knowledge of near-miss and mistake reporting. Not surprisingly, structured supervision significantly affected new graduate knowledge of the events-reporting procedure, with less than half of those not supervised demonstrating awareness of this procedure. Further, those participants receiving structured supervision felt that workplace colleagues encouraged reporting of practice errors.Encouragingly, all respondents reporting a mistake indicated that they would do so again. These findings have implications for workplace structures such as supervision, induction/training about practice errors and reporting mechanisms. New graduate occupational therapists have previously reported the importance of a structured program to support the transition from student to professional (Smith and Pilling, 2008). Whilst supervising and implementing supportive environments are important elements in such a program, our study suggests that an environment where disclosing and reporting practice errors is encouraged should also be incorporated into such programs (Herkt and Hocking, 2007). Encouraging disclosure is particularly pertinent to new graduates working in rural/remote locations, given their perceptions of workplace support for error disclosure, and the importance of professional support for new graduates in rural positions (Lee and McKenzie, 2003; Steenbergen and Mackenzie, 2004). Mu et al.(2011) highlighted the need to strengthen orientation and mentoring for newly hired therapists as a key strategy to prevent and reduce practice errors. This study also highlighted newly graduate therapists' reporting concerns in rural locations and recommended that students practice reporting errors during their professional education so that error reporting becomes a professional socialisation and lifelong learning routine.Workplace encouragement of practice error disclosure was similar between Australian and Aotearoa/NZ new graduates, however, registration status had a significant impact on feelings about being encouraged by their workplace colleagues to report such events. More new graduates working in registered states/territories/country felt that their workplace encouraged reporting of mistakes (96.3 per cent), compared to those un-registered new graduates (77.1 per cent). A similar trend was observed for near-misses (89.9 per cent vs 75.7 per cent). However, the effect of registration was not observed in events-reporting procedure knowledge. The significant difference in perceptions of support by the workplace colleagues for disclosing mistakes may reflect a greater institutional awareness in clinical governance issues, such as the role of complaints in improving patient safety in jurisdictions with registration compared to those without. Our findings support the move to national registration through the Commonwealth Government National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2010).Negative feelings regarding disclosing practice errors were a common theme throughout the survey. It is important to highlight the possibility that practice errors may have been witnessed or experienced but not disclosed owing to their sensitive nature. The nature and types of errors in occupational therapy are currently poorly understood. A key outcome is how practitioners engage in reflective practice to learn from and modify their future practice to incorporate preventative strategies to improve patient safety.Whilst practice errors ideally should be avoided, this is unlikely. Previous authors have highlighted the positive learnings resulting from practice errors in relation to instigating greater vigilance and modifying future practice to prevent such events re-occurring (Cochran et al., 2009; Lohman et al., 2004; Mu et al., 2006; Scheirton et al., 2003). Future research should focus on improving disclosure of practice errors as this has been shown to foster learning, lead to constructive coping strategies and enhance future practice (Meurier et al., 1997; Mu et al., 2006; Wu, 1999). Leadership and teamwork within the workplace, enabling policies and procedures at a local team level; fostering change from a \"blame and shame\" culture to a \"just culture\" are important (Sorenson et al., 2008). A \"just culture\" encourages open disclosure, moving from focussing on individual failure to a systems approach, which examines the conditions under which individuals work. Clinical managers have been identified as critical in developing ways to prevent or mitigate practice errors (Reason, 2000; Sorenson et al., 2008).The study has several limitations. The survey response rate, particularly for Australian new graduates, was unclear, therefore selection bias may have been a factor and it is likely that the results represent those who experienced more practice errors. Further, as the response rate to the open-ended question around witnessing a mistake by a colleague was low (33.3 per cent), results around the specific type and situation of these mistakes are indicative only. Despite these limitations, the study is to our knowledge, the first to examine near-misses and mistakes among new graduate occupational therapists in Australia and Aotearoa/NZ and is one of the few cross-country studies in occupational therapy practice.\nConclusion: Our research examined the experiences of new graduate occupational therapists in Australia and Aotearoa/NZ regarding near-misses and mistakes in practice. Findings from this study have identified several that influence incident reporting, including practice location (metropolitan vs rural and remote), structured supervision and a supportive work environment. Despite the limitations, the findings have implications for university programs and workplace managers and supervisors around improving new graduate knowledge of quality and safety, and implementing local policy and practices around open disclosure of errors by allied health professionals. Practice implications for managers and supervisors include ensuring a \"just culture\" is developed in the workplace through mentoring, education and providing structured supervision for newly trained professionals. These supportive strategies are particularly important in rural and remote settings were practice errors were more commonly reported. Our findings also highlight areas for further investigation. The current research focussed on a new graduate population and it would be beneficial to investigate the perceptions and knowledge of practice errors within the broader profession. There is also a need for qualitative research to explore in more detail definitional aspects and contextual factors, such as the types of adverse events that can occur in allied health settings. Greater knowledge of allied health professionals' near-miss and mistake perceptions and possibly a classification system for such events in this allied health field, may enable the development of better strategies for their detection, management and prevention.\n",
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"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of near-misses and mistakes among new graduate occupational therapists from Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ), and their knowledge of current incident reporting systems.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - New graduate occupational therapists in Australia and Aotearoa/NZ in their first year of practice (n=228) participated in an online electronic survey that examined five areas of work preparedness. Near-misses and mistakes was one focus area.\nFindings: - The occurrence and disclosure of practice errors among new graduate occupational therapists are similar between Australian and Aotearoa/NZ participants. Rural location, structured supervision and registration status significantly influenced the perceptions and reporting of practice errors. Structured supervision significantly impacted on reporting procedure knowledge. Current registration status was strongly correlated with perceptions that the workplace encouraged event reporting.\nResearch limitations/ implications: - Areas for further investigation include investigating the perceptions and knowledge of practice errors within a broader profession and the need to explore definitional aspects and contextual factors of adverse events that occur in allied health settings. Selection bias may be a factor in this study.\nPractical implications: - Findings have implications for university and workplace structures, such as clinical management, supervision, training about practice errors and reporting mechanisms in allied health.\nOriginality/value: - Findings may enable the development of better strategies for detecting, managing and preventing practice errors in the allied health professions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Expanding customer engagement: the role of negative engagement, dual valences and contexts
|
[
"Social networking sites",
"Social services",
"Customer engagement",
"Engagement objects",
"Negative customer engagement"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Today's service environment is marked by dynamic change. Organisations are faced with increasing pressure to continually transform their practice in response to technological advancement, intensified global competition, and enhanced customer and stakeholder participation in service encounter. As a result, service relationships are no longer simple dyadic exchanges (Vargo and Lusch, 2008). They instead involve an ecosystem of interactions between engagement actors who are involved in a network of value creation (Chandler and Lusch, 2015; Anderson et al., 2013). This expanded network perspective offers service organisations' the opportunity to engage in a continuous process of value enhancement through interactive exchange (Chandler and Lusch, 2015). It also provides organisations with a greater understanding of the focal engagement objects that consumers interact with and the specific way in which these may contribute to a positive or negative service experience (Brodie et al., 2011; Jaakkola and Alexander, 2014; Hollebeek and Chen, 2014).\nNegative customer engagement: Negative CE captures negative contributions and co-destruction within a service relationship (Ple and Caceres, 2010; Dolan et al., 2016). Negatively engaged customers can act as brand adversaries who are highly committed to the relationship, yet in ways that detract value from the exchange (Hollebeek and Macky, 2019; Hollebeek and Chen, 2014; Dolan et al., 2016). This unfolds through a customer's intentional efforts to damage: a brand, customers or group of customers through the spread of negative WOM; co-opting others to adopt an attitudinal and/or behavioural position about a provider; brand switching, avoidance and rejection; and retaliation and revenge behaviours (Alexander et al., 2018; Hollebeek and Chen, 2014; Dolan et al., 2016; Juric et al., 2015). Negative CE is, therefore, important to identify and understand, as experiencing negative emotions, thoughts and behaviours can be distressing for customers, and the strong emotional dimension carries the risk of spilling over to damage other customer segments (Alexander et al., 2018; Surachartkumtonkun et al., 2015; Juric et al., 2015).\nModel development: The literature surrounding the antecedents and consequences of CE is disparate. Involvement and WOM are chosen as the focal antecedent and consequent of engagement respectively given their clear grounding in the literature (Islam and Rahman, 2016; Hollebeek and Chen, 2014; Verleye et al., 2014). This supports Hollebeek and Chen (2014), who conceptualise positive/negative CE to share common drivers, dimensions and outcomes, but operate as two extremes of a positive/negative continuum. While other relational drivers of CE have been explored within commercial service contexts, including satisfaction, identification trust, participation, self-brand congruity and flow (Brodie et al., 2011; Leckie et al., 2016; De Vries and Carlson, 2014), little is known of the drivers of CE within a social service (Bowden et al., 2016; Luoma-aho, 2015) and on social media platforms (Sashi et al., 2019). Involvement is chosen as the focal antecedent given its relevance and application to each engagement valence, and, in light of its role as a driver of negative (Rissanen et al., 2016; Hollebeek and Chen, 2014) and positive (Islam and Rahman, 2016; De Vries and Carlson, 2014) engagement in prior literature. Customers are also more likely to be cognisant of their involvement with service relationships compared with more abstract concepts of identity, self-brand congruity or flow (Harrigan et al., 2018; Hollebeek et al., 2014). For example, a positively engaged customer may experience high levels of involvement through depth of processing, emotional reactions and service usage, whereas a negatively engaged customer may experience the same, heightened levels of involvement but in a way that leads to the co-destruction of service value (Hollebeek and Chen, 2014; Rissanen et al., 2016; Harrigan et al., 2018; Islam and Rahman, 2016; Leckie et al., 2016).\nMethod: An online, dual-focus self-administered voluntary survey was distributed to Australian service consumers. A total sample of 625 participants was achieved across the two contexts and the respondent criteria were as follows: approximately equal numbers male and female, aged over between 18 and must live in an Australian local government area or for the social media sample, must have used either Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter at least once in the past two weeks. Roughly equal quotas were achieved for the two service types (325 respondents for the local government service and 300 respondents for the social media context), and within each context, equal quotas were achieved for the two objects due to the questionnaire being repeated per respondent. Therefore, 325 respondents completed the survey for both the community and brand object for the local government services and 300 respondents completed the survey for both objects in the social media context. The social media context experienced a skew towards Facebook as the self-selected platform choice. This skew was somewhat expected, as Facebook is the preferred SNS for customers to engage with brands (Dessart et al., 2016). The respondent profile can be seen in Table I.\nResults: The hypothesised relationships in the model were tested using structural equation modeling. Goodness of fit statistics indicated that a reflective, second-order model fitted the data adequately (GFI = 0.937, CFI = 0.968, IFI= 0.968. RMSEA = 0.06). A competing model was tested to observe the direct effect of involvement on WOM. This resulted in moderate model fit (GFI = 0.894, CFI = 0.933, IFI= 0.933. RMSEA = 0.09), but the fit was worse than the original model, and involvement held a weak relationship with WOM (b = 0.274), p <* 0.01, CR 8.45). Therefore, the first model where involvement has an indirect effect on WOM through positive and negative CE demonstrates better fit and is retained for this article. This is also supported theoretically, as involvement measures the degree of relevance and importance a service holds to a consumer, whereas engagement entails more interactive, collaborative and passionate dimensions, which would prompt customers to discuss their service experience with others (Islam and Rahman, 2016; Hollebeek et al., 2016; Azer and Alexander, 2018). The proposed model explained 61 per cent of the variance in the WOM construct. The affective, cognitive and behavioural dimensions for positive and negative CE served as strong indicators of their respective constructs. For positive CE, the dimensions loaded between 0.7 and 0.8, and for negative CE, between 0.6 and 0.8. The structural path coefficients were all found to be significant. Involvement was found to have a strong positive effect on positive CE (b = 0.77, p < 0.01, CR 18.156), and a weak negative effect on negative CE (b = -0.126, p <* 0.01, CR 3.701), supporting H1 and rejecting H2, respectively. Positive CE has a positive and strong effect on WOM (b = 0.730, p < 0.01, CR 17.27) supporting H3, and negative CE had a positive and moderate effect on WOM (b = 0.359, p <* 0.01, CR 12.27) supporting H4. These findings suggest that involvement has a varying effect on the degree to which customers are positively and negatively engaged, yet the effect of either valence of engagement will be positive on WOM. Taking into consideration the indirect effects in the model, involvement had the only indirect effect on WOM (b = 0.517). The squared multiple correlation for the structural equation is 0.610. (Figure 2)\nDiscussion and implications: The literature on consumer engagement to date has predominantly focussed on an examination of positive manifestations of engagement. Yet, research has demonstrated that negative brand relationships are in fact more common than positive relationships (Fournier and Alvarez, 2012). From this perspective, expressions of engagement may be both positive or negative depending on the prevailing relationship climate and conditions (Hollebeek and Chen, 2014; Naumann et al., 2017) significantly impacting upon organisational performance (Palmatier et al., 2013; Bowden et al., 2015). This study contributes to the nascent literature on negative engagement through an examination of its dimensions, operationalisation and expression within contrasting service types, and its manifestation towards specific focal engagement objects within a service relationship (van Doorn et al., 2010; Hollebeek et al., 2016; Hollebeek and Chen, 2014; Lievonen et al., 2017).\nLimitations: The findings of this article should be considered with several limitations in mind. Firstly, this study provides an empirical exploration into positive and negative CE within local government and social media services. Future research could expand the contextual application of CE to cross-examine its operation in a wider range of service types. Future research may consider a wider range of object types, even extending beyond a dual focus to capture customers' engagement with multiple (three, four, etc.) objects simultaneously. This may better reflect the dynamic nature of the service ecosystem, which involves customers interacting with several actors within the focal service relationship. Future research should explore whether the WOM resulting from customers' positive engagement has ongoing effects on a service relationship. For example, WOM may exist in a \"feedback\" loop to drive and/or reinforce positive CE for new or existing customers. This may be especially important within online platforms, whereby customers act an unofficial \"advocates\" and can, thus, influence perceptions throughout their social networks. To this end, adding a \"social\" dimension to the existing tri-dimensional CE framework may better capture the type of engagement experienced during customers' interactions with other actors in their service ecosystem. This may be particularly important when exploring CE in both a social service and online social networking site whereby customers use their service experiences as a means of validation, connection and social enhancement. Future research may consider how involvement works in conjunction with other complimentary antecedent factors to reinforce a customer's positive engagement, such as category knowledge and participation. In addition, future research may need to consider drivers that encompass aspects of a service interaction that can lead to negative CE, such as time, degree of personal contribution to the service, attachment, irritation and community intimacy (Heinonen, 2017; Palmatier et al., 2017). Future research also should extend the contrasting service types used in this study to explore the role of involvement as a motivation behind positive CE across a range of both forced and \"opt-in\" service types. To this end, future research should also consider whether a feedback loop exists where WOM drives or reinforces negative CE for new and/or existing customers. This is especially important within SNS, which can exacerbate dysfunctional and harmful customer behaviours.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to operationalise and measure the effects of negative customer engagement (CE) in conjunction with positive CE. Both valences are explored through affective, cognitive and behaviour dimensions, and, in relation to the antecedent of involvement and outcome of word-of-mouth (WOM). It also explores the moderating influence of service context by examining engagement within a social service versus a social networking site (SNS). Engagement with the dual focal objects of a service brand and a service community are also examined.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Structural equation modelling is used to analyse 625 survey responses.\nFindings: Involvement is a strong driver of positive CE, and positive CE has a strong effect on WOM. These findings are consistent across the \"brand\" and \"community\" object, suggesting positive CE is mutually reinforced by different objects in a relationship. Positive CE is also found to operate consistently across the service types. Involvement is a moderately negative driver of negative CE, and negative CE is a positive driver of WOM. These relationships operate differently across the objects and service types. Involvement has a stronger inverse effect on negative CE for the social service, diverging from assumptions that negative CE is reflective of highly involved customers. Interestingly, negative CE has a stronger effect on WOM in the social service, highlighting the active and vocal nature of customers within this service context.\nOriginality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper to quantitatively measure positive and negative valences of engagement concurrently, and examine the moderating effect of dual objects across contrasting service types.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Understanding computer security behavioral intention in the workplace: An empirical study of Korean firms
|
[
"Security",
"Empirical study",
"Behavioural theories",
"IT policy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Due to the spread of the internet and the appearance of more sophisticated hacking techniques, companies face a serious computer security threat today. Security incidents caused by computer attacks such as hacking, denial of service, viruses, and theft of information can have a negative effect on a company's reputation, such as loss of credibility, as well as bringing huge financial damage to the organization (Bulgurcu et al., 2010). Therefore, computer security which is protection of information and computer assets from computer attacks, theft, and various disasters has become one of the top managerial issues in organizations today (Ransbotham and Mitra, 2009). Organizations have been actively introducing security technologies such as secure networking protocols, intrusion detection techniques, database security methods, etc., to reduce and prevent computer security incidents. The extant research in computer security has been focussed on the use of these technologies (Herath and Rao, 2009a). However, more recently, researchers have started to realize that computer security is not just a matter of technological tools and user's security-related behavior is very important to prevent computer security incidents (Herath and Rao, 2009a; Bulgurcu et al., 2010).\n2. Literature review and research model: 2.1 Prior research on computer security-related behaviors\n3. Research methodology: 3.1 Data collection\n4. Results: The structural equation modeling) approach was used to validate the study's research model. Partial least squares (PLS-Graph Version 3.0) was employed to perform the analysis. PLS employs a component-based approach for estimation. This approach is best suited for analyzing complex models with latent variables because it avoids inadmissible solutions and factor indeterminacy (Pavlou and Gefen, 2005) and it also places minimal restrictions on the sample size and residual distributions (Chin, 1998).\n5. Discussion and conclusions: In this research, we proposed a research model based on the reference disciplines of the TRA, moral obligation, PMT, and organizational context factor for explaining an individual's computer security behaviors in the workplace, and empirically tested the model. Several insightful results are summarized from the research model, and these are presented below.\n",
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},
{
"content": "Purpose: In organizations today, protecting information and computer assets from attacks or disaster has become one of the top managerial issues. The purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically test a comprehensive model of computer security behaviors of individuals in the workplace.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The model was developed based on the reference disciplines of the theory of reasoned action, moral obligation, protection motivation theory (PMT), and organizational context factors. The measurements for the variables in the model, including computer security behavioral intention were adapted from prior studies, and their reliability and validity were verified by a confirmatory factor analysis. The model was empirically analyzed by structural equation modeling with respect to data from 162 employees in a number of organizations in Korea.\nFindings: The results indicate that moral obligation and organizational norms along with attitude toward computer security behavior have significant impacts on employees' behavioral intentions of computer security. In addition, perceived threat severity, response efficacy, and self-efficacy, which are drawn from the PMT, have significant impacts on employee attitude, whereas security policy has significant impacts on the organizational norms.\nOriginality/value: The paper provides a useful model for analyzing employees' computer security behaviors in the workplace. Also, the paper reveals that moral obligation as well as attitude toward computer security behavior was a significant predictor of an individual employee's intention to practice computer security behavior.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Learning-centered leadership and teacher learning in China: does trust matter?
|
[
"China",
"Trust",
"Leadership",
"Teacher learning"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Does trust in leadership matter when it comes to school improvement? This question begs a seemingly obvious response, \"Of course, it must.\" Nonetheless, the current global environment is rife with examples of education policies and leadership practices that treat teacher trust (TT) either as a given or as an irrelevant resource in efforts to improve schools (Hallinger, 2010; Louis, 2007a; Walker and Ko, 2011). We assert that that TT takes on even greater importance during an era in which system leaders are seeking sustainable school improvement (Bryk and Schneider, 2002; Datnow and Castellano, 2001; Louis, 2007b).\nTheoretical perspective: In this section of the paper we present the conceptual framework that guided the study. Then we define the conceptual variables included in the investigation: LCL, TT, and TPL. Finally, we discuss the context of education in Mainland China.\nMethod: This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to examine the proposed research questions. In this section, we describe the variables and associated measures, as well as methods of data collection and analysis.\nResults: The results are presented in two main sections. First we examine the measurement model to confirm the viability of our approach to measuring the three variables of interest. Then we present the substantive results with respect to the research questions.\nRQ1. What is the nature of the relationship of LCL to TT and professional learning?: We used SEM to compare the results obtained for the partial mediation and full mediation models earlier presented in Figure 1. The partial mediation model yielded an acceptable fit to the data, and a significantly better fit than the full mediation model (see Table III). The standardized parameter estimates shown in Figure 2 support the conclusion of a moderate \"direct effect\" of LCL on TPL (standardized regression coefficient b=0.55***, p<0.01) in concert with a stronger direct effect of LCL on TT (standardized regression coefficient b=0.73, p<0.01). The direct effects of TT on TPL (b=0.37, p<0.01) were positive and moderate in size (see Figure 2).\nRQ2. How do LCL practices influence TT and professional learning?: Next, we turned our attention to analysis of the dimensions comprising LCL. It was possible that practices associated with the dimensions comprising LCL could have different levels and types of effects on both TT and TPL.\nDiscussion: This study set out to determine if and to what extent the the learning-centered leadership of Chinese school principals influences teacher professional learning. In addition, our research aimed at examining the extent to which teacher trust in leaders and colleagues acts an enabling factor in the efforts of school principals to foster learning and capacity development among their teachers. In this closing section of the paper we offer a summary and interpretation of the results, review limitations of the study, and discuss the implications of our findings.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: In this era of global education reform, teacher professional learning (TPL) has emerged as a key factor in efforts to create sustainable school improvement. The same holds in Mainland China where ambitious curriculum reforms have been undertaken since 2000. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of learning-centered leadership (LCL) and teacher trust (TT) in fostering TPL in Chinese schools. More specifically, the authors examined two research questions: (1) What is the nature of the relationship of LCL to TT and professional learning?; and (2) How LCL practices influence TT and professional learning.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. The authors collected survey data from 1,259 teachers in 41 primary and secondary schools in three different Chinese provinces. The research employed confirmatory factor analysis to confirm the measurement model and structural equation modeling to examine interactions among the three main variables.\nFindings: The results affirmed a positive association between LCL and TPL, and highlighted TT as a significant mediator in this relationship. Additional analyses distinguished between the effects of different dimensions of LCL on TT and TPL. Although the results of these analyses were broadly consistent with prior findings reported in the literature, divergent findings also emerged. More specifically, there was a limited use and no significant impact of \"leadership modeling\" on either TT or professional learning.\nResearch limitations/implications: The authors suggest that this pattern of leadership practice is linked with features of China's institutional cum socio-cultural context. The authors recommend the use of qualitative and mixed methods studies capable of gaining further insight into relationships.\nPractical implications: These findings in Mainland China reaffirm the efficacy of school-level leadership that builds a safe, trusting but focussed environment for teacher learning in the workplace. This is a potentially significant finding in a society where the use of top-down directives and reliance on legitimate authority by leaders can rob teachers of the motivation and initiative that undergirds sustainable professional learning. The findings, in concert with those of other scholars, suggest that \"building trust\" represents a useful strategy for principals who seek to establish productive learning environments for their teachers.\nOriginality/value: The value of this study lies in two areas. First, this is one of a growing but still limited set of quantitative empirical studies of school leadership in Mainland China. Second, the study tests the nature of mediation in the relationship between leadership, trust and TPL, a topic of relatively recent vintage in the educational leadership literature.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
A quantitative model for the introduction of RFId in the fast moving consumer goods supply chain: Are there any profits?
|
[
"Radio frequencies",
"Fast moving consumer goods",
"Return on investment"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: Radio frequency identification (RFId) technology is considered to have great potential to improve the efficiency and accuracy of many processes and even to enable a substantial redesign of the supply chain in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry (Angeles, 2005; Dutta et al., 2007; Cannon et al., 2008; Cantor and Macdonald, 2009). Immediately, after Wal-Mart's mandate in 2003, a substantial interest in RFId arose worldwide, leading to several pilot projects introduced by supply chain leaders (e.g. Metro Group, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Albertson, Target, Gillette, Procter & Gamble). These projects mainly aim to provide initial results on the strengths and weaknesses of RFId. Indeed, many companies are still biding time, primarily because of a lack of confidence in the benefits and, consequently, in the impact on return on investment (ROI; Dutta et al., 2007; Reyes and Jaska, 2007; RFId-IPO, 2007), which, in turn, generates a greater perception of risk. For instance, upstream suppliers generally feel they are required to invest in this technology only to pass on the benefits to their powerful retail customers and they still have a limited sense of how to exploit RFId within their own processes (Agarwal, 2001).In the Italian FMCG supply chain, there are only a few examples of feasibility analyses or tests (RFId-IPO, 2005, 2006, 2007). Despite their declarations of interest in RFId, manufacturers and retailers are reluctant to invest in this technology. Among the various barriers they usually cite - along with technological and organisational issues - the difficulty in assessing the value of RFId applications is the most common (Agarwal, 2001; RFId-IPO, 2007, Cannon et al., 2008). This is why in 2005, GS1 Italy, the Italian subsidiary of GS1, the global standard organisation which promotes the electronic product code (EPC) RFId standard for FMCG, decided to set up a working group to assess and quantify the costs and benefits stemming from the application of RFId in the FMCG supply chain. The working group included Politecnico di Milano, Accenture and representatives of 30 major manufacturers and retailers operating in Italy (e.g. Henkel, Lavazza, Procter&Gamble, Unilever, Carrefour, Coop Italia, Nordiconad, Esselunga), who provided the knowledge input for the subsequent work presented in this paper.Following these introductory remarks, the paper is structured as follows: Section 2 provides a classification of the main scientific contributions on the evaluation of RFId applications. After the presentation of the objectives and the methodology in Sections 3 and 4, respectively, Section 5 describes our original model. Section 6 describes in detail the results obtained when applying the model to a test-bed supply chain and discusses the main business implications. Finally, Section 7 draws some conclusions and suggests future research paths.\n2 Literature review: There is a growing body of literature both in the academic and generalist press on the evaluation of RFId projects. Even if there are several qualitative analyses of the benefits of RFId applications, there are few sound, quantitative assessments, as most studies are incomplete and based only on a limited number of test projects. In general, the available contributions on the evaluation of RFId projects can be classified as follows:* qualitative analyses of the value of RFId;* quantitative analyses based on empirical evidence (e.g. case studies) or expert evaluations; and* quantitative studies based on structured assessment models.These contributions will be briefly discussed in the following paragraphs, paying particular attention to those focusing on the FMCG supply chain. A taxonomy of the quantitative models is given at the end of the section, in order to position the present paper within the existent body of knowledge.2.1 Qualitative analyses of the value of RFId\n3 Objectives and research questions: This paper aims to fill the gap highlighted in Table I, i.e. it aims to present a general model which analyses the impact of the RFId introduction on a FMCG supply chain and its processes. In this sense, the model is meant to investigate the mechanisms by which RFId impacts on the current supply chain processes and help to answer the following research questions:RQ1. What are the main benefits afforded by an RFId application? Which processes/activities and which actors in the chain are expected to benefit the most from RFId adoption?RQ2. What are the main costs (both capital and operational expenditures) of such an application in various sensible (i.e. non-futuristic) technological scenarios? In which processes/activities and stages of the chain are they concentrated?RQ3. Which parameters have the greatest influence on RFId project profitability?RQ4. What are the likely RFId-adoption paths that could be successful in this industry?To answer these questions, the model is divided into two parts, namely the assessment of benefits and the assessment of capital and operational expenditures. The combination of these two components will allow us to evaluate the profitability of the investment and so address our research issues (Figure 1).\n4 Research methodology: As stated in the Introduction, a research project was started in 2005 with the aim of developing a general model to analyse the impact of the introduction of RFId on the Italian FMCG supply chain and its processes. The developed model intended to reproduce the entire supply chain and include all the relevant activity drivers, so as to be able to assess in depth the costs and benefits of RFId adoption and possibly support the decision-making process for managers in this industry.Since a model of general validity was sought, an analytical approach rather than a discrete time simulation was preferred because of the former's flexibility and the greater transparency of the assumed relationships (it is enough to scan the equations in the model to understand the hypothesised relationships in terms of direction and intensity). The research programme was therefore divided into three phases. The first phase (February 2005-October 2005) was devoted to assessing in detail the FMCG supply chain processes. The second (November 2005-April 2006) concentrated on the development of the model, its coding into a usable IT tool and its validation. Finally, the third phase (May 2006-December 2006) defined a proper test-bed and a set of relevant RFId implementation scenarios (including sensitivity analysis of the most uncertain parameters), ran the model and analysed the results. The three phases used ad hoc research methodologies in line with their specific objectives.In the first phase, direct interviews with companies in the FMCG industry were carried out. In this regard, the cooperation with GS1 Italy was fundamental in gaining access to the most important actors in the Italian market (see acknowledgements for a list of the companies involved). The interviews involved the distribution and warehousing managers, chief controller officers, and operational employees of 27 prominent companies. Semi-formalised questionnaires have been preferred, since they gave us the possibility to discuss the proposed questions and topics more freely. A draft of the questionnaire was prepared and validated with a couple of test companies, in order to check its completeness and clarity. The final questionnaire was sent to the interviewees before the meetings.The main objective was to get a broad understanding of the supply chain operating processes in the respective companies, in order to generalise these activities into a flexible, parametric model. Such a model should ideally be flexible enough to reproduce all of the observed processes, together with any other sensible configurations that might have been overlooked during empirical observation (Fosso Wamba et al., 2008).In the second phase the interviews and the collected data were used to develop the analytical model. In this task, the literature review provided some useful inputs, but the activities relied mainly on the experience of the research group (Miragliotta et al., 2007, 2008). The modelling methodology is based on the well-established activity-based modelling approach (Kaplan and Bruns, 1987), as used by other authors (Subirana et al., 2003; Laubacher et al., 2005). The framework of the model is illustrated in detail below. The second phase ended with a validation test, in which we applied the model to evaluate the cost structure of various real supply chains. The observed errors were considered to be unbiased and acceptable.In the third phase, a focus-group methodology was adopted to define the supply chain to be modelled (how many stages, which relationships, which volumes, etc.), the RFId scenarios to be tested, and the range of parameters for the sensitivity analysis. More specifically, the final configuration was obtained by sharing ideas with senior managers from the 27 collaborating companies, and using a modified Delphi technique. More specifically, two sub-groups with representatives of companies operating in the same stage of the chain (i.e. producers and retailers) were set-up. Six meetings were organised on a monthly basis and group interviews, i.e. guided discussions addressing the above-illustrated topics, were carried out. In this last phase, computation runs were also performed using the deterministic data set generated by the process above. For this reason, no statistical analysis was required, while the sensitivity analysis helped to highlight non-linear relationships in the overall model and to point out the most crucial parameters that will affect the investment decision.\n5 The model: 5.1 The reference supply chain and the studied processes\n6 The application of the model: 6.1 The structure of the analysis\n7 Conclusions: There is a contrasting situation regarding RFId technology in the FMCG supply chain. On the one hand, there is considerable interest in the question, and large retailers worldwide are pushing and fostering its adoption. On the other, manufacturers and logistics operators are still doubtful, questioning what RFId promises in terms of ROI and actual process improvements. In order to bring together these contrasting opinions and to reduce the information asymmetry between the actors involved with the issue, this paper presents an RFId profitability assessment model and the results of its application to the FMCG supply chain.The main numerical outcomes of the model have been addressed in the previous sections. All the results have been extensively discussed with the industry experts involved in the research project both to verify the model accuracy, i.e. compliance with the real processes, and the robustness of the numerical outcomes. The experts appreciated the possibility of having a comprehensive overview of the real issues in implementing RFId technology in the FMCG supply chain today: the relationship between the overall benefits and the tag costs, the importance of the base-line scenario, the most feasible implementation scenarios, the most impacted activities, and the most profitable actor in the chain (to name just a few). In fact, the relationship between each single element is easily understood from a theoretical point of view, and the developed model provides a significant contribution to quantifying the weight of each factor in the investment profitability indicators. The validity of the model is guaranteed by the methodology which ensures coherence between the model and its input parameters and the real FMCG supply chain processes.In addition to the specific numerical results, practitioners can also benefit from the strategic perspective deriving from the overall picture. This picture brings together all the above factors in a closely inter-connected way, explaining the situation seen in the industry worldwide, which we would call \"the RFId paradox\". If an application to pallet loads were pursued, numbers would probably be sustainable at present. However, significant investments would be needed to achieve limited benefits (with respect to the money spent and to the full potential of RFId). Moreover, as the model testifies, profits would be concentrated in the hands of manufacturers, as their processes are probably easier to optimise. In this scenario, retailers would see very few benefits. Consequently, the R1 scenario is undermined from the outset and will probably never be deployed. Conversely, the R2 scenario (RFId application on pallets and cases) has the potential to offer greater benefits to retailers, who are, in fact, strongly fostering its adoption worldwide (see Wal-Mart, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Metro). However, substantial costs (CapEx and OpEx) will have to be borne by manufacturers, who may be reluctant to do so, as they will see little benefit in such applications, given that their part of the process is the simplest and most optimised.As apparent from the paper, there are two means to avoid this situation. One is to cut the tag cost (thus reducing the financial burden on manufacturers), and technology will probably make this possible. The critical issue is to use cheaper tags without compromising the 100 percent reading reliability necessary for the administrative usage of the technology (as that described here). The second approach is to design a cost-sharing agreement between manufacturers and retailers to divide the tag costs in proportion to the achieved benefits. This is a challenging situation, since sensitive data will have to be shared and information asymmetry is part of the conventional way of doing business in this industry. Nevertheless, the model could reasonably help in this direction.The work presented in this paper has a few limitations. The most important is that it does not consider ILT. Even though currently economically (and technologically) infeasible on a large-scale, there is unanimous agreement that ILT would enable new scenarios in terms of dynamic stock management and advanced customer interaction. However, ILT appears to be a more viable option for particular products in particular supply chains (e.g. textile, consumer electronics). A more focused study, which considers specific supply chains and processes would therefore be needed. Indeed, to be explored in full, this scenario could require using simulation tools which are better suited to assessing the complex dynamic processes that would result from ILT adoption (e.g. reaction to product unavailability, dynamic order allocation, promotions management, etc.). Our model shares the same pros (i.e. flexibility and visibility) and cons (i.e. approximation and staticity) of any analytical model. Finally, even if multiple values have been considered for the most uncertain parameters, a more extensive sensitivity analysis could provide additional insight, e.g. the impact of the labour cost on the investment profitability.Three main directions for future research can be outlined. First, the benefits related to the improved effectiveness and service (e.g. prompt information) could be better investigated, since there is clear evidence that a positive return on investment at case level is heavily dependent on these variables. Second, all our results have been obtained under the assumption of the perfect reliability of the technology (100 percent reading rate in each scenario). This is a result that has still to be consolidated, especially in the R2 scenario, even though extremely positive outcomes have been reported by EPC research centres in the USA and Europe. In this regard, it might be interesting to introduce a further variable into the model, i.e. the degree to which some processes will have to be modified (with the corresponding costs), if 100 percent reliability is to be achieved. Third, the model currently considers all the activities from the end of the production line to receipt at the point of sale, but does not evaluate the benefits within the store, which might represent a significant part of the advantages for retailers and, if shared, for manufacturers. All these research lines are currently being developed out of the initial model.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to describe an analytical model to assess the costs and benefits of radio frequency identification (RFId) applications in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper is based on an in-depth literature review and a classification of the main contributions regarding the assessment of RFId applications. The impact of RFId technology on supply chain processes has been modelled using an activity-based approach. An extensive, six-month discussion and refinement process with the logistics and supply chain managers of 30 FMCG companies is conducted to validate the model and to collect the required inputs.\nFindings: - Pallet- and case-level taggings have been explored. The former scenario shows limited benefits, whereas the actual potential of RFId becomes clear in the latter. The profitability of these projects is significantly affected by the costs of RFId tags and by the characteristics of the base-line supply chain in terms of efficiency, quality requirements and, of course, product features. The model provides a clear assessment of how and when a positive return on investment can be achieved, even with today's technology (in terms of costs and performances).\nOriginality/value: - This is one of the first attempts to provide a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of an RFId application, taking into account all the major factors involved. The model can be a valuable support to manufacturers and retailers in evaluating their investments.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
How consumer-generated images shape important consumption outcomes in the food domain
|
[
"Food",
"Healthy",
"Images",
"Indulgent",
"Savoring"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: In an age of smartphones and digital photography, taking a picture has never been so easy or popular. According to a recent Pew Research Center (2015) report, 64 per cent of US adults own smartphones, and 60 per cent of these owners use their device's camera in any given week. Benefits such as ease of use, connectivity, accessibility and relative low cost, make the camera phone an ideal tool for capturing everyday moments (Keep, 2014), so much so that it seems the camera phone may actually be changing what \"moments\" consumers consider noteworthy (Okabe and Ito, 2003). Case in point, the rise of \"foodtography.\"\nTheoretical development: Delayed consumption and increased savoring\nStudy 1: The purpose of Study 1 is to provide initial evidence for H1 and H2, showing that CGI lead to more favorable consumption outcomes for indulgent foods, but not healthy foods, and that this effect is driven by savoring.\nStudy 2: In Study 1, we showed that creating CGI prior to consumption affected important consumption outcomes differently depending on whether the food was indulgent or healthy. In Study 2, we replicate the results of Study 1 using a more stringent manipulation of food type, wherein we utilize one single food item and manipulate the perceived healthfulness of the food.\nStudy 3: Studies 1 and 2 showed that CGI significantly affects consumption outcomes for indulgent, but not healthy foods, and that this effect is mediated by savoring. The primary objective of Study 3 is to obtain evidence for H3, by showing that CGI can positively influence consumption outcomes for healthy foods when a healthy eating descriptive social norm is made salient.\nGeneral discussion: Across three studies, we find that CGI can have favorable effects on key consumption outcomes for both indulgent and healthy foods. Study 1 showed that creating a CGI promotes savoring and in effect increases taste of and attitudes toward the target food, but only when the target food is indulgent. Study 2 replicated these effects using a single food item and manipulating perceived healthfulness of the food. Finally, Study 3 showed that these same positive effects of CGI could be activated for healthy foods by making the descriptive social norm of healthy eating more salient.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of the present research is to investigate consumer-generated images (CGI), or images of products and experiences that are produced and controlled by consumers, particularly in the food domain, and the influence that producing such images has on the consumer creating the image.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors present three studies that manipulate the type of food (indulgent vs healthy) and whether participants create CGI prior to consumption. Data were analyzed using a combination of ANOVA and PROCESS.\nFindings: It is shown that producing CGI causes a momentary active delay in consumption, which increases the savoring associated with consumption of pleasurable (i.e. indulgent) foods and, in effect, increases attitudes and taste evaluations of the experience when consumption actually takes place. When descriptive social norms regarding healthy eating are made salient, CGI can also lead to more favorable outcomes for less pleasurable (i.e. healthy) foods.\nPractical implications: The findings provide insight into the effects of consumers taking pictures of their food before consumption, a growing trend on social media sites (i.e. Instagram). Marketing managers can develop strategies to encourage their consumers to take pictures of their food.\nOriginality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this research is the first to demonstrate the effects of consumer-generated images on a product consumption experience and identify the conditions and process under which these effects occur.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Facilitating customers' post-purchase food retail experiences
|
[
"Consumer behaviour",
"Shopping",
"Experience",
"Customer satisfaction",
"Market research",
"Customer surveys",
"Internet",
"Customer retail experience",
"Post‐purchase experience",
"Food retailing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: To an increasing degree, food retailers are facing the challenge of differentiation. Besides, for the traditional tools, such as pricing, product category management, and CRM activities, the creation of superior customer experience seems to be among the retailers' most important objectives (Verhoef et al., 2009). Global retailers' attention has been shifted from traditional marketing activities to experiential marketing and further on towards customer experience management (Lindgreen et al., 2009; Grewal et al., 2009; Schmitt, 1999, 2003; Shaw and Ivens, 2002).Many retailers have built experiential marketing strategies on harnessing the potential of internet-based service applications, such as Tesco's Healthy Living and Publix's Event Planner. Safeway's MySimpleNutrition is also a good example of a retailer leveraging the capabilities of the internet to facilitate the customer's food retail experience. These service applications are used to provide additional services to customers via the internet; they are not thus the core offering that is provided to the customer, but rather exist to provide complementary support for the customer's own value creation process. Consequently, in this paper, the focus is shifted from the traditional brick-and-mortar environment towards a more holistic customer food retailing experience.Research into facilitating customer retail experiences has been narrow and limited in scope - especially in the context of food retailing. Publications have primarily been practitioner-oriented, paying only limited attention to the theoretical development of the concept (Verhoef et al., 2009), although some signs of it as an emerging topic have recently been identified (Grewal and Levy, 2009). Research has not managed to adequately address the potential of the internet, in general, and the role of internet-based service applications, in particular. There has been an overemphasis placed on bricks to the neglect of clicks; marketing practitioners have overlooked the opportunities for delivering customer experience at the pre-purchase and post-purchase stages (Tynan and McKechnie, 2009). In that respect, more emphasis needs to be placed on exploring food retailers' possibilities to extend the customer experience from the shop floor to the customer's sphere; from the in-store activities towards the customer's context where the value potential of the groceries eventually actualise. The purpose of this paper is - through a case study - to explore and analyse how an internet-based service application can facilitate the customer's post-purchase experience in the context of food retailing[1].The paper is structured as follows. A brief discussion of the related literature streams is provided after which the methods for data generation and analysis are discussed including a detailed description of the case study context. Then, the results of the case study are presented. Discussion, conclusions, and future research directions are provided at the end of the paper.\n2 Customer retail experience: Pine and Gilmore (1998, p. 98, 1999) defined a customer experience to occur \"when a company intentionally uses services as the stage, and goods as props, to engage individual customers in a way that creates a memorable event\". In the retailing context, they argue that customer experiences consist of holistic realms, such as the aesthetic and escapist realms, or the realms of entertainment and education. Another widely accepted way to determine customer experience is to differentiate between shopping as an instrumental task and shopping as an act valued for its own sake. This division is especially established in the consumer research tradition and can be defined in terms of two broad perspectives (Batra and Ahtola, 1991; Holbrook and Hirschman, 1982; Hirschman and Holbrook, 1982; Fiore and Kim, 2007).First, the utilitarian perspective on shopping is based on the assumption that consumers are rational problem-solvers who process relevant shopping information (Bettman, 1979; Holbrook and Hirschman, 1982). The utilitarian perspective has stressed functional, product-centric thinking, and research has largely focused on consumer decision-making processes. Second, the hedonic perspective is interested in those aspects of consumer behaviour that are related to the multisensory, fantasy, and emotive aspects of experiences with products (Holbrook and Hirschman, 1982, p. 92). Shopping represents not just a means to some predefined end, but is also an end in itself.Verhoef et al. (2009, p. 32), in turn, propose that customer experience involves the customer's cognitive, affective, emotional, social, and physical responses to the retailer. They argue that:[...] experience is created not only by those factors that the retailer can control (e.g., service interface, retail atmosphere, assortment, price), but also by factors outside of the retailer's control (e.g. influence of others, purpose of shopping).Consequently, similarly with this paper, they argue that the phases following the sales are important determinants of the total customer experience together with the phases of searching, purchasing, and consuming the goods.As a concept, customer retail experience is closely linked with experiential marketing, which is determined by the strategies that are used to deliver customer experiences. Schmitt (1999) proposed four key characteristics of experiential marketing. First, firms should focus on customer experience in contrast to the narrow focus on functional features and benefits of traditional marketing. Second, consumption should be understood as a holistic experience where products are used as input resources to fit into a specific consumption situation. Third, customers are not only rational and cognitive decision-makers but are also driven by emotions as experiences, which are often characterised by the pursuit of fantasies, feelings, and fun (Holbrook and Hirschman, 1982). Finally, Schmitt argues that, in contrast to the analytical and quantitative methodologies of traditional marketing, experiential marketing is often connected with eclectic methods including a wide array of different data generation and analysis methods (Lindgreen et al., 2009, p. 209).The facilitation of the customer's post-purchase food retail experience is understood here as the basic objective of experiential marketing. Hence, designing relevant internet-based service applications is one form of an experiential marketing strategy. At the core of this strategy is the value potential of the information (Cho and Jang, 2008) that is delivered to the customers via the service application. The disseminated information eventually facilitates the customer's post-purchase food retail experience.Each customer experience is a potential source of customer value. Those customer experiences that are the most valued are customised experiences, or transformations. As Gilmore and Pine (1997, p. 13) explain:[...] experiences are not the utmost in economic offerings. Just as customizing a good automatically turns it to a service, customizing an experience turns it into something distinct. If you design an experience so in tune with what an individual needs at an exact juncture in time, you cannot help but change that individual - guiding him to (and through) a life-transforming experience. Transformations are a fifth economic offering, whose value exceeds that of any other (original emphasis).According to Gilmore and Pine (1997), the role of transformations is to guide customers to a better state of being than before. That means the individual becomes the offering and the change becomes the reason to pay. Transformations may take place during, e.g. transcendent experiences, which are characterised by flow and peak experiences, and often also result in changes in beliefs and attitudes (Schouten et al., 2007). Boswijk et al. (2007) associate transformations to meaningful experiences, and consider them as having an effect on people's ideas, behaviour, and the way they deal with others. For our purposes, the concept of transformation brings together the extended food retail experience that is based on using the information provided by the food retailer through the internet-based service application. This information facilitates customers' post-purchase food retail experiences for a potential change in attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour.The increasing importance of customer retail experiences is in line with the recent discussion centred on S-D logic, i.e. a logic or mindset that manages to incorporate many loose ends resulting from the fragmentation of the marketing field (Gummesson, 2008). S-D logic emphasises the idea that service - instead of goods or services - should be the fundamental unit of exchange. Goods are only transmitters of service and they act as a means for the customer to benefit from a firm's competences (Vargo and Lusch, 2004; Vargo et al., 2008; Vargo, 2011). As argued by Prahalad (2004), value is not added to goods nor is value created by services - value is embedded in the subjectively-determined customer experiences created through active participation (Tynan and McKechnie, 2009; Vargo and Lusch, 2004, 2008). Similarly, Pine and Gilmore (1998, 1999) argue that while goods and services become commoditised, what eventually matters is the customer experience.\n3 Methodology: 3.1 Case description\n4 Results: During the data analysis, the emphasis was placed on uncovering, exploring, and illuminating the central experiential issues and aspects deriving from how customers used the information provided by the service application in their value creation. When customers talked about the information, they often referred to their personal value-creating processes that were somehow related to their food consumption, such as losing weight or now being able to know how healthfully their children were eating. Furthermore, for some, the information was not that important or was something that was \"nice to know\", whereas, for others, it clearly served greater purposes.Altogether, the customers brought up a diverse set of ways in which the information facilitated their post-purchase experiences. They talked about \"information-in-use\", i.e. how the information was eventually embedded in their lives. In addition, customers also brought up issues from their everyday practices that decreased the information's ability to facilitate their post-purchase food retail experiences. These included, for example, customers being unable to include nutritive substances of such grocery items to the information that were not bought from the specific food retailer providing the service. However, further exploration of these issues was not conducted - not because they were not considered as important elements of the research phenomenon, but rather due to the research focus being on the ways in which the customers' post-purchase food retail experiences were facilitated. Altogether, analysing the distinct types of the typology uncovered the fundamental dimensions through which the customer's post-purchase food retail experience was eventually extended. These two central aspects of the results - i.e. the constructed typology and dimensions - are discussed next in more detail.4.1 The typology of facilitating customers' post-purchase experiences in the context of food retailing\n5 Discussion and conclusions: This paper explored and analysed how internet-based service applications can facilitate customers' post-purchase experience in the context of food retailing. To achieve this, a typology was constructed to illuminate the nature and characteristics of the experiences that were facilitated through providing customers with information about the healthfulness of their groceries. Through the service application, the food retailer redefined itself from being a mere goods provider to genuinely offering customers a service and a more holistic customer experience:So previously the store was the place where you got your groceries, and that's how it still is for the most part, but now it'll give us a lot of information about our buying behaviour as well. So the service isn't limited to my buying their groceries, I receive a lot of information, too. It serves the customers in a way that doesn't directly benefit the retailer or the chain (Teacher, 30 years of age).The information provided through the internet-based service application had thus a central role in facilitating the customers' post-purchase food retail experiences that were either more utilitarian or hedonic in nature and where the degree of transformation varied from low to high.5.1 Managerial implications\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Delivering superior customer experiences through experiential marketing strategies has become increasingly important in food retailing. While retailers seek new sources of competitive advantage, the perspective to customer experiences should be extended from the in-store activities to post-purchase where the value-in-use of the groceries eventually actualises. In this quest for an enhanced customer experience, the possibilities provided by Internet-based service applications have been an underexplored area of research. Towards that end, the purpose of this paper is to explore and analyse how such service applications can facilitate customers' post-purchase experiences in the context of food retailing.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A case study research setting was applied focusing on an internet-based service application that provides customers with detailed information about the healthfulness of their groceries. Altogether 456 submissions of customer feedback data and 16 customer interviews were generated and analysed. Subsequently, a typology of facilitating customers' post-purchase food retail experiences was constructed to uncover and illustrate how the service succeeds in extending the customer food retail experience towards the customer's context.\nFindings: - The authors identified four types of the typology, including \"Playing\", \"Check-pointing\", \"Learning\", and \"Goal-orientation\". These four types can be conceptualised through the utilitarian versus hedonic dimensions and the degree of customer transformation.\nOriginality/value: - The paper introduces internet-based service applications as a suitable experiential marketing strategy. It offers a fresh perspective and new insight into leveraging on the capabilities of the Internet in facilitating customers' post-purchase food retail experiences.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The relationship between competitive strategies and product quality
|
[
"Competitive strategy",
"Product quality",
"Manufacturing industries",
"Australia"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Much has been written about quality as a source of competitive advantage in the last decade; however, little attention has been given to examine how quality performance can be effectively employed as a base for realising firms' competitive strategy (Gale and Klavans, 1985). More importantly, literature has shown conflicting arguments concerning the strategic orientation that drives quality performance, particularly between differentiation and cost leadership. One group of scholars suggest that quality fits differentiation strategy, whilst the others hold that quality is positively related to cost reduction which would fit the objective of cost leadership strategy (Morgan and Piercy, 1996). Further to this, linking quality with both differentiation and cost leadership strategies leads to the issue of compatibility between both strategic orientations (Hill, 1988).In light of the above, it is important to examine the link between quality performance and the two competitive strategies - cost leadership and differentiation - to provide a better understanding of the extent to which quality can serve the underlying intent of each of the two competitive strategies. In order to resolve this inconsistency, this paper presents an empirical study that was designed to serve two purposes. First, it sought to examine the effect of the adoption of different strategic competitive strategies - differentiation and cost leadership - in predicting quality performance. Second, it considered the co-alignment between differentiation and cost leadership - which has been a contentious issue - in predicting quality performance.\nLiterature review: Cost leadership and differentiation\nResearch method: Sample and procedures\nData analysis: Scale validity and reliability\nConclusion, limitations, and future research: This study has shown that quality was primarily predicted by differentiation strategy. This relationship, however, is moderated by cost leadership strategy. This result reconciles various arguments concerning the link between the three variables. The author acknowledges the limitations of using perceptual measures of company performance. That said, this method has been found to moderately correlate with more objective measures of performance (Curkovic et al., 2000). Still, as Ketokivi and Schroeder (2004) suggested, a careful interpretation and generalization of the results needs to be taken when using perceptual data to measure firm's performance.This study could be furthered in several ways. First, future studies can segregate different dimensions of quality (Chang et al., 2003; Forker et al., 1996) and examine the relationship between these dimensions to different strategies (Sousa and Voss, 2002). Second, future studies can examine the contingency factors which drive the choice of the strategic intent and performance, particularly in different business environments. Specifically, analysis can be done to examine the impact of the fit between environment, competitive strategies, and quality performance in determining business performance. Addressing this issue can be done by comparing the relationships between strategy and quality in various industry or product sectors (Jabnoun et al., 2003; Sousa and Voss, 2001; Vokurka and Davis, 2004). The issue of maturity can also be applied at firm's level by examining the effect of firm's age on its strategy and quality performance (Madu and Kuei, 1995; Sureshchandar et al., 2003). Finally, future studies can improve the balance of the proportion of organisational size which in this study was dominated by SMEs. This is because not only size can affect performance, but it also influences the strategic choice of the firm (Davis and Vokurka, 2005), and, perhaps, moderates the relationship between strategy and performance.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to examine the underlying strategic intent of quality performance. Specifically, the study aimed to examine the individual impact of differentiation and cost leadership as well as their interaction effect on quality performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This study employed a data set drawn from 102 managers of Australian manufacturing firms. Multiple regression analysis with moderating effect was used for analysing the relationship between the competitive strategies and quality performance.\nFindings: - The findings indicated that product quality was predicted by differentiation strategy, but not cost leadership strategy. However, the effect of differentiation on quality was moderated by cost leadership whereby the higher the cost leadership, the stronger the effect.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The small sample size which was dominated by small-to-medium sized firms (SMEs) was the major limitation of the study. The sample size and distribution also inhibited the comparison of the results between industry sectors.\nPractical implications: - The results contribute to a better understanding on how quality can be effectively employed as a base for realising competitive strategy. In particular, the positive interaction between differentiation and cost leadership in predicting quality performance suggests the synergy between the two as well as supporting the cumulative view of competitive strategies.\nOriginality/value: - By testing the interaction effect of differentiation and cost leadership in predicting quality performance, this study advances the previous works on the area which looked at the relationship between quality performance and each of the two competitive strategies separately.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The cellular manufacturing paradox: a critical review of simulation studies
|
[
"Cellular manufacturing",
"Group technology",
"Facilities",
"Simulation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: The race towards productivity affects all the facets of manufacturing system (MS) design and management. In particular, the layout of manufacturing facilities is one of the main tasks to refine in order to achieve high-performance levels. Since, the middle of the past century and the expansion of the group technology concept an alternative layout pattern has emerged as a substitute for the traditional functional layout (FL) that groups functionally similar machines in separate departments (Burbidge, 1975; Hyer and Wemmerlov, 1989). This layout is the cellular layout (CL) that advocates clustering the machines required to manufacture each family of similar product types into independent cells.At first, the CL has gained a great popularity among researchers and even some practitioners. An abundant prescriptive literature was devoted to that new layout trend (Ham and Reed, 1977; Hyer, 1984; Burbidge and Dale, 1984; Howard and Newman, 1990). However, many researchers started claiming that the CL may be inferior to the FL under a wide set of conditions (Craven, 1973; Leonard and Rathmill, 1977; Rathmill and Leonard, 1977; Flynn and Jacobs, 1986; Flynn, 1987; Suresh, 1991). These researchers argue that in empirical studies, CLs have generally been favorably compared to poor FLs. They also assert that efficiently-operated FLs are capable of outperforming the CL. Subsequently, a great number of empirical, analytical and simulation studies have been devoted to the FL-CL comparison. Facing the large amount of research papers with diverging conclusions, some researchers synthesized the main streams of literature. Shambu et al. (1996) presented a taxonomical review of the studies dealing with the performance evaluation of the cellular MSs. A part of this work covered not only simulation comparative studies that constitute the mainstream of this research field but also a number of analytical and empirical studies. The authors pointed out the \"cellular manufacturing paradox\" that emerged from a number of conflicting simulation-based studies. They also provided taxonomy of the main experimental factors and performance measures used in these studies before reporting their major findings and conclusions. However, the presented analysis failed neither to explain the cellular paradox nor to highlight the objectivity flaws in many of the covered studies. Agarwal and Sarkis (1998) also reviewed and analyzed a number of CL-FL comparative studies. Again, their work simply reported the major findings of some published works but without any critical objectivity assessment of their methodology.This research focuses on the simulation-based FL-CL comparative studies. It aims at highlighting the lacks of objectivity of a number of these studies in order to explain the origin of their conflicting conclusions. It also demonstrates some of the discussed shortcomings through simulation. It is organized as follows. The next section presents a taxonomy of the main factors used in the main published simulation studies concerned with FL-CL comparison. The foremost used performance measures are also discussed in this section. Section 3 analyses the findings of a number of relevant studies. In Section 4, these studies are critically reviewed with a special emphasis on the objectivity of their comparison methodologies and the stated shortcomings are categorized. Section 5 illustrates through simulation how one of the findings, presented by one of the cited papers as a general conclusion, does not stand beyond its original limited scope. The final section summarizes the paper and discusses the basis for an objective comparison methodology between the two MS layouts.\n2 Taxonomy of existing comparison research: 2.1 Main experimental factors\n3 Analysis of the studies findings: 3.1 Proper analysis factors\n4 Objectivity assessment: Morris and Tersine (1990, 1994) considered very low TTs which implicitly advantage the FL, since one of the main advantages of CL is the time saving by locating machines required to process one job close to each other. On the other hand, they used a perfectly decomposable part/machine matrix which implicitly advantages the CL. In fact, this situation involving no job transfer between cells is very unusual. Also, despite the fact that the influence of the lot size on the performances of MSs is established, this factor was not included in their experimental design. Moreover, the batch size was not explicitly mentioned by the authors but it was retrieved from other related studies. Finally, the authors used a CL with no overlapping allowed in job processing. This does not permit to perceive full CL benefits.The study of Shafer and Charnes (1992) is unmistakably biased in favor of the CL. In fact, by considering single-machine departments, the authors abolished the main and probably the only benefit of this type of layout: the pooling synergy effect between same department machines. Hence, as it could be predicted, the results were clearly in favor of the CL despite the assumption of null TTs advantaging the FL. Finally, the demand pattern has not been characterized since the batch IAT was not revealed by the authors.Suresh and Meredith (1994) used FL TTs that are relatively very high compared to the PTs. This advantageous condition for the CL is probably responsible for its performance being superior to the performance of the FL in practically all the testing contexts despite the fact that no job overlapping has been used in the CL. In addition, the authors used a perfect cellular environment with no intercellular transfers allowed which is barely realistic. This factor is also responsible for boosting the relative performance of the CL compared to the FL.Shafer and Charnes (1995) found that the only factor responsible for the superiority of one layout or the other was the volume of the labor workforce. This conclusion should be restricted to the context defined several fixed factors such as their \"unusual\" managing policy. In fact, in their MS, processing parts requires the uninterrupted presence of an operator. This restrictive assumption holds only in some special manufacturing cases. Results could be completely different if this assumption is dropped or if some non-investigated factors, such as the lot size, were set at different levels.Despite its established importance, Jensen et al. (1996) did not use the lot size as an experimental factor neither did they mention its constant value used throughout the investigation. In addition the authors used twofold-biased conditions in favor of the FL. First, they neglected the TTs. This assumption is sound in the CL context but far from realistic in the FL. Second, no job overlapping was permitted. Combined with an appropriate lot size this factor could reverse the superiority order in favor of the CL. Finally, in the third and final analysis step, the layouts were compared using the same scheduling rule. This rule was previously determined as the one offering the best overall performance. A better comparison would be carried out with each layout featuring its best specific scheduling rule.The main shortcoming of the study carried out by Farrington and Nazametz (1998) is that it failed to report vital information about the used experimental factor settings as well as the other key elements defining the manufacturing contexts. Among these elements one can cite, the scheduling rules, mopt, ST and PT. Also, no technical simulation-related information such as the replication and the warm-up period lengths was reported. More importantly, the authors stated that they willingly chose not to reduce the ST in the CL context. Their motivation was to avoid any biases in favor of the CL. But, by doing so, they favored the FL since they eliminated one of the strongest advantages of the CL. Finally, the rationales behind the large number of uncommon performance measures used by the authors are not clear.The major weakness of the study by Faizul et al. (2001) is the definition of the manufacturing context. In fact, they used the same routings for the same product types. This generated three identical manufacturing cells. More gravely, the use of single-product families annuls any setup operation in the cell except for the initial setups. Hence, the setup reduction factor becomes irrelevant and any results showing the importance of this factor are seriously questionable. In addition, despite stating that no inter-cell moves were allowed, the authors defined the inter-cell travel time by a uniform law.Concerning the study of Li (2003), the machine duplication within cells could be a biases source favoring CL. In fact this could add to the CL one of the major advantages of the FL, which is the synergy between functionally equivalent machines.In their study, Pitchuka et al. (2006) used conditions biased in favor of the FL. They considered very low TTs in the FL and they did not permitted job overlapping in the CL. In addition, the authors considered a MS including two machines of the same type in one cell. Table IV summarizes all the reported shortcomings.\n5 Illustration: In this section, simulation is used to illustrate one of the facets of the cellular manufacturing paradox in one of the main published studies (Morris and Tersine, 1990) used hypothetical shop data featuring 40 product types belonging to five families and 30 machines divided between eight process departments in the FL and five cells in the CL. Each part type required two to six manufacturing operations. The CL configuration did not permit either job overlapping between same cell machines or job transfer between cells. Also, a setup reduction factor of 0.5 was utilized when a job of different type but from the same family is processed on the same machine. In both layouts, the queues were governed by the RL priority rule. This section focuses on the results they obtained with their model characterized by a setup time governed by a normal law N(120,100) min, a constant 420 min batch IAT, a high-material handling speed and backtracking allowed within cells.The investigation was carried through a simulation model developed using the commercial discrete event simulation tool Arena (Jerbi et al., 2006; Kelton et al., 2002; Arena, 2002). The first step of the investigation consisted in retrieving the same results proclaimed by the authors for the cited conditions. This was achieved with a very good precision (less than 1 percent). The same replication number and length were adopted and the same warm up period was also used (Table V).Then, we dropped the assumption of no job manufacturing overlapping in the CL. Hence, we allowed the batches of 50 parts to be simultaneously manufactured by several machines of several and to be transferred by unity. The results show that the CL becomes superior to the FL since its MFT is 63 percent lower than the one of FL after it was 12 percent higher in the study of Morris and Tersine (1990) (Table V).The third and final phase of our simulation aimed at verifying if the results obtained in phase II were dependent on the lot size (50) taken in that phase. We tried two values of q which are, respectively, the half and the double of the original value. The same superiority trend is conserved. Hence, unlike the conclusion of Morris and Tersine (1990), The FL outperforms the CL only when job overlapping is not allowed and this, independently of the lot size.\n6 Conclusion and future work: This paper focuses on the simulation-based FL-CL comparative studies. It presents a taxonomy of the main factors used in the main published simulation studies concerned with FL-CL comparison. It also mentions several objectivity flaws in a number of these studies in order to explain the origin of their conflicting conclusions. These are either conditions favoring the FL or the CL or other conditions such as not including some important factors in the investigation, a lack of important data or even inappropriate MS data. The paper also illustrates through simulation how one of the findings, presented by one of the cited papers as a general conclusion, does not stand beyond its original limited scope.Undergoing work is focused on establishing an objective simulation-based comparison methodology. Such a methodology should avoid all the flaws mentioned in this paper. It is based on the Taguchi method for robust experimental design. The conclusions issued from such a methodology should be very strictly bounded to their validity domains and are to be incorporated in a decision-aiding tool.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - A number of simulation studies have been conducted previously by several researchers, in order to compare the performance of cellular and functional layouts. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the lack of objectivity of a number of these studies, in order to explain the origin of their conflicting conclusions.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A taxonomy of the main experimental factors and performance measure used in the main simulation comparative studies is followed by a critical assessment of ten of these studies. The analysis is focused on the objectivity of the layout comparison methodologies. Then, the determined shortcomings are categorized and some of them are illustrated by way of simulation.\nFindings: - The revealed shortcomings are most likely responsible for the conflicting conclusions of the studies and may well explain what is called in the literature the \"cellular paradox.\"\nOriginality/value: - This work sets up the basis for an objective comparison methodology between the two manufacturing system layouts. Such a methodology should in fact be free of all the highlighted objectivity flaws.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Assessing knowledge creation and intellectual capital in banking industry
|
[
"Knowledge creation",
"Intellectual capital",
"Financial institutions",
"Financial services"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Knowledge has become a powerful tool for corporate competition. Guthrie (2001) suggested that successful companies do not gain benefits with only tangible assets, and they mainly rely on access to intangible information and knowledge creation as their major resources for success. The traditional concept of evaluating enterprise value and performances with tangible assets has gradually given way to a focus on intangible knowledge development and integration ability. Intangible knowledge development and integration ability is a set of thorough management skills that can develop and restructure human capital, structural capital, and customer capital of an organization. With systematic integration, internalization, and the advantage of knowledge benefits, companies are able to create core competitiveness. Wu (2002) indicated that for knowledge-type companies, creation, accumulation, sharing, and integration of knowledge are the momentum for the creation of corporate value and sustainable operations. Creation, management, measurement, and evaluation of core intellectual capital (IC) will be an important indicator of the value of corporate competitiveness in the future.Since the implementation of the Financial Holding Company Law in 2001, many financial holding companies have been established. These companies can be divided into three systems, securities and investments, banking, and insurance, as based on their operations. Different from the manufacturing industries, the financial service industry provides knowledge-based products or services. Although securities and investments, banking, and insurance sectors are all under the financial service industry, they have different industrial characteristics. The securities and investment industry focuses on professional services provided by personnel; the banking industry emphasizes on the flows of overall infrastructure; and the insurance industry centers on customer relationship management (CRM). Although they have differing focuses, the purpose is the same: the construction of IC for the company and enhancement of market value. The financial industry has begun integrating professionals and market needs long ago to realize profits from financial knowledge and risk management. The business model of banks is borrowing and lending capital from/to all other industries by risk-return tradeoff decisions. Owing to the characteristics of the banking industry, it has to stay abreast of the business cycles of all other industries. Meanwhile, the banking industry is highly regulated in its operations. Over recent years, under the influence of financial liberalization and internationalization, the banking industry has seen noticeable changes in their business environment. This, combined with fierce competition, has created tremendous pressures for banks. In an environment of high uncertainties and looming crises, banks should not only more efficiently integrate their work force, financial assets, and other tangible assets, but also improve their ability in the management of IC to achieve sustainable operations. For the banking industry, it is imperative as to how to use techniques in knowledge management (KM) to accumulate IC to cope with an increasingly changing environment.Most previous KM literatures addressing IC have focused on the correlation between IC and organizational performances (Chong and Lin, 2008; Ho, 2009). There are relatively few discussions on the relationship between knowledge creation and IC, and even fewer studies on such a relationship in the banking industry. The core competitiveness of the banking industry is highly reliant on the ability of management teams to systematically manage knowledge and experience. It also depends on whether they are able to create sophisticated skills catering to the IC of their organization to effectively manage risks and create profits.The accumulation of IC and knowledge creation is closely related (Rezgui, 2007; Lin et al., 2008). IC is generated via systematic integration of knowledge. It is particularly so for the banks, because the knowledge required for banking operations is more complex than in most industries. The elements of highly regulated, risky, volatile, and market sensitive are inherent in banking operations. Such knowledge is known for their diversity and abstractness. From the selection of the management team, the development of professional skills of employees, nurturing of the creativity of employees, accumulation of innovative and creative capabilities, screening of customer groups, management of customers' loyalty, and the management of trademarks and brands to develop and manage strategic partners, all sources of enterprise value through the creation and management of corporate knowledge.This paper examines the empirical studies on knowledge creation and IC to generalize the important factors concerning knowledge creation and IC of banks. The major purpose is to explore the relationship between knowledge creation and IC through the construction of the correlation patterns between these two elements. In addition, this paper also aims to examine the relationships between human capital, structural capital, and customer capital. With the deployment of the correlation patterns between knowledge creation and IC, this paper hopes to provide practical suggestions for the reference of the management of domestic banks.\nLiterature review: Definition of intellectual capital\nResearch method: 1. Research structure\nEmpirical analysis: Data collection\nConclusions and suggestions: The purpose of this paper is to examine the correlation between knowledge creation and IC of the banking industry, as well as the correlation between human capital, structural capital, and customer capital, as the three types of IC. The research finds that knowledge creation in the banking industry has positive and direct influence on human capital. Cognitivists and connectivists are considered the main knowledge creators in the banking industry. Cognitivist refers to develop more accurate and precise knowledge through the absorption of new information, and to construct a solution in order that the created knowledge can be systematically shared. The only difference between connectivists and cognitivists is that connectivists believe there is no predefined solution. Rather, it is believed that the source of information stems from the connection of information.Therefore, knowledge creation in banks should focus on the exchange and sharing of information. It has suggested the usual approach adopted by banks is brainstorming and workshops, and the connecting approach is team-oriented. Furthermore, the smoother the information communication channels are for employees to create knowledge, the higher the human capital of the banks; as a result, there is positive influence on structural capital and customer capital of the banks. In other words, with comprehensive knowledge creation mechanisms, banks can effectively enhance their IC. This finding is consistent with that of Schiuma and Lerro (2008), that the most important activity in management of IC is the creation of knowledge variety. It can improve the flows of knowledge creation for an organization, and accumulate more knowledge assets. Meanwhile, as far as the sources of knowledge creation are concerned for employees in the banking industry, cognitivists are the most important and have the most significant influence on human capital, followed by connectivists. Autopoetics reports the least influence on human capital.IC consists of human capital, structural capital, and customer capital. This study finds that human capital in the banking industry reports positive, and direct, influence on structural capital and customer capital. Customer capital also exhibits positive and direct influence on structural capital. Namely, banks with rich human capital not only boost their operational efficiency, but also accumulate good structural capital. High-caliber employees develop customer relationships with their professional knowledge, experience, and capabilities and promote the accumulation of customer capital. Meanwhile, interactions between employees and customers trigger more digestion and absorption of information so that information can be shared within the organization, and thus, the accumulation of structural capital increases. This finding is consistent with Shih (2008), who suggested that human capital has the same positive influence on structural capital and customer capital in the financial service industry. However, it is in contrast with the statement that structural capital exhibits negative influence on customer capital.As far as the perception of the dimensions of IC by the employees in the banking industry is concerned, this paper finds that employees' competences are the most important element of human capital, followed by employees' satisfaction and employees' training. When it comes to structural capital, innovation ability is the most important, followed by organizational culture and treasury value. In terms of customer capital, customers' loyalty is the most important, followed by customers' satisfaction and market shares. In other words, employees' competences, satisfaction, and training have positive influence on structural capital and customer capital. Customers' loyalty, satisfaction, and market shares also exhibit positive influence on structural capital.The ability to create knowledge is highly relevant to IC in the banking industry. Companies should define their own robust mechanisms for knowledge creation to improve their ability in knowledge creation. The sources of knowledge creation should include autopoetics, cognitivists, and connectivists. For autopoetics, domestic banks should improve their mentoring systems in order to convert the implicit knowledge not able to be expressed with words or texts within the organization into explicit knowledge. For cognitivists, banks should establish and integrate a variety of IT systems to facilitate the exchange and sharing of knowledge. Examples are databases, work samples, and instruction manuals within the organization. It is also possible to invite highly seasoned professionals to give speeches and encourage employees to sit for examinations to obtain certificates and qualifications. As far as connectivists are concerned, banks should provide all kinds of formal, and informal, communication channels, such as job rotations, discussions, intranet forums, meeting rooms, and tea areas to enhance the ability of the organization to create knowledge.The managers in the banking industry should identify the ways to cultivate in-depth contents of IC. They should have comprehensive talent development programs for their human capital by providing complete training and education to expand the professional knowledge and skills of employees. They should encourage employees in a timely manner to enhance employees' satisfaction. In terms of structural capital, the mangers should strive to improve the operational flows of their companies by enhancing the innovation capabilities and bettering the value of the knowledge treasury within their organizations.As far as customer capital is concerned, they should provide high value-added products and services, as well as a clean and comfortable environment to maintain a good long-lasting relationship with customers. Xu and Walton (2005) and Liew (2008) suggested the integration of KM and CRM is a strategic issue that has strong ramifications in the long-term competitiveness of organizations. This will increase customers' satisfaction and loyalty, and hence, market shares. For domestic banks, the interaction and mutual influence of human capital, structural capital, and customer capital will benefit the accumulation of IC, create differentiated advantages, and boost corporate competitiveness.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to examine the empirical studies on knowledge creation and intellectual capital (IC) to generalize the important factors concerning knowledge creation and IC of banks. The major purpose is to explore the relationship between knowledge creation and IC through the construction of the correlation patterns between these two elements.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This paper adopts the knowledge management (KM) measurement to examine the formats of knowledge creation on evaluation of relationship between different elements in the IC of banks by structural equation modeling.\nFindings: - The performance of knowledge creation has significant influence on the accumulation of subsequent human capital. Cognitivists and connectivists are considered the main knowledge creators in the banking industry. The performance of human capital exhibits significant influence on structural capital and customer capital. The performance of customer capital reports significant influence on the formation of structural capital.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The ability to create knowledge is highly relevant to IC in the banking industry. Companies should define their own robust mechanisms for knowledge creation to improve their ability in knowledge creation. Knowledge creation in banks should focus on the exchange and sharing of information. It is suggested that the usual approach adopted by banks is brainstorming and workshops, and the connecting approach is team-oriented.\nPractical implications: - The managers in the banking industry should identify the ways to cultivate in-depth contents of IC and have comprehensive development on IC to create differentiated advantages and boost corporate competitiveness.\nOriginality/value: - The importance of tangible assets is waning and has been gradually shifting to knowledge and IC, and thus, KM has become an important strategy in corporate competition. Organizations have been redefined as platforms that can create knowledge and accumulate intangible, IC.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Investigating technology and organizational performance of private higher learning institutions in Malaysia
|
[
"Organizational performance",
"Structural equation modelling",
"Technology management",
"Emerging technologies",
"Technology usage",
"Private higher learning institutions"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Organizational performance of private higher learning institutions (HLIs) in Malaysia has never been more important in the wake of the disruptive Industry 4.0. These institutions comprise of private universities, private university colleges, foreign branch campuses and private colleges. At present, they represent 73 percent of the overall higher education sector in Malaysia and are registered under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE, 2018). This large number is attributed to the commitment of the Malaysian government to make higher education accessible and equitable for everyone. Being part of a sector that is seen as a means of global competitiveness for the nation, private HLIs are currently facing numerous dynamic business environment changes pertaining to consumer behavior, instability of the market, new policies and regulations and the rise of big data and new technologies (Ahmad and Ng, 2015; Binden et al., 2014). All this has led to an intense and competitive higher education market.\n2. Theoretical bases and development of hypotheses: 2.1 Organizational performance\n3. Method: The unit of analysis identified is the organization and the respondents for this study are from the top management level due to their in-depth knowledge of their organizations' performance. Only one respondent per organization was required to participate in this study. The population of study comprises of all private HLIs in Malaysia as they form 73 percent of the overall higher education sector population (457 out of a total of 629 institutions) and are all registered with the MOHE (2018). According to Sekaran and Bougie (2013), 30-500 sample size is sufficient for statistical data analysis, while Hair et al. (2016) suggest a sample size of 100 or more. However, in order to perform partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), Roldan and Sanchez-Franco's (2012) recommendation of using Green's (1991) sample size approximation table, indicated 66 as the sample size needed based on 2 predictors, with the assumption of a medium effect size, a power of 0.80 and an a value of 0.05. Therefore, as the study is using PLS-SEM for data analysis, the minimum sample size of 66 is deemed sufficient. A purposive sampling technique was used in this study.\n4. Results: Prior to testing the models, the issue of common method variance (CMV) was tested with the use of Harmon's Single-Factor test. CMV is seen as a potential threat to the research validity as single data source was used which could give rise to a systematic variation in responses (Podsakoff et al., 2003). The result of the unrotated principle component factor analysis on all measurement items revealed that four factors were extracted with eigenvalues greater than 1.0, which accounted for 66.19 percent of the total variance. The largest variance was explained by an individual factor at 35.13 percent which is below the threshold value of 50 percent. This means that CMV is not present, thus does not pose any significant issue for this study.\n5. Discussion: The main purpose of this study is to examine the influence of technology on the organizational performance of private HLIs in Malaysia. Technology is viewed from two constructs of technology management and technology usage. Based on the results, the positive and significant relationship indicates that technology management of private HLIs could lead to organizational performance. This finding is similar with other studies which found that a strong technology management system enables organizations to quickly respond to the dynamic changes in the business landscape (Farooq and O'Brien, 2012, 2015). In order to meet the changing demands of students and the industry, private HLIs need to have well-trained resources to manage their technology management system. Only then will private HLIs have the capability to continuously search for the right technology and implement them in order to increase teaching and learning effectiveness.\n6. Implications: The current study recommends that management of private HLIs should focus on technology management in order to increase their organizational performance. Specifically, private HLIs should continuously search for the right technology to increase teaching and learning effectiveness, have a strong technology management system and have well-trained resources to manage to technology management system. It is also interesting to note that technology usage does not influence organizational performance. This could be attributed to the large response from colleges which might not prioritize adoption of emerging technologies. Nevertheless, management of private HLIs are recommended to look into the use of big data analytics to predict preferred learning contents and instructional pedagogies, adopt the blended learning approach and offer MOOC as they indicate a certain level of importance toward technology usage.\n7. Conclusion: Technology is seen as the answer for private HLIs to overcome their lack of organizational performance. Past studies have provided such evidence and the empirical findings of this study have verified that technology management is critical for private HLIs to achieve high organizational performance. Hence, it is important for private HLIs to prioritize technology management and increase their technological capabilities strategically in order to have further business sustainability.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of technology on organizational performance of private higher learning institutions (HLIs) in Malaysia and to determine the area of focus for private HLIs in Malaysia.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Data collection was carried out over two months through an online self-administered questionnaire and yielded 155 samples. Subsequently, the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the reflective measurement model and the structural model for validity, reliability and hypotheses, respectively.\nFindings: This paper discovered that between the two constructs of technology tested (technology management and technology usage), only technology management influenced organizational performance.\nOriginality/value: As Industry 4.0 is disrupting the existing business environment, inquiring into the influence of technology is of critical importance for the organizational performance of private HLIs in Malaysia. This paper provides a different perspective of how technology affects the overall organizational performance of private HLIs which differs from past studies which focused more on the effects of technology on individuals such as teachers/instructors and learners.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Building a winning culture
|
[
"Organizational culture",
"Management accountability",
"Behaviour",
"Best practice",
"Change management",
"Leaders"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Why has Dell been able to consistently out-perform its competition over the past decade? Strategy? Certainly. Operational discipline? Without a doubt. Talented people? Of course. But when asked in an interview with Harvard Business Review what best explains the company's spectacular success over the years, Dell founder Michael Dell and CEO Kevin Rollins focused on something else.\nHeart and soul: The soul of an organization is often taken for granted. Just as every one of us has a personality or character, so does every company. Often the values of the founder are instilled in the organization and shape its culture going forward. \"We try harder\" at Avis or \"Always low prices. Always\" at Wal-Mart are foundational values that have become ingrained into the very fibre of each business. Such values permeate the organizations and inform day-to-day decisions and behaviours. Procter & Gamble, likewise, has managed to place the consumer at the heart of the company's culture, which keeps employees focused on \"touching lives, improving life\" in each and every market in which they participate.Traditions also count. Rituals, heroes and language give a company its unique feel. One of SC Johnson's defining moments, for instance, came during a 1927 Christmas Eve speech by H.F. Johnson Sr, who took the opportunity to introduce a profit-sharing plan, a 40-hour work week and a pension plan - unusual benefits in those days. \"The good will of the people is the only enduring thing in any business\", Johnson said. \"It is the sole substance; the rest is shadow\", Eighty years later, Johnson's words still hold meaning in an organization that proudly calls itself \"a family company\".Such a distinct personality and soul can help a company attract people who, in turn, embrace its culture. The strongest cultures bind people together across hierarchy and geography, guiding employees to make the right decisions and advance the business day after day whether or not they receive explicit direction. One employee of Southwest Airlines captured that notion well when he said, \"We all work hard, but to do anything else would be like letting your family down\".In order to turn commitment into strong performance, a company's personality and soul needs to be complemented by a set of behavioural norms that motivate people in the organization to excel over and over again.Bain research has identified key behaviours that most winning cultures share. First, they aim high, so that even when the business is performing well, its employees remain fundamentally dissatisfied with the status quo. Energy gets focused externally on customers and competitors, rather than internally on issues of politics or \"turf\". Employees think and act like owners, taking personal responsibility for overall business performance, not just their slice of it. They also exhibit a clear bias to action, with little patience for bureaucratic debate. Last but not least, people in winning cultures display high levels of passion and commitment, which usually includes hard work (see the Appendix).Of course, the actual expression of these attributes within a company will vary. At one consumer products company, for example, focusing on the customer may include blanketing the offices with lifestyle posters featuring their particular target demographic. At a professional services firm, it might entail a weekly communication with updates about important clients. The actual expression doesn't matter as long as it drives behaviour throughout an organization. The true test of a winning culture is whether the expectations of high performance - and the desire to win - are well understood and widely shared.\nLeading cultural change: Our research indicates that more leaders fail than succeed at creating a winning culture. That's because transforming a culture requires influencing people's deepest beliefs and most habitual behaviours. One company's culture may be so sharp in its focus on cost efficiencies or stair-step earnings that it presents an obstacle to a more customer-centric approach to new product development. Another culture may be built on a reward system that reinforces corporate silos when, instead, collaboration across departments is the best way to boost results.Of course, changing cultures is no easy task. Companies, like the people in them, actively resist change. The challenge is to \"unfreeze\" established behaviours and create the motivation to change so that employees can learn new behaviours, and then \"re-freeze\" those behaviours over time (Schein, 2004). That's why crisis - which focuses attention on survival and breaks down resistance - can be such a potent catalyst for cultural change.Similarly, new competitors, new technologies or new regulations often require organizational change on a large scale. The shake-up presents an opportunity to break down old, unproductive habits and instil the kinds of behaviours that are necessary to get to the next level of performance.Compelled by such necessities, companies have found that they can change their cultures, provided leaders understand that change must start at the top. If a company's culture is broken, a leader's highest priority is to fix it. But even strong cultures can be enhanced to make organizations more competitive.Successful cultural change results from having a clear idea about what type of culture the business needs, identifying the specific attributes that go along with it, and then focusing on managing the drivers that shape and influence culture rather than trying to manage culture itself. In our experience, building a winning culture requires five key steps:1. Set expectations about the necessity for change, the type of new culture that is required and how it will result in success. The organization needs to know both what is unique and special in the company's heritage and which performance attributes are missing.2. Align the leadership team around a common vision and required behaviours. While many factors influence culture, the single most important is leadership - what leaders do and say, in that order, consistently over time.3. Focus the organization on delivering the business agenda - Actions speak louder than words. A culture of accountability and delivery is best achieved through holding people accountable for actual delivery, rather than expending lots of energy on a formal \"culture change\" program. The key is to emphasize that culture is a means to an end, not an end in itself.4. Manage the culture by managing the drivers of culture - Encourage the leadership team to \"walk the talk\"; clarify or change roles and accountabilities for key jobs; change or replace people where necessary; put in place new performance metrics or incentives; change the performance management or recruiting processes.5. Communicate and celebrate - Culture change can be a long journey - and one that requires tireless leadership. Consistent, sustained communication of the required behaviours is critical. It is important to celebrate victories - large and small - but never to declare victory outright.Winning cultures are best measured through the day-to-day activities of the front line: the ownership of continuous improvement by lead operators on the factory floor; the pride of the deli-team merchandising the best quality at the lowest prices; the responsiveness of a bank manager to a customer's complaint. The front line is where sustained cultural change can have the greatest impact on a company's performance. It takes strong leadership at every level of an organization, determination, and a willingness to make culture a top priority. The elements behind a winning culture can be managed by using some practical guidelines. And the payoff is high. As Lou Gerstner, the former chairman of IBM put it: \"Culture isn't just one aspect of the game - it is the game\".\nThe vine and the trellis: building a culture of service and results at St George Bank: Australia's St George Bank provides a clear example of how to build a winning culture. When Gail Kelly became St George's CEO in 2001, she recognized immediately that the Sydney-based bank had much more potential than was reflected in its stock price. The new strategy, Kelly quickly decided, was to create a strong focus on delivering excellent service to customers. That would require preserving the bank's friendly, outgoing culture, while introducing a new, more rigorous set of performance-minded values. It would take firm, decisive leadership, new levels of accountability and a vision dynamic enough to excite all 8,500 of the bank's employees. The key to achieving the change, Kelly knew, was building a stronger culture by \"working with the grain\" of the existing one.Because St George is smaller than Australia's Big Four banks, it had long been the focus of takeover speculation. But Kelly was convinced the bank could punch above its weight and thrive on its own. St George had one key element of a high-performance culture: a strong and enduring heritage of taking care of its customers.\"That was very different from many of the major banks, where they have traditionally devoted lots of lip service to the customer experience\", Kelly said. \"At St George, the passion was real\".Setting expectations\nDiscipline and accountability: high expectations at ABB: Not all cultural transformations are as orderly as St George's. At the Swiss engineering giant ABB, a sharp decline in financial performance in 2002 provided the catalyst for something closer to a cultural revolution. During the 1990s, ABB grew quickly. But expansions into Asia and Eastern Europe - coupled with numerous acquisitions, some of which exposed ABB to years of asbestos litigation - eventually created serious operational difficulties for the company. In 2002, after two CEO changes and with only two months of cash left, ABB's board convinced its chairman, a low-key, no-nonsense turnaround specialist named Jurgen Dormann, to step into the CEO role and rebuild ABB.The first step of building a winning culture - setting expectations - became an early focus for Dormann. From day one, he worked hard to become a convincing role model for a new culture of discipline and accountability - one that would focus on analytical rigor and steady growth in two core businesses: power systems and automation technologies.While Dormann shed countless acquisitions and trimmed seven major divisions, he also began management programs to drive accountability down through the organization. Examples were a cost program called \"Step Change\", which encouraged employees at all levels to root out and eliminate inefficiencies. Another, called \"The Group Strategy Program\", focused the entire management team around building the core businesses and striving for sustainable growth. With his Friday e-mails, Dormann personally ensured that the company's 100,000 employees knew at all times what its priorities were and how the company was progressing.After spending two years stabilizing the company, Dormann took the important step of replacing himself as CEO in 2004 with another low-key, hard-working outsider named Fred Kindle. Kindle studied the company with Dormann for four months before taking over his role, and then he began solidifying a culture that valued profitability over mindless expansion. \"At the end of the day\", Kindle said upon taking on the CEO position, \"our aspiration - my aspiration - must be to generate profitable growth, and not growth for growth's sake\".\nA rallying cry: aligning the elements of the organization: Dramatically shifting corporate culture can be a long, tough slog. But sometimes a company is ripe for cultural change. In the case of Rotech Healthcare, Inc., a Florida-based supplier of respiratory and other home healthcare services, front-line employees were hungry for a new culture - and the management team moved quickly to capitalize on the opportunity.Rotech's new leaders were brought in to run a company with high costs and poor performance. The critical first step was to become more efficient. But after cleaning up back-end processes, the company's revenues continued to decline in an industry that was growing at 5 per cent annually. The problem: Rotech's employees were so focused on operations they lost sight of what mattered most to the physicians and patients who were their customers - high-quality service.As it turned out, Rotech's employees were ready for a more meaningful connection with their customers. It was up to the company's leaders to shape a culture that placed customers at the heart of the business. One of the first steps was to align the entire company around Rotech's business priorities. To ensure that the new service orientation was reflected in everyday behaviours, the company identified best practices in all the areas where employees \"touched\" customers, such as follow-up calls to ensure that deliveries went smoothly, and made those behaviours standard procedure.The COO, Mike Dobbs, instituted a comprehensive customer-service training program for existing employees and focused the company's recruiting efforts on attracting service-oriented candidates. Dobbs and his team reworked job descriptions and tied incentive programs to customer related metrics such as customer satisfaction surveys. \"We Care about Patient Care\", the new slogan coined by CEO Phil Carter, became the rallying cry of the company, featured in a newly designed corporate logo and emblazoned on the company's branch network and driver uniforms.The change in focus from operations to service began to show up on the front line. The old culture emphasized productivity, prompting drivers to move quickly from one stop to the next. Some drivers were not routinely pausing to engage elderly customers in conversation. Rotech adjusted its productivity targets accordingly, providing extra time for each delivery specifically for customer service. Drivers soon began to spend extra time chatting with the customers. The results quickly became apparent: Rotech's front line began to forge stronger relationships with customers. In addition, the connections helped to identify opportunities for Rotech to provide additional clinical services, such as beds and wheelchairs.By visiting branches regularly and creating tip sheets on better customer service techniques, Rotech's leaders evangelized the effort and celebrated its successes - another critical step in building a winning culture. Communication has been frequent and direct, through training, newsletters, posters, letters and in-person meetings. The early results are encouraging. In May 2006, one year after embarking on the culture change and new growth strategy, Rotech reported 16 per cent growth in its key products.No culture is forever, of course. Change requires commitment on the part of a company's senior leadership, and the job is never really finished. But the payoff is substantial. Little else in this age of globalization provides a company with an edge that competitors can't simply copy or buy. Culture - the force that determines how people behave when no one is looking - is one such competitive advantage. When people want to do things right, and want to do the right thing, companies have an invaluable edge.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The article seeks to show that companies should and can build winning cultures.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A total of 365 companies in Europe, Asia and North America were surveyed for links between financial out-performance and winning culture. Three dozen high performers were analyzed in in-depth case studies; one from each region that has transformed its culture is presented.\nFindings: - Findings were that building a winning culture - which fewer than 10 per cent of companies succeed in doing, despite broad recognition that culture provides the greatest source of competitive advantage - requires five key steps: setting expectations, aligning leaders, accountability for delivery, organization-wide consistency and communication/celebration. Winning cultures tend to display six key behaviours: high aspirations, external focus (customers and competitors), attitude of ownership, bias to action, valuing collaboration and striving for the exceptional. These can be measured through the daily performance of the company's front line.\nResearch limitations/implications: - By definition, out-performance is rare, but further insights into winning cultures may result when the survey of companies is extended to new regions, such as Latin America.\nPractical implications: - Practical implications are the winning culture key behaviours, key building steps and performance measurement identified. The article also shows that challenges and even crisis can help, rather than hinder, the transformation of a corporate culture into a winning one.\nOriginality/value: - The article will help focus company leaders on the opportunity and challenges in building a winning culture. It identifies the key behaviours of winning cultures, key steps in building them, and how to measure their progress. It should be of value to all management levels from the chief executive to front-line staff.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The effects of word-of-mouth incentivization on consumer brand attitude
|
[
"Word-of-mouth",
"Social influence",
"Services",
"Experimental design",
"Brand evaluation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: An executive summary for managers and executive readers can be found at the end of this issue.\n1. Introduction: Positive word-of-mouth (WOM) is driven by various factors, such as customer satisfaction (Wangenheim and Bayon, 2007), a customer's goal of self-enhancement (Alexandrov et al., 2013; Berger and Schwartz, 2011; Berger and Milkman, 2012; De Angelis et al., 2012), brand trust (Becerra and Badrinarayanan, 2013) and brand identification (Kuenzel and Halliday, 2008). WOM exerts a strong impact on brand purchases and brand image (Chen and Xie, 2008; Chevalier and Mayzlin, 2006; Grace and O'Cass, 2005; Lawer and Knox, 2006; Trusov et al., 2009; Schivinski and Dabrowski, 2014; Ye et al., 2011; Zhu and Zhang, 2010). Martin and Lueg (2013) find that positive WOM significantly shapes a consumer's attitude toward the recommended product. A brand recommendation received from another consumer typically carries high informational value for the receiver, as it is commonly perceived as more relevant, credible, reliable and unbiased than company-generated information (Bickart and Schindler, 2001; Brown et al., 2007; Chen and Xie, 2008; Dobele and Lindgreen, 2011; Forman et al., 2008; Godes and Mayzlin, 2004; Herr et al., 1991; Park et al., 2007; Wilson and Sherrell, 1993). Godes et al. (2005) suggest that the decrease in costs associated with contacting customers online, the proliferation of product/brand choices as well as their attributes and rising consumer skepticism of traditional commercial sources boost social consumer-to-consumer interaction, both online and off-line. In a recent McKinsey study, WOM is the only factor that ranks among the three most prominent factors in each step of the consumer's purchase decision process (initial consideration, evaluation and purchase); beating advertisements at any of the stages, especially in developing markets (Bughin et al., 2010). In this study, WOM was influential in almost half of the brand decisions for mobile phone purchases in developing markets, taking the highest share among all sources. Schmitt et al. (2011) also found that targeting a firm's existing customers to generate new customers outweighs traditional advertising programs. Longitudinal data of a bank's referral program showed referred customers holding 16 per cent higher value than the non-referred customers (Schmitt et al., 2011). Recent studies also confirmed the positive effect of customer referral programs on revenues and the customer retention level (De Pechpeyrou, 2015; Garnefeld et al., 2013).\n2. Conceptual foundations: 2.1 Incentivization and attribution\n3. Measurements: 3.1 Brand attitude\n4. Results: To confirm or disprove the hypotheses, the simple main effects of the manipulated variables as well as the interaction effects between the manipulated and control variables are tested with ANOVA. The overall attitude of the respondents toward the brand is displayed as the dependent variable throughout the analysis, as no insightful differences between the various brand performance ratings could be identified. This could be due to the lack of information about, or lack of experience with, the service (Low and Lamb, 2000). The respondents only received a short description of the service, which seemingly was not enough for a differentiated assessment of the brand.\n5. Discussion: Tuk et al. (2009) suggest that there is a distinction between short- and long-term effects of an incentivized WOM program. While the short-term effect of compliance intention might increase, the brand might suffer from incentivization in the long run. Our study looks at this hypothesis and the questions of how reward type and social relationships might affect the receptivity of an incentivized WOM communication, in particular under the two essential relationships in an Asian context, namely, in authoritative and family relationships.\n6. Limitations and further research: This study identifies disadvantages of incentivized WOM campaigns. As the benefits of WOM campaigns have been well-studied (Tuk et al. 2009), further research should be devoted to the design of referral campaigns that minimize the negative effects while preserving the main benefits. For instance, this study extends the findings on incentivization of WOM to include a purely non-monetary form of incentive. The research confirms that an offer of non-monetary rewards is better than monetary rewards, which raises the question as to which form of non-monetary rewards minimizes the negative incentivization effect. Our study is the first to conduct an experiment on WOM marketing that uses a non-monetary reward that cannot be converted into a monetary value. In our study, a purely symbolic reward was the incentive offered, in contrast to a study by Verlegh et al. (2013), which used a charitable donation of 30,000 Korean Won as a symbolic reward.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to conceptualize and test the effect of monetary and non-monetary incentives for word-of-mouth (WOM) campaigns on the brand attitude of those receiving an incentivized brand recommendation. It also studied whether or not the type of relationship between the recommender and the person who receives the recommendation and the expertise of the recommender moderate the impact of incentivization on brand attitude. The results should enable brand management to improve the design of WOM campaigns.\nDesign/methodology/approach: An experiment was conducted utilizing a sample of about 645 respondents in Thailand. In a 3 x 3 experimental design, three levels of incentivization and three types of social relationships were manipulated. All other variables were measured through a respondent-administered questionnaire. For incentivization of WOM, monetary reward and non-monetary reward are compared to a non-incentivized control state. The three types of social relationships are an authority relationship, a kinship relationship and a market pricing relationship between strangers as the control state.\nFindings: The results of the experiment show that the introduction of rewards for recommendations harms the attitude of the receiver of a recommendation toward the brand. The attitude of potential buyers toward the brand can be tainted by the impression that a brand has enticed friends and relatives into profiting from their relationship. The negative effects increase further with the introduction of cash rewards. Contrary to expectations, however, the social relationship between the recommender and the new customer did not moderate the effect of incentivization. Source expertise has a direct as well as moderating effect on brand attitude.\nPractical implications: The findings suggest that companies should use referral rewards with caution. Brand managers need to be aware that there is a trade-off between the advantages and the disadvantages of incentivized WOM campaigns. Recommendations have been derived about how to improve the design of incentivized WOM campaigns. Whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages probably depend to some extent on brand-specific factors such as brand strength and market- or industry-specific factors, such as a credence good quality within the industry. It also emphasized that WOM campaigns need to be carefully monitored by measuring customer attitudes toward the brand.\nOriginality/value: Although past research provides valuable conceptual and empirical insights into consumer responses in incentivized WOM situations, most research has focused on the immediate effectiveness of WOM by measuring purchasing intentions. There is still a lack of information about how different kinds of incentivization affect customer attitudes toward a brand that incentivizes WOM, and how various relationship types moderate the effects; in particular, authority relationships have not yet been studied in this context.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Key factors for the BIM adoption by architects: a China study
|
[
"China",
"Structural equation modelling",
"Theory of reasoned action",
"BIM",
"Architect",
"Key factors for BIM adoption"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: There is a large amount of information generated in a typical construction project which needs to be communicated and shared among a number of stakeholders. This is specially the case in more complex projects such as hospitals and infrastructures due to the nature of the project. The traditional approach of dealing with information and information flow by manual manner hardly satisfies such demand. Indeed, the improper information flow among participating parties has been identified as one of the most significant issues responsible for poor coordination and consequently reworks as well as scope changes in construction projects (Doloi et al., 2012). This also leads to delay of schedule (Hwang et al., 2013; Kaliba et al., 2009). As a result, building information modeling (BIM) has been put forward to respond to this challenge.\nLiterature review: There have been extensive studies focussing on the adoption of ICT technologies in the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. These include the adoption of enterprise resource planning systems (Chung et al., 2008, 2009; Yang et al., 2007; Skibniewski and Ghosh, 2009); application of geographic information system and global positioning system technologies (Bansal and Pal, 2009; Irizarry et al., 2013; Li et al., 2005; Kim and Teizer, 2014); and web-based project management solutions (Arnold and Javernick-Will, 2013; Nitithamyong and Skibniewski, 2011; Wong and Zhang, 2013). These studies focus largely on the success factors, barriers, key performance indicators and implementation strategies of adopting ICT technologies in the AEC industry with a consideration of specific context. All these studies contribute significantly to the increasing application of ICT technology in the AEC industry.\nResearch methods: Data collection\nResearch results: First half sample\nDiscussion and conclusions: To implement BIM technology in the AEC industry effectively, a better understanding of the mechanism for BIM adoption by practitioners is indispensable. To achieve this objective, a structural equation model is built with the survey data collected from architects in design firms. One of theoretical contributions of this study is to develop a model explaining mechanism of BIM adoption. Such model is based on the classic theory of reasoned action, which is tested via SEM. SEM provides a logical integration between regression and factor analysis. By explicitly considering measurement errors in the theoretical models, the validity of this model is improved compared to other methods such as regression analysis.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: There has been a growing attention to building information modeling (BIM) globally due to its benefits to various stages of a building's life cycle. To facilitate the implementation of BIM in the construction industry effectively, the purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the mechanism for BIM adoption by practitioners such as architects.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey of architects is conducted in Shenzhen, China. A structural equation model is built with survey data to identify the key factors affecting architects' BIM adoption in the design firms.\nFindings: It is found that motivation, technical defects of BIM and BIM capability are the statistically significant factors affecting architects' BIM adoption whereas management support and knowledge structure are not.\nResearch limitations/implications: Only one architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) profession, i.e. architects were selected as research participants. In future, other professions such as construction engineers, project managers, etc. should be investigated with respect to their BIM adoption issues.\nPractical implications: BIM technology developers should improve the technology along the objectives of economic benefits, effectiveness and efficiency of BIM adoption. The compatibility and integration between BIM and other widely available software in the industry should also be improved. Moreover, AEC company and project managers should provide architects with opportunities of BIM training so that architects are more likely to apply BIM in future projects.\nOriginality/value: A quantitative theoretical model, i.e. structural equation model is built to identify key factors affecting architects' BIM adoption, which takes one step further to reveal the BIM adoption mechanism in contrast to previous descriptive-oriented studies.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
IFRS adoption in ASEAN countries: Perceptions of professional accountants from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia
|
[
"Harmonization",
"IFRS adoption",
"ASEAN countries"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The institutions of accounting world are in the process of assimilating a universal language amidst a fast changing world. Financial boundaries between countries are fading due to international trade, international economic and political interdependence, technological advancements, the growth of international financial markets, increased foreign direct investment and the influence of international organisations (Chand et al., 2008; Tyrrall et al., 2007). The decline of financial boundaries allows big businesses to approach international capital markets to expand their business operations (Haller et al., 2009; Rezaee et al., 2010). In response to increasingly international investment patterns and cross-listing of multinational corporations, global efforts to harmonise accounting standards have proceeded apace on the assumption that a financial reporting system supported by strong governance, high-quality standards and a firm regulatory framework is the key to economic development. Indeed, sound, internationally accepted financial reporting standards (FRS) underpin the trust that investors place in financial reporting information and thus contribute substantially to economic development (Chakrabarty, 2011). Global adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is proposed to result in the enhanced usefulness of general purpose financial statements, better quality of financial communication, improved comparability and transparency in the reported results of businesses in different countries, and meeting the needs of international users of financial information (Collett et al., 2001; Rezaee et al., 2010). Such a kind of \"accounting consensus\" (Sunder, 2009) is a process under evolution as accounting and auditing community of different countries work with multiple ecosystems. The elements of local business culture, tax laws, training systems and educational levels are embedded into the different accounting systems (Gray, 1988; Jaggi and Low, 2000). Global convergence of business and accounting standards and rules can be achieved though perhaps not as rapidly as some may expect.\n2. Review of literature: Most of the research on IFRS comprises quantitative studies relating to their impacts and implications, such as the economic consequences of requiring IFRS for financial reporting, issues related to convergence or conversion (Hail et al., 2010a, b; Wright and Hobbs, 2010), policy factors specific to accounting concepts such as earnings quality (Sun et al., 2011), and attempts to understand the impacts of shifting from national GAAPs to IFRS on either reported performances (Cordazzo, 2008) or key financial ratios (Bao et al., 2010; Lantto and Sahlstrom, 2009). Many US studies have assessed the relevance and implementation of IFRS in the context of its benefits to the preparers and users of the financial information (Hail et al., 2010a; Sun et al., 2011). A few studies cover the impacts of IFRS on accounting practices in country-specific contexts (Artikis et al., 2010; Callao et al., 2009) and the relevance of IFRS to different developed and emerging markets, for example, China (Chen et al., 1999), the European Union (Callao et al., 2009), Germany (Haller et al., 2009), Greece (Artikis et al., 2010), Romania (Albu et al., 2011) and South Asia (Jahangir Ali, 2006). Perera and Baydoun (2007) commented on IFRS convergence issues in Indonesia.\n3. Methods: Based on the literature review, we identify issues relevant to IFRS adoption in ASEAN countries then develop and pre-test a survey instrument for professional accountants. In explanatory and/or descriptive research on IFRS and other subjects, questionnaires are used to explore perceptions of the participants on various aspects of change in organisational practices and the environment (Buckingham and Saunders, 2004; Kanakriyah, 2013; Phan and Mascitelli, 2014; Phan, 2014). The questionnaire survey method suits the requirement of the present study as it provides respondents freedom and anonymity. In addition, this method is convenient for reaching sample population spread over multiple locations (Jermakowicz, 2004; Joshi et al., 2008; Morris et al., 2013; Sykianakis et al., 2011). The questionnaire is divided into two major themes: perceptions about IFRS adoption issues and perceptions of the roles played by governments, media and accounting professional bodies in the adoption process. Demographic information is included so as to test for differences in perceptions of accountants with varying attributes.\n4. Results and discussion: In total, 98 questionnaires were received but 86 (31 from Indonesia, 30 from Singapore and 25 from Malaysia) were complete and included in analysis. The overall response rate was 28.7 per cent, comparable to those in other studies conducted on professional accountants (such as Rezaee et al., 2010 with 24.4 per cent, Sangster et al., 2009 with 13.8 per cent and Wijewardena and De Zoysa, 1999 with 21.7 per cent in Japan and 23.1 per cent in Australia). Table II contains the key demographic characteristics of the respondents.\n5. Conclusions, limitations and suggestions for future research: The nature of IFRS project is itself full of comprehensive and complex detailing. In a world with a couple of hundred countries with multiple levels of difference with regard to the regulatory framework, internal evolution of local accounting bodies, general levels of financial literacy and socio-cultural factors, there is bound to be a long journey before the new accounting standards become assimilated in the conventional systems of the individual nations. In such a density of challenges, step-by-step and country-by-country clarification of the issues is the best method of reaching some sort of theoretical convergence. In this paper, we examined accountants' perceptions of the adoption of IFRS and the role played by the state, the financial media and the professional accounting bodies in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Our results suggest that the accounting communities in all three countries support the adoption of the IFRS (as shown in Table I). However, some significant differences are evidenced with regard to adoption of the \"fair value\" approach rather than historical cost approach based on professional qualifications of the respondents. Few participants believe that local accounting and auditing requirements had been neglected in their countries as a result of the convergence with IFRS. This suggests the speed of realisation of ASEAN trade, integration with global accounting standards and ensuring ASEAN's centrality in the global business has influenced the accounting standards in the respective countries to converge their local standards with IFRS or complete adoption of the IFRS.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceptions of professional accountants from three countries from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in order to evaluate their perceived benefits associated with the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in their respective nations as well as the implications of these standards for the accounting and auditing professions in their country of practice. It also explores the extent to which the adoption of IAS/IFRS accounting standards have been supported by the state, media and local professional accounting bodies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study uses survey approach to seek perceptions of professional accountants in these three countries with a view to understanding their perceptions regarding the socio-economic issues related to the adoption of the IFRS and role of social institutions. The study also uses appropriate statistical tests for interpretation of the data.\nFindings: The analysis of the data shows that accounting professionals in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia strongly supported IFRS adoption; their opinions did not differ significantly by place of training, experience or professional qualifications. Respondents agreed that their countries benefited economically from harmonisation with global accounting standards. The surveyed accountants believed that pressure from international agencies was instrumental in the adoption of IFRS in the region. The findings also show that governments, the media and professional accounting bodies have supported the adoption, communication and application of IFRS.\nOriginality/value: This is the first study examining the role of social and professional institutions in the adoption of the IFRS and one which also provides an inter-country comparison of accountant's perspectives on adoption of the IFRS among three ASEAN countries.\n",
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The knowledge-productive corporate university
|
[
"Corporate ventures",
"Universities",
"Knowledge management",
"Learning organizations",
"Strategic alignment",
"The Netherlands"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In the current knowledge economy, where knowledge and the application of knowledge is the most crucial asset, many companies feel the need for a new strategic approach to organisational learning. The rise of corporate universities is a clear example of how organisations are coping with this need (Vossen, 2002). As the strategic relevance of knowledge increases, the development of a corporate university receives more and more priority in companies (Rademakers, 2001). Although different definitions of a corporate university exist, a corporate university is most adequately described as a metaphor for a new phenomenon (Meister, 1998). In corporate universities two processes are aspired to: first, offering coherent learning activities that are connected to the goals and mission of the organisation, and second, linking personal development and organisational development (Jansink, 2002). Thus, corporate universities are new solutions that help companies to create, develop and distribute knowledge among employees.However, in practice, we see that many corporate universities have evolved from Training and Development departments and have extensive course and training offers (Prince and Stewart, 2002). As training is especially suited to knowledge transmission and distribution, we may question the adequacy of courses and training to enable corporate universities to reach their aims. Corporate universities not only intend to distribute knowledge, but also aim at knowledge creation and development, which both contribute to knowledge production. As we were very curious how corporate universities fulfil this second aim, we decided to conduct a study in which we posed the following question:Q. How do corporate universities produce new knowledge?\nTheoretical background: To explore what conditions and characteristics are necessary for knowledge production to occur, we used three different theoretical concepts: the concept of developmental phases of corporate universities, the concept of knowledge productivity, and the concept of strategic alignment. All concepts refer to different characteristics that are needed for knowledge production to occur.Developmental phases\nKnowledge production within corporate universities in The Netherlands: To explore the extent to which corporate universities show characteristics of knowledge production, two empirical studies were carried out. First, a study was conducted of the key actors within 12 Dutch corporate universities about the relevance and existence of the design characteristics from the literature. Second, a case study within one Dutch corporate university was conducted to reveal to what extent a concrete training practice met the characteristics described for knowledge production. The method and results of the two studies will be described separately in the following two sections, whereas the conclusions of both studies will be described in the \"Conclusion and discussion\" part of this article.\nStudy 1. Relevance and existence of design characteristics within corporate universities in The Netherlands: Method\nStudy 2. Knowledge production within the Wehkamp Homeshopping Academy: Method\nConclusion and discussion: Conclusion study 1 and 2\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - In this paper the concept of knowledge production is used as a framework to study Dutch corporate universities. Knowledge production serves not simply as a desirable aim of corporate universities, as the concept also offers guidelines for the design of corporate universities. The purpose is to clarify the extent to which corporate universities fulfil this aim of knowledge production and the way they produce new knowledge.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - From different theoretical perspectives 11 design characteristics have been extracted that help corporate universities to be knowledge-productive. Two empirical studies were carried out to find out to what extent corporate universities meet those features required for knowledge production. The first study implies an exploration of opinions of key actors within 12 Dutch corporate universities, in which data were gathered through interviews and analysis of documents. The second study can be characterised as a case study of a concrete training practice within one corporate university. Data were gathered by interviews, evaluative questionnaires, and observation.\nFindings: - Results reveal that knowledge production is viewed as important, but that concrete measures to stimulate it are often absent. Moreover, corporate universities need to pay more attention to the working environment of their employees in order to achieve their own goals.\nOriginality/value: - Analysing the corporate university from the perspective of knowledge production may stimulate corporate universities to rethink their own goals as well as their position within the organisation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Bridging the industry-education skills gap for human resource development
|
[
"Skills development",
"Apprenticeships",
"Human resource development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: With socio-economic workforce changes, advances in technology and globalisation, employers in the USA and other countries have decried the lack of skills in the labour market (Lerman, 2016; Holzer, 2015; OECD, 2016). Notably, employers in the advanced manufacturing industry in the USA - which has seen a resurgence in recent years - have reported a skills gap, exacerbated by retiring older workers, lack of youth interest in manufacturing and the misplaced educational focus on increasing youth college attendance (Cappelli, 2012; Lerman, 2016; Stone and Lewis, 2012). A report by Symonds et al. (2011) stressed that many new jobs in the future will require high levels of skills and knowledge, but the current educational system is failing to produce graduates with the requisite skills needed by the labour market. The authors called for stakeholder collaborations to provide multiple career pathways for American youth work-based learning activities that promote both academic and practical learning.\nApprenticeship in the USA: Apprenticeship offers an opportunity for individuals to learn valuable trade skills in the workplace while earning a wage. The approach combines theoretical and practical courses that are related to a trade or profession resulting in a certification for a skilled trade (Halpern, 2009; Lerman, 2008; Lerman et al., 2009; Stone and Lewis, 2012). Apprenticeships in the USA are managed by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) in the Department of Labour's (DOL) Office of Registered Apprenticeship Programmes. Registered apprenticeship programmes are operated by a partnership network of sponsors such as employers, employer groups' labour unions, government and educational institutions. Although the apprenticeship system is overseen at the federal level, individual states are given a level of discretion on how local systems are managed. The typical age of an apprentice in the USA is about 27 years, unlike other western industrialised countries where students enter apprenticeship programmes in their adolescent years (Hamilton, 2010), US youth apprenticeships are regarded as a low-profile scheme that trains marginal youth (Glover and Bilginsoy, 2005; Parton, 2017; Remington, 2018). By contrast, apprenticeship programmes have been the mainstay of many industries in Germany and other western countries, sustaining their respective economies by developing youth to meet socio-economic needs, thereby rapidly increasing workforce skill levels (Hamilton, 2010 Holzer and Lerman,2014; OECD, 2016; Symonds et al., 2011).\nResearch design: This research followed the case study methodology from Yin (2009) using evidence from interviews and documents such as correspondence between stakeholders, training documents and press releases. A qualitative instrumental case study approach was determined to be the best method to obtain the information needed to answer the central research question. This method allows the researcher to study the participants in their natural setting to \"make sense of, or to interpret a phenomenon in terms of the meanings the people bring to them\" (Lincoln and Denzin, 2000, p. 3). The investigation of the programme was positioned using the human capital theory as a theoretical framework. The alignment of the case study design and the theoretical framework guided the researcher's decisions regarding key informants and data analysis.\nContext and case background: The apprenticeship programme, initiated by the CEO, was a partnership between the employer and two high schools in a mid-western city in the USA. Five students were recruited for an academic year, attending classes in the morning and working at the employer site in the afternoon for 30 h each week as per state guidelines. They were paid US$9 per hour. Apprentices were required to wear bright, orange shirts with \"Apprentice\" written boldly on the back. This served as a constant employee reminder for apprentice safety precautions and job task limitations. Each apprentice underwent an eight-week rotation of the five different areas in the plant; quality technician, tool room, fabrication and computer numerical-controlled machining (CNC). They also worked with supervisors who doubled as mentors. In addition to receiving a high-school diploma, the apprentices earned the National Institute of Manufacturing (NIMS) certification upon graduation. The programme was in its second year at the time of the study.\nFindings: The analysis showed that the collaboration and commitment of stakeholders were essential to the effectiveness of the programme. Additionally, the employer realised the need to adopt a broad social agenda as an industry champion to attract and retain young apprentices. Flexibility in the employer's expectations to allow for career progression was critical to motivating students to continue in the programme. The findings also discovered a positive impact of the programme on overall employee morale and organisational culture.\nDiscussion: This study sought to highlight one organisation's experiences in addressing the need for skilled workers through a high-school student apprenticeship. The results showed the initiative required a significant investment in terms of cost, time and resources relating to the training and mentoring of apprentices, completing administrative tasks and providing apprentices' salaries and externships for school teachers. While the employer was willing and able to absorb the cost of the programme, the long-term sustainability would require a positive return on investment, whereby apprentices choose to further their careers with the organisation.\nConclusions: The lack of industry-relevant skills among labour market entrants has challenged employers for many years. While the dual apprenticeship programme that exists in other western countries such as Germany have been successful in providing a channel of skilled workers into different industries, the American labour market is structured differently. Thus, youth apprenticeship programmes in the USA will look very different as employers can provide modified programmes that fit the structure of the labour market.\nImplications: Although high-school apprenticeships are not common in the USA, strategic programmes such as the one in this study hold promise for some organisations. HRD professionals can demonstrate the value of apprenticeships to organisations by managing the partnerships with educators and developing and refining organisational structures. This will ensure the programme's harmony with internal activities and help the organisation reach its goals while addressing current and future workforce needs.\nLimitations and future research: This study involved a single case study focused on the experiences and role of one stakeholder in a programme. Although the findings may be relevant to other similar organisations, it may have limitations in its applicability to other contexts such as an established programme or different industry. A study that includes the experiences of educators and students or a comparative case may provide additional insights and strengthen study findings.\n",
"role": "user"
},
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"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe one advanced manufacturing company's efforts to build a channel of skilled workforce by developing an apprenticeship programme with high schools.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Using a qualitative case study approach, the authors interviewed the members of the organisation to gain insights into opportunities and challenges they faced in addressing their skills needs.\nFindings: The analysis showed that the collaboration and commitment of stakeholders were essential to the success of the programme. Furthermore, flexibility in employer's expectations to allow for career progression was critical to motivating students to continue in the programme. A positive impact of the programme on overall employee morale and organisational culture was revealed.\nResearch limitations/implications: Although the findings may be relevant to other similar organisations, they may have limitations in their applicability to other contexts.\nPractical implications: The study holds promise for the field of human resource development, as practitioners and scholars can benefit from the renewed interest in youth apprenticeship to identify how their activities within and outside of the organisation can build and retain the human capacity needed for organisational performance and competitiveness.\nOriginality/value: Employer-education partnerships have been touted as a solution to the skills gaps in industries. However, there is very little literature on employer-initiated apprenticeships focused on youth in the USA. Industry-education apprenticeship programmes offers employers an opportunity to address the skills problem in ways that meet their need.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Exploratory trial of a school-based alcohol prevention intervention with a family component: Implications for implementation
|
[
"Prevention",
"Family",
"Schools",
"Alcohol",
"Children",
"Evaluation of interventions"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Alcohol misuse has high personal, social and economic costs and widens health inequalities (Rehm et al., 2009). Misuse of alcohol by children and young people raises particular concerns about the number who initiate alcohol consumption at a young age, and high levels of regular and harmful alcohol use (Bellis et al., 2007; Smith and Foxcroft, 2009). It can have multiple health and social impacts, including: disorderly and violent behaviour; risky sexual behaviour (Arria et al., 2008); accidental injury; and poor school attendance and achievement (The Alcohol Harm Reduction Group, 2003; Wynn et al., 1997). Early initiation of alcohol consumption increases the risk of alcohol-related problems in later life (Hawkins et al., 1997; Moffitt, 1993; Ward and Snow, 2008), therefore developing effective primary prevention interventions is a public health priority.\nMethods: The intervention\nFindings: Intervention feasibility\nDiscussion: Summary of findings\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Involvement of parents/carers may increase effectiveness of primary school-based alcohol-misuse prevention projects through strengthening family-based protective factors, but rates of parental engagement are typically low. This paper reports findings from an exploratory trial of a school-based prevention intervention - Kids, Adults Together (KAT), based on the Social Development Model, which aimed to promote pro-social family communication in order to prevent alcohol misuse, and incorporated strategies to engage parents/carers. The purpose of this paper is to assess the feasibility and value of conducting an effectiveness trial of KAT.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study was a parallel-group cluster randomised exploratory trial with an embedded process evaluation. The study took place in south Wales, UK, and involved nine primary schools, 367 pupils in Years 5/6 (aged 9-11 years) and their parents/carers and teachers. Questionnaires were completed by pupils at baseline and four month follow-up, and by parents at six month follow-up.\nFindings: Overall KAT was delivered with good fidelity, but two of five intervention schools withdrew from the study without completing implementation. In total, 50 per cent of eligible parents participated in the intervention, and KAT had good acceptability among pupils, parents and teachers. However, a number of \"progression to effectiveness trial\" criteria were not met. Intermediate outcomes on family communication (hypothesised to prevent alcohol misuse) showed insufficient evidence of an intervention effect. Difficulties were encountered in identifying age appropriate outcome measures for primary school-age children, particularly in relation to family communication processes. The study was unable to find comprehensive methodological guidance on exploratory trials.\nResearch limitations/implications: It would not be appropriate to conduct an effectiveness trial as key progression criteria relating to intervention and trial feasibility were not met. There is a need for new measures of family communication which are suitable for primary school-age children, and more guidance on the design and conduct of exploratory/feasibility trials.\nOriginality/value: KAT achieved high rates of parental involvement, and its theoretical framework and processes could be adapted by other interventions which experience difficulties with recruitment of parents/carers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Employee beliefs regarding the impact of unconventional appearance on customers in Mexico and Turkey
|
[
"Cross-cultural management",
"Individual perception",
"Service quality",
"Employee appearance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Body modifications (e.g. tattoos, piercings, and unnatural hair color) and other unconventional appearance attributes (e.g. hair style, clothing style) have been increasing in prevalence and acceptance particularly among young adults (Ferreira, 2014; Hastings, 2012). This growing popularity has caused concern among employers who recognize that, traditionally, these have been associated with risky and deviant behavior in Western cultures and customers may have negative views of these appearance attributes (Roberts, 2012; Timming, 2015). Studies of service encounters show that consumers will base their perception of overall service quality on cues in the service environment and that the appearance of employees is a key part of that environment (Ezeh and Harris, 2007). By making inferences and applying stereotypes, consumers form impressions which become the basis for their expectations of the service experience.\nImpact of employee appearance on observers' perceptions: How employees present themselves to others in the workplace can have a powerful impact on others' perceptions, whether it is co-workers, supervisors, or customers. Known as impression management, this process assumes that individuals actively monitor their environment for clues as to how others perceived them and construct an image that influences others' perceptions (Goffman, 1959; Leary and Kowalski, 1990; Molloy, 1975). Research findings on workplace attire confirm employees use their dress to influence the perceptions of others and to ensure compliance and legitimization with the role requirements of their position (Peluchette et al., 2006; Rafaeli and Pratt, 1993). Recognizing the importance of employee appearance, many companies have sought ways to \"manage\" employee image to influence customers' perceptions of service quality. Harquail (2006) indicates that, by controlling employees' appearance and having them \"wear the brand,\" brand knowledge is transferred to employee behaviors and cognitions. As a result, employees internalize the brand so that it becomes part of their self-presentation to co-workers and customers.\nImpact of unconventional appearance factors on observers' perceptions: Evidence indicates that body art, in the form of tattoos and piercings have become increasingly popular in Western cultures over the past two decades (Carmen et al., 2012). According to a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 40 percent of American adults said that someone in their household has a tattoo, which is up from 21 percent in 1999 (\nMethod: Sample\nResults: In Table I, we report the means and standard deviations for uniforms and each of the seven unconventional appearance items for the total sample. In general, our respondents believed that uniforms had a somewhat positive impact on customer perceptions of overall service quality (M=3.76, SD=0.06) but that the other seven unconventional appearance factors would have a negative impact (means ranged between 1.81 and 2.26). The correlations show that, in general, older respondents believed that clothing baring midriff, belly-buttons, or cleavage, and clothing with tears, rips, or holes, would have a more negative impact on customer perceptions of service quality than younger respondents. A within-subjects comparison using MANOVA with repeated measures revealed significant differences between the eight appearance variables (F (7, 237)=93.61, p\nDiscussion: Our findings add to the growing body of literature demonstrating that employee appearance plays an important role in the service experience (Hall et al., 2013; Kim et al., 2009; Miller et al., 2009). While existing research has focussed mainly on tattoos and body piercings, this study extends such research by including other aspects of unconventional appearance, such as alternative clothing and hair styles/color. In addition, as the service sector becomes a larger part of the international business arena, a broader understanding of service quality perceptions in other countries is increasingly important. This study contributes to that understanding by examining employee beliefs regarding the role that unconventional appearance plays in customers' perceptions of service quality in Mexico and Turkey.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The increasing prevalence of unconventional appearance attributes (e.g. tattoos, piercings, unnatural hair color, alternative clothing) is a concern among employers as these appearance attributes are often viewed negatively. Because much of the existing employee appearance research has been conducted in the USA, the purpose of this paper is to examine employee beliefs regarding the impact of unconventional employee appearance on customer perceptions of service quality in Mexico and Turkey. The authors also examine the impact of gender, age, and position level.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The sample consisted of 295 white collar employees in various service industries in Turkey and Mexico. Respondents reported how they thought eight employee appearance factors (tattoos, facial piercings, unconventional hair color, unconventional hair styles, sweat pants, clothing with rips or tears, clothing that bears midriffs, belly-buttons, or cleavage, and uniforms) would affect customer perceptions of service quality.\nFindings: Employees in both Mexico and Turkey indicated that uniforms would have a positive impact on customer perceptions of service quality and all seven unconventional employee appearance attributes would have a negative impact. Significant differences for country, gender, age, and position level were also found.\nResearch limitations/implications: Future research including a more diverse group of countries and cultures is needed. Future research should also attempt to control for differences in type of organization, organizational culture, and job type.\nPractical implications: Alternative fashion and appearance styles may be trendy but there are risks in how these might be perceived by customers and by colleagues at work.\nOriginality/value: This study examines employee beliefs regarding the impact of a variety of unconventional employee appearance attributes on customers' perceptions of service quality in Mexico and Turkey.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Good human functioning, health and the promotion of health
|
[
"Health promotion",
"Public policy",
"Health",
"Evaluation of interventions",
"Inequality",
"Lifestyle behaviours"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Important theoretical frameworks propose that different interpretations of good human functioning are a precondition for health (e.g. Antonovsky, 1987; Marmot, 2004; Nordenfelt, 1995; Seedhouse, 1997). However, conceptual frameworks for understanding health that are based upon good human functioning are commonly overlooked in discussions of quality of life, morbidity/premature mortality and health-related behaviours. Moreover, there is an ongoing need to highlight the relevance of these frameworks for both public health policy and the planning, delivery and evaluation of health promotion programmes.\nGood human functioning based upon an extended list of fundamental human needs and essential human capacities (see list \"The fundamental human needs and essential capacities\" below): This paper proposes that the fundamental human needs and essential capacities identified by Markham and Aveyard (2003) may be extended in three ways.\nPotential limitations of the capabilities approaches: Concerns regarding the capabilities approaches developed by Nussbaum (1990, 2000) and Sen (1999) may be divided into three broad categories.\nHow might good human functioning be recognised?: The primary indicators of good human functioning are then, the sufficient realisation of the overarching capacities for practical reasoning and affiliation.\nInfluential factors that inhibit good human functioning: Factors that inhibit the realisation of the capacity for practical reasoning\nThe application of this paper's outlined framework to quality of life, morbidity/premature mortality and health-related behaviour: Quality of life\nMorbidity/premature mortality in industrialised countries: This paper proposes that a contributing factor to morbidity/premature mortality in industrialised countries is the effects of socioeconomic position (SEP) on how well people are functioning at the group level. SEP assessments attempt to group people based upon their income, occupation or educational experiences. However, both Maslow (1970), who focussed of the concept of self-actualisation which is related to Nussbaum's conception of good human functioning, and Nussbaum (1990) maintained that good human functioning is likely to be extremely rare. Thus, even people enjoying the most favourable environmental conditions such as those who have the highest SEP will rarely be functioning well. This paper consequently reasons that the proposed associations between morbidity/premature mortality, SEP and good human functioning will focus on how close people at the SEP group level are to good human functioning rather than the proportion of people at the SEP group level who are functioning well.\nHealth-related behaviour: Models exist for understanding people's uptake and rejection of health-related behaviours, e.g. theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1991). However, this paper proposes that a contributing factor that influences the uptake or rejection of a health-related behaviour will be people's critical assessments of the value, benefits and role of the health-related behaviour and the value, benefits and role of alternatives to the behaviour. These critical assessments may/may not be well developed. However, this paper goes on to propose that these critical assessments will nonetheless be frequently rational and connected to people's attempts to meet their fundamental needs or realise the essential capacities and additionally, people's concern about their health.\nThe application of this paper's interpretation of good human functioning to discussions of public health policy: This paper proposes that future public health policy should aim to ensure that everyone is able to meet their fundamental needs and sufficiently realise their essential capacities. People who achieve this can move towards functioning well, living fully human lives and maximising their health potential.\nScottish health inequalities policy review (NHS, Scotland, 2013) (Table II): Initiatives to ensure that people are able to meet their fundamental human needs\nThe application of this paper's interpretation of good human functioning to discussions regarding the planning, delivery and evaluation of health promotion initiatives: If this paper's analysis of good human functioning is associated with health, then all programmes and initiatives that promote the meeting of the fundamental human needs and/or the realisation of the essential capacities may be judged as having positively influenced the health of participants. This may help to raise the profile of health promotion.\nComparison between the outlined framework and Antonovsky's interpretation of good human functioning and limitations of the outlined approach: Nussbaum's insights and this paper's frameworks have some similarities to other interpretations of good human functioning, for example, the three key constructs of Antonovsky's seminal Sense of Coherence (SOC) construct. Comprehensibility is related to the realisation of the capacity for practical reasoning. Manageability, underpinned by underload-overload balance, is related to weariness which as discussed above is a major negative influence on the realisation of all the essential capacities. Meaningfulness is related to the realisation of the capacity for affiliation.\nConclusion: The framework outlined in this paper may potentially contribute to discussions of quality of life, morbidity and premature mortality and health-related behaviour. It may also potentially contribute to debates regarding public health policy, and the planning, delivery and evaluation of health promotion initiatives. However, hypotheses outlined in this paper within discussions of quality of life, morbidity and premature mortality and health-related behaviour require further research validation. Pre- and post-questionnaires for a health promoting community development programme are also offered but their utility also requires investigation. Wider debates are, however, required to reach a broad consensus on the relationships between health and human functioning and how enabling social and environmental circumstances promote good human functioning.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to extend a theory of health promoting schools (Markham and Aveyard, 2003) that draws heavily upon Nussbaum's Aristotelian interpretation of good human functioning (Nussbaum, 1990). This theory of health promoting schools proposed that health is grounded in the meeting of identified fundamental human needs and the realisation of identified essential human capacities (Markham and Aveyard, 2003).\nDesign/methodology/approach: The extension of this theory is achieved through the application of influential social theories with practical tenets to Nussbaum's insights (Nussbaum, 1990). This extension includes additional essential human capacities, a description and definition of how good human functioning may be recognised, potential limitations of the capabilities approaches and a discussion of major factors inhibiting good human functioning.\nFindings: The potential contribution of the outlined framework to discussions of health and health promotion is highlighted in two ways. First, this paper considers how the outlined framework may contribute to discussions of quality of life, morbidity/premature mortality and health-related behaviours. Second, this paper briefly considers how the outlined framework may contribute to discussions of public health policy, and the planning, delivery and evaluation of health promotion initiatives. Basic exemplar pre- and post-questionnaires for a hypothetical health promoting community development programme are offered.\nOriginality/value: This paper attempts to contribute to discussions of the application of Nussbaum's Aristotelean interpretation of good human functioning to both public health and health promotion.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Ethics and values: A comparison between four countries (United States, Brazil, United Kingdom and Canada)
|
[
"China",
"Management effectiveness"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: According to the article, \"Ethics must be global, not local\", in Bloomsberg Business Week, \"to build a truly great, global business, business leaders need to adopt a global standard of ethical practices\" (George, 2008). That being said, the study of ethics and values are very important in participating in international business and communication. Knowing the proper way to conduct oneself can lead to benefits and an increase in productivity in business. By researching ethics and values between the USA, Canada, Brazil and the United Kingdom, we can conclude what their cultural norms are and compare results to come up with similarities and differences between the four. Through the use of various peer reviewed articles and scholarly papers, we hope to be able to come to a conclusion on what the real differences and similarities are between the USA, Canada, Brazil and the United Kingdom.\nLiterature review: With the definitions compiled above of ethics and values, this literature review will compare articles lead to a better understanding about ethics and values in the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada and Brazil. Hopefully, this review will lead to conclusions about the similarities and differences that will help inform the reader about the cultural norms and acceptable ethics in these countries.\nConclusions: Through the literature review, it is evident that there are immense similarities and differences between ethics and values in business throughout the globe. Similarities are always good but with differences come conflict. A couple of suggestions to decrease ethical conflicts from the article, \"Ethics: nursing around the world: cultural values and ethical conflicts\" include: you must recognize that values and beliefs vary across and within cultures and one should learn as much as you can about the different aspects of different cultures (language, beliefs, customs, etc.) (Ahmed et al., 2014; Ludwick et al., 2000).\nSuggestions for future research: There are many opportunities for future research in a multitude of areas due to the broad definition of ethics and values. After much research it is suggested that researching how to instill better ethics and values at a younger age in all countries. Although there is no agreement about the proper way to do such an act, it is imperative that ethics and values are introduced in early education like elementary school (Novaes et al., 2013). Starting at a younger age will eventually increase the ethics and values for generations to come and improving the way of life for people around the world. According to Alelaimat and Taha (2013), it is important to teach values in the school curriculum because \"through it, the learner is raised to behave correctly in a responsible and moral manner\". When thinking back to the most basic forms of ethics, much of it would have never been known had there not been someone there to relay or teach that very knowledge. In the possibility of adding an ethics class to the fundamental curriculum of an elementary school student, there is potential that it will help that child grow to be a much more ethical-minded human being. An illustration of an attempt to teach global ethics can be seen on the web site business-ethics.org. This website is run by the International Business Ethics Institute (IBEI) and was founded in 1994 \"in response to the growing need for transnationalism in the field of organizational ethics and integrity\". Along with training tools, they produce publications that help educate people on ethics and integrity worldwide as well (International, 2014). This is a great resource for professionals, but if this was taught in earlier education programs then these kinds of Web sites would not be as crucial from training purposes.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the similarities and differences in the ethics and values seen within the USA, Brazil, Canada and the United Kingdom. By comparing these three countries to the USA, we can conclude the appropriate means in which to conduct business and research with any of the corresponding countries. This, in turn, will serve as a major asset to global business alike and prove to be monumental in the ways it breaks down cultural barriers to promote the sanctity of business worldwide.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The USA, Brazil, Canada and the United Kingdom were examined extensively on each of their ethics and values to fully grasp what the literature of previous empirical research stated. Throughout the literary research, data and surveys can be found to further emphasize the value and reliability of empirical research. Through the collaboration of thoughts and the literature that was discovered, we can draw conclusions about the similarities and differences between the USA, Brazil, Canada and the United Kingdom. It is clear that among the different countries ethics, values and cultural norms come into play when partaking in business.\nFindings: There were many similarities and differences that lied between the different countries. Of those similarities, it was especially noticeable between the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. This is due to the fact that these three countries have similar forms of common law governmental systems that are established and help form moral guidelines and parameters for doing business. Despite the fact that both the United Kingdom and Canada are under the rule of a Constitutional Monarchy, it is apparent that because the USA, United Kingdom and Canada have a free market economy all three operate at a similar capacity in terms of business.\nOriginality/value: This paper is original and provides value by taking a unique review of literature and reviewing previous research on the topic. Specific suggestions for future research are offered at the end of this paper.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Factors related to supply chain network members in SMEs
|
[
"Malaysia",
"Supply chain",
"Automotive",
"Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs)",
"Effective factors"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have become the backbone of economic growth in most developed and developing countries. After market globalization, SMEs face quite different conditions compared to the competitive climate in past years (Sharma and Sharma, 2010; Singh, 2011). Firms used to compete on quality and price; however, now they have to compete across all competitive aspects involving responsiveness and flexibility of the recent manufacturing climate (Anuar and Mohd Yusuff, 2011). Nowadays, the force of competitiveness in the market drives companies to team up with suppliers, buyers, and in some cases competitors; they share data and knowledge to develop a mutual supply chain (SC) that is able to compete with if not lead the specific manufacturing sector. Thus, achieving competitive advantage within this type of unforgiving climate becomes more and more complicated, if not impractical (Koh et al., 2007). Therefore, SC success relies on effective techniques for enhancing coordination amongst partners, making it more proactive for market requirements through perfecting existing resources (Singh and Sharma, 2014).\n2. The effect of SCI on SMEs: The significance of SMEs in the national economy cannot be overlooked due to the contribution they make to national and economic growth, as well as providing significant employment opportunities (Koh et al., 2007; Sharma, 2009; Eyaa et al., 2010). As mentioned, the global economic environment creates uncertainty in the business atmosphere, which produces the necessity for companies to consider rebuilding and restructuring to develop their techniques to maintain the business and returns, and to remain competitive in the market (Zailani et al., 2012). Nowadays, with the rapid global economy, SMEs have become a key source of energy, innovation, and flexibility in growing and developing nations, as well as to the economies of the more industrialized countries. According to Chin et al. (2012), since the SMEs are becoming the main expansion force in many countries, more focus can be detected to enhance Malaysian SMEs by implementing SCI techniques. The needs, logistics fulfilment, operating necessities, and financial potentials of SME manufacturers are vastly different from first-tier manufacturers. In addition, the implementation of IT in SMEs in South-East Asia is relatively limited. Management of SMEs needs precision, speed, and effective decision making to deal with complex dynamic processes as well as merciless uncertainty from external order and factors (Huin et al., 2002).\n3. SCMs and their importance: The point of SCM is of course the SC, which signifies a group of businesses that are included, all the way through the upstream and downstream processes, in the various operations plus activities that create value in the form of goods and services at the disposal of the final purchaser (Stadtler and Kilger, 2005). SCM practices contain particular activities performed throughout the business and integrated along with its trading partners, both suppliers and buyers, to enhance the successful management of a SC (Koh et al., 2007; Li et al., 2009; Spens and Wisner, 2009). Therefore, most of the literature related to SCM expresses SCM procedures from many different aspects with the typical purpose of, in general, increasing organizational performance (Li et al., 2006). Thus, investigating the factors that influence the partners' performance is considered an efficacious method to ensure successful relationships and integration strategies (Stefanovic et al., 2009).\n4. Methodology: A survey questionnaire was developed for this study to determine the factors that significantly affect the performance of SC network members. The factors have been summarized from previous literature in the domain of SC practices and performance management. The author identified 23 factors (Table I) that have relationships with SCMs (supplying, manufacturing, inventory, distribution, and information flow). The objective of the survey is to investigate the existing implementation and the extent to which these operational factors are considered essential in the initiatives for SCM implementation. The questionnaire was pre-tested numerous times to guarantee that the phrasing, layout, and sequencing of questions were appropriate and understood. Experts from both academia and industry were consulted through personal interview to conduct content validation aimed at ensuring that the content was well presented and capable of obtaining the desired measurement. The comments and feedback from these experts were taken into account to revise the questionnaire. To limit the scope of the research, the participants preferred for the study comprised top management, such as SC, inventory, production and purchasing managers. In this survey, for every SCM, the participants were required to choose factors they deemed to be significant for SC performance in each area from a collection of 23 factors provided within the survey questionnaire. The author considered that it is necessary to determine the concept of effective factors from people who have knowledge and working experience in a real manufacturing climate. The SMEs of the automotive industry in Malaysia were selected as the sample of our research since it has also been a significant manufacturing sector in the economic growth of Malaysia over the last few years. Therefore, automotive manufacturers need to improve the performance of their operation and logistic processes in order to satisfy customers and increase profitability. To achieve these aims, automotive firms have found SCM to be an effective strategy to enhance their performance and continue improving; hence, understanding the factors that influence each member of the SC will generate a more agile SC performance and competitive advantage, besides supporting decision makers in understanding the challenges of business.\n5. Results and discussion: A total of 238 companies with manufacturing sites were selected. Of these, 160 companies received the survey by e-mail, 62 companies by mail and the others were given the survey personally. Responses were received from 87 companies, constituting a response rate of 37 per cent; 57 were completed and constituted usable replies. This is much greater than the minimum recommended rate of 20 per cent for empirical studies in production and operations, and even surpasses the 24 per cent which is considered acceptable (Malhotra and Grover, 1998). In addition, the overall respondents were deemed representative of the automotive SME industries. In order to ensure understanding and appropriate responses, the questions were designed especially for the automotive sector. The reasoning behind the study is to observe the existing practices and the degree to which these operational factors are considered to be necessary in formulating SCM strategies.\n6. Conclusion: SCM is the most significant method for competitiveness and development of industries in internationally incorporated economics. An effective SC must be well harmonized and attentive to fulfilling the current international challenges. To become harmonized and proactive, companies need to recognize the factors that radically allow the responsiveness and harmonization of that company. Additionally, these factors must be structured to determine the elements that are prerequisite to success and which assist in the prosperity of others. This study aims to present SMEs' top management's beliefs for the selected factors.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to give a clear picture of the evidence for small and medium enterprises of what the key factors are affecting the performance of supply chain members (SCMs) and their impact.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a survey of small and medium automotive enterprises. After a comprehensive search of the literature on effective factors requirements of supply chain actors (supplier, manufacturer, inventory, distribution, and information flow) 23 factors were identified, and collected data were analysed using SPSS software.\nFindings: The results show that among the 23 factors, the inventory level is the most significant factor for inventory with the highest percentage (91 per cent). This is followed by productivity to fill the order (88 per cent) and lead time of manufacturing (86 per cent) for manufacturer, and transportation flexibility (84 per cent) for distribution section.\nResearch limitations/implications: Study limitation was that only the companies related to automotive sector were selected, and the number of usable questionnaires was fairly small.\nPractical implications: The results can help further by introducing a much better perception of effective factors that result in optimizing the practices of supply chain management techniques in order to enhance business performance. The findings also help build a new initiative to be performed by top management when attempting to strengthen partnership and integration among members.\nOriginality/value: This research draws from institutional theory to contribute to the growing body of practical field and conceptual literature on supply chain integration and provides knowledge in assisting small- and medium-sized enterprises to clarify factors that affect SCMs in order to enhance and manage their operational processes.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Logics and rationalisations underpinning entrepreneurial decision-making
|
[
"Entrepreneur",
"Intuition",
"Rationality",
"Decision-making",
"Rationalisation",
"Effectuation",
"Logic"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The 2008 Global Financial Crisis had negative implications for many large and small firms. In large firms, decision-making is often diffused and shared while the decision-makers often need to take account of a wide array of conflicting interests. Are the small firms' owners dealing with similar situations? The aim of this paper is to explore entrepreneurial decision-making in a time of crisis - at a critical incident. In order to do this, theories are examined explaining entrepreneurial decision-making processes, and specifically those dealing with rational vs intuitive approaches and the \"logic\" of entrepreneurial decisions. In particular, we focus on Sarasvathy's (2001a) distinction between causation and effectuation. Her research shows that when faced with a myriad of uncertainties entrepreneurs tend to employ an effectuation logic to the extent that it is possible to influence future events, such that there is no need to predict them (Sarasvathy, 2007; Andersson, 2011). However, as Miller (2007) acknowledges, this is done in a dynamic social context. Through interviews with seven entrepreneurs operating in Leicester in the UK we develop a typology that allows us to explore how these entrepreneurs make decisions, the logic they use and the support mechanisms they draw upon to reduce the risk of failure. In developing this typology of logic that entrepreneurs use, this study builds upon Sarasvathy's and Miller's works, illustrating how the decision-making process emerges from the wider social context. The main contribution this paper makes is the insight into how entrepreneurs make decisions during critical events and what role their support network plays in solving problems. The next section of the paper defines the various decision-making approaches and discusses the theory underpinning this research.\n2. Rationality and intuition in decision-making: The classical view of decision-making suggests that the decision-maker passes through a series of stages before a decision is reached. These stages include defining the problem, clarifying the objectives and alternatives, and then assessing the risks of different alternatives (Hammond et al., 1999). Essentially, this view explains decision-making as a rational process, where the actions of the decision-maker are structured in relation to the end goal (Mannheim, 1935). Underpinning this way of thinking is an assumption that individuals are in control of their world and by collecting relevant information they are able to predict the outcomes of their decisions (Cunningham et al., 2002).\n3. Research method: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with seven expert entrepreneurs who were operating successful businesses in the manufacturing through to marketing sectors. A purposive sampling technique was employed as expert entrepreneurs who have experienced and overcome a crisis are rare. The Business Link in Leicester was approached and subsequently provided the contact details of 20 expert entrepreneurs who fitted the criteria of managing a crisis within their own business and acting as mentors to local enterprises dealing with a crisis. Of these, seven agreed to participate in the study, corresponding to 35 per cent of available respondents. Adopting Glaser and Strauss (1967), theoretical saturation was achieved with just seven case studies, as the last few cases gave very similar responses as to how the expert entrepreneurs were dealing with specific critical events within their business. Table AI provides the demographics of the participants and their firms. The interviews were conducted in the summer of 2008, just at the start of the Global Financial Crisis. The purpose of the interview with the business founder/owner was to elicit information about their business and the role they played within the business on a day-to-day basis, as well as the basis for their business. Interviewees were questioned about how they thought they made decisions and where they drew information from to help them make decisions, as well as how as mentors they were advising other businesses to prepare for and deal with the consequences of crises. Through this process of questioning the focus turned to a critical incident they experienced in the life of their business and the businesses they were advising.\n4. Key findings and case study illustrations: The decision-making process and the logic underpinning those decisions were explored by controlling the interviews around a particular critical incident pertinent to the survival of the entrepreneurial venture. Where entrepreneurs draw information from to help them make decisions was also explored. Table II shows the examples of critical incidents identified by entrepreneurs as those that challenged their thinking, and made them make decisions within their organisation. It can be seen that some of the more critical problems were those that are generically faced by any business, for example: a fire in the factory, which had an unprecedented effect on the firm's ability to deliver on schedule; the loss of key customers, which created a lack of financial resources within the business and put the business in a severe financial situation; and problems with market entry for a newly developed business, as the industry it sought to enter had high barriers to entry that were not apparent based on the research undertaken.\n5. Discussion: The purpose of the study was to examine the emerging approaches entrepreneurs take to decision-making in the context of a critical incident. To achieve this, research on decision-making was examined, particularly that of Sarasvathy (2001a), where she distinguishes between causation and effectuation and argues that effectual logic defines entrepreneurial decision-making. In other words, she argues that amongst expert entrepreneurs it is an intuitive logic that predominates in decision-making. However, recently there have been criticisms of this approach by Arend et al. (2015) and Miller (2007), in particular arguing that entrepreneurs cannot be isolated when exploring decision-making, as the social context in which they operate must be taken into account. A typology is developed here, categorising the logic of entrepreneurial decision-making based on effectual or causal logic as well as from where entrepreneurs draw information - internally or externally. The types are:\n6. Conclusion: The decisions entrepreneurs make can shape and define their business, as well as their own destiny. An understanding of how entrepreneurs make decisions - what information they draw upon, what support systems they use and the logic of their decision-making and rationalisation - can help to structure the support they need. The research carried out by the major authors in the field informed by Sarasvathy (2001a, b), and lately by Maine et al. (2015) and Francioni et al. (2015), tends to rely on the individualistic approaches to decision-making, and examines the expert entrepreneurs as if they are isolated, rather than embedded within the social context. Might this be due to the more individualistic behaviour amongst the respondents within their studies? Such biases could be explored in future research.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the logics that expert entrepreneurs use when faced with a critical incident threat.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Attempts have been made to define \"entrepreneurial logic\". This paper is influenced by Sarasvathy's work on high-performance entrepreneurs, which finds that when faced with uncertainty entrepreneurs employ unconventional logic, and encompasses later research acknowledging social contexts where entrepreneurs operate. A typology of decision-making logics is developed, taking into account the situation of crisis. Seven expert entrepreneurs who faced crisis and, despite this, are still successfully operating businesses were interviewed. The paper develops a critical incidents methodology.\nFindings: Experienced entrepreneurs were found to tend towards causal logic when \"the stakes were high\" and the decision may affect the survival of their business. They also weigh up options before acting and tend to seek advice from trusted \"others\" within their network before or after they have made a decision. A mixture of causal and intuitive logic is evident in decisions dealing with internal business problems.\nResearch limitations/implications: The decisions that entrepreneurs make shape and define their business and their ability to recover from crisis. If researchers can develop an understanding of how entrepreneurs make decisions - what information they draw upon, what support systems they use and the logic of their decision-making and rationalisation - then this can be used to help structure support.\nOriginality/value: By exploring decision-making through critical incidents we offer an innovative way to understand context-rich, first-hand experiences and behaviours of entrepreneurs around a focal point.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Effect of B2B advertising on firm's market value: CSR as a strategic complement
|
[
"CSR",
"Firm performance",
"B2B advertising",
"Complementary strategy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The traditional view that advertising has limited effect in industrial marketing owing to the rational decision-making by organizational buyers has been challenged recently from both managerial practices and academic perspectives. As demonstrated in the shift of major B2B advertising budgets from traditional print ads in trade journals to interactive media and techniques that previously used to be linked solely with consumer advertising, we have witnessed dramatic changes in the B2B ads placement strategy of advertising practitioners (Gilliland and Johnston, 1997; Outsell Inc, 2017). For instance, roughly two in three B2B marketers in the USA now buy and sell advertising programmatically, according to Dun and Bradstreet's (2016) business report. A recent survey by Omobono, which interviewed 115 marketing specialists in B2B roles, found that social media was rated by 79 per cent professionals as the most effective marketing channel, with 38 per cent noting that they would like to spend on social media if given extra budget (Omobono, 2014).\n2. Theoretical background and hypotheses development: 2.1 Advertising in the B2B context\n3. Research methods: 3.1 Data collection\n4. Data analysis and results: Table III presents summary statistics of focal and control variables for the sample firms. The mean (median) of TQ is 2.44 (1.92) with inter-quartile range of 1.37-2.89. The mean (median) CSR and INTCSR are -0.10 (-0.02) and -0.16 (-0.17), respectively, indicating that firms have more concerns than strengths in their overall and internal CSR performance. The mean (median) of advertising expenditure is 2.4 per cent (0.8 per cent) of revenue with inter-quartile range of 0.3-2.3 per cent, indicating the distribution is skewed to the right. Cash flow from operations is 9.5 per cent (10.3 per cent) of the total assets, and earnings are 2.0 per cent (5.0 per cent) of the total assets.\n5. Discussion and conclusion: To respond to the concerned calls for quantifying the advertising effect on meaningful firm levels (Peterson and Jeong, 2010), this study empirically examines the B2B advertising effect on firm value and whether/how such effectiveness can be enhanced by CSR activities. It is worth mentioning that while there might exist other mechanisms that can explain the phenomenon that is brought to light in the current research, we try to elaborate on this new theoretical angle to examine the strategic complement role of CSR to B2B advertising on firm performance; hence, the investigation is focused on the interaction effect of advertising and CSR. We show that advertising is effective in increasing firm value in the B2B context with a wide range of industries. On average, the standard deviation increase in the advertising expenses scaled by sales is associated with 0.371 increase in the Tobin's Q. The size of the advertising effect (4.77) in our model is within the middle range of estimated advertising coefficients (-5.98 to 9.5) that specified in the meta-analysis by Conchar et al. (2005).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to examine the B2B advertising effect on firm's market value and whether/how its effectiveness can be enhanced with corporate social responsibility (CSR) strengths.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors propose that CSR can be a strategic complement to advertising and reinforce the latter's positive effect on a firm's performance in two logics: signaling mechanism and defensive mechanism. Using the Kinder, Lydenberg, and Domini database and final data obtained from Compustat, the authors applied fixed effect regression analysis to test the interaction effect of advertising expense and CSR strengths on firms' market performance as operationalized in Tobin's Q.\nFindings: The result confirms that CSR moderates the B2B advertising effect on a firm's market value. More importantly, the authors find that internal CSR activities that are closely related to a firm's core business, compared to external CSR activities, more significantly enhance the advertising effectiveness on a firm's market value.\nPractical implications: This research provides guidelines for B2B firms to better prioritize resource allocation to CSR practices for achieving a better financial outcome.\nOriginality/value: The current study on the joint effect of advertising and CSR has important theoretical and managerial implications, given both tools are commonly used by most B2B firms but not necessarily integrated into one corporate marketing strategy.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Do organisations have a mission for mapping processes?
|
[
"Business strategy",
"Business objectives",
"BPM",
"Business processes",
"Process mapping systems"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The facility to map processes in organisations has gained credibility and has improved significantly in the twenty-first century. This has been made possible in two ways; first, by using computer software visually to display charts, data, and the interplay of actions/people and the relevant levels of authority/responsibilities; and second, through the widespread accessibility of process maps across organisations, via internet/intranet and mobile connectivity.\n2. Literature review: The preliminary stage of this research was to review the literature to gain an understanding of the business environment under scrutiny. Whilst there is much commercial information available, based on promotional activity from the various software providers, it was important for this research to be framed on stronger theoretical foundations. The areas of research inquiry focussed on topics including: BPM, business evaluation in IT systems, evaluation of innovation, value stream/process mapping, process management.\n3. Methodology: This is intended to be an exploratory project, based on empirical research. Following initial interest in the topic a research plan was discussed with a PMS software company to act as a gateway to respondent organisations. A selection of client organisations were chosen to provide a range of industries/sectors to be included in the research at this developing stage. The ten organisations interviewed covered the following sectors: agriculture commodity trading, banking, construction, engineering, engineering services, local authorities, logistics, and software development. The sample chosen is wide-ranging so as to offer a broad insight, without the dominance of industry traits from any one specific sector.\n4. Results: The data were gathered from process management project managers, from a varied range of industries from eight business sectors, based on a series of semi-structured interviews. These were used to guide the discussion in which the data were gathered - to develop an understanding of the context of the interviewee's project environment; and to gather the data required to test the research propositions. The results identify a range of responses relating to the varied business operations, however the sample is not sufficient to give statistically significant sector analysis.\n5. Discussion: The discussion provides an analysis of the results and triangulation to the literature following the sequence of the four key areas of the investigation. Then the managerial implications are discussed. Following that the limitations of the research are considered, and point the direction to the future areas of research in the exploration and development in this area of process management.\n6. Conclusion: This research has attempted to understand the conditions in which organisations implement a PMS system. It adds to the knowledge in this area of organisational management that has had little scrutiny in the academic literature, addressing the deficiency reported by Roeser and Kern (2015). Therefore it adds to the understanding, and points towards aspects where this significant business development needs greater exploration.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is twofold: to identify and explore the reasons why organisations decide to use process mapping software (PMS) facilities in support of business process management (BPM); and to determine the objectives set by senior management for its introduction, and understand extent to which organisations achieve expected benefits.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper uses an exploratory research design and investigates the elements of organisations' objectives, implementation and evaluation of using PMS. The research data were collected through semi-structured interviews with business managers responsible for the implementation of PMS. The respondent organisations were selected from a range of industries who were using the same software.\nFindings: The results of the research show that organisations do set objectives for using PMS, relevant to a wide range of business, operational and strategic objectives, dependant on the needs of the organisation. Additionally, the results show that some gain further advantages post-implementation, based on their PMS experience. Regarding explicit evaluation of their investment, organisations attempt this to a very limited extent; whilst recognising a broad a range of \"softer\" benefits.\nResearch limitations/implications: This exploratory research has been conducted on a small range of organisations, all using the same software, therefore the results cannot be clearly generalizable. The research suggests organisations are making effective decisions regarding adopting PMS, further research on the evaluating its benefits could support better decision-making in the future.\nPractical implications: The practical implications of this research are for decision-makers in organisations recognising and understanding the strategic/operational benefits that could be achieved by implementing a software system for BPM.\nOriginality/value: Whilst the use of process mapping of organisation's operations is widespread the benefits achieved by organisations are only partially understood. Knowledge of the strategic impact of BPM is limited, as reported by numerous researchers. This research attempts to explore the context of organisations using such software, and point towards further approaches to its investigation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Serials use in post graduates' dissertations of pharmaceutical sciences: collection building by citation analysis
|
[
"Collection development",
"Citation analysis",
"Journals-pharmacy",
"Journals-selection",
"Collection building"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Pharmacy is an interdisciplinary subject in medical sciences. Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines pharmacy as an art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharmacy).The faculties and the students in pharmacy colleges need a variety of information resources for their research and academic activities. They mainly use resources such as monographs/books, journals, theses or dissertations, patents and societies or organization Web sites concerned with their discipline. The print and online journal resources have been deemed as the main tools to boost research and academic excellence. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy prepared a core list of journals for libraries that serve schools and colleges of pharmacy. This list has approximately 300 journal titles pertaining to pharmacy field. Libraries supporting pharmacy programs will need to acquire materials selectively in the areas of chemistry, physiology, pharmacology and medical therapeutics (Flannery, 2001). The study (Gorraiz and Schloegl, 2008) on bibliometric analysis of pharmacology and pharmacy journals reveals that in 2005, Scopus covered top 100 Journal Citation Report (JCR) pharmacy journals, and the impact factor was higher for 82 and the immediacy index greater for 78 journals. A study of citation analysis of selected clinical pharmacology journals by Thompson (1991) reveals that the premier primary literature journal of clinical pharmacology was Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, whereas the premier review journal was Clinical Pharmacokinetics. During 2012, Keogh studied the characteristics of the most used resources by the graduate students in the College of Pharmacy, and she identified the core list of frequently used titles - both journals and monographs.\nCitation analysis: Citation analysis is one of the methods to identify the key journals to be subscribed to in a particular subject. Garfield (1972) narrated that citation analysis can be used as a tool in journal evaluation. Gross and Gross (1927) stated that a collection development policy can be evaluated by citation analysis. They conducted a citation analysis study for eight years and concluded that many journals were cited only once or infrequently in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Thomson and Carr (1987) said that the users' requirements could be identified by the analysis of the scientific literature usage of students, teachers and researchers. Nisonger (2007) summarized ten methods for creating lists of core journals and discussed the applications of core lists. LaBonte (2005) stated that citation analysis is a practical tool to evaluate how a library is meeting the needs of local users. According to Dickinson et al. (2009), citation analysis can be applied to select and deselect materials, as it provides insights into the materials that are selected by various user groups. Knowlton et al. (2014) stated that collection development is related to the earlier discussion of faculty as selectors. There are many factors that could affect the citation frequency. According to Garfield, citation frequency is a function of many variables such as author's reputation, subject's controversy, circulation, availability and extent of library holdings, reprint dissemination, coverage of secondary services, priority in the allocation of research funds and others. The validity of citation data as a tool for collection development in this era of cost-cutting was discussed by Line and Broadus (Line, 1985a, 1985b; Broadus, 1985). Hoffmann and Doucette (2012) systematically reviewed the citation analysis methodologies for collection management. The documents of Gordon and Breach case against Henry H. Barschall's studies (http://barschall.stanford.edu.pitt.idm.oclc.org) and publishers present the issues surrounding applications of citation analysis. Smith (1981) thoroughly reviewed citation analysis in his paper \"Citation Analysis\" and concluded that no research method is without bias, so citation analysis should be supplemented by methods testing the same variables but having different methodological weaknesses. In bibliometric analysis, usually researchers use the Bradford's law of scattering to obtain the core list of journals in a specific subject. Bradford's law of scattering is one of the three important bibliometric laws and is often considered the best model or example of scientific research that is available within Library and Information Science (Hjorland and Nicolaisen, 2005). The other two bibliometric laws are Zips's law and Lotka's law. The Bradford's law states that documents on a given \"subject\" are distributed (scattered) according to a certain mathematical function, so that growth in papers on a subject requires a growth in the number of journals/information sources. The numbers of the groups of journals to produce nearly equal numbers of articles is roughly in proportion to 1: n: n2 [...], where n is called the Bradford multiplier (Rao, 1998). A number of studies were carried out on application of the Brarford's law in different disciplines - Sengupta (1973) in biochemistry, Lawani (1973) in agriculture, Nweke (1991) in Zoology, Behrens and Luksch (2006) in crystallography, Sudhier (2010) in physics and Singh and Beb (2014) in social sciences.\nData analysis and result: It was observed that pharmacy PG students used five types of information resources: books/monographs, journal articles, theses/dissertations, patents and Web sites. Out of these, journal articles were cited more (67.23 per cent), followed by books/monographs (20.08 per cent). The percentage of URLs or Web address cited in the dissertations was 10.63 per cent. Among 665 Web site addresses, there were 275 Web addresses linked to commercial intent (.com), and 274 Web addresses associated to organizations (.org). Students cited 28 government Web addresses (.gov), followed by 25 network technologies Web site addresses (.net). There were a fewer number (eight) of Web citations pertaining to academic and education (.ac and .edu). Other than these categories, 55 Web addresses were classified as miscellaneous. In the top ten titles of books and monographs cited, eight titles were written by foreign authors. The remaining two titles, \"Indian Pharmacopoeia\" and \"Essentials of Medical Pharmacology\", were considered as Indian books. A small number of patents were cited (1.26 per cent), and the least number in the category of resources cited was theses/dissertations with 0.0047 per cent. The results of the types of resources used in the citations of dissertations are shown in Table I. The top ten ranked titles of books/monographs are included in Table II.\nDiscussion: In this study, we observed that journal articles were cited more in the pharmacy PG dissertations. Journals play an important role in the scholarly communication among the scientific community. They provide established scientific data and boost the researcher to create new ideas or thoughts. Schafner (1994) studied the role of journals in scientific and scholarly communities and the impact of new technology on these journals. Nowadays, because of the advent of the Internet, scientific online journal articles reach the research community in a wider and faster way. The flexibility and efficiency of communicating via the Internet has made it feasible to experiment with a variety of different models of peer review (Solomaon, 2007). Therefore, it is expected that journal articles will be cited more in the theses and dissertations. It is found that Web addresses of commercial intent and organizations have been cited more in the dissertations. Probably, these might be cited from the Web sites of commercial journals, drug research and manufacturing companies. Generally, organizations' Web sites are maintained by the government or public funds and are classified as non-profit type. They provide accurate and reliable data to the researchers. As a result, students might have accessed these Web sites and cited them in their dissertations. The authenticity of the Web sites cited in the PG dissertations has not been checked in the present study. In the books/monographs category of resources, eight titles have been cited with more than 25 number of citations, and these titles can be considered as good reference materials for any pharmacy libraries. Brown (2006) and Bonger and Giovenale (2012), in their articles, highlighted good reference materials useful for pharmacy libraries, and some titles listed in their articles have been positioned in the present rank list of books/monographs.\nConclusion: The study shows that there is a massive impact of consortia and open-access articles in the citations of PG dissertations. It is obvious that users cite the available in-house resources more than the non-subscribed resources. More analysis is required to make a decision for cancellation of print subscription. Librarians should take care while selecting the journals for the working institutions. The HELINET consortium can purchase some non-subscribed journals listed in the first zone as well as unique in the Keogh's core list of journals. Any library or consortia can use the Google Scholar's h-index, JCRs and SJR list for selection of journals. Libraries should periodically conduct the user studies to identify their needs and perform more user orientation programs, which enhance the usage of print and consortia journals.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to analyze the resources used in the citations of 156 postgraduate dissertations submitted to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) through the Acharya\nDesign/methodology/approach: Citations of PG dissertations during 2010-2013 (four years) were compiled, the data about the resources cited in each were taken and the list of resources used in PG dissertations was prepared. The list of core journals obtained by citation analysis was matched with the list of online journals provided by Health Science Library\nFindings: The study gives the list of different information resources cited in the pharmacy dissertations. The core list obtained by applying the Bradford's law of scattering in this study has 19 journals pertaining to pharmacy. After matching the core list with the Keogh's list, it is found that 31 journals can be considered very useful in the field of pharmacy. Twelve journals listed in the core list have different positions in the SJR ranking 2013. The results indicate that open-access journals with online journals subscribed through HELINET and print holdings have been cited more in the PG dissertations.\nOriginality/value: The topic of journal use in this case may be of greatest interest to those who purchase journals in the sciences and, very specifically, the pharmaceutical sciences.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Domains of Living and key demographics: Their impact on luxury consumption behavior of affluent Qataris
|
[
"Affluent Muslim consumers",
"Domains of Living",
"Key demographics",
"Luxury consumption behaviour"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: There is a paucity of research related to affluent Muslim consumers and their LCB. Studies of luxury consumption have been mostly restricted to non-Islamic markets (O'Cass et al., 2013; Timperio et al., 2016). Islamic luxury markets are growing into sizes that cannot be ignored by marketers (Tsalikis and Lassar, 2009). According to Jafari (2012) and Sandikci (2011), such an omission may result in misplaced stereotypes and social misunderstandings that may not be representative of the Islamic market reality. However, recent studies by Al-Mutawa et al. (2014) and Nwankwo and O'Cass have begun to explore Muslim consumption behaviors. Hence, it was considered appropriate to undertake this research by looking into the LCB of rich Muslims from personal, social and demographic perspectives that outlined their behavioral profile. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine the impact of three Domains of Living (DoL) on LCB of rich Qataris in the affluent Qatari market. In particular, perceptions and attitudes of Qatari consumers toward luxury consumption, social relations, spiritual relations and community relations (all parts of DoL) were assessed. The research was ring fenced by taking the key demographic analyses approach. The basic idea was to study the consumer population by segmenting it into different groups. This afforded the segment-level evaluation of the target population and highlighted the luxury consumption behavioral differences among rich Muslims.\n2. Aim of the study: Siala (2013) and Ger (2013) have reported on the tension between western-directed global and local markets consumption values. This raised an important question related to how relevant and workable these imported marketing strategies are in motivating affluent Muslims to buy luxury products. Assuming that western or global marketing strategies for luxury products would work in all markets is an over-simplified view (Lim et al., 2012; Walley et al., 2013). This standardized marketing approach overlooks the uniqueness and complexities of a consumer behavior that may be embedded in local norms of religiosity, lifestyle, social standing and group affiliations (Hung et al., 2007; Sandikci and Ekici, 2009). Hence, within this frame of thought, an area worthy of further research is LCB of rich Muslims within the social, cultural and personal contexts. Consequently, the study of the luxury consumption behavior of affluent Muslims is relevant and timely. Substantial hike in Qatari disposable income has resulted in consumption behavior and lifestyle changes (Sobh et al., 2012). Because of this economic boom, Qatari luxury goods market is thriving (Alserhan et al., 2014). Affluent Qatari Muslims have access to high disposable income that puts them in a favorable position to indulge in luxury consumption (Sobh and Belk, 2011). However, they are also driven by the Islamic ideology (or code of life) that instructs them to take a balanced approach to consumption (Al-Mutawa, 2013; Riquelme et al., 2011). So, where do the affluent Muslim luxury consumers stand? The research endeavors to find an answer to this question. Muslims, in general, are becoming more aware of religious and social associations with consumption (Swimberghe et al., 2009). After analyzing the LCB of Iranian Muslims, as a part of future research, Teimourpour and Hanzaee (2014) suggested key demographic evaluation of affluent Muslim consumers within affluent Islamic markets. In line with this suggestion, gender, income, age and education were used to analyze LCB of rich Qatari Muslims at the sub-group level.\n3. Literature review: Key demographics and DoL\n4. Research framework: Research model and hypotheses\n5. Research methodology: A questionnaire-based survey was utilized to get insights into the LCB of affluent Muslim consumers and how these insights related to key demographics and DoL. All the measures were extracted from the existing literature (see Table I). The questionnaire was divided into two parts. The first part contained key demographics variables. The second part consisted of multi-item measures which were evaluated by the respondents on a five-point Likert scale (1=totally disagree; 5=totally agree).\n6. Results: Reliability and validity\n7. Discussion: Demographic characteristics and LCB\n8. Practical implications: According to Alserhan and Alserhan (2012), the social, cultural and Islamic context of the market needs to be taken into account when targeting Muslim consumers. Interestingly, the research points toward a hybrid approach where fusion of global trends with Islamic, cultural and social values may be an appropriate way into rich Islamic markets. This study has generated a number of practical implications for marketers of luxury goods and services who are targeting the affluent Qatari consumers. First, when targeting the affluent Qatari consumers, the marketers need to understand the interests of different demographics groups (e.g. different ages, genders, different education levels and different income levels). Depending on demographic variations, marketers need to strategize their marketing efforts accordingly. Second, for the marketers who are offering health products or premium services (e.g. luxury holiday packages) they should focus more on the elderly (aged 40+) customers as opposed to younger (aged below 40) customers. Aged 40+ customers are more interested in healthy living and exuberant lifestyle. Third, for marketers of luxury products or services that contribute to consumers' physical appearance, health and personal hygiene or grooming, they should focus more on females than males. Fourth, the power of globalization (largely westernization of markets) and localization (based on cultural, social and religious forces) cannot be under estimated (Gupta, 2011). Among the affluent Qatari consumers, western luxury goods and services are accepted and demanded. However, middle ground needs to be established where suitable mix of globalization and localization (i.e. glocalization) is adopted to engage rich Muslims toward luxury consumption. Fifth, the element of flamboyancy in highlighting luxury status in Muslim consumer communication strategies (especially in advertising) should be toned-down. Even though Islamic markets are changing, still excessive exhibitionism is considered socially and culturally inappropriate. Instead, in customer communications, marketers should concentrate on values of simplicity, modesty and physical qualities (which may include durability, style and features). Sixth, luxury marketers should realize that Qatari market is a blend of DoL and not a monolith. Luxury marketing strategists should take into careful account different psychographics and lifestyles when communicating with Qatari luxury consumers (Mukherjee et al., 2012). In particular, Qatari luxury market represents a dominant young consumer population. Marketers should focus on the luxury consumption behavior of this growing segment. Insights into the different aspects of DoL (for instance, looking into social referencing, hedonic tendencies, self-projection and peer group affects) should be helpful in targeting young Qatari consumers.\n9. Conclusions: In this study, we found LCB differences among the respondents in terms of their DoL, their age, their gender, their income and their formal education. This indicated that for affluent Qataris, luxury consumption has becoming a norm and is considered as a socially acceptable practice. Interestingly, while most previous studies (Ahuvia, 2002, 2008) reported outcomes of lower life satisfaction or unhappiness from luxury consumption, this does not seem to be the case for the affluent Qatari society. Simultaneous indulgence in luxury and social activities (e.g. time with family and friends, giving to charity, supporting welfare causes, etc.) gives Qatari consumers a sense of life balance which enables them to feel positive about materialistic consumption (Bahl and Milne, 2010; Ahuvia, 2005; Tian and Belk, 2005). It seems that Qatari Muslims are treading a fine line between social values, religious obligations and luxury indulgence (Alserhan and Alserhan, 2012; Teimourpour and Hanzaee, 2014).\n10. Limitations and future research: First, this research is limited to Qatari Muslims in the Qatari market. Care should be taken in generalizing the findings to other affluent Islamic markets. The scales used in the operationalization of the research framework were borrowed from other studies. Even though all the used scales met reliability and validity criteria, there is still a risk that they may contain inherent shortcomings such as minor multicollinearity effects when measuring a complex phenomenon, such as consumer behavior within a new and a different market environment (Zaltman et al., 1982). Non-native speakers of English language may not have been able to fully comprehend all the questions asked by the bi-lingual researchers.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of key demographics (i.e. gender, age, education and income) on the rich Muslim consumers' Domains of Living (DoL). DoL were broken down into being, belonging and becoming domains. Relationship between the DoL and luxury consumption behavior (LCB) was analyzed as well. Being domain included elements that indicated who one is and how one defines the self; belonging domain linked an individual to his/her environment; and becoming domain referred to the set of social activities that an individual performed.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to get insights into the LCB of affluent Muslim consumers and how these insights related to key demographics and DoL. The researched population was Qatari consumers who were buying luxury products and belonged to a high-income bracket. Stratified sampling method was considered appropriate because the key objective of the study was to generalize the results across the affluent Qatari population. Stratification of the population was primarily done through the selected demographic variables. This research survey, conducted in Qatar, resulted in the collection of 213 usable questionnaires. General Linear Model Multivariate Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to establish the goodness of fit and to test the proposed hypotheses.\nFindings: Results indicated that there were significant LCB differences between the genders, age groups, income levels and educational background. Furthermore, there was a significant association between the three DOLs and LCB. There were indications that for affluent Qatari Muslims, consumption of luxury products had become a socially accepted norm. Fulfillment of luxury needs did not isolate rich Muslims from their family and friends or made them unhappy about luxury consumption. This behavior could be related to high levels of affluence among Qataris that makes acquisition of luxury products easy and not effort or time intensive.\nPractical implications: Islamic luxury markets need to adopt an appropriate balance of global (considering global luxury trends) and local (based on cultural, social and religious forces) marketing strategies to engage rich Muslim consumers.\nOriginality/value: This paper presents LCB from the perspective of affluent Muslim consumers within the context of DoL and through the lens of key demographic variables.\n",
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Dimensions of Indian culture, core cultural values and marketing implications: An analysis
|
[
"National cultures",
"India",
"Social value",
"Marketing strategy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Consumption decisions made in the market cannot be viewed as an independent event - these are closely related with values and social relationship and cultural allegiance. According to past research, national culture has considerable influence on consumer behavior (Jaishankar, 1998). National culture of any country, as outer stimuli, influence on the diffusion of products across countries (Kumar et al., 1998). With globalization, culture becomes predominantly important strategic issue in market that has to be faced and properly managed. People of each country possess a distinct \"national character\" (Clark, 1990). Countries are a source of a considerable amount of common mental programming of their citizens (Hofstede, 1991). Core values of any country shape its national culture. As culture varies country to country, a close insight about country-specific culture and core values is almost essential for a smooth sailing in any country market. For brand marketing, cultural dimensions play a vital role to formulate imagery about the brand and help marketer to communicate better. In this backdrop, an attempt has been made in this paper to discuss overall fundamental dimensions of Indian culture and core values with the help of a verbal model. The model has further been examined with the help of empirical marketing evidences from Indian market with an objective to help marketers to address those cultural and value dimensions at the time of their brand marketing in India.\nLiterature review: role of culture and values in consumer marketing: From anthropological point of view, there are two schools of thoughts behind evolution of culture. Half century ago two leading anthropologists, Kroeber and Kluckhohn (1952), identified 161 formal definitions of culture. Further, in 1871, Tylor define culture as \"that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man (sic) as a member of society\". Boas popularized \"culture\" as a result of group's responses to environmental conditions and their specific historical development (George, 1974). Old school of thoughts describes features of culture as: bounded small scale entity; defined characteristics; unchanging; shared meanings, identical. So, old school of thought describes \"a culture\" with \"a people with some specific characteristics\", which may be defined within a specific boundary. New school of thoughts describes features of \"culture\" as an active process of meaning making and contestation over definition, including of itself and in its hegemonic form, culture appears coherent, systematic and consensual like an object, beyond human agency (Wright, 1998).Hofstede (2001) refers to culture as \"the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another\". Culture refers to a set of values, ideas, artifacts and other meaningful symbols that help individuals to communicate, interpret and evaluate as members of society. It is a normally homogeneous system of collectively shared meanings, way of life and common set of values shared by a member of society. Culture comprises the shared values, assumptions, understandings and goals that are learned from one generation, imposed by the current generation, and passed on to succeeding generations (Deresky, 2003). It governs how we wish to be treated and how we treat others; how we communicate, negotiate process information and make decisions (Scarborough, 2000). The present article is based on the view that cultural values are principle determinants to how people see themselves and others, and how they treat each other. Our values shape our attitudes and beliefs about work, success, wealth, authority, equity, competition and many other such components of the content and context of the work environment. In the nutshell, culture is learned by the members of the society and it is also shared simultaneously. Culture is fundamental base of a society. It has a long-lasting influence on behavior of its people.Due to rapid globalization, though we are fast absorbing concept of \"no-border\" world, yet cultural factors moderate many aspects of consumer's buying behavior. There is a growing interest in cultural differences of countries and understanding the cultural context of consumer behavior in a globalized marketplace (Maheswaran and Sharon, 2000). The consumption of market-made commodities and desire-inducing market symbols is central to consumer culture and yet the perpetuation and reproduction of this system is largely dependent upon the exercise of free personal choice in the private sphere of everyday life (Holt, 2002). It also conceptualized an interconnected system of commercially produced images, text and objects that groups use to make their collective sense of environments and to orient their members' experience lives (Kozinets and Handelman, 2004).In the market place, it is almost true that consumer's perception of a product's attributes is based upon its abilities to satisfy needs on which culture and values have a great impact. The relationship between culture and values manifesting themselves through consumption of products is well-documented, with material goods being important to individuals due to their ability to carry and communicate cultural meaning (Askegaard and Kjeldgaard, 2002). Over the time values, beliefs and practices of a society are shared by all of its people and these influence individual decision-making. In this context, marketers must gain unique dimensions of consumer culture to finalize their strategies relating to segmentation, position and marketing mix.\nVerbal model of cultural and value dimensions of Indian consumers: India, as a country, is so heterogeneous in nature that it is complex for a marketer to identify common threads of Indian culture and core values. There are many different sub-cultures coexist in Indian society with their own distinctive values, norms, beliefs and behaviors. So, In India, people are socialized by getting input from their cultures and core values.Culture can be conceptualized as dynamic production and reproduction of meaning by concrete individuals' activities in particular contexts (Kashima, 2000). It ensures a set of behaviour patterns transmitted symbolically through language and other means to the member of a particular society (Wallendorf and Reilly, 1983). Culture generally refers to those aspects of human activities that are symbolic and meaningful and identifiable. Bartlett (1923) defined culture as a part of two components: firstly, cultural elements which denote material behaviour and objects and secondly, cultural materials that cover forms of cultural practices, artifacts, social and religious rituals, customs. According to Blackwell et al. (2007), culture has two fundamental components: Abstract and Material. In terms of abstract components, one may consider values, attitudes, ideas, type of personalities, symbols, rituals and summary constructs like politics and religion. Material component represents visible cultural objects which represent the society as a whole. Thompson and Rayner (1998) expressed his view about culture in a two-by-two matrix. In this model four competing worldviews were presented. These are combined with models of cultural solidarity and social organization. These two are based upon particular myths of nature and prescriptive in nature. In this model, the axes represent degrees of social regulation or equality (grid) and social contact or competition (group). Four cells present four different views. These are: individualists, egalitarians, hierarchists and fatalists. It also talked about fifth group- autonomous hermits. Members of the group are indifferent in nature. According to McCracken (1986), process of culture describes the movement of members of the cultural group through three layers. As per the model, cultural meaning is present in three locations: in the social and physical environment, in products and services and in individual consumers. He further emphasized \"culture\" as: Lens: Through which the individual views phenomena; Blueprint: It denotes human activity and determine the co-ordinates of social action and productive activity.Hawkins et al. (2006) propagates that the main operational regime of culture starts by earmarking stated boundaries for individual behavior and by guiding the functioning of such institutions as the family and mass media. In a societal setup these boundaries are termed as norms. Further, norms are derived from cultural values. In the same line with McCracken (1986), cultural values are classified into three categories: other, environment, and self. Firstly, Other-oriented values tell about a society's viewpoint about the appropriate relationships between individuals and groups within that society. Individual/collective, extended/limited family, competitive/cooperative, diversity/uniformity, masculine/feminine and youth/age are some of the relevant values of this nature. Secondly, Environment-oriented values depict a society's associations with its economic, technical, and physical environments. Factors under consideration of environment values are cleanliness, performance/status, tradition/change, risk taking/security, problem solving/fatalistic and nature. Thirdly, Self-oriented values frame the objectives and approaches to life that individual members of society aspire for. These include active/passive, material/nonmaterial, hard work/leisure, postponed gratification/immediate gratification, sensual gratification/ abstinence and religious/secular. Based on the discussion raised by eminent scholars, in this section, we propose a verbal model of cultural and value dimensions of Indian consumers (see Figure 1). The model talks about two dimensions: Culture and Value. Cultural dimension consists four categories: Languages, Symbols and Signs, Rituals and Customs and Traditions. Values dimension consists six categories: Individual and Family, Society through Conformity, Success and Growth, Age and Youthfulness, Happiness and Adaptability and Religion and Spirituality. In this next section we have discussed the categories in detail and further address those from application point of view by citing examples of existing marketing practices.Cultural dimension of Indian consumers\nValue dimensions of Indian society: analysis and marketing implications: In this section, we discuss core value dimensions of Indian Consumer. As consumer behavior is an outcome of interaction between culture and values, to get success in Indian market, marketers should well-decode these dimensions of Indian consumers.Individual and family\nConclusion: From the above discussion we may conclude that deep-rooted cultural diversity and values of a country make it difficult for a marketer to opt for a standardized strategy to outperform competition. It has been found that even after tremendous exposure to globalization, consumers from different cultures have different attitudes, perceptions, tastes, preferences and values, and remain reluctant to purchase foreign products (Suh and Kwon, 2002). As brands have become the focal point of many a company's marketing efforts and are seen as a source of market power, competitive leverage and higher returns (Dawar, 2004), the relationship between consumers and brands is a multifaceted construct to capture the richness of fabric from which brand relationships arise Fournier (1998). As a result of consumer acculturation to the country of origin, consumers respond in a manner that is consistent with their culture's norms and values (Zhang and Neelankavil, 1997). Further, there are some codes and beliefs that stretch across countries while there are others that are culture-specific (Langlois and Schlegelmilch, 1990). Brands with a strong local character, such as motorcycle maker Bajaj in India or Tsing Tao beer in China, play on the potential identification between the brand and consumers. These brands position themselves as sons of the soil who understand local consumers (Cayla and Eckhardt, 2007). A right identification of country-specific cultural and value dimensions and proper consideration of the same in brand marketing play a pivotal role in ensuring success in the highly competitive market scenario. Inputs about Indian culture and value dimensions can be of immense use to brand managers to strategies their marketing road map to minimize chances of erroneous decision-making. A table summarizing the aspects that have to be considered at the time of building brands in India may be proposed to facilitate useful marketing decisions to penetrate in Indian market (see Table I). We may conclude that right management of Indian culture enables organization to ensure competitive edge and it minimizes chances of erroneous decision-making decrease. At the time of starting its journey in a new country like India, the best approach a firm can adopt is to accept major issues involved with culture and values.Opens in a new window.Figure 1\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Behavior of a consumer largely depends on interplay between inner self and outer stimuli. Consumption decisions made in the market cannot be viewed as an independent event - it is closely related with values and social relationship and cultural allegiance. With globalization, culture becomes predominantly important strategic issue in market that has to be faced and properly managed. But, in different settings, management of cultural diversity could be seen as a threat, or an opportunity. As culture and values vary country to country, a close insight about country-specific culture and core values is almost essential for a smooth sailing in any market. The purpose of this paper is to discuss overall fundamental dimensions of Indian culture and core values and resultant marketing implications.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The major task is to identify specific culture and core values at the time of marketing in a cross-cultural setup. In this backdrop, an attempt has been made in this paper to discuss overall fundamental dimensions of Indian culture and core values with the help of a verbal model. The model has further been examined with the help of empirical marketing evidences from Indian market with an objective to help marketers to address those cultural and value dimensions at the time of their brand marketing in India.\nFindings: - Inputs about Indian culture and value dimensions can be of immense use to brand managers to strategies their marketing road map to minimize chances of erroneous decision-making. A table summarizing the aspects that have to be considered at the time of building brands in India has been proposed to facilitate useful marketing decisions to penetrate the Indian market. At the time of starting its journey in a new country like India, the best approach a firm can adopt is to accept major issues involved with culture and values.\nPractical implications: - The verbal model about core culture and values of India, and proposed strategic roadmap, facilitate marketers to devise more accurate marketing strategies for India.\nOriginality/value: - This paper presents a country-specific approach that may be useful to marketers busy with consumer marketing in India. A verbal model of \"Culture and Value Dimensions of Indian consumer\" is of immense help in charting marketing strategies to win over Indian consumers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Regional difference analyzing and prediction model building for Chinese wine consumers' sensory preference
|
[
"Wine",
"China",
"Sensory attributes",
"Regional difference",
"Predicting model"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Wine is one of the most popular and frequently consumed alcoholic beverages in the world (Hosu et al., 2014); owing to globalization and progressive economic growth, wine consumption in China has surged in recent years. According to the latest report from International Organization of Vine and Wine, China has become the fifth biggest wine consumption country of the world. However, China has experienced a recent decline, which also caused a slight decrease in world wine consumption in 2018 (OIV, 2019). Due to per-capita wine consumption of 1.5 liters in 2018, which is far less than Portugal (58.8 liters) and France (50.7 liters), China still lags farther behind the western countries (OIV, 2018). Hence, it can be inferred that there is a huge potential increasing space for China's wine market.\n2. Literature review: Factors influencing wine consumers' behavior can be divided into intrinsic and extrinsic types. Extrinsic factors of wine mainly consist of country of origin, promotion, packaging and so on, whereas the intrinsic factors interrelated with wine itself consist of sensory indexes such as color, sweetness and aroma (Charters and Pettigrew, 2007; Escudero et al., 2007; Mueller et al., 2010). Charters and Pettigrew (2007) took the factors of pleasure, appearance, gustatory, paradigmatic and potential into consideration as intrinsic dimensions when conducted research about wine quality. According to them, intrinsic dimensions, covering a much larger category, were perceived to have more overall importance than the extrinsic dimensions. Not coincidentally, the findings of Agnoli et al. (2016) showed that frequent wine consumption behavior is more driven by intrinsic than extrinsic cues. Lesschaeve et al. (2012) explored consumers' preference by conducting sensory profiles of selected wines, from the aroma and flavor point of view. Niimi et al. (2017) studied the influence of mouthfeel on consumers' wine liking and examined their knowledge of wine body, thereby concluding that wine body was understood by consumers as a holistic multi-sensory perception of flavor. Plenty of works have focused on attributes used for wine characterizing. A study conducted in 2012 found that the Chinese and Australian consumers' response differed a lot from each other when characterizing the sensory attributes of a set of international red wine (Williamson et al., 2012). The labels used for attributes on a sensory descriptive analysis will vary from study to study (Francis and Williamson, 2015). One of the challenges we faced is the vacancy of definitions and concerning attributes' reference standard.\n3. Materials and methods: 3.1 Survey design\n4. Descriptive result on consumers' sensory preference: 4.1 Wine consumers' sensory attribute preferences\n5. Predicting model for consumers' sensory preference: In this paper, the kh2 analysis is used to explore the influence of consumers' demographic information, dietary preferences and purchasing behavior attributes on the sensory attributes of wine. Then, we select the factors related to sensory attribute preference as predictive variables. A prediction model of wine consumers' sensory preferences is constructed and tested, which is related to the multivariate disorder logistic regression algorithm.\n6. Discussions and conclusions: In this study, we sought to explore the issues of sensory preferences of Chinese wine consumers. From the findings of the nationwide survey conducted by us, it is observed that Chinese wine consumers prefer red and still wines. The connotation of \"good fortune\" associated with the red color, which represents joy and warmth in Chinese traditional culture, possibly encourages consumers' preference for red wine. This concurs with the previous belief that traditional Chinese culture influences consumer preference (Somogyi et al., 2011) to some extent. With the preference percentage of 14.6 percent for sparkling wine, sparkling producers and sellers have a long way to go to promote sparkling wine consumption among Chinese consumers. The aromas of moderate, mellow and floral fruity wines were more popular with consumers in terms of the aroma properties of the wine. As for sweetness attribute, dry red is the most popular wine in China. Wine with a refreshing and soft mouthfeel gains affection and has a large space for future development. The majority of Chinese wine consumers prefer wine with a sweet flavor compared to acidy and astringent ones, which would verify the previous conclusion that astringency and acidity are always a negative driver for many consumers (Peleg et al., 1998; Lattey et al., 2010).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide further insight into Chinese wine consumers' preference, grasp the regional sensory preference differences of China and build up a predictive model for wine consumers' sensory preferences.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study involved 3,421 Chinese wine consumers in the survey. Classified statistics were conducted to excavate regional differences of wine consumers' sensory preferences. By analyzing influencing factors, prediction models for consumers' sensory attribute preferences were constructed on the basis of multivariate disorder logistic regression method.\nFindings: Empirical research showed that the wine with the following sensory attributes was the most preferred by Chinese consumers: dry red, refreshing and soft taste, still type, moderate aroma degree and mellow aroma, and sweet wine was also popular. Consumers' preference varied from region to region. The proposed predicting method of the study realized more than 70 percent accuracy when conducting prediction for color, sweetness, aroma type and flavor preferences.\nSocial implications: By shedding light on the latest sensory attribute preferences of Chinese wine consumers, this study will help wine industry participants conduct market segmentation based on the diversification of consumers' preferences. The wine enterprises can gain guidance from the results to conduct market positioning, adjust strategies and provide specific production for target wine consumers.\nOriginality/value: Based on the actual situation of Chinese wine market, this study defines sensory attribute indexes of wine from the perspective of wine consumers and presents the most recent comprehensive research on the sensory preferences of Chinese wine consumers through a nationwide survey.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The interplay of management response and individual power in digital service environments from a bystander's perspective
|
[
"Complaint handling",
"Digital service platforms",
"Bystanders",
"Management response",
"Power"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In the digital age, consumer-empowering technologies have greatly facilitated the dissemination of negative consumer reviews. For instance, musician Dave Carroll posted a YouTube video called \"United Breaks Guitars\" to complain that United Airlines refused to compensate him after company baggage handlers damaged his expensive guitar. The video was shared by 150,000 viewers on the day it was posted (Deighton and Kornfeld, 2010) and has received over 19 million views to date. Without an appropriate response from a retailer or service provider, a complaint about poor service can pose a considerable threat to a company, because complaint messages on any digital platform have the potential to \"go viral,\" quickly attracting the attention of a vast number of \"silent bystanders\" conducting active searches to support decisions (Lee and Song, 2010; Tripp and Gregoire, 2011). Correspondently, digital media has altered the way consumers and companies interact with each other and how consumers engage in these environments. It is thus necessary for researchers to examine and understand consumer behavior in digital environments, especially in digital service channels. With the ever-changing nature of digital media, the literature on the process of how consumers are situated in their communication with companies and with each other is in its nascent stage (Stephen, 2016), calling for deeper exploration. In particular, bystanders, as seemingly passive consumers in digital service environments, are considered to be one of the challenges posed to service managers on digital media platforms, yet their experiences have not been explicitly investigated (Weitzl and Hutzinger, 2017).Previous research suggests that bystanders are prospective consumers who observe a company's responses to customer comments, regardless of whether the comments are favorable or unfavorable, and that these bystanders form their impressions about a company's products and services on the basis of these responses (Li et al., 2018; van Noort and Willemsen, 2012). The term bystander refers to an individual who reviews online content, including a company's promotional/advertising posts, other customers' reviews of the products/services purchased and/or a company's posted responses to the reviews, especially those that are negative/unfavorable (Weitzl and Hutzinger, 2017). The service literature uses the terms \"bystander,\" \"potential customer,\" \"prospective customer\" and \"other customer\" interchangeably to describe users who are regarded as silent (i.e. not posting comments) but who are actively observing online service interactions in the course of their product information searches (Dens et al., 2015; Lee and Song, 2010).Indeed, as a virtual presence, bystanders play an essential part in online consumer complaint management, and their experiences with digital retail services should not be neglected (Weitzl and Hutzinger, 2017). While the recent service literature has primarily focused on the influence of complaint handling or service-recovery strategies on complainants who post complaints across digital channels (Proserpio and Zervas, 2017; van Noort et al., 2015), research on the bystander group is finally emerging, though it is still limited. Given the distinct characteristics of communication in digital media such as Internet communication (e.g. synchronous presence of multiple bystanders) (Hennig-Thurau et al., 2004), we argue that understanding the complexities and effectiveness of service recovery from the bystander's perspective in a digital media context is crucial to researchers and marketers. Specifically, this study focuses on the retail website as one of the most critical service channels in contemporary digital business practices (Wu, 2019).Management response exerts a powerful influence on brand evaluations for both complainants and bystanders in a company's digital effort to address customers' negative feedback (Li et al., 2018; van Noort and Willemsen, 2012; Weitzl and Hutzinger, 2017). Generally, the public nature of management response on digital platforms gives rise to positive reactions to a company on the part of bystanders. Many bystanders consider online management responses to be credible (Breitsohl et al., 2010), and thus a company's public apologies have a positive effect on bystanders' purchase intentions (Kim et al., 2016). Further, the content of management responses can influence bystanders' behavioral intentions. For instance, a company that responds to complaints regarding product failure by delivering a sincere apology will increase a bystander's intention to purchase. Management responses that offer an explanation for their product's failure also have a positive impact on bystander purchasing behavior when online complaints are merely negative (Lee and Song, 2010; Li et al., 2018). Drawing on two fundamental dimensions of social perception (Cuddy et al., 2008), this study focuses on two types of service recovery strategies: warmth- and competence-related responses. In the context of service recovery, a warmth-related response emphasizes the friendliness and kindness of a company in service interactions, while a competence-related response emphasizes a company's efficiency and knowledge of its products and services (Kirmani et al., 2017).However, a comprehensive understanding of bystanders is still lacking. To the best of our knowledge, no empirical research exists that explores the individual characteristics of bystanders; the role of individual differences in their information processing of online service recoveries remains unknown. Thus, this study focuses on bystander power. Power is defined as an individual's sense of control over valuable resources such as information and knowledge (Fiske and Berdahl, 2007). Research shows that an individual's diagnosticity of information is affected by his/her level of power (e.g. having or lacking power) (Dubois et al., 2016; Feldman and Lynch, 1988). Bystanders have their own sense of control over the information that is available in a digital environment, and such power can influence the way they process management responses. Accordingly, this study proposes that power may play an important role in determining the degree to which bystanders use available information to evaluate online service interactions. Power as a psychological state can arise from various sources, such as differences in social roles (Anderson and Galinsky, 2006) or socioeconomic status (Dubois et al., 2015). Moreover, when bystanders process management responses on digital service platforms, they can develop a sense of power, thereby influencing their decision-making (Darley et al., 2010; Li et al., 2017).By using the agentic-communal model of power (Rucker and Galinsky, 2016) and the concept of power compensation (Rucker and Galinsky, 2008), we aim to fill a void in the service literature by investigating how management responses and bystanders' individual differences work together to shape bystanders' perceptions of complaint handling which in turn affect their attitudes and behavioral intentions toward a company. Specifically, we first investigate how two types of management responses impact bystanders' perceptions of service recovery based on their power levels (Study 1). We particularly consider bystanders' individual differences in power as a potential moderator and investigate whether their perceptions of management responses vary according to their power levels. Further, we describe a research framework for bystanders' processing of management responses by examining the serial dynamics among contextual factors, individual variables and information processing (Study 2).Consequently, this study contributes to the emerging body of research in service marketing and management by exploring recovery strategies in digital service channels from the unique perspective of the bystander. Our results demonstrate that, during information processing, bystanders--as potential consumers--not only rely on negative comments for critical assessment of products and services but also assign a great deal of significance to a company's reactions to such comments. In addition, the findings of this study shed some light on the interactive effect of management response and individual power. That is, warmth and competence have a different influence on bystanders' perceptions and attitudes toward service interactions depending on their power levels. Furthermore, this investigation has managerial implications, as it informs service providers and retailers of better ways to interact with complainants on digital platforms in order to obtain positive reactions from a large population of bystanders. Inevitably, consumers' co-presence (i.e. being in the company of others) within and/or across a digital service channel or channels enables bystanders to exert a strong potential influence on service performance (Colm et al., 2017); our study demonstrates that management responses align with individual preferences to help retailers transform an observed service-failure situation into a positive service communication as perceived by bystanders. In making this connection, we provide a set of service guidelines to help marketers identify and utilize more appropriate complaint-handling strategies that positively impact prospective consumers exposed to service conversations on digital platforms.\nConceptual background and hypotheses: Warmth and competence in management responses\nPretests: stimuli development: Pretest 1\nStudy 1: the interactive effect of management response and individual power: Research design and participants\nStudy 2: the underlying processing framework: Research design and participants\nDiscussion: As digital technology has become capable of performing various tasks over humans for retailers such as sales (e.g. making recommendations, completing transaction) and customer services (e.g. chatbot for service communication and complaint handling), a key issue is to understand how different consumers perceive and experience such tasks performed by technology in digital environments. This study addresses this question by exploring bystanders' perceptions of service recoveries in an ecommerce environment. Specifically, we study how management response (warmth and competence) in service recovery and power as an individual characteristic have varying impacts on bystanders' experiences with service recovery management in digital environments.The results of Study 1 suggest that power moderates the effect of management response on bystanders' perceptions of service recoveries in a digital service context. That is, for high-power bystanders, responses reflecting warmth increase service perceptions (perceived diagnosticity and perceived fairness) as compared to competence-related responses. For low-power bystanders, competence-related responses enhance service perceptions as compared to warmth-related responses. The moderating role of power in the effect of management response on bystanders' information processing can be explained by both the agentic-communal model of power (Rucker and Galinsky, 2016) and the concept of power compensation (Rucker and Galinsky, 2008, 2009). This study suggests that power may work differently in digital interactions. Specifically, in the case of a negative event (e.g. a service failure), reactive power compensation is triggered, replacing the traditional power effect. When bystanders perceive that the balance of power between a customer and a firm has been disrupted during a service failure encounter, they will work to maintain or restore the balance of power by engaging in compensatory information processing actions. Such power compensation occurs when low-power bystanders attempt to correct--through the acquisition of competence-related management responses--a perception of a power imbalance that has been reinforced by service failures. When observing the service failures of other customers, bystanders tend to become other-focused. Having power may therefore enhance a bystander's other-oriented goal, leading to further other-oriented behavior (Rucker et al., 2012)--in this case, favoring warmth-related management responses.Moreover, Study 2 confirms the interactive effect of management response and individual power that is examined in Study 1 and explores the serial-mediation roles of service perceptions through bystanders' information processing of service recoveries. As anticipated, the results suggest that satisfaction with complaint handling and WOM intentions are enhanced in the low-power condition, which is explained by higher perceived diagnosticity and higher perceived fairness. In the high-power condition, satisfaction with complaint handling and WOM intentions deteriorate, due to lower perceived diagnosticity and higher perceived fairness. This study also finds a direct path from management response to satisfaction with complaint handling and WOM intentions for both low power (negative effect) and high power (positive effect) groups. We therefore speculate that in digital channels the aversive effect of power is better captured when service perceptions are activated through bystanders' information processing.Theoretical contributions\nLimitations and future research: While the current research has yielded results that agree with existing literature to a significant extent, its limitations provide routes for future studies. First, this study was conducted in a controlled experimental setting using manipulated management response types. However, in real-life settings, bystanders are likely to experience intertwined conversations regarding a single failure. To better understand the complexity and dynamics of service interactions in digital media, future research could derive data from actual online sites (e.g. Facebook) to identify the content-oriented characteristics of consumer complaints and management responses. Further studies may investigate the joint effects of consumer complaints and management responses on bystanders' information processing of online service recoveries. In addition, the role of bystanders (e.g. a company's current customers vs first-time visitors) may prove helpful in evaluating customer reviews and responses and information processing, inviting further research.The levels of bystanders' power can be studied in various ways. This study examines power at an abstract level with the use of a priming task to manipulate high versus low power in bystanders rather than testing it in a context-specific manner. Empirical evidence has supported the conclusion that the effects of primed power are the same as those of experientially manipulated power (Bargh, 1997). However, it is worthwhile to examine power in a manner specific to the digital service context, namely, with reference to bystanders' expertise or prior experience in assessing customer reviews, both positive and negative, and a firm's responses. Those with high expertise are likely to feel more power in their information processing while those with low expertise will tend to feel less power. Likewise, other aspects that serve as indexes of power (e.g. social roles, product knowledge) can be instrumental as individual difference variables to further explore the power dynamics in the information processing of service recoveries.Moreover, the moderating role of power was examined in the context of a negative event, where it showed an aversive effect on bystanders' processing of service recoveries. This study did not, however, consider the power effect in the context of a positive event, such as a positive consumer review. According to Dubois et al. (2016), it is possible that the original agentic-communal model of power would apply to positive service encounters, meaning that high-power bystanders are likely to favor competence in management responses to positive reviews, while low-power bystanders are likely to favor warmth. Accordingly, future studies could consider the positive or negative leaning of service encounters as another important variable.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to investigate bystanders' perceptions and reactions to management responses to consumer complaints through digital service channels. Specific purposes are to examine how management response (i.e. warmth, competence) and individual differences (i.e. bystander power) work together to influence bystanders' information processing of service recovery.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This research consists of two main studies which employed web-based experiments. Both studies used a 2 (management response: warmth vs competence) x 2 (individual power: low vs high) between-subjects design. A total of 240 participants were recruited from Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform in Study 1, and 233 participants were recruited from a market research company in Study 2.\nFindings: Study 1 suggested that for the high-power group, warmth-related responses increased service perceptions (perceived diagnosticity and perceived fairness), and for low-power group, competence-related responses enhanced service perceptions. Study 2 confirmed the results of Study 1 and further demonstrated bystanders' service perceptions as the underlying mechanisms to connect the interactive effect of management response and individual power on satisfaction with complaint handling and WOM intentions.\nPractical implications: The current research demonstrates how companies can effectively manage customers' experiences (i.e. bystanders' experiences) with service recovery management on digital platforms by demonstrating effective management responses to consumer complaints through digital service channels.\nOriginality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that explores bystanders' individual characteristics related to the information processing of service recovery through digital service channels.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The role of relationship marketing investments in customer reciprocity
|
[
"Consumer behavior",
"Gratitude",
"Favorable reciprocal behaviors",
"Relational benefits",
"Relationship marketing investments"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Relationship marketing is a marketing paradigm (Beetles and Harris, 2010; Gronroos, 1994) in which the significance of developing and sustaining long-lasting customer relationships has become a norm in the marketing literature (Hennig-Thurau et al., 2002). Relationship marketing refers to the process by which a firm develops and maintains enduring customer relationships (Morgan and Hunt, 1994) to retain profitable customers via continuing relational exchanges (Sheth, 1996). The concept of relationship marketing implicitly represents ongoing reciprocity with selected valued customers. The reciprocity principle focuses on returning favors to individuals who give us benefits (Morales, 2005). With regard to selective customers, this principle involves treating valued customers preferentially. Relationship marketing stems from the view that a service provider cultivates relationships with regular customers by offering customized and differential benefits (Vargo and Lusch, 2004), which drives sustainable marketing relationships (Lacey et al., 2007).\nLiterature review: Relational benefits\nMethodology: Operationalization of constructs\nResults: Testing for reliability, validity and measurement and structural models\nDiscussion and conclusion: Theoretical and managerial implications\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to, building on the concept of relational benefits, relationship marketing investments, gratitude, satisfaction and favorable reciprocal behaviors, examine the mechanism of cultivating relationships with valued customers at an upscale restaurant.\nDesign/methodology/approach: To capture the traits of the population (upscale restaurant customers who perceive relationship marketing investments by experiencing relational benefits), upscale restaurant customers with membership cards were contacted in the survey. Structural equation modeling was used to test measurement and structural models.\nFindings: Empirical findings indicated that confidence and social benefits positively contributed to relationship marketing investments, whereas special treatment benefits were not significantly related to relationship marketing investments. In turn, relationship marketing investments positively affected both gratitude and satisfaction; relationship marketing investments were also more associated with gratitude than satisfaction. Gratitude positively evoked favorable reciprocal behaviors; however, satisfaction did not trigger favorable reciprocal behaviors.\nOriginality/value: The integration of relationship marketing investments and gratitude into the conceptual model would allow the current findings to generate rich theoretical and practical implications that the extant hospitality literature has not elucidated.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Enterprise development in a diversified metropolis: the case of Beijing
|
[
"Diversification",
"Business development",
"China"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The progress of urbanization in China has recently received a lot of attention and positive comments. Stiglitz, one of the three winners of the 2001 Noble Prize in economic science takes the urbanization in China and high technology in America as the two major key factors which have been affecting the course of the human history in the twenty-first century. He also considers that the urbanization in China, as the driving force of the regional economic growth, will produce the most important economic benefits. Meanwhile in an urban system, the diversification of a city, especially in a metropolitan region, plays a more and more remarkable role in economic growth. And as a reflection of the importance of cities, more attention conceptually and empirically has been paid to an important feature of a metropolis, diversification of cities. But prior studies paid more attention to the effect the diversified industries bring on economic growth and employment increase than the direct effect on enterprises development. So the purpose of the paper is to investigate the relationship of the diversified industrial environment and urban industrial enterprises development in order to contribute to the literature of urban diversity research. We first review the academic debate on the effect of urban diversity, from an industrial enterprises development perspective. We then conceptualize the relationship between intra- and inter-industrial diversities and urban industrial enterprises. The conceptual model is tested and the results are discussed.\nLiterature review: The conception of diversification can date back to the time of Marshall (1920). To explain the increased return to scale, Marshall used a concept of externality, and he argued that economic return is gained by three means:1. labour pools;2. sharing input factors; and3. knowledge spillovers.Marshall's thought of diversification evolved from product diversification, to labour diversification and intermediate goods diversification, and he regarded technological innovations and renovations of products as significant elements for the sustained development of enterprises. Marshall's thoughts of diversification, however, concerned more about diversification of intra-industry intermediate goods or in a single industry. The first theory which points out that the diversification of a city plays an important role in the development of urban industries is that of Jacobs (1969). In contrary to Marshall's view on the specialized city, Jacobs's theory emphasizes the importance of diversification rather than specialization to the city growth, for it produces much more outcomes by means of interchange of different ideas. Her theory not only refers to the scale of cities, but also the variety of employment, and she used many cases to show that diversified cities could bring about cross effects on technology, innovations and growth[1]. Jacobs also contended that knowledge spillovers are related to diversification of enterprises in a region. The industrial variety will promote innovations, because in diversified cities, it is accessible to make individuals, who have different background and tastes, to exchange views and ideas, and thus to produce new thoughts, skills and processes. Marshall explained the source of local economic growth by the three means, which hint about the positive effect of diversification of knowledge, labour and input factors on economic growth. Jacobs considers that more advantageous conditions for the birth of new ideas are provided by a diversified city, where it is convenient to exchange thoughts from different fields and beneficial to the birth of new ideas and innovations. The model of new economic geography brings diversification into the utility function. The increased return to scale of the economic growth is explained by the diversified preference of the consumer's demand and supply of intermediate inputs. It shows a deep understanding of diversification and makes that into a model and quantitative analysis. Based on the three thoughts above, researches investigate the existence and effect on economic growth of product diversification in cities from the standpoints, such as the mode of effect of externality and specialized products, the effect on city growth of new product development (by novel innovations or improvement in quality of existing products), reduction of transaction cost in cities, demand of product variety in each phases of an enterprise's life cycle and so on.There are some discussions about the development of diversification. From the viewpoint of city management, extant studies consider the development of diversification to be more capable of resisting risks of asymmetric demand shocks during the process of city growth. The local industrial variety can really reduce the rate of urban unemployment, and promote economic growth. Frenken et al. (2005) even divide diversification into related one and unrelated one, and argue that related diversification is the main cause that allows the city to enjoy the benefit of urbanization economy and knowledge spillovers, and promote the economic growth. Meanwhile, unrelated diversification allows the city to avoid the shock of demand and reduction of employment. In the field of new economic growth theory, it is argued that existing endogenous growth theory (the thinking of Arrow-Romer and Uzawa-Lucas) neither address the essence of economic growth nor reflect Adam Smiths' thinking of division of labour. On the basis of this argument, two new strands of research emerge: one is the evolutionary model of product diversification of Dixit-Stigliz, Romer; and the other is the division of labour-based evolutionary model of Young.Despite many views on the mode of diversification, each view about the effect of product variety shares a common logic, that is, in a diversified environment, firms benefit from the access to specialized services and products and therefore are willing to specialize and diversify production, and diversified production in turn encourages exchanges of knowledge and information that lead to innovations and growth.\nEmpirical studies: There are many empirical studies available with respect to research on the implications of a diversified city for economic and employment growth, on comparison of diversification with specialization, and on verification of its importance on the growing process of an enterprise. For example, in 1973 20 industries in US metropolitan areas were analyzed and it was found that as the size of the city (city-industry and product variety) doubles, productivity increases by 14 to 27 per cent. In 1975 the same topic was researched and an increase of productivity by 6 to 7 per cent was obtained. In research on economics of diversification and specialization of a single industry, in the different developing stage of an industrial, what the effect and relationship of the diversification and specialization on the promotion of industrial development are. In 1988 it was found that in the early stage of industrial development, urbanization is very important in drawing firms to locate in big cities and that localization and specialization become the leading force as industries mature and move to small cities.Also in 1988 it was indicated that a more specialized region will suffer a higher rate of unemployment and that there is a high correlation between the two factors, moreover a diversified region has more capacity to adopt employment than a specialized region. In order to analyze the related advantage between economics of diversification and specialization, Glaeser et al. (1992) investigated the evolutionary patterns of employment in American cities and found the diversification promotes city's growth. This view is in line with Jacobs's, which means product diversification is beneficial to increase of productivity. They also found that it is the local intra-industrial competition and product diversification, rather than industrial specialization, that have driven the growth of industrial employment. Evidence also shows that the important knowledge spillover comes from inter-industry rather than intra-industry. In 1996 the production process of American engineering manufacture industries at the three digits level was analyzed. And the result indicates that local employment variety has significant positive effect on the production of new products, and that specialized production blocks the emergence of new products. Feldman and Audretsch (1999), through analyzing the American trade data, obtained the same conclusion. In 1999 the change of productivity from the engineering industry to the high technological industry in America was investigated and it was found that intra-sector specialization has a positive effect on productivity, and change of employment shows that diversification is an important element to attract innovation action. Frenken et al. (2005) distinguish the sources of diversification into two types, one resulting from knowledge spillovers of Jacobs's externality, and the other from regional protection from outside shock. These two types are measured by related diversification (intra-industrial variety) and unrelated diversification (inter-industrial variety), and they found the positive impact of both on employment growth.\nTwo models on enterprise development: With a panel data of two interval periods (1956, 1987), Glaeser et al. (1992) analyzed the effect of factors on city growth. Suppose that a firm in some industry in a given location has a production function of output given byAtf(lt), where At represents the overall level of technology at time t, and lt is the labour input at time t. Followed by the behaviour of a firm, it sets the labor input to equate the marginal product of labor to its wage: Atf'(lt)=wt. We can rewrite in terms of growth rates as: Equation 1 Since the local technological development is mainly affected by the level of local industrial specialization, the extent of diversification of urban products and of market competition, and the initial conditions, we can obtain an empirical study model as follows: Equation 2 Combined with the Dixit-Stigliz model, the relationship between product diversification and wages, this paper adopts a model as follows, which investigates the effect of product diversification on wages of urban workers by treating the input factors such as labor, the level of technological development, degrees of local industrial specialization, and market competition as control variables: Equation 3 The two models aforementioned show no difference in the conceptual underpinning, with respect to the model structure and variables concerned. Both starts with investigating the effect of product variety on social welfare and then on wages; proceeding from the effect on economic growth to the relationship between product variety and employment. So we can replace the variety of employment by the one of economic growth. As our panel data is from three interval years (1996, 2001 and 2004), like the data structure of Glaeser et al.'s analysis, we first use the quantitative analysis model, which is based on Glaeser et al.'s model, in our followed empirical study.Concerned about many analytical frameworks for investigating the effect of diversification on economic growth, in the field of new economic growth, Jones and Manuelli (1997) summarized and described the model of economic growth which introduces the element of new products (intermediate goods). They summed up the sources of endogenous growth and held that if the rate of economic growth is: Equation 4 then to keep a rapid economic growth, needs g>1, r should be large enough to make sure b{1-d+r} >1.The model assumes the form of production function as below: Equation 5 where:xt(i)=an2t(i) indicate the output of product I.n2t(i) indicates quantity of labor input to produce the product.Then the problem becomes: Equation 6 Equation 7 Concerned about a solution to an easy and concave symmetrical problem, in the equilibrium condition, the rate of economic growth is decided by the equation as below: Equation 8 So the social production function is: Equation 9 It shows that the social output in t period is related with labor input (n), product variety (z), marginal production rate of labor of the intermediate goods (a). And social economic growth rate is connected with social gross products (M), product variety (z), marginal production rate of labor of intermediate goods (a), and marginal consumption elasticity of new products available (b). Glaeser et al.'s model does well in accounting for the impact of location environment on the characteristics and trend of change of enterprise development in two interval periods, and the Jones's model explains the source of change with regards to the development of enterprises and economic growth. Jones's model is useful to explore the current effect of the elements inside the economic system, which provides another model for our empirical study.Sum up, in two period interval enterprises empirical model, the econometric model is: Equation 10 while talking about the urban enterprises model, the empirical model is: Equation 11\nEmpirical analysis: Construction of the data set\nConclusion: We use the enterprise development in Beijing by industry as an example and construct a two-interval-period Glaser model and a three-interval-period panel data model. Through the econometric analysis and empirical study, we obtain the results that are consistent to the academic hypothesis and empirical evidence of prior studies. The city's inter-industrial variety is the important force in promoting enterprise development in each city-industry. Different from our early results that suggest that regional enterprise development is determined by the level of regional development, our results in this study show that enterprise development in Beijing is determined by the extent of intra- and inter-industrial variety and the level of industrial specialization. Relatively speaking, factors such as economic growth (GDP), the level of economy (GDP per worker) and total employment of each industry, the industrial scale and average wages, are not found to be significant in affecting enterprise development. Moreover, the industrial variety is gradually replacing industrial specialization to become the main driving force of enterprise development and economic growth. The research also indicates that in related to inter-industrial knowledge spillovers, the intra-industrial knowledge spillovers is no longer the important force to promote economic growth, which verifies Jacobs's view that knowledge spillovers result from industrial innovation of other sectors.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This study aims to test the relationship between city industrial diversity and enterprises development in an urban region, in order to investigate the effect of diversified urban environment on the development of urban enterprises and its changing trends.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The research adopts a quantitative approach and the data are from a data bank of industrial censuses which contains data of all firms in Beijing for three years. All data concerning diversities were counted.\nFindings: - The main findings of this research are that industrial differences in entrepreneurship activities were mainly related to industrial diversities. Different from the relationship of development of regional enterprises based on the development of regional economy growth, the enterprises development of different industries lies in the intra- and inter-industrial diversities.\nPractical implications: - Intra- and inter-industrial diversities can contribute to entrepreneurship activities in a region. It is therefore argued that one of the effective ways to boost entrepreneurship is to advance the industrial diversities of a region.\nOriginality/value: - The originality of this research is two-fold. A modified conceptual framework is proposed to test the relationship between entrepreneurship and diversified industrial structure; it is the first empirical study concerning regional industrial diversities and enterprises in China.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Social capital, knowledge sharing and organizational performance: What structural relationship do they have in hotels?
|
[
"South Korea",
"Hotels",
"Employees behaviour",
"Social capital",
"Knowledge transfer",
"Knowledge-sharing behaviour",
"Knowledge collecting",
"Knowledge donating",
"Organizational performance",
"Knowledge-sharing enablers-processes-outcomes framework"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: In the resource-based view of a firm (Barney, 1991; Wernerfelt, 1984), knowledge is a valuable organizational resource for the firm's competitiveness (Reid, 2003); it is essential for preserving traditions, learning new techniques, solving problems, creating core competencies, and initiating new situations (Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998). In knowledge management, the organizational value of an individual's knowledge increases when it is shared (Ipe, 2003). Therefore, knowledge sharing (KS) is a key enabler of knowledge management. KS is \"a social interaction culture, involving the exchange of employee knowledge, experiences, and skills through the whole department or organization\" (Lin, 2007, p. 315). Thus, social dynamics among organizational members are central in the KS process.\n2 Theoretical background and hypotheses: 2.1 KS enablers-processes relationship: SC-KS behaviors link\n3 Methodology: 3.1 Measures\n4 Results: 4.1 Measurement model\n5 Discussion and implications: 5.1 Discussion\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate an integrative model that explores the influence of knowledge-sharing enablers (social capital (SC), including structural, relational, and cognitive SC) on knowledge-sharing (KS) processes (KS behaviors: knowledge collecting (KC) and knowledge donating (KD)) as well as a further superior KS outcome (organizational performance).\nDesign/methodology/approach: The survey was administered in 14 top tier five-star hotels in Seoul, Korea. Employees of the hotels participated in the survey; 486 surveys were used to investigate a research model and hypotheses using a path analysis.\nFindings: The research confirmed the importance of SC in the context of KS from the resource-based view. The paper provides empirical evidence that structural, relational, and cognitive SC affected KC and KD, which in turn influenced organizational performance. Interestingly, whereas cognitive SC has the strongest effect on employees' KC, relational SC has the strongest effect on employees' KD. The impact of employees' KC on organizational performance appears to be stronger than that of KD.\nPractical implications: The relationships among KS enablers, processes, and organizational performance may provide a clue regarding how hotels can promote KS culture, which focuses on the social dynamics derived from interpersonal and group relationships to boost their performance by increasing employees' willingness to collect knowledge from and donate knowledge to colleagues.\nOriginality/value: This study explores the under-researched subject of SC with regard to KS and their roles in promoting organizational performance within a hospitality industry context. The study is among the first to examine SC as an organizational resource, two distinctive types of KS behaviors as an organizational capability, and organizational performance from both an integrative (KS enablers-processes-outcomes framework) and resource-based view of the firm's perspective simultaneously. Especially, this study identifies the specific mechanism of two distinctive types of employees' KS behaviors, such as KC and KD, between SC factors and organizational performance.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Diversification and performance in the hotel industry: do board size and family representation matter?
|
[
"Diversification",
"Firm performance",
"Hotel industry",
"Board size",
"Family representation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In the hospitality literature, different types of diversification-product (Yang et al., 2017), segment (Lee et al., 2011; Lee and Jang, 2007), brand (Kang and Lee, 2014; Wang and Chung, 2015), related/unrelated (Park and Jang, 2012), geographical (Kang et al., 2012) and international (Tang and Jang, 2010) - have been investigated in association with firm performance. With the exception of related/unrelated diversification (Zheng and Tsai, 2019), diversification in the hospitality field has been mainly examined as a business-level strategy, which focuses solely on a hotel or restaurant unit, rather than as a corporate-level strategy spanning various industries. Thus, research related to the impact of corporate-level diversification on firm performance in the hospitality industry has been scarce.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Diversification and firm performance\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Models\n4. Results: 4.1 Descriptive statistics\n5. Discussion and conclusion: 5.1 Conclusion\n6. Limitations and future research: This study contains some limitations. The generalizability of the study results is limited because the study sampled only publicly-listed hotel firms in Hong Kong. It will be necessary to conduct similar research on privately-owned firms and with a larger sample size, because the power of family members in terms of decision-making in privately-owned firms may be more dominant than publicly-listed firms and the motivations of diversification may be different, thus potentially leading to different results. Furthermore, this study assessed the effect of the board in terms of board size, which limits the findings to the specific benefits gained by a firm from the addition of new directors and the transfer of useful knowledge and skills from new directors as firms enter new industries. Therefore, for future research, we suggest a qualitative study to explore the interaction among different kinds of board directors in a directorate decision-making process. An in-depth understanding of the processes of information sharing and knowledge and expertise transfer as firms diversify their businesses may contribute much to the field of corporate governance and strategic management. Another direction for future study would be to examine the possible moderating effect of external interdependences on corporate diversification and firm performance by investigating the effect of directorate interlocks which are related to access to external resources.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to empirically examine the relationship between industrial diversification and firm performance and the moderating effects exerted on that relationship by board size and family representation on the board.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Secondary financial data were collected for hotel firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange during the period 2005-2016. Subsequently, a bivariate correlation and a fixed-effects panel regression analysis were performed on the data.\nFindings: The empirical results showed that diversification positively influenced firm performance until firms reached an optimal level of diversification (0.34); beyond that level, the effect was negative. In addition, firms with a larger board tended to show better performance when the level of diversification increased from medium to high, and firms with lower family representation on the board tended to exhibit better performance when the level of diversification increased from low to medium.\nPractical implications: Theoretical and managerial implications are suggested in terms of balancing the size of a firm's board and with regard to family representation on a board from the perspectives of resource dependence theory (RDT) and socioemotional wealth (SEW), the diversification of hotel firms and future research.\nOriginality/value: A limited number of studies have considered diversification as a corporate-level strategy in the hospitality field and in the unique context in which a service-oriented economy is dominant, such as in Hong Kong. The role of board composition on the diversification-performance relation has rarely been investigated theoretically and empirically. Apart from providing managerial implications for corporate governance, this study also offers theoretical generalizability, from the perspectives of RDT and SEW, to examine the moderating roles of board size and family representation on the diversification-firm performance relation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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A comparative study of education for sustainable development in one British university and one Chinese university
|
[
"China",
"UK",
"Education for sustainable development",
"Extra-curriculum activity",
"Formal-education",
"Top-down-bottom up"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: Education for sustainable development (ESD), to put it simply, is used to mean that learning promotes sustainable development. The relationship between education and sustainable development is complex as education appears to be both a promise and a paradox with regards to sustainability. More highly educated people consume more resources and leave deeper ecological footprints than poorly educated people who tend to have lower incomes (McKeown, 2002). ESD, unlike other education movements advocated by people inside the education community, was the initial concern outlined in Chapter 36 of Agenda 21 following the Earth Summit of 1992 (McKeown, 2002). The term \"reorienting education\" in this chapter best describes the challenge to existing education systems to address sustainable development. In this regard, ESD is not just an add-on agenda, rather it is based on the view of universities and schools as agents of change. Meanwhile, ESD provides an opportunity for universities to scrutinize their curriculum, pedagogy, policy as well as organizational change and ethos critically and then to take action accordingly (Sterling, 2004).\n2 Methodology: 2.1 Research approach\n3 Analysis and discussion: This section draws out the most significant points related to ESD from interviews in both universities and summarizes them in three parts: sustainability in the course routes, sustainability in the campus operation and student engagement.\n4 Conclusion: Sustainable development is not just another agenda added on to the current educational institutions, but a drive for transforming education. ESD is transformative education rather than traditional education, that will guide students to study and live in a more sustainable way, and is promoted in both the formal curriculum (teaching and learning) and informal areas (including campus greening and extra-curriculum activities). As a dynamic whole, it comprises students' learning and living experience in the microcosm of a pilot sustainable community. There are many possible ways that ESD can be approached, however, and this research found many differences between the two institutions. Similarly, Feng (2010), investigating ESD master degree courses in universities in England and China, discovered that:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to identify learning points and inspirations from two different approaches by examining how education for sustainable development (ESD) initiatives are delivered in the University of X in the UK and Tongji University in China.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Through comparison of case studies, the pros and cons of each approach are made clear. The paper adopts semi-structured interviewing among staff and group interviewing among students as its main data collection methods. A snowball sampling strategy is employed to select potential interviewees in addition.\nFindings: Learning points are drawn from each institution which could be useful in informing the strategy of other higher education institutions. The main learning points for UoX are: first, engage as many students as possible through linking extra-curriculum activities back to the curriculum and offer opportunities for students to take part in campus operations. Second, a project-oriented approach could be employed to enhance interdisciplinary cooperation. The main learning points for Tongji are: pedagogic changes are required to realize a transformative education and additions of more active learning into the curriculum are needed. Third, policy support is necessary to promote the ESD agenda but only when the top-down approach mixes with a bottom-up approach significant changes will happen.\nPractical implications: ESD is transformative education rather than traditional education. It will guide students to study and live in a more sustainable way, which is promoted in both the formal curriculum and informal areas (including campus greening and extra-curriculum activities) in UoX as a model for developed countries and Tongji as a model for developing countries. As a dynamic whole, both of them comprise students' learning and living experiences in a microcosm of a pilot sustainable community through inter-disciplinary approaches.\nOriginality/value: Little comparative and international research has been done in the field of educational ESD. The research seeks to address the deficiency by comparing the ESD approaches in one British and one Chinese university.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Foodco and the Beachland Market
|
[
"Supermarkets",
"Business analysis",
"Corporate ownership"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Foodco is a large regional supermarket chain in the northeastern United States. Among its operations it runs five stores in Ocean County, which is a popular summer vacation area for the region's urban well to do. Beachland is a small shore town in Ocean County. It has a picturesque central shopping street and wide sandy beaches, making it popular with tourists. It is also renowned for its large estates mixed with more moderately priced dwellings. Beachland has only one supermarket, a store operated by Foodco. The next nearest supermarket is a 20 minute drive away in the town of Seaside. Foodco's top competitor FullBasket operates that store.\n1. Case overview: Foodco is facing a decision as to whether it should close one of its branches or should refurbish it or rebuild it or sell it to a competitor or to local employees in the town.The decision to be made by Foodco is more than an economic decision. The particular store is of economic importance to the town of Beachland. It is the only supermarket in town; closure will adversely affect the economy of the town. Closure of this supermarket would cause this town to lose summer visitors and summer residents to neighboring towns. Tourism is the largest business in town. A reduction would adversely affect other local businesses, reduce property values of real estate in the town, and lead to unemployment of local workers and summer employment of visitors to the town. Such a closure would be unpopular with community leaders and with politicians at the state level, causing adverse impact on Foodco especially since Foodco is controlled by a Swedish entrepreneur rather than a local person or group.The management of Foodco must consider the possible reaction in the town and state if it closes the store. It must also consider the normal economic factors that are described in the case as it makes its decision.Employees of the store need to consider whether or not to try to purchase the store if management decides to close the store. They need to consider how they can get enough capital to purchase the store from Foodco, renovate it, and whether it can provide the income to pay for the cost of capital and costs of operation and to return some profit to the new owners.If Foodco decides to close the store, the community leaders in Beachland need to consider whether they should help the employees of the local store purchase the store and, if so, how they can help keep the store open under local ownership.\n2. Objectives: This case familiarizes students with the need t o consider more than standard economic factors in making a decision on possible closure of a business. The employees are concerned with keeping their jobs. The leaders of the town are concerned with the effect of closure on the economy of the town and with convenience in purchasing food for residents. Management is concerned as to whether the store can be renovated or replaced with a larger store to be of economic benefit to the company and is also concerned as to possible adverse effects of closing a store owned and managed by a chain controlled by foreigners on the position of the chain in the community and in the state.Closing a specific location of a business may cause long term effects on business in a state. If there is extensive opposition to closing a particular store, the state may be pushed to adopt legislation that may adversely affect the attraction of business to the state in the long run in order to benefit current employees and/or a particular town in the short run.Students may also benefit from the economic analysis of a decision whether or not to close a store.\n3. Courses and levels: This case is particularly suited to undergraduate and graduate courses in marketing, social control of business, and strategic management.The strategic management and social control of business courses can best use this case if the instructor will focus both on the economic decision of what to do along with the long term strategic effect of the decision on the company and on the communities involved. The opportunity for students to devise and write policies for the company on possible closing of a store will help students understand the difficulties of writing clear policies for all to understand. Students will also benefit from gaining an understanding of the external environmental factors present in a decision as to whether or not to close a store. Students in marketing courses will learn about the importance of external factors in making marketing decisions as well as learning more about what is needed for success in the supermarket business.It is important to observe that business decisions often involve external environmental factors as well as standard economic factors. Clearly distinguishing these external environmental factors will help students better understand the importance of the role of external environmental factors in making good business decisions both for the short run and the long run future.\n4. Classroom approach: After several iterations of this case, the authors have found that it is often useful to combine some role playing with some lecture on closing a business.Students could be asked to play the role of the Swedish entrepreneur who controls the supermarket chain, a local employee interested in keeping his job and possibly investing in new ownership of the store, a community leader, the landlord of the shopping center, other tenants of the shopping center, customers of the store and the management of the leading competitor of this supermarket. Students will maximize what they learn about closing a business from the case by supplementing their classroom work by consulting the internet for literature on closing and if the case is supplemented by a short lecture by the instructor on the problems of closing a business.\n5. Discussion questions: (1) As a manager of Foodco, outline the economic options of closing the store, refurbishing it, replacing it with a new store, selling it to employees or selling it to a competitor. Clearly, to continue to operate the store without additional investment will not be successful. If management considers keeping the store open, it must invest funds in refurbishing the store at the least or must build a new store if land and zoning conditions permit. Refurbishing the store will incur additional costs beyond the refurbishing as the store may have to be closed while the refurbishing takes place. A new store would be a major investment decision and needs to be tied in with what will happen with other old stores in the area, after analyzing the competition and prospects for long term economic success. Selling the store to employees or to a competitor willing to purchase the store would provide some funds to the supermarket chain. Selling to a competitor would have the disadvantage to the chain of increasing the market share and possible economic efficiency of the competitor which might hurt the supermarket chain in the future.(2) As a manager of Foodco, analyze the external environmental factors of closing the store, refurbishing it, replacing it with a new store or selling it to employees or to a competitor. Closing the store will impact Foodco adversely as town leaders and others in the state will be unhappy with the closing. This might lead to legislation or regulation that could be harmful to Foodco if it decides to close more stores later or may otherwise negatively impact Foodco in its dealings with government agencies or with community leaders in the town or state. For example, the state legislature might increase the benefits that must be paid to workers whenever a company closes a store. Refurbishing the store would apparently have little or any adverse external environmental threats except short term disadvantages if the store has to be closed while refurbishment takes place. Building a new store to replace the present store may have external environmental effects such as problems with zoning land to permit building a larger store, parking and traffic impacts, septic impacts, and possible esthetic problems with permission to build larger buildings in a quaint town. Selling the store to present employees, other investors or even to competitors will have no apparent external environmental impacts.(3) A group of employees is considering purchasing the store from Foodco. What are the pros and cons of such a purchase and how would this group of employees go about making an offer, if it seemed to be possible to gain necessary financing? The group must consider the economic facts involved. Can they raise the funds needed to purchase the store and to refurbish it? Are their other investors in the community such as the owner of the shopping center where the store is located who might provide some of the financing of the purchase and renovation? What are the other employment opportunities of the present employees?Pros\n6. Epilogue: A small group of the senior managers of the store was able to successfully purchase the store from Foodco. They were helped by lease concessions from the landlord and from a low cost loan from a local bank that was offered after community leaders talked with the bank. The store has been refurbished with wider aisles, new refrigeration equipment, and other new fixtures and with new paint. Foodco has helped the new store with a low price for existing fixtures and inventory and has served as a supplier of some items to the store since it has been acquired by the employees. Local government helped the store by granting it a beer and wine license and by helping the store bring in low cost foreign labor to keep labor costs reasonable for the store. The store has so far successfully operated for more than two years after it was purchased by the employee group. Sales of beer and wine have been excellent since the store is well located in the town and it is convenient to purchase beer and wine along with groceries and other supermarket items. The competitor in the next town cannot sell beer and wine as it is a chain store and this is not allowed under the liquor laws of the state.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To provide a case study with instructor's note to help students learn about the problems of possible closure of a business or other alternatives for the specific store from the points of view of management of the company, employees, town leaders and possible buyers of the store.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A large regional supermarket chain in northeastern United States which has European ownership is considering what to do about a small obsolete store in a beachfront community. The supermarket chain could close the store, refurbish it, build a new store, or sell the present store to employees of the store or sell it to competitors. The store is the only supermarket in town. Closure would have adverse economic impacts on the community, which concerns the leadership of the town. Management of the chain needs to consider these options. If management decides to close or sell the store, local employees of the store need to consider whether they should attempt to purchase the store if they can raise the capital needed to buy and refurbish the store.\nFindings: - Students must come up with solutions to the problems posed in the case. The instructor's note provides some possible findings.\nPractical implications: - This case will help prepare students to study such issues as closing a business, sale or other disposition of a business and the role of the community in such decisions.\nOriginality/value: - This paper consists of an original case study based upon an actual experience of one of the authors in a supermarket facing possible sale or closure.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Creating an enterprise-level "green" strategy
|
[
"Corporate strategy",
"Global warming",
"Conservation",
"Recycling"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nWhat is a green strategy?: Over the past decade, concepts that focus on environmental stewardship have emerged, challenged our capacity to be self-aware, and established a common global imperative to respond to critical issues that arise from world-wide climate change and natural resource conservation. Seldom before has the need for large-scale transformation been so clear, yet the necessary actions to take been so difficult to define. \"Global warming\", \"green house gasses\" and an individual's \"carbon footprint\" have become common terms heard on news and science reports on a daily basis. Still, these are not terms that are discussed in most company newsletters, announcements to the investment community, or at shareholder meetings. Enterprises are changing in ways that improve the environment, and that change is accelerating, yet very few companies have established an enterprise-level \"green\" strategy.Many projects that benefit the environment undertaken by corporations in the past were the result of new legislation, community pressure, or customer safety concerns. In fact, tremendous progress has been made through legislation in many countries to reduce automobile exhaust emissions, lower pollution through the traded carbon credit program, and improve safety by eliminating the use of lead-based paint. The examples are numerous, and the credit for making these changes is spread across all of society's stakeholders, from lawmakers to corporate executives and consumer advocates. However, with the evidence that science is showing us about the acceleration of global warming, there is a growing consensus that transformations to protect the environment should be more pervasive and larger steps are needed. There is also ongoing recognition that government regulation should play a role in achieving effective change, but that it is only one of many forces that will drive the needed change into the future.Even now, it is not difficult to envision a time in the near future where governments, individuals, and enterprises all play an important role in protecting the environment. It may challenge our imagination to envision a \"chief green officer\" sitting at the table with a company's CEO, CFO, CIO and COO. However, developing an enterprise-level \"green\" strategy is easier to imagine, and many companies are already headed in that direction.A green strategy for an enterprise - public or private, government or commercial - is one that complements the business, operations, and asset strategies that are already well understood and often well articulated by the enterprise. A green strategy fundamentally helps an enterprise make decisions that have a positive impact on the environment. The principles that form the basis of a green strategy should lead a business to make decisions based on solid business logic and make good business sense. The three principles shown in Figure 1 could be the tenets of any company's enterprise-level green strategy.As with any new strategy formulation, green strategies need to consider and address the interdependencies with other corporate programs and projects. In fact, an enterprise-level green strategy can be one key ingredient in a broader corporate stewardship or social responsibility program, which companies are now formalizing more often than in the past.\nA green strategy fosters a common culture of awareness and action: Creating a green culture often involves reinforcing behavior that people already want to adopt, but there is still a need for the appropriate tools and training in order to change. Businesses that cultivate a green culture today are often immediately noticeable to outside visitors as unique, and at other times the differences in a green culture are imperceptibly small. For the former, an environmentally sound culture is often part of the core business strategy to encourage \"green\" considerations in every decision that is made. For the latter, reinforcing simple courtesies that can be made to the environment by each employee can make a significant impact to a company's bottom-line expenses and even top-line performance.At some companies, the very idea of discarding an empty beverage container any place other than a designated recycle bin makes employees uncomfortable. At other companies, failing to turn off the lights to a conference room as the last person exits is a minor taboo. Still other companies are able to measure and report the quantity of recycled office-use paper as a percentage of new paper purchased through its procurement organization, and they set performance targets to increase the amount of recycling as part of continual improvement efforts. In fact, the recycled paper that is purchased by outside vendors is often considered a revenue stream for the company.Recently, a huge global corporation in the industrial sector identified a critical need for \"global warming\" training so that employees could easily make connections between their daily activities and the improvement they can make to global environmental trends. IBM, in another example, recently organized a community-building event in California where employees were given the opportunity to volunteer to an afternoon with their colleagues picking up trash at a neglected beach.Current and best practices that cultivate a common culture of environmental awareness and support a green strategy are already emerging and developing in many companies. A few key best practices are summarized in Table I.\nA green strategy facilitates decisions and transformation initiatives that improve the environment: Setting a clear vision and strategy ultimately enables people to make better decisions that align with the enterprise priorities to provide goods and services in the global marketplace. An enterprise-level green strategy is no different. In fact, unlike most other areas of strategy formulation in a company, green strategy affects decisions that are made across the entire enterprise, including business strategy, operating strategy, organization strategy, information strategy, applications strategy, technology strategy, and supporting infrastructure. Figure 2 shows how the different areas of strategy formulation (the strategy pyramid), and the tactical operations areas they govern, are all influenced by an enterprise-level green strategy.Products and services\nGreen strategies have attractive value propositions that are cost effective: A green strategy should generally lead to cost effective transformation initiatives that meet or exceed regulatory requirements. Still, understanding benefits that are typically qualitative is critical to understanding the total green value proposition. Green value propositions will include benefits to the company environment (buildings and facilities), benefits to the community, and improvements to the global environment.When compared to evaluating traditional initiatives, evaluating green elements of an initiative has a number of differences:* Timeline to a break-even return is longer where startup costs are high.* Product differentiation can be easier to achieve and possibly easier to sustain.* Soft benefits, such as employee morale, lower attrition, favorable press releases, community goodwill, and more sustainable costs in a trend of rising fuel prices may have more weight.* Legislative action and government incentives, both in place and anticipated, local and national, domestic and global, may contribute to the value proposition.* New risks will emerge as fresh technology, new organizational skills, and process transformation needs are considered.Business leaders and decision makers increasingly miss out on significant benefits because they do not consider \"green\" opportunities in a strategic context. Stonyfield Farm, the third largest yogurt producer in the USA, has had an enterprise-level green strategy since it was founded in 1983. Its CEO, Gary Hirshberg, emphasizes that businesses have to be convinced of the \"economic benefits of going green\" and that \"Stonyfield proves that you can make money working for the planet instead of against it\" (Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine, 2007).\nDeveloping an enterprise-level green strategy: The first step to developing an enterprise-level green strategy is to assess the current state of green operations and initiatives that have been completed or are under way. As most business leaders know, simply because a strategy has not been written or formally articulated does not always mean that one is not being followed. A maturity assessment of each area of the strategy pyramid against a maturity model (Figure 3), along with assessing the adoption level of best practices, can clearly show the areas of a business that are very advanced and others that might not even have a basic level of green awareness.Even for companies that rank low in a green maturity assessment, there are sensible places to start and clear directions to travel. When a maturity assessment is performed to characterize the current state, it is wise to consider future aspirations and how the assessment compares to other companies. Are the aspirations to have base-level capabilities, be competitive with peers, or achieve differentiation? The resulting analysis can then be the basis for developing a set of initiatives and associated implementation roadmap to close gaps and reach the aspirations (Figure 4).\nConclusion: Many businesses have already made significant progress with initiatives that fit within the scope of an enterprise-level green strategy. However, very few companies have taken the broadest view of the green possibilities that are available today and the enormous potential those possibilities have when considered in the context of the whole enterprise. It is not difficult to find an enterprise today where employees are eager to discuss large, focused efforts by their company aimed at improving the environment, but still have difficulty locating a properly labeled recycle bin for beverage containers when needed. Indeed, while most enterprises have undertaken some form of green initiative, very few have yet to establish an enterprise-level green strategy.Most enterprises operate using at least some principles of scarce funding resources, where decisions to invest in projects that align with a green strategy may divert funds and sponsorship away from other more traditional projects. As these decisions are made, it is critical to ensure that core business needs are not sub-optimized and unwanted risks not realized. For example, a decision that could divert funds away from scheduled (or even overdue) manufacturing facility and equipment maintenance in favor of installing photovoltaic technology to reduce electricity costs over a long time horizon should be carefully critiqued and scrutinized.The benefits from having a formalized, well-articulated green strategy are certain to vary by industry and even by individual business, but early adopters can still harness the enormous potential to opportunistically position themselves with a sustainable green strategic advantage.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Over the past decade, concepts that focus on environmental stewardship have gripped the collective intellect of humankind, challenged our capacity to be self-aware, and established a common global imperative to respond to critical issues that arise from world-wide climate change and natural resource conservation. Yet, while most enterprises have already undertaken some form of \"green\" initiative, very few have established an enterprise-level \"green\" strategy that responds to the new global imperative. This paper aims to provide a methodology and tool-set to help close that gap.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The article provides a methodology and tool set needed to assess an enterprise and formulate green strategy. The scope covers: a definition of \"green\" strategy and the guiding principles for its formulation; best practices and illustrations of how they are being adopted; a methodology for developing an enterprise-level green strategy that integrates with all the other areas of strategy formulation in an enterprise (business, operating/organization/information/technology applications, and infrastructure).A \"green\" maturity model and maturity assessment framework are also developed to help business leaders determine what their current state of \"green maturity\" is, and guide decisions on where they would like their business to be in the future.\nFindings: - The paper finds that business leaders and decision makers increasingly miss-out on significant benefits because they do not consider \"green\" opportunities in a strategic context.\nOriginality/value: - The methodology and tool set provided in this article can help business leaders capture new value from green opportunities. It can also accelerate changes to existing methodologies for formulating strategy to include important \"green\" dimensions. Each area of an enterprise is discussed in the context of how it can be affected and improved by having a green strategy.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
A dynamic system to manage changes in course material
|
[
"Course material change‐management",
"Online learning",
"Course management",
"Programming languages",
"United Arab Emirates",
"Communication"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In the past, the term e-learning referred to any method of learning that used electronic delivery methods. With the advent of the internet however, e-learning has evolved and the term is now most commonly used to refer to online courses or web-based learning (Monahan et al., 2008). Web-based learning uses network technologies to create, foster, deliver, and facilitate learning, anytime and anywhere. Many understand web-based learning as the most recent evolution of distance learning - a learning situation where instructors and learners are separated by distance, time, or both (Liaw, 2008; Raab et al., 2002). In essence, it is most commonly used to refer to managing and delivering learning content online where instructors and learners are anywhere. This broader understanding is adapted for use in the present study.The use of innovative learning and instructional strategies would improve communication, collaboration and interaction between the learners and educators (Hinger, 2007; Kaminski, 2005; Latchem, 2002; Martin-Blas and Serrano-Fernandez, 2009; Saw et al., 2008). The importance of communication and collaboration within web-based learning has been highlighted previously by Preece (2000) and Thurmond and Wambach (2004) amongst others, and as a result, online forums and discussion boards have become an invaluable resource. They allow students to communicate with their peers and tutors thus empowering them to socialize and learn together online. While web-based learning systems have improved with time, there are still some issues to be resolved before a realistic learning experience can be provided.Various web-based learning systems have been developed for higher education. For example, Web Course Tools (WebCT), the Web Course Homepage System (WebCH), Blackboard Learning System, and the System for Multimedia Integrated Learning (Smile), are the latest waves of technology-based pedagogical tools. They provide web-based learning platforms that use the internet as a delivery mechanism to allow students from all over the world to access a number of learning tools such as discussion boards, chat rooms, course content management, etc. Many institutions of higher education adopt such web-based learning systems for their courses. For instance, WebCT has been used by 2100 institutions of higher education all over the world, including famous universities such as Stanford, UCLA, and so forth (Ngai et al., 2007). However, there is a lack of empirical examination of the adoption of such web-based learning systems and its applicability for use in international institutions. In the United Arab Emirates, Blackboard Learning System or WebCT are being used in almost all institutions of higher education as a means for posting and managing course material online, even if distance learning is not offered by these institutions.The benefits of web-based learning, at the learners level, have been discussed in the literature (Liaw, 2008; Bouhnik and Marcus, 2006; Liaw et al., 2007; Raab et al., 2002; Shotsberger, 2000). As reported by Liaw (2008), Bouhnik and Marcus (2006) stated that web-based learning has four main advantages:1. Freedom to decide when each online lesson will be learned.2. Lack of dependence on the time constraints of the lecturer.3. Freedom to express thoughts, and ask questions, without limitations.4. The accessibility to course's online materials at students' own election.Capper (2001), on the other hand, listed the benefits of web-based learning online courses as:1. Any time. a participant can access the learning program at any time that is convenient.2. Any place. The participants do not have to meet.3. Asynchronous interaction. Interactions can be more succinct and discussion can stay more on-track.4. Group collaboration. Electronic messaging creates new opportunities for groups to work together by creating shared electronic conversations and discussions.5. New educational approaches. Many new options and learning strategies become economically feasible through online courses. Online courses also can provide unique opportunities for teachers and learners to share innovations in their own works with the immediate support of electronic groups.Despite the perceived benefits of web-based learning mentioned above, research indicates that students are often dissatisfied with the web-based learning experience. Bouhnik and Marcus (2006) stated that students' web-based learning dissatisfaction was based the following disadvantages:1. Lack of a firm framework to encourage students to learn.2. A high level of self-discipline or self-direct is required.3. Absence of a learning atmosphere in web-based learning systems.4. The distance-learning format minimizes the level of contact, as well as the level of discussion, among students. In other words, e-learning lacks interpersonal and direct interaction among students and instructors. The learning process is less efficient. When compared to the face-to-face learning format, e-learning requires students to dedicate more time to learn the subject matter.This paper presents the development of a dynamic system for managing changes in engineering courses in a university in the United Arab Emirates. The university is currently using \"Blackboard\" as the learning platform for course material delivery and management. The four disadvantages mentioned above for distance learning are not an issue since the university uses the \"Blackboard\" environment for face-to-face learning. The main problem with this environment is managing changes made to courses at the department, college, and university levels. Due to the high enrolment, these courses require many sections that are taught by different instructors during the same semester. Each of these courses should have the same material for all sections (i.e. same assignments, midterm exams, final exams, etc.). This research utilizes the concept of web-based learning for use in face-to-face lectures and uses visual basic programming language to develop the course change-management system. Although the problem of having several sections for the same course are more severe at the college and university levels, the system is developed using civil engineering courses due to their accessibility and availability to the researcher. The developments made provide instructors and students in the civil engineering department with an easy access to course material in a collaborative environment. It also allows instructors to add and modify course material and provides a mechanism for managing changes made to any course material and informing all parties needed to be informed by such changes in a timely manner. Interviews with several students and instructors were first conducted to get their feedback regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the current university's \"Blackboard\" system. The main components of the system were presented and the developments made to it were discussed in detail. Implementation issues are discussed and a case study is then presented to validate the developed system and demonstrate its capabilities and features.\n2. Interviews: The university under investigation in the United Arab Emirates uses Blackboard as its main web-based learning system and mainly uses face-to-face lecturing for teaching. Concise interviews were conducted among 172 students and 58 instructors to get their feedback regarding the university's Blackboard system and ask them about its benefits and drawbacks. The majority indicated that the main advantages of the Blackboard learning system are:1. Course material is available and accessible anytime.2. Course material is available and accessible anywhere.3. Students do not have to attend classes.4. Instructors can post grades and students can see these grades online.5. Instructors can post announcements to students anytime and anywhere.6. Instructors can have online tests and quizzes which can be graded electronically.On the other hand, almost all instructors and students agree that the main disadvantages of the system are:1. None of the above benefits is valid when the server is down or when the internet connectivity is unavailable.2. It takes time to upload and download large-size files.3. Students do not know when a course material is uploaded until they login to Blackboard.4. Students do not know when a change/update is made to a course material.5. Instructors, who teach the same course for different sections, do not know if another instructor has made a change/update for a course material.6. There is no record for the history of changes made to course material.Also, several instructors indicated that electronic materials of all courses are stored in the university server and there is no storage at the department level. The Faculty of Engineering, for example, is currently seeking the full accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Having one single repository of course material at the department level is very useful and can help the course assessment committee in each department to easily access course grades to perform qualitative and quantitative course assessment. It will also allow the program accreditation committee to view the necessary information needed to obtain ABET accreditation.In view of the above interviews, existing web-based learning systems, despite their importance, still lack three important issues:* tracking changes made to course material;* informing instructors and students instantly when a new material is uploaded and when an existing material is changed; and* managing changes and allowing instructors to view the history of all changes.The proposed system was, therefore, designed to overcome these three drawbacks highlighted above. The main components and the developments of the proposed dynamic system are summarized in the following section.\n3. Proposed dynamic system: As shown in Figure 1, the proposed dynamic system integrates a client/server environment for the management of course material with a set of collaboration tools. The visual basic programming language is used to develop the main components of the system, which is then integrated with commercial collaboration tools. The structured dynamic system is composed of two main modules: course material module; and change management module. Upon integrating the two modules, the developed system's main screen will appear as shown in Figure 2.The proposed system can be used by instructors to upload, retrieve, and update course material, make new announcements, receive notifications about changes made to course material by other instructors in the same area of specialty, view changes history made to course material. Students, on the other hand, can view course material and announcements for courses they are registered in and receive notifications about changes made to course material by instructors. They will also automatically receive electronic messages informing them when a new material is uploaded or an existing material is changed/updated. In the following sections the components of the proposed system are explained in detail and a case study is presented for validation.3.1 Client/server system\n4. Implementation issues and solutions: The development and implementation of the collaborative system involved resolving several issues related to:* establishing access control/access rights;* saving and loading course material;* enforcing change proposals; and* applying and discarding changes and providing automated warnings.Addressing these issues mandated a significant programming effort and iterative cycles of refinement to the model and substantial programming effort. The following discussion of the resolution of these issues provides useful guidelines to other researchers intend on developing similar complex systems.4.1 Establishing access control/access rights\n5. Case study: A simple hypothetical case study is presented in the following subsections to demonstrate the features of the proposed system. It is assumed that the \"construction engineering and management\" area of specialty has three instructors (\"EssamZ\", \"PeterP\", and \"SuleimanA\"). It is also assumed that the instructor with a user name \"EssamZ\" is using the system and will add new topic/material and modify/update an existing one. The following subsections explain the detailed use of the system, how a change to a course material is proposed, how a change proposal is approved and then applied, and how students receive instant notifications of course material changes and new uploads.5.1 Logging in to the system\n6. Conclusions: This article presented the developments made to a dynamic system for the management of changes made to civil engineering courses in a university in the United Arab Emirates. The proposed components of the system were developed using the powerful capabilities of visual basic programming language to provide instructors and students with an easy access to course material in a collaborative environment. It also provides instructors with a dynamic mechanism to upload and modify/update course material effectively and securely. Instructors can view, modify, and add course topics, lecture notes, exercises, and assignments in different formats. The novel aspect of the developed system is its mechanism for managing changes made to any course material and informing all parties affected by such changes in an effective and timely manner. The study introduces the system administrator as a main party. The main role of the administrator is to add new courses and semesters, determine and preset the paths required for each course to communicate changes, follow up on change proposals, and track changes made to all courses. The system was also tested in real-life for a course in the civil engineering department and students were impressed with the instant notifications they received each time a course material was added/changed. The developed system incorporates a client-server environment and uses Microsoft Windows NetMeeting as a main tool for collaboration. Implementation issues were discussed and a case study was then presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the developed system. As a future extension to the present study, the author is currently working on the developments necessary to integrate the system with additional and important modules for online tests, course grades, and course assessment. The details of the developments of these modules and their integration with the system will be presented in a future research paper along with the use of the system by other departments and colleges. The developments made in this study and the availability of visual basic as a powerful programming tool will help in developing other useful applications for teaching.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - Despite the popularity of existing course management systems, they do not consider the management of course material changes, particularly courses that require more than one instructor. The main purpose of this study is to instantly communicate course material changes to all instructors teaching the same course and to communicate approved changes to students registered on the course.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The fundamental hypothesis tested was whether the developed system effectively communicates changes in a timely manner. The level of students' acceptance to this new system was also tested. A dynamic course material change-management system was developed using visual basic programming language and an Access database. The system was applied to a hypothetical case study and to a currently running undergraduate civil engineering course.\nFindings: - Results indicated that changes made to a course material were instantly communicated to all instructors teaching the same course. It also indicated that approved changes were instantly communicated to affected students. As a result, students were satisfied with the instant notifications they receive whenever a change takes place.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The proposed system does not include a methodology for online tests, course grades, and course assessment. The system needs to be integrated with these important features. Developments pertaining to integrating the system with these features will be considered for future investigation.\nOriginality/value: - The novel aspect of the developed system is the effective management of challenges made to course material and communicating these changes to instructors and students in a timely manner. The system can benefit any institution at different educational levels.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Are tattoos still a taboo? The effect of employee tattoos on customers' service failure perceptions
|
[
"Service failure",
"Tattoos",
"Employee Tattoo",
"Perceived competence",
"Negative WOM"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Tattoos are exceedingly popular and becoming commonplace in today's society. In 2010, the Pew research institute reported that 23 per cent of Americans had at least one tattoo on their body. Among those, 38 per cent were Millennials, 32 per cent were GenXers, and 15 per cent were Boomers (Taylor and Keeter, 2010). More recently, the Harris poll reported that the number of Americans with tattoos has risen to 29 per cent, with a high increase for Millennials (47 per cent) and Gen Xers (36 per cent) (Larry, 2016). Furthermore, with the new techniques of tattoo designs (e.g. 3D tattoos) and removal, it has become more fashionable and less problematic to adorn oneself with tattoos. Consequently, it is not surprising that the tattoo industry revenue is forecasted to rise until 2020 (Smith, 2015).\nLiterature review: Tattoos and aesthetic labor\nMethod: Study design and sample\nDiscussion: Conclusion\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: As tattoos increase in popularity, questions persist regarding their impact on customer perceptions. To help shed light into this issue, this paper aims to explore the impact of tattooed restaurant servers in the context of service failures. Through the agency and communion theory, the authors propose that a female server with tattoos induces higher levels of negative word of mouth (WOM) intention than her male counterpart. Furthermore, the authors propose that perceived competence mediates this effect.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Through a 2 (tattoos status: yes, no) x 2 (server's gender: male, female) experimental design, a panel of consumers were exposed to a restaurant service failure scenario with a photograph of a server. Depending on the condition, the server was either a male or female and had (or not) a tattoo on their left arm and neck. The same tattoo design was used for both genders.\nFindings: The findings indicate that, in a service failure context, customers' propensity to generate negative WOM does not differ across tattooed (vs non-tattooed) servers. However, contrary to the expectations of the authors, people tend to react more negatively to a male (vs female) server with tattoos.\nOriginality/value: Research on tattoos in the customer service context is scant, especially in hospitality. Furthermore, no previous study on tattoos has empirically tested a mediation process explaining differences in customer perceptions. Contrary to previous findings, this study demonstrates that an exposure to male (vs female) tattooed servers increases customers' propensity to generate negative WOM. In other words, the type of profession coupled with the employees' gender might influence customer perceptions. Furthermore, as customers' propensity to generate negative WOM did not increase when served by a tattooed (vs non-tattooed) employee, managers in aesthetic labor industries, such as the foodservice business, can be more accepting of employees with tattoos.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Solving two-dimensional Markov chain model for call centers
|
[
"Call center",
"Management cost",
"Operators management",
"Two-dimensional Markov chain"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Motivated by a research project involving call centers at a selected company in Taiwan (Kim et al., 2012; Liang et al., 2005, 2009), this study discusses an approximation method suitable for use when an exact solution is not attainable to calculation of the management cost of a call center that involves blocking probability and waiting time (Huang, 2010; Liang and Luh, 2013; Melikov and Babayev, 2006; Xu et al., 2002; Bright and Taylor,1995). A large-scale service sector regards uninterrupted customer service as a key operational target (Kim et al., 2012; Liang et al., 2005, 2009). To meet customer demands, a service company must manage human resources in a call center to answer inbound calls using a computer system. Human resource management is a strategic approach to managing employees who individually and collectively contribute to the achievement of business objectives (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014; Yang et al., 2007). Moreover, a call center charged with satisfying customer inquiries assigns staff members as phone operators (Kim et al., 2012). Additionally, operators should make all customer arrangements during customer phone calls (Dudina et al., 2013; Gans et al., 2003). The number of operators represent the capacity of handing inbound calls. Managers can implement actions to reduce management expenses (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014, Benaroch et al., 2010; Li and Chandra, 2007; Lee and Park, 2005). That is, through analyzing the management costs associated with specific solutions, managers can determine the optimal operator assignment strategy (Benaroch et al., 2010; Dubelaar et al., 2005; Lee and Park, 2005). Analysis of the management costs associated with daily call center operations can assist managers in making operator allocation decisions. Operators thus can be assigned efficiently based on analysis of the management costs associated with call center operations.\n2. A queueing model: To estimate the management cost, the queueing model, which describes a call center that deals with calls from two categories of users, is derived to compute the opportunity of incoming calls are the r-calls from regular customers, and the v-calls from VIPs. A total of K operators is considered in a call center, where K is a large finite number. Namely, a maximum of K operators can serve customers. Let l\n3. Computational time: Because of a large K\n4. The approximation method: Numerous approximation methods have been proposed to solve the computational problem associated with a large number of channels (exceeding 1,000) with heavy traffic in the telecommunication research literature (Abdrabou and Zhuang, 2011; Allon et al., 2013; Bandi and Bertsimas, 2012; Bicen et al., 2012; Halfin and Whitt, 1981; Nelson, 2012; Sriram and Whitt, 1986; Whitt, 1983). However, call centers have their own limitations and unique features in handling calls from real people, and do not merely transmit data. It is necessary to consider simple approximation methods. One such method is known as phase merging algorithm and was introduced by Melikov and Babayev (2006) and adopted by Choi, Melikov and Velibekov (Choi et al., 2008; Liang and Luh, 2013; Ponomarenko et al., 2010) to compute stationary probability. This method can be implemented in call centers. The approximation method is shown as follows.\n5. Discussion: However, to merely identify the errors between the exact and approximation methods is insufficient, because the manager needs to know whether their company needs to adopt the approximation method to determine the management costs. The manager's question can be answered by discussing the difference in errors between the approximation and exact methods.\n6. Conclusion: This investigation presents a computational method and management cost function intended to identify the optimal number of operators for a call center. Because of computational limitations, many operators could not be easily analyzed using the exact method. For the manager of a call center, the sooner the optimal solution is found, the faster business strategies are deployed. This study develops an approximation method and compares it with the exact method. The approximation method demonstrates outstanding computational performances when the state variables are too big to be handled in matrix.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel model of a call center that must treat calls with distinctly different service depending on whether they orginate from VIP or regular customers. VIP calls must be responded to immediately but regular calls can be routed to a retrial queue if the operators are busy.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study's proposed model can easily reveal the optimal arrangement of operators while minimizing computational time and without losing any precision of the performance measure when dealing with a call center with more operators.\nFindings: Based on the results of the comparison between the exact method and the proposed approximation method, the approach shows that the larger the number of operators or inbound calls, the smaller the error between the two methods.\nOriginality/value: This investigation presents a computational method and management cost function intended to identify the optimal number of operators for a call center. Because of computational limitations, many operators could not be easily analyzed using the exact method. For the manager of a call center, the sooner the optimal solution is found, the faster business strategies are deployed. This study develops an approximation method and compares it with the exact method.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Capabilities for managing business processes: a measurement instrument
|
[
"Capability",
"Assessment",
"Scale development",
"Critical success factors",
"Business process orientation",
"Measurement instrument"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The business process management (BPM) discipline investigates an organization's capability to achieve advantages such as an eye for efficiency, effectiveness, quality, innovation and compliance (Dumas et al., 2018). BPM supports the perspective of a business process orientation (BPO) (Nadarajah and Kadir, 2016) and calls for more empirical BPM research (vom Brocke et al., 2014). We respond to this call by developing and validating a measurement instrument that helps organizations profit from these BPM advantages.\n2. Empirical and theoretical background: The resource-based view paradigm positions business processes as strategic resources or capabilities to achieve superior performance and competitive advantage (Wernerfelt, 1984). We focus on operational capabilities rather than dynamic capabilities (Eisenhardt and Martin, 2000), i.e. operational success factors rather than the (un)freezing change process (Niehaves et al., 2014). Section 2.1 situates BPM/BPO-related critical success factors as capability areas to be measured during an AS-IS assessment, followed by their theoretical foundations (Section 2.2). Improvement paths toward TO-BE are beyond the scope of this paper (Figure 1).\n3. Research methods: The research methods were derived from the literature on scale development (Moore and Benbasat, 1991; Petter et al., 2007; Recker and Rosemann, 2010). We concluded that capabilities for managing business processes are formative rather than reflective (Table III).\n4. Results: The results gradually reduced the number of items that were initially identified (Table V).\n5. Discussion: 5.1 Theoretical implications\n6. Conclusion: This study offers a valid and reliable measurement instrument for measuring an organization's capabilities to manage business processes, which can be used by BPM scholars and practitioners (e.g. process experts, managers and consultants). It includes four main capability areas, 13 subareas and 62 measurement items on how to properly manage business processes. While these capability areas comprehensively cover the BPM field, the measurement items are formulated in a generic way to be usable by different audiences for different process types, strategies and business contexts. Moreover, the item scales have become more evidence based than what is typically found in the measurement instruments associated with MMs. The development procedure has both a theoretical and empirical foundation and is detailed to ensure high content validity, convergent construct validity, discriminant construct validity and reliability to stimulate the instrument's adoption. As such, our instrument helps advance the BPM discipline by strengthening its theory base, encouraging further empirical BPM research, and facilitating other research streams (e.g. on critical success factors, the holistic view on BPM, context-aware BPM and digital innovation). Future research could elaborate on the configuration parameters to better evaluate external validity and to create a situational MM design. The dashboard's predictive validity can be further examined to transform the current instrument into an optimization MM that offers clear advice or improvement paths. The latter cannot be validated with traditional statistics because there are too few case organizations at the higher maturity levels.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Well-founded measurements are of high value because a better connection between business process management (BPM) and maturity models (MMs) improves an organization's performance. Although MMs are appropriate tools for organizations to manage their business processes and, therefore, enjoy popularity, most of these models suffer from their foundation, validation and/or capability coverage. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue by providing metrics to measure and manage business processes.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A high-standard and multistaged procedure was followed to systematically develop and validate the measurement instrument involving international academics and practitioners across four continents. Different rounds were used for item identification, item selection, item revision, instrument preparation (pretest and pilot) and instrument application using partial least squares structural equation modeling.\nFindings: The instrument measures 4 main capability areas, 13 subareas and 62 items. The work explains how to conduct BPM assessments in a more theoretically sound way and reports on the instrument's development to show high levels of construct validity, content validity and reliability.\nResearch limitations/implications: The author provides a rigorous and more evidence-based instrument, facilitating the BPM discipline's need of empirical research.\nPractical implications: The author proposes parameters to configure the instrument.\nOriginality/value: Serving as a reference framework, the instrument strengthens BPM's empirical and theoretical foundations. Since the instrument is free for scholars and practitioners, the author illustrates the research streams and business situations in which the instrument can be applied (in full or in part). This paper paves the way for transforming the instrument into an optimization MM with advice or improvement paths, bridging the gap between theory and practice.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Dilemmas within commercial involvement in open source software
|
[
"Open source",
"Commercialization",
"Open innovation",
"Contradictory institutional logics"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Software development began in the USA in the 1950s and over the following decades a global organizational field emerged: a community of organizations and individuals that subscribes to a common meaning system in which participants interact with one another more often and more faithfully than with actors external to the field (Scott, 1994, pp. 207-208). The field came to consist of a meaning system, which perceived software as a technical devise. They saw it as natural that software development took place within open innovative communities in which professional developers and users shared knowledge about software products across private and public organizational boundaries. In the 1970s private companies began to stage a different meaning system, which found it natural to understand software development as a commodity subject to proprietary rights.\nLiterature review on strategy used: Lerner and Tirole (2002) describe that since the turn of the century numerous major corporations, including Hewlett Packard, IBM, and SUN have launched projects to develop and use open source software. Other companies such as Red Hat and VA Linux have specialized in commercializing Linux, and yet another group of open source software companies have received venture capital financing. They argue that companies may employ two different strategies dealing with the interface between open (copyleft) and closed (copyright) source software development: they either imitate some aspects of open source processer, or mix an open and closed process. If companies follow the first strategy they do not get involved with open source software communities, as they will not allow users to modify their code. But these companies may, to some extent, duplicate the incentive by letting core developers build reputation connecting to specific proprietary software as with open source software development. They may also imitate the idea of open source code sharing within the company, and/or they may involve their customers in the development of their product (Langdon and Hars, 2007). In the second strategy, companies get involved with open source software communities in various ways. They may choose a rather reactive relationship with open source communities by allocating programmers to an open source software project. Or they may choose a more proactive strategy by releasing codes and creating some governance structure for the resulting open source process.\nMethodological notes: The cases describing levels 1-3 are based on secondary data: literature and news searches, companies' websites and interviews with employees and managers. The selection of cases was dictated by the clarity of relation between their business model and theoretical level of involvement (Figure 1). The choice of the cases and the accuracy of their description and representativeness were confirmed by informal consultations with the open source software developers.\nHigher levels of involvement: Level 4: companies creating and leading its own open source software community\nDiscussion and conclusions: As showed in the example cases, there are (at least!) six levels of business involvement in the open source field. Now, we will discuss those empirically observed levels in the context of the existing literature and conclude with key dilemmas the commercial organizations may face if they decide to adapt open source logic.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature about the commercial involvement in open source software, levels of this involvement and consequences of attempting to mix various logics of action.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper uses the case study approach based on mixed methods: literature reviews and news searches, electronic surveys, qualitative interviews and observations. It combines discussions from several research projects as well as previous publications to present the scope of commercial choices within open source software and their consequences.\nFindings: The findings show that higher levels of involvement in open source software communities poses important questions about the balance between economic, technological, and social logics as well as the benefits of being autonomous, having access to collaborative networks and minimizing risks related to free-riding. There are six levels of commercial involvement in open source communities, and each of them is characterized by a different dilemma.\nOriginality/value: The paper sheds light on the various level of involvement of business in open source movement and emphasize that the popularized \"open innovation\" concept is only the first step in real involvement and paradigm shift.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Fuzzy overall equipment effectiveness and line performance measurement using artificial neural network
|
[
"Fuzzy inference systems",
"Total productive maintenance (TPM)",
"Artificial neural networks",
"Overall effectiveness equipment",
"Overall line efficiency",
"Fuzzy inference"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a hierarchy of the developed criteria that was first introduced by Nakajima in 1960 to lead us to a production and also to method-based evaluation. The OEE results are in the form of reports that allow comparison and observation of products in production units in different industries that are used in production units and plants to increase the performance of the system and work progress. For instance, OEE is capable of reducing time procedure of work and allowing more optimized use of resources. Another example can be the case wherein a production unit has high demand of work and its production is low. In such cases, OEE reveals the best performance. OEE was recognized as a mathematical tool in late 1980s and early 1990s in manufacturing industry (Hansen, 2001).\n2. Literature review: OEE is a performance index that is used in TPM[1] activities. Due to its distinguished characteristic in measuring the effectiveness of machine lines and its profitability and simplicity, OEE is regarded as an effective tool in measuring the effectiveness of a given machine or a constant production line (Ljungberg, 1998). Oechsner et al. (2003) claimed that a detailed equipment model can be used for discrete equipment simulation, and prediction of behavior and influence on OEE, utilization, throughput, cycle time, transport, operator influence are allowed while using it. Nonetheless, while handling multiple products, computational efforts seem to be inefficient in finding the performance rate for some of the continuous production systems such as oil, gas and petrochemical industries; accordingly, they expand OEE scope to evaluate equipment performance and its relationship with other facilities. This improvement is similar to that of Nachiappan and Anantharam in 2006.\n3. Methodology: Although the OEE seems to be a complete performance measurement indicator, it still requires a proper modification (Raouf, 1994). In particular, the traditional OEE specifies the weight of each element equivalently. This designation is still inappropriate as shown by Wudhikam (2010) since elementary losses are very different.\n4. Result: The data are collected as follows: repairs and maintenance personnel register and keep the records of machines defects within the production line of Motogen factory. Those records are for one-month, 24 days, time intervals that consist of one work shift of 8 hours per day.\n5. Conclusion: The proposed methodologies are to improve the OEE and OLE weaknesses based on intelligent systems and techniques such as FIS, and ANNs. These techniques result in an effective way to measure OEE and OLE considering different weights of losses and also the difference in machine's weights. Moreover, they allow the operator's knowledge to take part in the measurement using uncertain input and output with implementation of linguistic terms.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a powerful metric in production as well as one of the methods in evaluating function for measuring productivity in the production process. In the existing method, measuring OEE is based on three main elements consisting availability, performance and quality. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the recognized metrics of production: OEE and overall line effectiveness (OLE) by using smart systems techniques.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In this paper, to improve the calculative methods and productivity with three methods: measuring OEE using Mamdani fuzzy inference systems (FIS), measuring OEE using Sugeno FIS, and measuring OLE using FIS and artificial neural networks (ANNs) are proposed.\nFindings: The proposed methodologies aim to decrease some weaknesses of OEE and OLE methods by exploiting intelligent system techniques, such as FIS and ANNs. In particular, this research will solve the following issues that occur in manual and automatic data gathering. This technique is an effective way of measuring OEE and OLE with regard to different weights of losses as well as difference in the weight of the machines. In addition, it allows the operator's knowledge to take a part in the measurement using uncertain input and output with implementation of linguistic terms. The presented method is the details and capabilities of those methods in various tested scenarios, and the results have been fully analyzed.\nOriginality/value: In relation to other methodologies, it allows the operator's knowledge to take part in the measurement using uncertain input and output with implementation of linguistic terms. The presented method is the details and capabilities of those methods in various tested scenarios, and the results have been fully analyzed.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
EJB-MVC oriented supplier selection system for mass customization
|
[
"Mass customization",
"Supplier relations",
"Analytical hierarchy process"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Customization is one of the crucial factors for manufacturers to stay in a competitive position in today's turbulent environment (Pine, 1999; Davis, 1987; Frutos et al., 2004; Spring and Dalrymple, 2000; Brabazon and MacCarthy, 2004). In the current economic climate, where organizations pursue prime position in their industries, not only new products need to be developed fast and efficiently, but also the products need to be customized in a way to achieve competitive advantages. The mainstream of mass customization (MC) is focused upon flexibility and quick responsiveness through variety customized goods with low cost and high quality (Pine, 1999; Davis, 1987; Jiao et al., 2004). In view of the business process within the MC environment, customers, manufacturers and suppliers play major roles throughout the entire logistic chain (Coyle et al., 2002; Heizer and Render, 2001; Gattorna and Walters, 1996). As indicated by Christopher (1998), the scope of logistics spans the organization, from the management of raw materials to delivery of the final product, is directly related to the needs of customers. Many attentions have been paid to the customer satisfaction regarding MC (Frutos et al., 2004; Piller and Muller, 2004). However, the supplier involvement issue has not been specified as the customer involvement for MC. The benefits of integrating suppliers into customized manufacturing is well described in theory, but has not been well implemented in practice (Jiao et al., 2004). Many issues need to be concerned for the supplier involvement. This paper is particular focused on the supplier selection, because an appropriate supplier is an important factor for a manufacture to meet customers' requirements, which directly affect the way of a manufacturer to deliver products to a targeted market.A web-based supplier selection system has been previously developed by the authors (Hou et al., 2004; Hou and Su, 2006). Different from the traditional supplier selection method, the system provided a flexible way for manufacturers to find appropriate suppliers more efficiently when external environment changes. A total of 12 pre-defined initial matrices have been developed based on the survey results with AHP method, however, there are two major drawbacks to this system, the first is the supplier selection issue is only concerned within the general condition, and MC has not been particularly considered; the second is that the interactions among and between various factors have not been addressed properly for lack of dependence analysis in AHP. As mentioned before, increasing flexibility and quick responsiveness by providing sufficient variety of customized goods are the essential characteristics of MC, and furthermore, the competitive market place and continual pressure on product improvement push manufacturers to alter their relationship with suppliers. As a result, it is necessary to modify supplier selection criteria in order to meet the requirements under the MC environment.The purpose of this research is to establish a web-enabled, in particular, Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) and model-view-controller (MVC) oriented system with a novel supplier selection approach for MC to help manufacturers to identify suitable suppliers for the components, materials and services required within the process of product design and manufacture. The state of the art web-based technologies, the business models and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)/Analytic Network Process (ANP) decision-making methods are integrated to implement the system.\nLiterature review: Theoretical basis for the supplier selection method for mass customization\nSystem architecture and implementation: The main features of this system that differs from the existing supplier selection systems are:* ability to effectively take MC related business strategies and product market positions into consideration;* accurate and reliable comparison and assessment of suppliers based on the AHP/ANP methods; and* providing a distributed environment with the features of scalability, heterogeneity, modular decomposability, modifiability, and reusability.Information sharing and communication are essential to support this supplier selection system. Owing to concurrency, consistency, reliability and security issues, it is crucial to apply appropriate web-oriented technologies for the system implementation.EJB and MVC design pattern haven been integrated to implement the system. EJB is the latest technology abstraction in Java Family (JavaSun, 2005; IBM, 2003), which provides an abstraction for component transaction monitors. EJB provides a standard distributed component model that greatly simplifies the development process and enables that beans are developed and deployed on one EJB server to be easily deployed on a different EJB server. MVC is the design pattern which organizes an interactive application into three separate modules: one for the application model with its data representation and business logic, the second for displaying the data or information of an application, and the third coordinates the former two in order to display the correct interface or execute works to implement the application needs to complete. The primary advantages of integrating EJB and MVC pattern is to separate design concerns, decrease code duplication, centralize control, and make the application more modifiable.The system contains two major parts: data bank and evaluation matrices. The mainstream of the data bank is for users who possess privileges of authentication and authorization to efficiently extract suppliers' information in various situations; while the purpose of the evaluation matrices is to provide various patterns that integrated business schemes with the AHP/ANP methods for people who are involved in the total design process to select suppliers efficiently. Within this EJB-MVC-oriented system, only the user interface stays on local machines while the logic of the application runs in the middle tier on a server, and the database tier is managed by an enterprise information system. The main advantages of using this MVC structure is to satisfy demands when the number of requestors increases, the logic can be updated easily in one place on the middle tier without having to load new logic on every client's machine, meanwhile the data provided by this structure is \"hidden\" away from other components. The method of accessing data and its preparation can be transparently changed without affecting the rest of the application. When the logic of an application need to be updated, changes are made to the software of the middle tier on the server, greatly simplifying the management of the updates.Figure 2 shows the architecture and functionality of the supplier selection system. The model panel represents the business state and business activities of the system, in particular, EJB-based data bank and evaluation matrices, and as such it is decoupled from the view and controller panels. The view and controller panels interpret the resources and logic provided by the model panel, however, these panels completely unaware of how the data were retrieved. In this implementation, a set of Servlets is used as controllers, the JSP is utilized as a view, and the EJB plays a role as a model. The data bank and evaluation matrices are completely unconcerned with presentation of the results in the view; it merely responds to events triggered by the controller. Within the data bank, the users can search and investigate suppliers' information based on different conditions. The requirements can be presented in the view panel to capture suppliers' rating weights, various conditions and so on. The data controller and evaluation controller can access to the model panel through the EJBs that represent. The security, scalability, heterogeneity, and reusability are major concerns for this supplier selection system, and it is sensible to hide as many techniques as possible within the infrastructure to avoid users directly access certain functions which may reduce security and consistent usage. Hence, the details of the data bank and the evaluation matrices are not exposed to users until users' identities have been identified, only users in assigned roles can access certain methods in the enterprise beans.Data bank\nA case study: Background\nConclusions: MC is a means for manufacturers to remain a competitive position in today's turbulent environment. Extensive literature review reveals that under the MC conditions, the selection of suppliers not only is a technical decision, but also needs to consider factors from external and internal influences. Strategy is a major concern for manufactures to meet the needs of markets within the global changing environment. Once a strategy is in place, the specific task of deciding how to undertake the low cost production of individually customized products remains. An EJB-MVC driven supplier selection system has been developed. The system utilizes state of the art web-oriented technologies as tool to deliver a novel supplier selection method that integrates leading business theories with AHP/ANP approaches for MC.The purpose of the web-enabled system is to help manufacturers to identify suitable suppliers for the components, materials and services required within the procedure of product design and manufacture, and to be able to fast shift their supplier selection directions in order to adapt external environment changes. Integrating EJB technology and MVC pattern dramatically improve the performances of the supplier selection system. The superior advantages for combining EJB with MVC architecture are to separate design concerns, decrease code duplication, centralize control, and make the application more easily modifiable. The example provided has demonstrated that utilizing the new developed supplier selection approach effectively aids manufacturers to find a suitable supplier in a MC situation.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this research is to develop a distributed system with an innovative supplier selection approach within a mass customization (MC) environment. The aim is to help manufacturers to identify appropriate suppliers for the components, materials and services required within the procedure of product design and manufacture.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - To identify the barriers for the supplier selection issues, current researches regarding the issues of supplier selection and MC have been reviewed. Based on the findings, the new supplier selection approach has been developed.\nFindings: - Within the global manufacturing environment, conventional way of appraising suppliers cannot enhance manufacturers' competitiveness advantage over their rivals. It is inevitable for manufacturers to identify appropriate competitive priorities for each of their potential market segments when designing products. Selecting appropriate suppliers is a fundamental issue to fulfill manufacturers' development strategy. The approach will enhance supplier selection efficiency and flexibility under the MC environment, enabling manufactures to avoid or minimize risks when external conditions change.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The case study is limited to selecting suppliers of two components for an ink cartridge, however, the general approach is applicable to other type of products.\nPractical implications: - The whole concept of this selection system is to provide a supplier selection approach for MC environment by utilizing the web-based technologies to deliver a means which enables geographically dispersed functions making supplier selection more efficiently. Manufacturers can utilize this approach to evaluate and to find most appropriate suppliers based on various situations.\nOriginality/value: - The supplier selection approach focuses on the general supplier selection issues incorporating with product market position and development directions issues for MC, which provides a more dynamic and robust method to select and evaluate potential suppliers according to a range of conditions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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The role of coachee characteristics in executive coaching for effective sustainability
|
[
"Israel",
"Management development",
"Senior management",
"Executive training",
"Coaching",
"Executive coaching",
"Learning‐goal orientation",
"Pre‐training motivation",
"Feedback receptivity",
"Developmental self‐efficacy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nDevelopment of executive coaching as a management development tool: Recently, more organizations are turning to coaching not as a remedial practice, but rather as a proactive leadership development tool to drive sustainable growth and innovation (CIPD, 2008). The emergence of coaching, as a development approach, is aligned with transformational and systematic change in corporate settings. Understanding how one is perceived by others in an organizational context is vitally important to leadership and managerial effectiveness (Yammarino and Atwater, 1993), and represents an opportunity for executives to learn more about themselves and their work (Moen and Kralsund, 2008). The promise of coaching is not so much to provide instant solutions, but rather to promote learning and change over time (de Haan et al., 2011).\nThe role of executive coaching in organization change: The growing recognition by organizations that continuous innovation and managerial flexibility are required to address dynamic global change has encouraged them to move from coaching as an individual intervention, to coaching as an integrated element of their MD strategy (Riddle and Porhier, 2011). As executives have a major influence on the viability and, ultimately, on the success of their organizations (Aitken and Malcolm, 2010), coaching has been recognized as an essential success factor in fostering innovation and managerial flexibility (Jones et al., 2006). However, although MD is critical to organizational success, there has been limited evidence of when it is most or least successful in changing executives' behaviors and performance (De Haan et al., 2011). Therefore, linking coaching practice with theoretical work is critical given that an increasing number of organizations incorporate coaching as a major component of strategy development and execution.\nDefining executive coaching: Executive coaching involves a highly confidential partnership between an executive and a coach (Natale and Diamante, 2005). This personal outcome-focussed activity centers on interpersonal and intrapersonal issues (Greene and Grant, 2003). Although coaching may be initiated by an executive independently, usually the organization is another party in this relationship (Scriffignano, 2009). Frequently, coaching is provided by the organization and involves a clear link between the individual goals of the coachee and the strategic goals of the organization (Ennis et al., 2004). Differing from therapy, most definitions assume an absence of serious mental health problems in the coachee (Brock, 2008), and recognize that the coachee is resourceful (Berg and Szabo, 2005). Overall, the coaching relationship is described as an equal partnership and the coach does not have any direct authority over the executive (Evers et al., 2006).We define executive coaching as a one-on-one relationship between a professional coach and an executive (coachee). Its purpose is to enhance the coachee's behavioral change through self-awareness and learning, and thereby contribute to individual and organizational success.\nEffectiveness indicators of executive coaching: Executive coaching is a means for increasing productivity, learning, job satisfaction, and behavior change (i.e. Starman, 2007; Parker-Wilkins, 2006). On this basis, the effectiveness of a coaching intervention in this paper is assessed using individual indicators, aggregated into proximal outcomes and distal outcomes.Proximal outcomes\nCoachee characteristics: Kappenberg (2008) identifies the role of coachee engagement in the success of coaching. Laske (1999) suggested coachee characteristics such as personality factors and motivation as predictors of coaching effectiveness. However, limited evidence exists on the role of coachee personality in coaching success (Stewart et al., 2008). Accordingly, the coachee characteristics of learning goal orientation, pre-training motivation, feedback receptivity, and developmental self-efficacy are recognized as important predictors of coaching effectiveness.Learning goal orientation\nMethod: Sample and procedure\nResults: Coach demographics\nDiscussion: The purpose of this study was to examine key success factors of coaching as reflected in transfer in learning and sustained behavioral change. These outcomes should translate into organization transformation and sustainability. H1 was partially supported, with a significant interaction between learning goal orientation and pre-training motivation on improvement in job self-reported performance. A negative relationship was found between learning goal orientation and improvement in self-reported job performance among coachees with low levels of pre-training motivation. Training motivation is defined as the direction, intensity, and persistence of learning-directed behavior in training contexts (Colquitt et al., 2000). Theories of training, development, and performance propose that performance derives fundamentally from an individual's motivation and abilities (i.e. Kirwan and Brichall, 2006). Therefore, pre-training motivation is considered to be a prime indicator of one's motivation to engage in coaching activity.H2 received some support for the suggestion that feedback is a key element of developmental support leading to behavior change (e.g. coachee job performance). A significant interaction was found between feedback receptivity and learning goal orientation on improvement in job affective commitment. A positive relationship was found between learning goal orientation and improvement in job affective commitment among coachees with high levels of feedback receptivity, whereas a negative relationship was found between learning goal orientation and improvement in job affective commitment among coachees with low levels of feedback receptivity.These findings add to research that has linked learning goal orientation with feedback seeking and feedback receptivity. First, individuals who have a strong learning goal orientation tend to view ability as a malleable attribute that may be developed through effort and experience (Dweck and Leggett, 1988). Second, goal orientation influences how individuals view effort expenditures (Ames, 1992). Third, individuals with a high level of learning goal orientation tend to perceive feedback as diagnostic information to develop task mastery (Farr et al., 1993). London and Smither (2002) found that individuals with high levels of learning goal orientation seek to acquire knowledge and skills and view feedback about skill deficits as an opportunity for personal improvement. Similarly, Tuckey et al. (2002) found that when individuals with a high level of learning orientation perform poorly, their feedback seeking increased.H3 was partially supported in the positive relationship between coachee developmental self-efficacy and improvement in self-reported job performance. This confidence in improving and developing career-relevant skills has been examined in relation to employee attitudes on development and training programs in organizations (Colquitt et al., 2000; Wood and Bandura, 1989). Finn (2007) found a positive relationship between leaders' self-efficacy and developmental planning. The lack of significant relationships between coachee developmental self-efficacy and the other coaching effectiveness measures in our study may be a reflection of the coachees' uniformly high levels of developmental self-efficacy.\nConclusions: The extant coaching literature considers executive coaching as a relatively new and promising learning and development discipline, but empirical evidence is limited (Passmore and Gibbes, 2007). To address this issue, this study investigated the key factors associated with coaching effectiveness in organizational settings. The effectiveness of coaching should translate into organizational change and sustainability. Not surprisingly but somewhat disappointing, the relatively small effects of coaching on outcomes found in this study echo previous research on coaching (e.g. Evers et al., 2006; Smither et al., 2003), and suggest an ongoing longitudinal examination of coaching as a MD intervention is required.We found a number of variables that increase the likelihood of executives to learn from the coaching experience. Specifically, several coachee characteristics were associated with coaching effectiveness: coachee learning goal orientation was positively related to coaching effectiveness as identified through improvement in self-reported job performance; coachee pre-training motivation was positively related to coaching effectiveness identified through improvement in coachee self-reported job performance; coachee feedback receptivity was positively related to coachee self-reported job performance and as reported by the direct supervisor; coachee developmental self-efficacy was positively related to coaching effectiveness reflected in improvement in coachee self-reported job performance.\nLimitations: The conclusions above need to be treated with caution due to the sample size (72 coachees) which restricted the statistical power of the analyses. A major part of this study was based on self-report data concerned with the relationships between participants' personal characteristics and the effects of coaching intervention on their beliefs, affect, learning, behavior, and performance. Self-reported performance indices may threaten social desirability. Beyond this, self-rated performance may also share conceptual overlap with some other self-reported items (e.g. self-efficacy). We attempted to minimize the impact of these biases in our study by collecting data over time (i.e. before and after coaching), thereby decreasing participants' needs to remember past events. Additionally, coaching behavioral outcomes in this study were assessed by measuring the impact of coaching on coachee job performance by collecting data from coachees and their direct supervisors to provide valuable non-self-report information about changes in coachee behavior. The coachees' direct supervisors were expected to provide useful information about changes in coachee behavior on the job before and after coaching occurred.\nImplication for sustainability management development: As learning transfer and sustained behavioral change are key coaching objective, understanding the coachee is an essential starting point for coaches and organizations. Our findings indicate that it is most important to consider coachee-related factors when selecting participants for coaching programs. Although every coachee is a unique individual, the findings give us tools by which organizations and coaches can work in partnership to design and develop more effective coaching programs, which are a primary mechanism by which organizations foster adaptability to change and sustainability to manage the complexities of modern workplace. Additionally, in order to maximize the value of coaching for both the organization and the coachee, coaching should also be treated as a strategic development initiative, with progress being monitored throughout the intervention, and outcomes evaluated systematically.\nFuture research: We recommend that replication of this study be carried out with a larger and more diverse sample. As the supporting evidence for organizational change is still largely anecdotal, more effort needs to be put into establishing what organizational changes can be associated with a coaching intervention. This study was constrained in drawing a link between coaching and improved business performance, as few executives perform tasks themselves that directly impact on the development and delivery of an organization's products and services. Additionally, the more interdependent the executive's actions are with others (e.g. direct reports, peers, and immediate supervisor), the harder it is for coaching that focusses on the individual to be related to organizational outcomes. Future research may strengthen our study's findings by using an external measure of effectiveness (e.g. including actual financial benefits to the organization associated with coaching).To conclude, further investigation should be conducted on the impact of coaching as a mean to accelerate MD to foster development of organizations toward sustainability. Without a strong theoretical and empirical foundation, executive coaching runs the risk of becoming a passing fad in the burgeoning MD industry.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - Executive coaching is gaining in popularity as a management developmental activity which facilitates organisational change for sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships among coachee feedback receptivity, pre-training motivation, learning goal orientation, developmental self-efficacy, self-reported job performance improvement, self-awareness, task performance and affective commitment in terms of executive coaching effectiveness as a form of management development.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A non-randomised controlled trial research design was conducted to examine the hypothesized relationships among coachee characteristics and executive coaching effectiveness, as reflected in greater levels of individual outcomes in corporate Israel.\nFindings: - A significant interaction between learning goal orientation and pre-training motivation on improvement in job self-reported performance was found. Additionally, a negative relationship was found between learning goal orientation and improvement in self-reported job performance among coachees with low levels of pre-training motivation. Finally, self-efficacy demonstrates a positive relationship with job performance improvement.\nOriginality/value: - This research provides greater insights about the type of individual outcomes executive coaching should achieve, and under which conditions coaching is likely to be more beneficial for participants. This research has value for designing and implementing coaching programmes to drive sustainable development and innovation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Lifelong learning: reflections of a junior doctor
|
[
"Medical practice",
"Education",
"Lifelong learning",
"Hospitals"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: It is well known that university final exams are inappropriately named: they do not represent the end of learning. In most jobs flexibility is the key to success and survival depends on lifelong learning. Is this also true for medicine, an area in which traditionally there is high job security?\nLearning for doctors: Learning is an integral part of medical life. In medical school one fails to appreciate the onerous nature of postgraduate exams that working doctors have to sit. Furthermore getting these specialist qualifications merely forms an additional layer of learning, on top of so much other learning that as a doctor fresh out of medical school, one has to do. Much needs to be learned in one's first hospital jobs, in addition to how to treat patients:*the politics of the hospital (the best way to keep people onside, from the ward sister to radiology department clerks);*the mathematical logic of the on-call rota;*the geography of the hospital (how to find things, from the human resources department to the pulmonary function test laboratory);*the diplomatic skills of getting what you want (a specialist's opinion) when it is required (yesterday);*the presentational skills of impressing at grand rounds; and*the academic skills of how to read (and write) papers and the time management skills of getting sleep ... the curriculum seems endless.When lifelong learning is extolled as an apparently new idea in medical education, one wonders whether educationalists have ever spent five minutes in the company of a junior doctor.What is learned at medical school has had to change. Fact-intensive syllabi and the short-term examination-driven nature of medical learning of years past are now not considered the best ways to equip medics to cope with the pace of change of medical practice today. The modern medic is at risk of being overwhelmed by the wealth of ever-changing information. Thus generic skills are needed, such as how to learn. Furthermore some aspects of medical training, such as communication skills, were thought to have been neglected in the past. The objectives of medical curricula have therefore necessarily widened.\nChanges in learning: Methods of teaching have also changed. Didactic imparting of facts in a lecture theatre is less in vogue, as it is recognized that other means are more suited to teaching of skills and attitudes, such as workshops and small-group problem-solving exercises.Such changes in the \"what\" and the \"how\" of learning are necessary, and therefore welcome. They will produce better doctors. However other trends are less welcome. The degree to which a doctor's learning activities have to be measured will increase. In the UK, ongoing changes (\"Modernizing Medical Careers\") are reducing the importance of set-piece exams and introducing more continuous means of measuring competence. The evidence-driven world in which we live requires that medical students and doctors can show that they are learning. Logbooks, portfolios, appraisal folders and revalidation dossiers will rule the day. Pressure for the formalized accounting of education derives from many factors. A few high profile cases of negligent medical care have perhaps created the belief that recording learning for all may catch errant doctors in the future.The familiarity of the modern governments with the idea of lifelong learning and the liking of the present UK government to legislate promote the trend. Furthermore medical education has been established as an academic specialty, which may reflect a desire to support personal and professional development. However all these factors inadvertently serve to create \"learning by prescription\". When learning is measured, targets made and evidence of learning required, motivation changes. Learning risks becoming an exercise in meeting demands with logbook-led learning risks stifling the value, fun, energy and depth that should characterize medical education.Has learning ever been motivated by genuine interest and an altruistic desire to provide the best care for patients? Put on rose-tinted spectacles and one could be envious of medical education in the past, when one could imagine self-generated enthusiasm to teach and learn was prevalent.\nThe challenge: Such enthusiasm does seem to exude from a significant number of medical teachers today - they love their subjects. The danger is that this love will be lost. The medical profession cannot wriggle out of modern circumstances by appeal to some bygone golden age. The challenge is there to satisfy the needs and fears of the public and to mould training to modern medicine. Yet the extent to which learning becomes an exercise in ticking boxes should be minimized. Learning how to learn is not the only tenet of training modern doctors. Inspiring the desire to learn is also crucial. Such old-fashioned notions should not be lost amongst jargon and paperwork.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - The aim of this paper is investigate the importance of lifelong learning in the area of medicine.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper examines changes in methods of learning and challenges to educators today.\nFindings: - The paper finds that today there is a pressure for the formalized accounting of education with a few high profile cases of negligent medical care which have perhaps created the belief that recording learning for all may catch errant doctors in the future. It is suggested that learning risks becoming an exercise in meeting demands, but inspiring the desire to learn is also crucial.\nOriginality/value: - The paper provides a useful opinion on lifelong learning for the medical profession.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Theoretical perspectives on public entrepreneurship
|
[
"Public entrepreneurship",
"New policy arenas",
"Animateurs",
"Space and place"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: There is limited understanding of enterprise practices in the public sector and consequently few new theoretical contributions to this field. Case study material exists but is still largely located within organizational boundaries. This paper acknowledges a growing body of work within formal, regulatory top down, Weberian, functionalist organizations and moves the unit of analysis into new \"loci\" or \"arenas\" in which public service delivery now takes place, i.e. between public service entrepreneurs and other collaborators across organizational boundaries.\nPublic sector entrepreneurship research: the story so far: Historically the \"reinventing government\" literature, initially popularized by Osborne and Gaebler (1992), stimulated later discussions and debates on downsizing, reducing the size of government, reengineering or redesigning government processes and activities. The total quality movement that incorporated continuous improvement was also influential in government circles and led (in the UK at least) to initiatives such as: Market testing; Contracting out; Best Value; Better Government; Total Place, and the need to raise service quality standards for service through stakeholder management, bottom-up reform and increased scrutiny. In reinventing, reengineering and re-imagining the state, public employees were empowered to effect innovative solutions to \"customer\" problems and needs, and in doing so were encouraged to act entrepreneurially. Privatization, under New Public Management (NPM) reforms also led, in many cases, to enhanced entrepreneurial engagement with the commercial and private sector, either to leverage resources or capacities, or wholly reconfigure service delivery. NPM exemplified a new way of re-organizing public sector organizations to bring their management processes closer to business methods (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994, p. 9), and in doing so led many public managers to work more entrepreneurially with private sector counterparts. New Public Governance (NPG) arguably the successor to NPM is regarded as embodying a public management style dominated by co-operation among government levels and between public and non-state actors and refers to sustaining co-ordination and coherence among a wide variety of actors with different purposes and objectives such as political actors and institutions, corporate interests, civil society and transnational governments (Osborne et al., 2013). NPG, like NPM, created new opportunities for enterprise and innovation, in that lots of novel approaches and ways of thinking about delivering public services became the norm.\nQuality service provision and diminishing resource: A wider range of literature can be accessed from multi-disciplinary scholarly perspectives to integrate concepts from management sciences, entrepreneurship, geography, anthropology, public administration, economics and social policy literatures to reflect on diverse theoretical and methodological approaches for uncovering data in this field of enquiry (Liddle, 2016).\nImages of entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is conceptualized as a manageable process with underlying dimensions of innovativeness, risk-taking and proactivity but public-sector organizations are often conceptualized as monopolistic entities facing captive demand, enjoying guaranteed resources and levels of financing, and being relatively immune from external influences. This stereotype is quite inaccurate, as the contemporary public-sector organization faces unprecedented demands from a society that grows more complex by the day. One stream of entrepreneurship research suggests that entrepreneurship represents an effective strategic response to environmental turbulence. For Morris and Jones (1999) public entrepreneurship is \"a process of creating value for citizens by bringing together unique combinations of public/private resources to exploit social opportunities\" though there is limited empirical research on the key elements or corresponding dimensions. Imprecision on concepts is unsurprising, given that the public interest is difficult to identify, and changes over time. Moreover, the institutional context is complex, as is the unit of analysis, due to the variety of stakeholders involved in creating public value. However, Klein et al. (2014, p. 16) offer a broader and more robust definition as:Public organizations are usefully analyzed as entities that create and capture value in both the private and public sectors, as the public sector can act entrepreneurially by creating or leveraging bundles of capabilities to shape subsequent entrepreneurial action. This involves complex interactions among public and private actors, and co-evolutionary processes.\nSome recent research on public sector entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship research contains thousands of definitions and conceptual frameworks to aid understanding, yet there is little clear agreement on how to research the topic and from which perspective. There is now an emerging body of work on social, community (Somerville and McElwee, 2011) and public entrepreneurship. On the latter, maybe there is a need to rethink how the phenomenon can be conceptualized and studied in a more systematic fashion from various social science perspectives and management disciplines and theories. In the same way that public leadership has been broadly defined to encapsulate political, civic and bureaucratic/administrative elements and possiby managerial, technocratic and professional leadership, it might be argued that the same categories apply within the field of public entrepreneurship (T'Hart, 2014).\nDiscussion: The importance of public entrepreneurs in working alongside a multitude of stakeholders to deal with numerous global and internal environment forces (Gomes et al., 2010) has been stressed; primarily amongst these are on-going budgetary and fiscal constraints. The pressures for reform, from above and below, have forced them to work in partnership with other agencies and actors to develop novel ways of determining delivery, evaluation and measurement of services (Liddle, 2016). Creating public/ social value is now an essential part of a comprehensive approach to thinking about continuous improvement and a way of understanding how modern governance can deliver effective public services to wider society. One way of ensuring that this happens is to be open to new ways of transforming governance and public service delivery in co-production with stakeholders. Moreover, there is an expectation of on-going re-invention, re-assessment and re-imagining a future public service, due to the likelihood of further limited state intervention and a need to a rethink all operations, systems and ways of doing things (Brown and Osborne, 2013). Public services have changed cultures, behaviors and ways of doing things to become more akin to private and commercial sectors of the economy, but more recently, have involved civic and community/voluntary sectors in working together to solve \"wicked\" issues (Liddle, 2016). There is general acceptance that no one agency alone can solve the huge economic, social and environmental problems across the globe, and that states must look beyond their narrow confines to seek collaborative solutions to societal ills. There are few ready-made answers to some of the urgent and critical issues facing society.\nConclusion: Undoubtedly, there is a huge literature on private and commercial sector entrepreneurship, and this is understandable when viewed from the perspective of a body of work with a strong Schumpeterian legacy. However, are existing models still appropriate to explain contemporaneous state transformations, in particular the retreat of the state in many policy fields, and the partnership engagement of other business and civic organizations? In public entrepreneurship research, it is imperative to look beyond existing orthodoxies and find new multi-disciplinary, explanatory frameworks, to explain innovation, creativity and enterprise practices. Existing research has failed to examine where there might be numerous opportunities for transformation, as well as the key actors and agencies driving change. There is little evidence to show how rules are changing, what the key constraints on public entrepreneurship are, or the types of novel approaches to creative use of resources and capabilities.\n",
"role": "user"
},
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"content": "Purpose: The interest in entrepreneurship in the public sector is recognized as an emergent phenomenon in the field of entrepreneurship. Existing theoretical work is limited in helping understand how entrepreneurship in public agencies occurs. The paper aims to discuss this issue.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This is a conceptual paper which develops the literature.\nFindings: Building on the work of Klein et al. (2010) this paper contributes to theoretical development by providing an overview of public sector entrepreneurship (PSE). Although, there are similar features shared by private and PSE, it is proposed that there are significant differences between them, particularly in that public sector enterprise can be seen as entrepreneurship without entrepreneurs.\nResearch limitations/implications: As a conceptual paper on PSE the literature is predominantly UK based.\nPractical implications: This paper brings entrepreneurship from the periphery to the core of the theoretical debates, as it is an under-researched area. Moreover, theoretical development has implications for policy and practice as existing research is disparate.\nOriginality/value: The paper considers how entrepreneurship and enterprise in the public sector is formulated. The significance of the paper is to highlight the importance of public entrepreneurs in working alongside a multitude of stakeholders to deal with numerous global and internal environment forces ethically amongst on-going budgetary and fiscal constraints. The contribution is the highlighting of the difficulties and concerns when uniting the discourse of market-based entrepreneurship and the discourse of public sector service provision.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Learning approaches, demographic factors to predict academic outcomes
|
[
"Higher education",
"Student",
"Learning approach",
"Academic outcome",
"ASSIST",
"Demographic factor"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Academic performance is the extent to which a student has achieved their educational goals. Academic performance can also be understood as how well a student does in university. Poor grade means bad academic performance. An improvement in grade implies better academic performance. Academic performance in one subject is usually, but not limited to, measured by homework, assignments, tests, quizzes, examinations, and class participation.\nAim: The aim of this current study was to assess the empirical relationship between the three learning approaches and demographic variables of gender, parental education, admission mark, math preference in high school to academic outcome in math or math-related subjects using multiple regression analysis.\nMethodology: Participants\nResults: Descriptive statistics\nDiscussion: In this present study we investigated the effect of learning approaches, admission mark, and demographic factors on academic outcome. Students with higher admission marks tend to perform better at math or math-related subjects. Then, some questions may naturally arise for future researches regarding Vietnam context:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to predict academic outcome in math and math-related subjects using learning approaches and demographic factors.\nDesign/methodology/approach: ASSIST was used as the instrumentation to measure learning approaches. The study was conducted in the International University of Vietnam with 616 participants. An exploratory factor analysis, reliability, and correlation tests were performed before multiple regression analyses were carried out using SPSS 20.0. t-Tests to further discover relationships between learning approaches and demographic factors were also conducted.\nFindings: Females are more inclined to strategic approach, but not deep or surface by comparison with males. There is no relationship between parental education and learning approaches. Students with math preference in high school have tendency to use deep and strategic approach, but stay away from surface in higher education. Surface approach and admission mark have relationships with academic outcome; but gender, parental education, and math preference in high school do not have.\nResearch limitations/implications: This model can explain only 15.5 percent of the variation of academic outcome. In addition, it may not be applicable to predict academic outcomes of subjects which are not math related.\nOriginality/value: Surface approach has negative impact on academic outcome in math or math-related subjects, but the opposite is true for admission mark. Additionally, deep and strategic approach have no relationship with academic outcome.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Supplier relations impact within the UK automotive industry
|
[
"Responsiveness",
"Relationships",
"Supplier relations",
"UK automotive industry"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: When the UK economy hit recession in 2008, the automotive industry had been most exposed with devastating effects (Hammond, 2011, The Independent, 2008). Production output plummeted in 2009 with production levels reaching an all time low, resulting in various production down days and in some cases redundancy. From 2007 to 2008, there was a reduction in car production of -5.7 percent, which decreased further from 2008 to 2009 to -30.9 percent. Within 2008 production was reduced at automotive manufacturers such as Nissan, and completely stopped at Ford, Aston Martin and Vauxhall (Guardian, 2009). Unfortunately, automotive manufacturers were not the only sufferers during recession, but their supply chain partners, suppliers and small companies also experienced the worst.\n2. A literature review on supplier relations and competitive advantage within the automotive industry: The importance of business to business (b2b) relationships has been given greater importance within recent years (Kannan and Tan 2006). However, several theorists argue that a competitive advantage can be achieved through strong, strategic, integrated and collaborative supplier relationships (Hammer, 2001; Narasimhan and Nair, 2005; Leenders et al., 2006; Tan et al., 2010).\n3. Methodology: This study will use comparative case studies as indicated by Ghauri and Gronhaug (2010). Saunders et al. (2007) outlines the rationale for the use of multiple cases as being the ability to establish if findings from one case are common in another case. Furthermore, this may overcome one of the key criticisms of case study research, which is that findings cannot be generalized (Yin, 2009).\n4. Findings, analysis and discussion: The research approach was comparative case study research and as such nine face-to-face interviews were undertaken. Seven of the interviews were of vehicle manufacturer suppliers, and two of the interviews were production control staff and the vehicle manufacturer, VMUK. As mentioned, the primary research undertaken was done so with anonymity therefore within this paper, the findings will be discussed in relation to Supplier A, B, C, etc. Furthermore, the mention of any organization names will be removed, with other vehicle manufacturers being referred to as OEM1, OEM2, etc. The length of the interviews lasted 1 h and was all transcribed in full.\n5. Conclusions: Literature argues that competitive advantage can be achieved through responsiveness, and that responsiveness is critical during a period of volatility and market uncertainty. Furthermore, literature also argues that competitive advantage can be achieved through positive supplier relations. This study intended to investigate both of these arguments in the literature to test if this is the case. Because of that the research question of this research was to investigate if the impact of the recent recession was on both the automotive manufacturer and their suppliers, or not.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of the recent recession on both the automotive manufacturer as well as their suppliers. The research aims to identify if the impact has been the same at each of the organizations, or if there has been a difference.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper carries out a case study research, into the need for suppliers to increase their responsiveness following recession and the impact this has had on supplier relations. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were carried out at the vehicle manufacturer with two members of production control staff from VMUK plus seven production control staff at seven tier 1 suppliers to VMUK.\nFindings: Supply chains have been enhanced through an increased level of responsiveness, following the economic downturn and supplier relations have had a positive impact post-recession.\nResearch limitations/implications: Literature argues that competitive advantage can be achieved through responsiveness, and that responsiveness is critical during a period of volatility and market uncertainty. Furthermore, literature also argues that competitive advantage can be achieved through positive supplier relations. This study investigates both of these arguments.\nOriginality/value: This study concludes that the positive supplier relations offer a competitive advantage when there is no cost advantage to be found elsewhere. Furthermore, this study concludes that as a direct impact of the recession, supplier relations have improved within the case studies investigated.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Shopping motivation as a moderator in the retail service evaluation
|
[
"Customer satisfaction",
"Hedonic",
"Moderator effects",
"Perceived value",
"Sacrifice",
"Service quality",
"Shopping motivation",
"Utilitarian",
"Service quality assurance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: An executive summary for managers and executive readers can be found at the end of this article.\nIntroduction: Prior research found that sacrifice, service quality, value, and satisfaction together influence customers\nConceptual framework and hypotheses: Comprehensive service evaluation model\nMethod: Pilot study 1\nData analysis and findings: Confirmatory Factor Analysis with Maximum Likelihood Method using AMOS 6.0 on the measurement model shows good psychometric properties of all the scales with high loadings (\nDiscussion and managerial implications: As hypothesized for the SAC-VAL link (H1), shoppers in utilitarian retail categories (departmental stores, electronics, and telecom services) associate their sacrifice in terms of time, money and effort with their perceived value to a greater extent compared to shoppers in hedonic retail categories (fashion, jewelry, and cosmetics). Managers of retail categories that are more utilitarian (e.g. electronics, supermarkets, convenience stores, DIY stores) may need to focus on reducing the perceived sacrifice of their customers. This can be achieved by training front-line employees to work more efficiently, reduce customer waiting time, improving service turnaround, having clear displays and signage, or even redesigning the servicescape to facilitate service provision and minimize effort for customers. Deploying more staff to assist customers, answer questions and direct them to the correct shelves will help to save customers\nLimitations and future research: Despite its important conceptual and managerial contributions, this study also has some limitations. First, it examines behavioral intentions instead of actual behavior because actual future purchase behavior is difficult to track in a cross-sectional survey. However, this may not be a major concern in this study as it involves frequently purchased products, and prior research shows that shoppers are able to predict their future behavior quite accurately in categories with frequent, routine purchase decisions (Chandon et al., 2005).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Prior research explores the moderating effects of age and gender on the relationships in the comprehensive service evaluation model, but it ignores the role of contextual variables. The study aims to test the moderating effect of an important contextual variable (shopping motivation) on the service evaluation process.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Responses were collected from 2,727 shoppers in six retail categories (cosmetics, electronics, fashion, jewelry, telecommunication services, and department stores) using a mall-intercept approach and all the hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling technique.\nFindings: The study finds that relationships among sacrifice, value, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions are stronger in retail categories with utilitarian vs hedonic shopping motivation. In contrast, the relationships among service quality, value, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions are stronger in hedonic vs utilitarian retail categories.\nResearch limitations/implications: This paper uses a cross-sectional survey to test all the hypotheses, hence it cannot study actual shopping behavior in future. Moreover, it examines shopping motivation at a retail category level and not at individual shopper level. The results may also vary based on cross-cultural differences in customer expectations and perceptions.\nPractical implications: The findings would help retail managers to identify relevant service dimensions, to improve perceived service quality, customer satisfaction, and value for the shoppers in their stores, which in turn may lead to more favorable behavioral intentions.\nOriginality/value: This paper offers new insights on the differences in expectations, perceptions, and evaluations of shoppers in hedonic vs utilitarian retail categories, and introduces the moderating role of shopping motivation, an important contextual variable.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
An instrument to measure factors of strategic manufacturing effectiveness based on Hayes and Wheelwright's model
|
[
"Manufacturing strategy",
"Strategic manufacturing effectiveness",
"Hayes‐Wheelwright's four stage model",
"Instruments",
"Manufacturing systems",
"Organizational effectiveness"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: In the sophisticated markets of today, manufacturing companies are under tremendous pressure and it is desired that manufacturing is managed strategically to gain competitive edge in the market. However, the potential of manufacturing has generally been ignored by the top management and a function that could be important to corporate strategy seems a liability (Skinner, 1969).Hayes and Wheelwright (H-W) (1984) developed a four stage model to help identify the strategic role of the manufacturing function. In the H-W model, manufacturing units in stages 1 and 2 represent reactiveness of manufacturing that is mainly concerned with catching up to the competition, those in stage 3 provide credible support to the company's business strategy and units in stage 4 pursue a manufacturing based competitive edge. The four stage model can help determining a manufacturing function's strength vis-'-vis the competitors and hence possible direction to pursue.Despite its appeal and simplicity, inadequate research is reported in the literature on application of the model. Also there is paucity of literature showing the operationalization of the model's concepts in practice (Barnes and Rowbotham, 2004). Operationalizing the model can help manufacturing managers assess the strategic manufacturing effectiveness and pinpoint the potential areas for improvement.Barnes and Rowbotham (2004) developed a questionnaire and administered to UK industries to test the H-W's model for assessing the strategic role of operations. They pointed out that the managers had difficulties with the questionnaire in assessing the strategic role of their manufacturing/operations. Later, Rowbotham and Barnes (2004) framed another questionnaire for the same and assessed the reliability of the instrument according to inter-class correlation method using 11 responses from three small manufacturing companies. It is to be noted that this is the first paper which assesses the reliability of the instrument in the context of H-W model. However, the authors found that half of their questions were not statistically reliable and therefore suggested the need for further research in order to develop an instrument for exploring the four stage concept. Further, despite widespread acceptance of H-W's four stage model, there is little research that examined the underlying factors of the model. To fill the research gap, this paper makes the following contributions:* After an in-depth examination of the H-W model, this paper identifies four factors that affect the strategic role of manufacturing. Accordingly, questionnaire for each factor is developed. The objective while framing questions has been to make these questions interpretable by practicing managers keeping up with the spirit of H-W model. The questionnaire developed in this paper differs from the published work (Rowbotham and Barnes, 2004; Bates et al., 1995; Newman and Hanna, 1996; Hum, 2000; Barnes and Rowbotham, 2004) in one major way. Authors in the past developed questions in which each question (using a Likert type scale) aims to identify if the company possesses features of a specific stage of H-W model. Each question in the present paper is not stage specific but captures the characteristics along the continuum of four stages.* The reliability and validity of the measuring instrument are assessed by analyzing the responses of manufacturing managers of 28 companies. Also, the instrument is validated considering the external view of manufacturing capability in the form of production competence (PC) (Vickery et al., 1993).The paper is organized as follows. Section 2 provides brief review of relevant literature for evaluating the strategic manufacturing effectiveness based on H-W's four stage model. In Section 3, methodology for developing an instrument to measure the strategic manufacturing effectiveness is discussed. The administration of the instrument in the case companies is provided in Section 4 followed by analysis of measures in Section 5. Section 6 summarizes the findings and outlines the future research directions.\n2 Related literatures: Hayes and Wheelwright (1984) developed a four stage model for analyzing the strategic role of manufacturing function of a company with each stage exhibiting different characteristics which are briefly stated below:* Stage 1. In these organizations, potential of manufacturing is underestimated and top management believes that manufacturing cannot influence the competitive success of the organization. Manufacturing managers spend most of their time in managing day-to-day concerns such as machine breakdown, quality and delivery problems, productivity and supplier related problems. They consider themselves as incapable in making the right strategic manufacturing decisions and seek help from outside whenever the situation arises. Top management perceives that manufacturing capability of the organization can be enhanced by investing in new equipments and technologies and gives little emphasis to improving infrastructure such as planning and measurement system and work force policies.* Stage 2. Management of stage 2 organizations pursues long term development programs with the aim to achieve parity with their competitors in workforce, equipments, processes, and practices as a way to compete in the market. They emphasize on productivity enhancement and economies of scale by following standard practices and consider capital investments as the favored means for gaining competitive advantage. Moreover, they rely on sources outside manufacturing to provide improvements in their processes.* Stage 3. In these organizations, management recognizes the value of having a manufacturing strategy. They employ plant charter and mission statements in guiding manufacturing activities and decisions to support and strengthen the company's competitive position. Advanced manufacturing technologies such as, CAD, CAM, FMS and practices like just in time, total quality management and lean manufacturing are introduced when these promise to enhance the product.* Stage 4. These organizations expect their manufacturing capabilities to play a major role in fulfilling the company's strategic objectives. Stage 4 organizations invest on ongoing in-house process and product improvements that enable them to be the leader in the sector. This approach provides these organizations long term competitive benefits as competitors find difficult to imitate such proprietary products and processes. To a significant extent, manufacturing strategy drives the competitive strategy of such organizations and the manufacturing function is involved in making major decisions of the company.Hayes and Wheelwright (1984) highlighted that a company's position at any stage along the continuum can ascend or descend from one stage to another. Chase and Hayes (1991) extended concepts of H-W model to the service firms. Cruz and Rodriguez (2008) used the theoretical framework of Hayes and Wheelwright (1984) to evaluate the effectiveness of the operations strategy.Some authors have attempted to operationalize the H-W's four stage model. Bates et al. (1995) using a questionnaire on Likert scale categorized 41 US manufacturing plants according to the four stage model while they explored the links of manufacturing strategy with organizational culture. These researchers could demonstrate a relationship between stages 3 and 4 and organizational culture but found their questions relating to stages 1 and 2 unreliable. Newman and Hanna (1996) conducted a survey (19 respondents) to explore the possible relationship between environmental management and manufacturing strategy employing the H-W model. They developed two complementary models by administering their open ended questionnaire and stated that environmental issues are important for the development and implementation of manufacturing strategy. Their results indicate where the companies lie in the H-W model. Hum and Leow (1996) made an attempt to operationalize the H-W model as a strategic manufacturing audit tool. They tested it within manufacturing operations of 55 Singaporean electronic companies. However, their questionnaire was based on the characteristics of stages 2 and 4 suggested by Hayes et al.'s (1988) and do not probe for stages 1 and 3. They assigned an overall stage for the industry sector studied to lie between stages 2 and 3.In an in-depth case study, Hum (2000) used the four stage model in a third party logistic service provider company and placed the company at stage 4. Swamidass (2001) developed a framework and established that the process of manufacturing strategy development and the strategic role of manufacturing are related to each other. Gilgeous (2001) through empirical research provided a model which shows the important factors that directly affect strategic manufacturing effectiveness, how they relate to each other, and how they can be measured. Swamidass et al. (2001) reported in their findings that manufacturing managers are less likely to participate in the various stages of strategy process than marketing managers. Dangayach and Deshmukh (2003) assessed the stages of four industry sectors in India according to H-W model and using the average score, they found that these were predominantly in stage 2.Barnes and Rowbotham (2004) developed a questionnaire to classify an organization's operation according to H-W's four stage model and tested its usefulness as a research instrument. They conducted survey among practicing managers in UK from both manufacturing and service organizations. They found that only about half of the respondents could provide an assessment of their organization's operation that was consistent with the logic of H-W model and therefore they questioned the applicability of the model in UK context. They suggested refinement in the questionnaire and testing H-W's model in different contexts as some future research directions. Rowbotham and Barnes (2004) formulated questionnaire to classify the manufacturing companies according to different stages of the H-W model and applied it to three small manufacturing companies. They checked, for the first time, the reliability of 30 questions according to inter-class correlation method where half of their questions were not found to be statistically reliable. They suggested further research to develop a more reliable questionnaire for exploring the four stage concept.Thus, it is evident from the literature that even though H-W's four stage model is very popular and widely accepted among academicians, its application in real life has been limited. One possible reason for lack of use of this concept in practice is non-availability of reliable instrument capturing H-W concept. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by developing an instrument for assessing the strategic role of manufacturing function as per H-W model.\n3 Construction of instrument: The principle of instrument design described in Saraph et al. (1989) is adapted to develop measures for the construct and is shown in Table I.In Step 1 - literature review, a book on Restoring our Competitive Edge by Hayes and Wheelwright (1984) and various research articles directly related to this work were looked into (Wheelwright and Hayes, 1985; Bates et al., 1995; Newman and Hanna, 1996; Hum and Leow, 1996; Hum, 2000; Swamidass, 2001; Gilgeous, 2001; Dangayach and Deshmukh, 2003; Barnes and Rowbotham, 2004; Rowbotham and Barnes, 2004). These papers have already been reviewed in the previous section.Step 2 requires:* identification of items;* grouping of items into factors; and* development of questions and rating scale.(a) Identification of items\n4 Instrument administration: The aim of this research is to design an instrument that assesses the strategic manufacturing effectiveness by measuring manufacturing manager's perceptions on four factors at the manufacturing plant level. Based on convenience of the researcher and the willingness of the managers to participate, case companies were selected for this exercise. Personal contact and contact through friends helped in identifying these companies. Managers were asked to provide information about their organization for the research instrument and were ensured about the secrecy and anonymity of their responses. They were requested to mail the completed questionnaire to the researcher. A total of 31 participants from 28 manufacturing companies completed the questionnaire. Table II provides the profile of case companies covering diverse fields like automobile, power, pharmaceutical, equipments and machineries and railway coach. Also the companies are a mix of small scale, medium and large-scale with broad range of turnovers.\n5 Analysis and discussion: This section presents the reliability and validity analysis of the instruments.Reliability\n6 Summary and conclusion: Literature suggests the need of a more pragmatic, reliable and comprehensive set of requirements of factors that assess the strategic manufacturing effectiveness in accordance with the model of Hayes and Wheelwright. This study focuses on the development of an instrument to assess the strategic role of manufacturing based on H-W model. Keeping in view the H-W's four stage model, this paper develops 14 measures that assess the strategic manufacturing effectiveness through extensive literature review and the author's earlier experience with in-depth case study of a company. The measures are designed to capture the essence of the model keeping wordings simple and understandable to practicing manufacturing managers. Measures that appear similar are grouped to form factors and this resulted in identification of four factors that affect the strategic role of manufacturing.The reliability and validity of the instrument were tested empirically using responses from managers from 28 manufacturing units that were found to be satisfactory. The Cronbach' a values of four measures were in the range of 0.575-0.705, and the multiple correlation coefficient between four measures of strategic manufacturing effectiveness and the PC was 0.801.The results of first of its kind research concerning the measures of manufacturing effectiveness according to H-W model are encouraging. Manufacturing managers can assess the strategic manufacturing effectiveness of their company by operationalizing the model. Also, this can help managers assess the strengths and weaknesses in manufacturing for making the necessary improvements. However, further research may be required to validate this instrument.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The four stage model of Hayes and Wheelwright (H-W) describing the strategic role of manufacturing function is widely accepted in the literature. However, there is little research that has examined the underlying factors of the H-W model. This paper aims to fill this research gap by developing an instrument for measuring factors of strategic manufacturing effectiveness of a company based on the H-W model.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The general principle of designing an instrument is followed in this paper. Attributes of strategic manufacturing effectiveness are identified from critical analysis of the original text of Wheelwright and Hayes, and Chase and Hayes. Then these attributes are grouped into four factors: catalysts of manufacturing initiatives; proactiveness of manufacturing function; attitude of top management towards manufacturing; and nature of manufacturing initiatives. Question for each attribute along continuum of four stages in the H-W model is developed. The reliability and validity of the instrument are assessed through responses obtained from managers of 28 manufacturing units.\nFindings: - The empirical evidence supports that the proposed instrument has quite good reliability (Cronbach's a for different factors in the range of 0.575 to 0.705) and validity (multiple correlation coefficient between factors and manufacturing performance of 0.801).\nPractical implications: - This instrument can be used to position the companies along the continuum of four stages. Also, this can help managers assess the strengths and weaknesses in manufacturing for making the improvements.\nOriginality/value: - This study is one of its kind which focuses on the development of an instrument to assess the strategic role of manufacturing based on the H-W model.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Measuring mobile learning readiness: scale development and validation
|
[
"M-learning readiness",
"Mobile computer anxiety",
"Online learning readiness",
"Technology readiness"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: With the advance of mobile technologies, users are able to access to multimedia materials on the devices such as mobile phone, tablet, and laptop in the present day (Lu and Su, 2009). The richness of information accessed via mobile technologies has altered people's lifestyles, and the means for people to learn have been diversified (Wang and Li, 2012). The portability of mobile devices enables learners to gain knowledge beyond the restrictions of time and space (Cheong and Park, 2005). With the ownership of mobile devices growing explosively and the prevalence of wireless networks (e.g. Wi-Fi and 3G), mobile learning (m-learning) has been a popular trend and has played a supplementary role or even a primary role in formal and informal education (Huang and Chiu, 2014).\n2. Literature review: 2.1. Technology readiness\n3. Development of the MLR Scale: 3.1. Methods\n4. Discussions: 4.1. Implications for research\n5. Conclusion and limitations: With the enhancement of computing capability and the augmentation of the embedded equipment (Jeng et al., 2010; Wang, 2007), portable mobile devices have become important communication media for delivering rich contents, contributing to the development of m-learning. While learning via mobile devices is on an emerging tide, the factors which determine the effectiveness of m-learning are the concerns for both researchers and practitioners. One major factor which positively relates to m-learning effectiveness is the learners' readiness for m-learning. To our knowledge, however, the nature of MLR has never been explored carefully and this void may deter the development of m-learning theory and practice. Therefore, this study aims to develop a generic measurement of individuals' psychological readiness for m-learning. The results showed that MLR can be parsimoniously measured with 19 items and is structured with three dimensions as m-learning self-efficacy, optimism, and self-directed learning. All the desired psychometric properties of the MLR scale were satisfied.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Based on the literature on technology readiness, online learning readiness, and mobile computer anxiety, the purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a mobile learning readiness (MLR) scale which can be used to assess individuals' readiness to embrace m-learning systems.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Based on previous literature, this study conceptualizes the construct of MLR and generates an initial 55-item MLR scale. A total of 319 responses are collected from a three-month internet-based survey. Based on the sample data, this study provides an empirical validation of the MLR construct and its underlying dimensionality, and develops a generic MLR scale with desirable psychometric properties, including reliability, content validity, criterion-related validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity.\nFindings: This study develops and validates a 19-item MLR scale with three dimensions (i.e. m-learning self-efficacy, optimism, and self-directed learning). A tentative norm of the MLR scale is presented, and the scale's theoretical and practical applications are also discussed.\nOriginality/value: This study is a pioneering effort to develop and validate a MLR scale. The results of this study are helpful to researchers in building m-learning theories and to educators in assessing and promoting individuals' acceptance of m-learning systems.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The development of a work environment framework for ISO 9000 standard success
|
[
"ISO 9000",
"SMEs",
"Work environment"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Success within any manufacturing enterprise can be influenced by its management and administrative leadership, together with the work environment under which it operates. Higher degrees of success in applying modern administrative systems can relate to improved production efficiency and the greater achievement of quality. At the beginning of the twentieth century and thanks to the contributions of recognized quality pioneers: Philip Crosby, W. Edwards Deming, Armand Feigenbaum, Kaoru Ishikawa, and Joseph Juran, the modern concept of \"quality management\" was developed. They then laid the base of comprehensive Quality Management Systems (QMS), which can be characterized by the following key principles (ISO, 2005):\n2. Literature review: This exploratory research work aims to build upon existing literature, to evaluate the effect of work environment on the successful implementation of ISO 9000. It further investigates potential solutions for the problems that may face SMEs when they are implementing ISO 9000, by developing a novel classification and integrated framework for work environment. Work environment is defined at a high-level within ISO 9000:2008 and deeper definitions (Hoyle, 2009) are commonly centred upon three primary factors: physical factors, which include temperature, noise, light, vibration, cleanliness, physical stress; social factors, that resulted from interactions between people and include religion, climate, education, peer pressure, culture; and lastly; and psychological factors, that have resulted from an individual's inner needs and external influences and include recognition, responsibility, achievement, advancement, reward, job security, interpersonal relations, leadership, affiliation, self-esteem,and occupational stress.\n3. Methodology and framework development: The investigative methodology for this research is centred upon a blended model, combining Bickman and Rog's (1998) descriptive research, with the experimental case approach advocated by Yin (1994). This approach has been selected as the topic of study is exploratory, with little prior research conducted. Furthermore, as the output framework conceptual, it is the author's desire to first ascertain if the proposed development is really feasible, prior to undertaking further investigations of increased depth and breadth. As such, descriptive research in the form of a literature review, industrial survey, and case studies are to be initially utilised to examine the problematic situation. This can be seen as a valid approach because a clear statement of \"what is\" is an essential prerequisite to understanding \"why it is so\" and \"what it might be\". Since the main thrust of this work is related to the improvement of ISO 9000 success levels and only this can be achieved in a real-life context this approach seems clearly justified. Case study research is especially appropriate for studying implementation practice and associated challenges (Yin, 1994). Several researchers (Voss et al., 2002) point out the strengths of case research, especially for allowing researchers to: document a phenomenon within its enterprise context; exploring the boundaries of a phenomenon; and integrate information from multiple sources.\n4. Findings and analysis: 4.1. Initial industrial survey findings\n5. Implications for practice and further research: 5.1. Prototype classification design\n6. Conclusions: From this initial research study, it is concluded:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present exploratory research with respect to the development of a novel classification and framework capable of evaluating the influence and maturity of work environment on the implementation of ISO 9000 standards within advanced engineering and manufacturing SMEs. Work environment definitions, references and factors are now common across a broad range of international quality standards, but these are not consistently defined or effectively assessed.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The successful implementation of international quality standards and models can be viewed as an important key for contemporary SMEs to maintain competitive advantage. As such this research aims to build upon existing literature and to examine the effect of work environment on the successful implementation of ISO 9000. An initial industrial survey is combined with an exploration of contemporary SME case studies, prior to the proposal of a novel classification and framework.\nFindings: Current work environment terminology is not consistent and capable of effective assessment. Internal SMEs motivation for ISO 9000 certification can lead to improved results than those pressured by external reasons. The deployment of an integrated work environment classification and framework may lead to tangible improvements to ISO 9000 and SME success.\nPractical implications: This investigation opens a further opportunity for research into the body of knowledge on manufacturing SME orientated quality management standards and systems. This research will be of particular interest to enterprise managers, practicing production managers, quality auditors, and human resource professionals, as it examines work environment factors that may drive improvements in competitive performance.\nOriginality/value: This is the first paper presented in open literature which investigates the wider concept of work environment with a manufacturing SME context, together with proposal of a novel work environment classification and framework approach.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Using local family farm products for school feeding programmes: effect on school menus
|
[
"Local food",
"Food policy",
"Food system",
"School feeding program",
"School food"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In 2013, it was estimated that 42 million children under age 5 worldwide were overweight. The health risks that accompany excess weight (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents and certain types of cancer) and the probability that excess weight developed during childhood continues to adulthood (WHO, 2014) have resulted in the implementation of strategies to promote healthier lifestyles in the child population. However, up until now there is no evidence that any country has managed to successfully combat the problem of overweight and obesity. On the contrary, obesity continues to increase, especially in developing countries (Ng et al., 2014). This situation can be attributed, in part, to changes in food production and commercialization brought about by globalization. This has resulted in an increase in the availability and accessibility of processed foods that seems to influence changes in the diet and health of the population (Hawkes, 2006). The low consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with 2.7 million deaths worldwide (WHO, 2002).\nMethodology: We approached the objective of this study from a qualitative and quantitative perspective. The qualitative study, based on open-ended interviews of key informants (KI) of the SFP, allowed us to establish the categories of analysis and to interpret the results of the quantitative study, which were based on the analysis of school menus before and after family farms began supplying SFPs.\nResults: Qualitative content analysis of interviews\nDiscussion: This study explored the effect of the use of food products from family farms on school menus of the SFP of a municipality in Southern Brazil. The opinion of KI and the menu analysis shows that the direct supply of foods from local family farms, which began with the implementation of the PAA, resulted in an improvement in the school meals of the studied municipality. Together with the increase in the quantity and variety of fresh and organic foods, there was a reduction in the offering of processed foods (concentrated foods). The changes related to the incorporation of foods from family farms can favorably affect SFPs.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of the use of food products from family farms on school menus of the school feeding program (SFP) of a municipality in Southern Brazil.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A qualitative content analysis was carried out of 16 key informant interviews involved in the SFP, or in agriculture production related to SFP planning, development and supply. The resulting categories were used to construct a quantitative analysis protocol for school menus for three years both prior to and after (n=130 days) procurement of the SFP with food from family farms. The studied variables were the presence (yes/no) of vegetables, fruits, legumes and concentrated foods. Monthly frequency and contrast of proportions were calculated for each variable during the years studied.\nFindings: The interviewees recognized that the proximity between food production and the school increased the variety of fresh, natural and organic foods in school menus. The direct supply of the SFP with foods from local family farms resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in the frequency of vegetables, fruits and legumes in school menus as well as a progressive reduction in concentrated foods.\nOriginality/value: The design of food and agriculture policy increases the availability of healthy foods in school menus and has beneficial results for promoting healthy meals in schools.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Do better governed firms enjoy a lower cost of equity capital?: Evidence from Spanish firms
|
[
"Corporate governance",
"Equity capital",
"Spain"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Understanding whether a higher quality of corporate governance affects firms' cost of equity capital is an important question of interest to academics, practitioners and regulators. There is a growing literature showing that investor protection or corporate governance enhance firm valuation (Claessens et al., 2002; LaPorta et al., 2002; Gompers et al., 2003; Klapper and Love, 2004; Durnev and Kim, 2005; Black et al., 2006). However, these studies typically assume that investor protection or corporate governance affect firm valuation by reducing expropriation by insiders and improving the expected cash flows that can be distributed to shareholders. Whether or not those mechanisms also affect the other determinant of firm value - i.e. the cost of equity capital - remains largely unknown1.Our analysis of the effects of corporate governance on the cost of equity capital is structured based on the theoretical literature that identifies and links specific elements of governance to a reduction in agency problems (see Shleifer and Vishny (1997) and Bushman and Smith (2001) for an overview). Within an agency theory framework, separation of ownership and control in corporate organizations creates information asymmetry problems between shareholders and managers that expose shareholders to agency risk. Information asymmetries arise in the equity market because dispersed shareholders cannot directly observe managers' effort, which creates moral hazard problems, or know the true economic value of the firm or the quality of management, which potentially creates adverse selection problems. Moral hazard and adverse selection problems result in agency risk that rational investors price in determining firms' cost of equity capital (Jensen and Meckling, 1976). Self-interested managerial behaviour can take several forms including over compensation, shirking, consumption of perquisites, and empire building, all of which increase agency risk. Rational investors demand a premium for bearing agency risk, effectively raising the firm's cost of equity capital. In this respect, corporate governance represents a set of mechanisms that are intended to reduce agency risk that results from information asymmetries. To the extent a strong governance attenuates the problems of adverse selection and moral hazard, we predict it will lower the firms' cost of equity. Weak governance, on the other hand, exposes shareholders to greater agency risk leading to a higher cost of equity.In this context, our paper investigates whether strong governance firms enjoy a lower cost of equity capital than weak governance firms. We capture the strength of each sample firm's governance environment using a summary measure that combines five board characteristics that have received widespread attention in corporate governance literature such as:1. board independence;2. board size;3. existence of both audit and nomination/remuneration committees;4. CEO duality; and5. independence of board committees.Our analysis is focused on Spain, which provides an interesting setting for this research for three reasons. First, there is a greater variation in the previous board characteristics in Spain than in the USA, especially in outside director representation in both full boards and board committees. In this respect, Ashbaugh-Skaife et al. (2006a) report that independent directors represent, on average, 67 per cent of the full board of directors for their sample of US firms for the period 1996-2002, whereas in Spain we report a 38 per cent of independent directors on the board for the period 2000-2004. Second, the corporate governance mechanisms in our sample period are mainly adopted by Spanish firms voluntarily since they are based on recommendations (e.g. the Olivencia Report, 1998) rather than be dictated by laws - as in the USA - which results in higher differences between Spanish firms in corporate governance practices. Finally, the existence of a sound corporate governance culture is much more recent in Spain as compared to other countries such as the USA and the UK. As a matter of fact, the first law establishing a compulsory audit committee for listed firms in Spain dates back to 2002 with the Law 44/2002 of Reform of the Financial System while the requirement for publishing an annual Corporate Governance Report for listed companies was first established in the 2003 Transparency Law (Law 26/2003).Based upon data collected in Spencer&Stuart surveys on board characteristics for Spanish firms, our analysis documents that our set of governance attributes has a significant incremental explanatory power for firms' cost of equity after controlling for well-known Fama and French (1992)'s risk factors (i.e. beta, size and market-to-book). Specifically, our results indicate that firms with better practices of corporate governance enjoy a statistically significant reduction in the cost of equity capital with respect to firms with weaker governance, even after controlling for differences in beta, size and market-to-book.The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. Section 2 reviews the literature on the role of governance in reducing cost of equity capital. Section 3 describes the governance attributes used in our study. Section 4 is devoted to the research design, presenting the cost of equity capital estimation procedure as well as the validation of the resulting estimates. Section 5 describes the sample and data sources. Section 6 presents our results. Finally, Section 7 concludes.\n2. Corporate governance and cost of equity capital: Recent theoretical literature in accounting and finance has been concerned with the relationship between corporate governance and the cost of equity capital. In this regard, Lambert et al. (2006) develop a theoretical framework that links accounting information system quality to the cost of equity capital in a multi-security CAPM setting. In the Lambert et al. (2006) framework, accounting information system quality includes not only the disclosures the firm makes to outsiders, but also the internal control systems and corporate governance policies that a firm has in place. They demonstrate that accounting information system quality has both direct and indirect effects on the cost of capital. The direct effect occurs because higher quality information reduces a firm's assessed covariances with other firms' cash flows leading to a lower cost of capital. The indirect effect occurs because the quality of corporate governance has an effect on a firm's real decisions, including the amount of firm cash flows that managers appropiate for themselves. In this respect, stronger governance decreases managers' appropriation of firm resources, which increases the ratio of a firm's expected future cash flows available to investors relative to the covariance of firm cash flows with the market leading to a lower cost of capital.An alternative view of the effects of governance on the cost of capital is provided in the theoretical work of Garmaise and Liu (2005). They demonstrate that the transfer of investment decision rights to management exposes shareholders to higher operating leverage because managers have a preference for actions such as empire building or over-investment that increases payoffs in good economic times, but exaggerates losses in bad economic times. They derive a prediction that ineffective corporate governance combined with dishonest management increases firms' exposure to systematic risk (beta) and provide empirical support for this prediction in an international setting.In a similar vein to Garmaise and Liu (2005), Albuquerque and Wang (2006) develop a dynamic general equilibrium model to study the asset pricing implications of imperfect investor protection. They posit that weaker investor protection increases managers' incentives to overinvest, which increases the volatity of stock price and increases the covariation between firm stock returns and consumption (systematic risk).Finally, Lombardo and Pagano (2002) extend the CAPM model to include compensation for the expected costs induced by the agency relationship between insiders and outside shareholders. In their model, the monitoring cost borne by investors is a function of the quality of firm's governance. They posit that investors demand a lower rate of return - i.e. a lower cost of capital - for firms with higher quality governance because of the lower monitoring costs of better governed firms.From the above discussion, our main hypothesis - expressed in its alternative form - is stated as follows:H. Firms with a high governance quality enjoy a lower cost of equity capital than firms with a low governance quality, after controlling for the effect of well-known risk factors - i.e. beta, size and book-to-market.Next, we identify the governance attributes considered in our study.\n3. Governance attributes: Based upon Spencer&Stuart data availability on board characteristics for Spanish firms, we capture the strength of each sample firm's governance environment using a summary measure that combines five governance dimensions commonly explored in the governance literature.3.1 Board independence\n4. Research methodology: 4.1 Cost of capital estimation\n5. Sample and data: Data for our set of Spanish firms were collected from the Spencer&Stuart surveys on Boards of Directors published between 2001 and 2005, corresponding to the fiscal periods from 2000 to 2004. This sample period follows the first developments in corporate governance in Spain, such as the Olivencia Report (1998) on the ethical code of the boards of directors, which established 23 recommendations on corporate governance practices. Apart from having data on the governance attributes outlined in Section 3, to be included in the sample, firms should also have the necessary data to compute the cost of equity capital, such as analysts forecasts for one-year and two-year ahead earnings per share. Consensus analysts forecasts as well as other market data (e.g. betas) are collected from JCF Quandt database. After these considerations, the final sample comprises 228 firm-year observations.Table I reports descriptive statistics for the governance attributes used in our analysis for the entire sample and also for the partitioned sample that distinguishes between strong and weak governance firms based on our summary corporate governance measure (GOV_SCORE). As shown, on average, the board size is lower for strong governance firms (10.3 members) than for weak governance firms (14.1 members). The average percentage of independent directors on the board is higher for strong governance firms (54 per cent) than for weak governance firms (33.9 per cent). Moreover, the separation between the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer roles is more prevailing in strong governance firms (0.50) than in weak governance firms (0.25). Regarding the existence of both audit and nomination committees, 95.7 per cent of strong governance firms have both types of delegate committess while that percentage falls to an 81.6 per cent for weak governance firms. Finally, the average percentage of independent directors on the board delegate committees is higher for strong governance firms (49.6 per cent) than for weak governance firms (24.3 per cent). As a result, the value of the summary corporate governance measure - whose maximum value is 5 - is significantly higher for strong governance firms (mean=3.41; median=4) than for weak governance firms (mean=2.06; median=2).\n6. Results: Table II reports the pooled results from the estimation of model (2), where cost of equity capital is regressed on BETA, SIZE and MB, respectively in order to assess the reliability of our cost of equity capital estimates. Consistent with prior literature (e.g. Fama and French, 1992), our results indicate a significantly positive relation between BETA and cost of equity capital whereas SIZE and MB are significantly and negatively related to cost of equity capital. Thus, in terms of Botosan and Plumlee's (2005) evaluation criteria, our cost of equity capital estimate serves as a good proxy for firms' cost of equity capital.In order to verify whether firms with a higher governance quality benefit themselves with lower costs of equity capital (after controlling for Fama and French (1992)'s risk proxies) we estimate the following regression model where we add to model (2) our summary corporate governance measure (GOV_SCORE): Equation 3 In this model, if b4 is significantly lower than zero, this would imply that a high governance quality is associated with a lower cost of equity capital.Table III reports the pooled results from the estimation of model (3). As predicted, our results show that the coefficient on GOV_SCORE is significantly lower than zero, which implies that firms with a higher governance quality enjoy lower costs of equity capital.In order to quantify the reduction in the cost of equity capital for those firms with stronger governance with respect to those with weaker governance, we create, as in DeFond et al. (2004), a dichotomous variable (DGOV_SCORE) based on the median of GOV_SCORE so that DGOV_SCORE takes the value 1 if GOV_SCORE for firm i is higher than the sample median (in our case, 3) and 0 otherwise. Thus, we estimate the following model: Equation 4 In this model, a negative value of the coefficient b4 measures - for a given value of BETA, SIZE, and MB - the average reduction of the cost of equity capital for stronger governance firms as compared to weaker governance firms.Table IV reports the results from the estimation of model (4). As predicted, the coefficient on DGOV_SCORE is significantly lower than zero (-0.018, p-value=0.02), which indicates that the average reduction of the cost of equity capital for stronger governance firms as compared to weaker governance firms is of 0.018, after controlling for differences in the well-known risk proxies, such as beta, size and market-to-book.\n7. Conclusions: Based on recent theoretical literature that links corporate governance to the cost of capital (Garmaise and Liu, 2005; Albuquerque and Wang, 2006; Lambert et al., 2006), our paper investigates whether higher quality governance is associated with a lower cost of equity capital. We focus on five board characteristics that have received widespread attention in corporate governance literature (board independence, board size, existence of both audit and nomination/remuneration committees, CEO duality, and independence of board committees).Our results for a sample of listed Spanish firms whose data on governance attributes are available on Spencer&Stuart surveys on board characteristics document that our set of governance attributes has a significant incremental explanatory power for firms' cost of equity after controlling for well-known Fama and French (1992)'s risk factors (i.e. beta, size and market-to-book). Specifically, our results indicate that stronger governance firms enjoy a statistically significant reduction in the cost of equity capital with respect to firms with weaker governance, after controlling for beta, size and market-to-book. Therefore, our paper suggests that the agency risk attributable to governance quality is not diversifiable. Thus, investors not only expect lower future cash flows for weak governance firms, as documented in prior research, but they also discount the expected future cash flows at a higher rate.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate governance and cost of equity capital for a set of Spanish firms.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper focuses on five board characteristics that have received widespread attention in corporate governance literature (board independence, board size, existence of both audit and nomination/remuneration committees, CEO duality, and independence of board committees) in order to construct a summary corporate governance measure for each firm. Then, by using regression analysis, it examines whether higher governance quality is associated with a lower cost of equity capital.\nFindings: - The results show that stronger governance firms have a lower cost of equity capital with respect to firms with weaker governance, even after controlling for differences in Fama and French's risk factors (i.e. beta, size and market-to-book).\nResearch limitations/implications: - The dependent variable, i.e. the cost of equity capital, is an unobservable measure and, as such, it has to be estimated. Therefore, the results can be sensitive to the estimation method chosen.\nPractical implications: - There is a growing literature showing that corporate governance enhances firm valuation. However, these studies typically assume that corporate governance affects firm valuation by reducing expropriation by insiders and improving the expected cash flows that can be distributed to shareholders. Whether those mechanisms also affect the other determinant of firm value - i.e. the cost of equity capital - remains largely unknown. Moreover, there is no evidence of this issue for the case of Spain.\nOriginality/value: - It is hoped that the results from the paper will provide additional information concerning corporate governance to interested parties.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Entrepreneurship education and undergraduate students' self- and paid-employment intentions: A conceptual framework
|
[
"Entrepreneurship education",
"Entrepreneurial intentions",
"Theory of planned behaviour"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: A great deal of literature on entrepreneurship has acknowledged the contributions of entrepreneurs to the economic growth and development of their countries (Carey et al., 2010; Gerba, 2012a, b; Iacobucci and Micozzi, 2012; Schoon and Duckworth, 2012). It has been argued that the level of economic growth and development that a country achieves depends on the level of entrepreneurial activity that is undertaken (Oosterbeek et al., 2010; Pejvak et al., 2009; Raposo and Paco, 2011). Similarly, the level of entrepreneurial activity that is undertaken is dependent on the number of entrepreneurs that is present (Gerba, 2012a). This implies that the higher the number of entrepreneurs in a country, the higher the level of entrepreneurial activity and, by extension, the higher the rate of economic growth and development (Gerba, 2012a). Thus, there is the need to promote entrepreneurial activity. Undoubtedly, there is no country in the world that has sufficient number of entrepreneurs. This suggests that more entrepreneurs are still needed. In this regard, the question that needs to be answered is: what can be done to increase the number of entrepreneurs? The follow-up question may be: can entrepreneurs be made? The only answer to these questions is: Entrepreneurship Development and Training Programmes (EDTPs) (Iacobucci and Micozzi, 2012). Studies have shown that EDTPs are capable of increasing the number of entrepreneurs and the level of entrepreneurial activity (Fayolle et al., 2006; Iacobucci and Micozzi, 2012).\nLiterature review: This section reviews relevant literature on EE, entrepreneurial intentions, factors that affect entrepreneurial intentions, Ajzen's TPB and the relationship between EE and students' self- and paid-employment intentions.\nConceptual framework: Based on the review of related literature on EE, entrepreneurial intentions and drawing on the Ajzen's TPB, the following conceptual framework was developed. Therefore, Figure 1 is configured diagrammatically to show the relationship between EE and an undergraduate student's self- and paid-employment intentions.\nSummary and conclusions: This paper conceptually explores the relationship between EE and undergraduate students' self- and paid-employment intentions. The paper specifically examines the effect of paid-employment intention on the relationship between EE and self-employment intention. From the review of related literature, it has been noted that graduates are faced with two career paths, namely, self- and paid-employment. This implies that undergraduate students have two employment intentions (i.e. self- and paid-employment intentions). Consequently, it is argued that the impact of EE on undergraduate students' self-employment intentions depends considerably on their paid-employment intentions. On the one hand, the effect of EE on undergraduate students' self-employment intentions will be much if their self-employment intentions are stronger than their paid-employment intentions. Conversely, the effect of EE on undergraduate students' self-employment intentions will be little if their paid-employment intentions are stronger than their self-employment intentions. The stronger employment intention dominates the weaker one, regardless of any influence, and that is the one that leads to a particular employment behaviour. In practical terms, it means that an undergraduate student with a stronger self-employment intention will be disposed towards starting a business after graduation. Similarly, an undergraduate student with a stronger paid-employment intention will be inclined towards paid-jobs after graduation.\nImplications: This paper provides some insightful and practical implications for the government and the policymakers in the education sector, especially in tackling the menace of graduate unemployment and its associated problems. It provides an insight into the problem of graduate unemployment. It should be pointed out that the integration of EE into the tertiary education system alone is not enough to tackle the problem of graduate unemployment. The government and the policymakers need to take some other practical steps. In this regard, one of the things that the government and the policymakers must do is to work on undergraduate students' mindset about securing wage employment after graduation. More specifically, the government and the policymakers should initiate enlightenment programmes that will reorient undergraduate students away from having the mentality of securing paid-jobs after graduation. Undergraduate students should be educated about the difficulties in securing paid-jobs; the fact that there are inadequate job openings to match job demands. Equally, they should be enlightened about the benefits of being a self-employed graduate.\nLimitations and recommendations for future research: This paper, despite its contributions, has some notable limitations. It is a conceptual paper. Consequently, it provides some research implications for future researchers. The conceptual framework needs to be further empirically tested. More specifically, the proposition that undergraduate students' paid-employment intentions moderate the impact of EE on their self-employment intentions needs to be empirically validated.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to conceptually explore the relationship between Entrepreneurship Education (EE) and undergraduate students' self- and paid-employment intentions. Specifically, the paper aims to examine the effect of paid-employment intention on the relationship between EE and self-employment intention.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper reviewed extensively related literature on EE, entrepreneurial intentions and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The detailed literature review undertaken formed the basis for the development of the conceptual framework.\nFindings: It is found that undergraduate students have two opposing employment intentions within them, namely, self- and paid-employment intentions. The two employment intentions interact and have a tendency to dominate each other, and consequently lead to different employment behaviours. The dominant employment intention determines whether a graduate will exhibit self- or paid-employment behaviour. This confirms that graduates are faced with two career paths or choices, namely, self- and paid-employment.\nResearch limitations/implications: It is not an empirical paper. Thus, the conceptual framework needs to be further empirically tested. More specifically, the proposition that undergraduate students' paid-employment intentions moderate the impact of EE on their self-employment intentions needs to be empirically validated.\nPractical implications: This paper provides some insightful and practical implications for the government and the policymakers in the education sector, particularly in tackling the menace of graduate unemployment and its associated problems. It provides an insight into the problem of graduate unemployment. The government and the policymakers should initiate enlightenment programmes that will reorient undergraduate students away from having the mentality of securing paid-jobs after graduation. Equally, undergraduate students should be enlightened about the difficulties in securing paid-jobs and the benefits of being a self-employed graduate.\nOriginality/value: It is the first to explore the moderating effect of undergraduate students' paid-employment intentions on the relationship between EE and their self-employment intentions. Therefore, it makes a valuable contribution to the existing literature on EE and entrepreneurial intentions. It further strengthens the TPB by applying it to explain how undergraduate students' paid-employment intentions could neutralise the impact of EE on their self-employment intentions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A research agenda for loss prevention
|
[
"Retailing",
"Loss prevention",
"Research"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Development in technology, demographic and lifestyle shifts, internationalisation and globalisation, and the widening gap between the rich and the poor continue to change the way people live. Add to this the explosion in the range and assortment of goods available to consumers and it is no surprise that the world has become a \"must have\" place. While it can be argued that standards of living have improved it must be accepted that the pressure on consumers to consume has become much more intense. For many people this pressure to consume means that in order to do so they must resort to acquiring goods by way of theft.Theft has always been a part of society and undoubtedly, despite best intentions, will continue to be a part of society. For many retailers this fact is accepted as being part of doing business in the modern world. For other retailers theft by customers, staff and suppliers is totally unacceptable (and in some cases the reason for their demise) and they do all that they can to reduce it.Research in the area of retail crime and loss prevention tends to be regarded as operating into the \"dark side\" of business and more often than not is regarded negatively by those preferring to spend their time working in the more positive areas of business, such as marketing. Unfortunately, this view is often also taken by retail management. They prefer to attempt to improve the \"bottom line\" by using marketing techniques, overlooking the fact that reducing retail crime can be a more straight forward way of improving profits. The downside of this approach is that retailers either ignore loss prevention or pat it lip service in the form of detection equipment.A perceived dearth of good quality research in the area of loss prevention means that research is not feeding best practice, which means that retailers are not necessarily making sound business decisions on how to prevent retail crime. Tactics rather than strategy become the key drivers. Such tactics tend to be security industry driven rather than retail industry driven.The task for researchers in the area of loss prevention is to provide retailers with information that is sound. In so doing the relationship between the researchers and the practitioners becomes one of mutual understanding and of benefit to both parties.A step towards achieving such a relationship is for both parties to work together to develop a research agenda.\nLooking back to go forward: Loss prevention as an activity, or as an area for research, embraces a diverse range of disciplines. In broad terms, these disciplines can be identified as perpetrator perspective, retailer perspective, policy maker and solution provider perspectives.Research on the perpetrator tends to be the domain of the criminologist and the psychologist. Policy makers focus on laws and by-laws with an emphasis on the protection of the rights of the individual rather than the company. Solution providers understandably focus on the benefits of the goods and services provided by a company. Individual retailers tend to focus on the historical analysis of what has happened rather than \"what can we do to understand the problem.\" Regrettably the interaction among the four groups is minimal, with perhaps the academic community attempting to provide the links.A review of the literature published in the public arena suggests clusters by date, topic, author(s), and publication.From a timeline perspective, the popularity of researching in loss prevention appears to ebb and flow, as does the focus of the research.Published research pre-1960 had a theme that appeared to focus on understanding the nature of retail crime and whether or not \"white collar crime\" qualified as crime in the retail context (Sutherland, 1945). Authors published in the American Sociological Review, Crime and Delinquency and the International Criminal Police Review.During the 1960s, the focus shifted towards an understanding of the different segments within the \"shoplifting\" sector. Titles such as \"Shoplifting: a rather ordinary crime\" (Sohier, 1969), and \"Shoplifting by a gang\" (Lehr, 1969), \"A study of female shoplifters in department stores\" (Versele, 1969) appeared - mainly in publications such as Security World. Bernstein (Bernstein, 1963) drew attention to the realities of the negative financial impact of retail crime on businesses. A message that is as true today as it was in 1963.The 1970s were notable for a shift in focus and a shift in the type of publication in which research was being published. The research, while not ignoring theft by customers, became more focused on retail crime within an organization. Titles such as \"The prevention and detection of internal theft\" (Berlin, 1974), \"White collar crime and employee theft\" (Robert, 1974) appeared. Papers were being published in more business oriented publications - The Journal of Retailing, Retail Control, and the Journal of Business Law. In an attempt to explain the evolving nature of research in retail crime, it is possible that there are parallels with the way in which marketing as a discipline was evolving during this time. There could also be parallels with the way in which business and consumer laws were evolving.The nature of the research and the outlet for publication during the 1980s suggest that the expansion of retail outlets into the suburbs, the relaxing of government controls resulting in a greater range of choice for consumers, and growing unrest in town centers were well underway. Government bodies became active in retail crime research - UK Crime Prevention Unit (Ekblom, 1986), London HMSO (Heal and Laycock, 1986), Scottish Social Office (Chamber and Tombs, 1984).While researchers such as Richard Hollinger at the University of Florida had started to publish research findings during the 1980s (Hollinger and Clark, 1982) it was the 1990s that saw a dramatic increase in interest in retail crime research by the academic community. The outcome of this interest was an associated increase in the number of relationships between government bodies, business associations and academic institutions. A simple explanation could be an acknowledgement by businesses and government bodies that academic institutions have expertise in research practices. Similarly, academics could see the opportunities for source material, profile and publication provided by these relationships.During this period, a number of researchers were becoming prominent for their work in the field of retail crime: Beck and Willis (UK), Chapman (UK), Bamfield (UK), Guthrie (NZ), Hollinger (USA), Larry Miller (USA), Gill (UK), Hayes (UK), Hearnden (UK). These and other researchers are providing a valuable foundation for future research and a network to make research in retail crime truly international.During the 1990s, a number of key reports on retail crime were produced around the world. These include:The British Retail Consortium \"Retail Crime Survey,\" The European Theft Barometer (Bamfield), ECR Europe Shrinkage Reports and White Papers (www.ecrnet.org), The National Retail Security Survey (Hollinger), and the NZ Survey of Retail Theft and Security (Guthrie), Supermarket Shrink Survey (USA), Risk in the Supply Chain Survey (Ernst & Young).While these reports purported to show the magnitude of the retail crime problem in countries around the world, most of the authors would acknowledge that the accuracy of the data can be considered suspect. Much of the data is based on estimates provided by the retailer - for example, they estimate an amount that they believe to be missing, and then the \"guess\" how the losses can be categorized (theft by staff, customer, supplier, administrative error).So while the reports generated in the 1990s and early 2000s highlighted the problem, early researchers in the 2000s are calling for a need to take a more structured approach to addressing the problem of retail crime (Clarke, 1999). A focus on \"hot products\" or \"high loss lines\" is considered to be important and highlights the need for accurate data. Understanding the role of the retail outlet in the distribution channel is a starting point for a structured approached to addressing shrinkage (Beck et al., 2003).\nLooking forward: Justification for establishing a retail crime research agenda can be found in almost any one of the national reports. Despite the fact that some of the figures are based on retailer estimates it is clear that the dollar value of retail crime around the world is very high. The impact of retail crime is most keenly felt by shoppers given that most retailers treat retail crime as a cost of doing business, and pass the expense on to shoppers via higher prices.Paul Chapman\nThe next step: An acceptance of the fact that retail crime extends well beyond the shop floor is important when considering the next step for research in the area. Understanding retail crime means understanding that the entire distribution system is involved and that reduction of retail crime levels is as much about establishing \"best practice\" in the distribution channel as it is about knowing why people steal.From a systems perspective it is all about collecting and analyzing the most appropriate data. From a people perspective it goes much deeper than providing staff with the right training, and developing positive anti retail crime cultures in retail organizations. It must be about strategies for prevention, and this requires educating young people that retail crime is wrong.Much of this research is already being done, but more often than not it is done in isolation. Organizations that have a vested interest in fighting retail crime need to look at how they can work together. Networking between academic researchers, retailers, local and central government, retail associations, and the police nationally and internationally must become a high priority in the next decade.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of the paper is to draw attention to an area of research that has considerable potential for academic researchers in the disciplines of retailing and distribution studies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The methodology adopted was an overview of existing literature with a view to identifying possible trends in research in the area of loss prevention.\nFindings: - The paper identifies an extensive body of existing literature and provides an indication of areas for future research in loss prevention.\nPractical implications: - The implications of these key issues are significant to the measurement of shrinkage in terms of the scope across the business from which shrinkage needs to be considered. This finding highlights the need to consider shrinkage as a systemic issue that extends across a business from design, through planning to operational execution. It also identifies the impact of shrinkage on increasing cost and depressing sales and considers the responsibility of management teams in addressing these matters.\nOriginality/value: - This paper is an original discussion on the topic and thus of value to the academic community. It is also of value to the practitioner community as it highlights the importance of developing relationships with the academic community.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
"Not our class darling": networking - privilege or penalty in large hotels?
|
[
"Gender",
"Networking",
"Hospitality",
"Age",
"Hotels",
"Class"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: This paper investigates networking as a social practice and how it appears to privilege some men's career advancement while excluding many women. We respond to calls for a more critical, contextual approach specifically in hospitality studies, to better understand the persistence of male privilege. Our aim is to examine how the social categories of gender, age and occupational class influence networking practices and career progression at the organizational level of the 4-5-star hotel sector in Australia and New Zealand. We argue that in this type of workplace the practice of networking is so normalized that it is assumed to be an inclusive, gender-neutral activity. Such assumptions of an impartial work environment are evident in the extensive, disciplinary specific, academic and practitioner literature on formal and informal networks in organizations (e.g. Gibson et al., 2014; Kim, 2013).\nLiterature review: The research context - the hotel sector\nMethodology: This study reports on a smaller aspect of a larger project examining women's perceptions of the barriers they faced in seeking promotion to senior positions in one global hotel chain with a significant presence in Australia and New Zealand. The senior leadership team were concerned at the limited number of women in senior roles globally. The study took a mixed methods approach to data collection and was undertaken in two parts. In the first instance, an organization-sponsored, quantitative survey was used to gather preliminary data[1] from all women working in positions above entry-level jobs. Semi-structured interviews shaped the second part of the study and it is extracts from these interviews that we draw on for this present study. A convenience sample (based on the location of respondents) of 18 women employed in a variety of management and supervisory roles were interviewed to delve deeper into their experiences of the promotion processes. Each interview lasted between 1 and 2 h and was conducted and transcribed, verbatim, by the primary researcher. The background of participants is shown in Table I.\nFindings: The significance of \"networking for career progression\" in the 4-5-star hotel sector was a recurring theme in the interview data. Accordingly, illustrative extracts from the interviews show the variety of ways in which networking and gendering practices intersecting with occupational class (position held within the managerial hierarchy) and age are normalized as part of the general requirements of managerial work. The findings and analyses are presented under two subheadings: Doing networking: the highly social organizational culture and Doing networking: understanding the networking game. In a similar manner to the emergent social categories, the subheadings used here interrelate and are entangled with one another. While \"messy\", the aim is to elaborate on the dynamics and nuances of the gendering networking practices by highlighting different interdependent activities and the processes of forming relationships in this specific work environment.\nDiscussion and conclusion: The findings illustrate the importance of hierarchical occupational class processes in conferring privileges, legitimizing status and for the purpose of our analysis, highlight who is included and who is excluded from networking circles. Managerial position within the hierarchy means attendance at formal networking occasions is an integral expectation of \"the job\". That these are primarily organized around food and drink reinforces the traditions of hospitality and the desire to showcase a hotel's technical expertise. Gendering processes are deeply embedded in these practices (Adib and Guerrier, 2003; Costa et al., 2017; Ibarra et al., 2005; Kensbock et al., 2016), intersecting with occupational class, privilege and age. However, ethnicity beyond European ethnicity was invisible and as such, tells a powerful story still to be addressed. As such, the invisibility of minority women in this study indicates that minority ethnicity could be viewed as a further vector of intersectional discrimination.\nContribution to theory and practice: This study has shown indirect support for the importance of an \"intersectionally sensitive\" approach (McBride et al., 2015) by allowing other differences beyond gender to emerge organically from the analysis of the data, in contrast to pre-determining the \"right\" categories of data (Castro and Holvino, 2016, p. 342). As Hancock (2016) suggests, \"reconceptualising relationships among categories (as well as the ambivalence they both generate) represents opportunities for significant interrogation\" in the twenty-first century (p. 199). Our findings refine our understanding of networking in hotels, particularly highlighting how this taken-for-granted process disadvantages women in different age brackets who seek promotion. The hospitality career literature emphasizes the importance of role models and mentors for speedy progression to senior management (Wang, 2013). Likewise, the women in management literature acknowledges the powerful forces that can conceal women's merit (Simpson and Kumra, 2016), which makes networking even more important for women than for their male counterparts, as their \"merit\" may not be immediately visible or recognized.\nLimitations and future research directions: In this inductive study focussing on hotel employees in Australia and New Zealand, the findings are not implicitly generalizable. However, the findings support the results of previous studies in identifying the glass ceiling barriers faced by women in hospitality organizations and contributes to the literature on career and network barriers faced by women of different ages and nationalities in different locations. Future research in the service sector would benefit from utilizing this local case-study framework and the insights it gives on how power is reproduced, and the way inequalities are legitimized. A further study with male and female lower-level managers would identify similarities and differences in the gendered networking processes within the occupational class hierarchies with the aim of assessing if, indeed, hotel management remains a career reserved for the unencumbered \"organizational man\".\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show how the social categories of gender, age and class influence networking practices and career progression in the 4-5-star hotel sector in Australia and New Zealand. It argues that in this type of workplace the practice of networking is so normalized that it is assumed an inclusive, gender-neutral activity.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper draws on 18 semi-structured interviews. Inductive analysis was used uncover themes, sub-themes and emergent patterns. An intersectionally sensitive approach was followed.\nFindings: The significance of networking processes for career progression in the 4-5-star hotel sectors was a recurring theme. Networking reflects historically embedded gendering practices that heighten existing class-based structural privilege for groups of men.\nResearch limitations/implications: The focus is on hotel employees in Australia and New Zealand with the findings are not implicitly generalizable.\nPractical implications: Networks are important for women as their \"merit\" may not be immediately visible. Well-structured mentoring schemes need to be adopted as part of the affirmative action required to tilt the \"skewed playing field\".\nOriginality/value: Studies that indicate how the gendering of networking practices reinforce career privilege and penalty in specific organizations have been lacking, as have studies favouring an intersectional approach. This study seeks to redress these omissions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Effects of authentic leadership on work-family balance in China
|
[
"Work–family issues",
"Leader–member exchange",
"Work–life balance",
"Authentic leadership"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that leaders' authenticity is an effective way of avoiding moral problems and advancing both organizational benefits and enduring employee welfare (George et al., 2007). Luthans and Avolio (2003, p. 243) deemed this leadership approach authentic leadership, which they defined as \"a process that draws from both positive psychological capacities and a highly developed organizational context, which results in both greater self-awareness and self-regulated positive behaviors on the part of leaders and associates, fostering positive self-development.\" Authentic leadership is originated from positive psychology theory that reflects its conceptual roots in positive psychology and focuses on the positive psychological capacities that constitute authenticity (Luthans and Avolio, 2003).\nTheory and hypotheses: Authentic leadership and LMX\nMethods: Samples and procedures\nResults: Confirmatory factor analyses\nDiscussion: The present study explored how and when authentic leadership affected followers' WFB. The study found that authentic leadership contributed to the enhancement of LMX, which in turn promoted WFE and elicited WFB. In addition, traditionality strengthened the positive relationship between authentic leadership and LMX. These results not only validate the effects of authentic leadership on the family life of followers, but also help open up the underexplored \"black box\" of these effects. Although two recent meta-analyses have identified various predictors of WFE (Lapierre et al., 2018) and WFB (Casper et al., 2018), the work-family effects of authentic leadership were not considered. Our findings not only respond to a recent call to investigate the effects of leadership at work on the family life of followers (Li et al., 2017), but also provide important theoretical contributions and practical implications for the literature on leadership and the work-family interface.\nConclusion: Applying work-family enrichment theory and the contingency theory of leadership, the present research provides important insights into how the effects of authentic leadership spill over to the family domain. The findings reveal that authentic leadership is effective at improving the quality of exchange between leaders and followers, which can promote WFE and in turn WFB. The value of traditionality is also demonstrated to alter the strength of authentic leadership's effects on LMX. This study should be helpful in inspiring future research to further study the field of authentic leadership and its benefits in both the work and family domains.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of authentic leadership on the work-family balance (WFB) of followers by focusing on the mediating roles of leader-member exchange (LMX) and work-to-family enrichment (WFE) and the moderating role of traditionality in China.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Data were collected using field survey research design. Participants included 206 employees in a pharmaceutical company in China.\nFindings: The results indicate that LMX and WFE sequentially mediated the positive relationship between authentic leadership and WFB. In addition, traditionality strengthened the relationship between authentic leadership and LMX.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study contributes to the integration of authentic leadership literature and the WFB model. This research also indicates that authentic leadership is a source of enhancing employees' WFB. However, data are correlational and cross-sectional, which limits the ability to draw causal relationships.\nPractical implications: The findings reveal that authentic leadership is effective in inducing followers' WFB. The value of traditionality can strengthen the effect of authentic leadership.\nOriginality/value: This study addresses unexplored theoretical predictions and provides new directions for authentic leadership and work-family research.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The role of foreign scientific foundations' role in the cross-border mobility of Russian academics
|
[
"Expatriates",
"Data analysis",
"Immigration",
"Eastern Europe",
"J240",
"O180",
"O470",
"R110"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The cross-border mobility of academics, or academic mobility, is a normal process in a globalizing world where scientific cooperation across borders is growing steadily. It can take the form of a normal \"brain circulation\" which has become part of contemporary science where networks of excellence usually consist of researchers from different countries. However, under certain economic and political circumstances it may become part of migration forming a \"brain drain,\" or even exodus of academic elites - for instance, in Russia and some other former Soviet republics after the decline of the USSR in early 1990s.\n2. Design and methodology: The present paper is based on the project \"The sustainability of the academic elite in Russia: the contribution of foreign science foundations (The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation case)\" supported by Moscow Scientific Foundation and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in cooperation with HSE. The project was carried out in 2003-2005 with the aim to deliver an empirical study of the causes, mechanisms and effects of highly qualified researchers academic mobility from Russia to EU countries.\n3. Data and main findings: Russian Humboldt alumni's perspectives on academic mobility outcomes and consequences (quantitative survey 2004)\n4. Conclusions and practical implications: The results of the survey of the alumni of one of the most renowned scientific foundations in Europe, the Humboldt foundation, show that for Russian elite researchers, rather the brain circulation than the brain drain strategy is typical. Among reasons to leave Russia it is primarily the desire to remain on the top-level in research. As Humboldt Foundation fellowship (and other international foundations' programs) shape options for close academic contacts with foreign counterparts, they even enhance the retention of highly qualified personnel in this country, i.e. the reproduction of the academic elite of Russia.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explain the current role of foreign foundations in the cross-border mobility of Russian elite scientists.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The methodology is based on a combination of a quantitative survey (December 2004-February 2005) of former Russian Humboldtians and qualitative research (expert interviews in 2005 and in 2012, respectively) of Russian alumni of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation (Germany).\nFindings: For Russian elite researchers participating in academic mobility, in 2000s it is rather cross-border mobility' brain circulation' rather than \"brain drain\" a dominant form of academic mobility typical. Even in 2000s, western foundations still played a significant while twofold role - promoting emigration of for a small part of Russian elite researchers, on the one hand, while and getting access to top-level labs, etc. and to international academic chains of excellence for the majority of them, on the other. Coming back to the home country, affiliation with foreign foundations reduces the dependence of Russian elite researchers on hierarchical structures within the national state science system and promotes project teams and network forms of interaction their career. However, Russian scientists dependence on foreign funding affect both the scope of research and their academic status (mostly - second-level positions within research projects, etc.). Among the reasons to for leave leaving Russia it is primarily the desire to remain have closer access to their academic community and the equipment to do on the top level in research. The paper formulates some measures to foster incentives to stay in Russia and respectively to support re-emigration of elite researchers, in form of world class research labs and strengthening the motivation of senior researchers to work in the home country.\nResearch limitations/implications: Research limitations consist in using of only one of the alumni networks of several western foundations database.\nOriginality/value: The paper is unique as regards the empirical results; its value consists in their organizational, social and political implications.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Agricultural product price forecasting methods: research advances and trend
|
[
"Agricultural products",
"Price forecast methods",
"Traditional forecasting method",
"Intelligent forecasting method",
"Hybrid forecasting method"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Agricultural products from producers to consumers generally have to go through one or more links in the industrial chain of production, acquisition, processing, storage, transportation, wholesale, retail, etc. Each link will increase price and finally form retail prices (Peng, 2014). In addition, it is also affected by a variety of other factors in the formation process of prices, such as its internal factors including its own attributes and production costs, and external factors including alternative prices, market environment, etc. As the rapid development of statistics technique, scholars (Ghali-Zinoubi and Toukabri, 2019; Profeta and Hamm, 2019) have studied the stimuli of the products consumption as well as the role that the origin of the product can play in this relation. This will allow producers to take certain external interventions to attract the customer and stimulate his purchase intention, which will also affect the agricultural product price. These factors have different influence degrees and time in different stages and environments (Luo and Zhou, 2016), which make the agricultural product prices are characterized by large fluctuations, non-stationary and nonlinear (Liu, 2016).The uncertainty of the agricultural product prices increases the risks faced by stakeholders involved in the supply chain of agricultural product. The risk will damage the interests of agricultural producers, which not only goes against the healthy development of agriculture but also the healthy development of the national economy. Therefore, it is of reference significance for the producers, consumers, processors, rural development planners and other people and agencies/institutions involved in the market to use the scientific data mining method to gain the law of agricultural product price and then predict the fluctuation of price.After more than a hundred years of development, there have been considerable research achievements in the method of agricultural product price forecasting. Among them, the qualitative analysis methods include market research method and subjective probability method, the quantitative analysis methods include mathematical statistics forecasting method, time series analysis method, intelligent forecasting method and hybrid forecasting method. In the face of numerous price forecasting methods, which methods should be chosen by researchers to predict the agricultural product price? This is a challenge for most researchers because researchers do not have a comprehensive and correct understanding of the concept, characteristics, and applicability of price forecasting methods. Therefore, it is necessary to review the forecasting methods of agricultural product price in recent years, so as to help researchers choose the suitable forecasting methods.This paper reviews the main research methods and their application of forecasting of agricultural product prices, summarizes the application examples of common forecasting methods, and prospects the future research directions. Figure 1 presents the scope of the review that each focus is dissected to organize this paper. Section 2 talks about the concept, characteristics and application examples of traditional forecasting method, intelligent forecasting method and hybrid forecasting method. Section 3 summarizes application examples of common forecasting methods, and prospects the future research directions.\n2. The forecasting methods of agricultural product prices: 2.1 Traditional forecasting method\n3. Conclusions and prospects: This paper reviews the main research methods and their application of forecasting of agricultural product prices. The conclusions and prospects for the future are as follows:The prediction models of agricultural product prices have developed from qualitative to quantitative, traditional prediction models to intelligence prediction models and a single model to a hybrid model. It can be seen from the application examples that the prediction performance of hybrid model is better than that of single model in its constituent model. A single model may not be sufficient to identify all features in a time series, while a hybrid model combines methods from different domains and the models may play a complementary role to capture the true underlying dynamics of the process in a much precise and better way, so as to achieve better prediction results. Therefore, it is the trend to use hybrid models to predict agricultural products prices in the future research.The data types corresponding to the common agricultural product price forecasting methods include price time series and price influencing factors. It is obvious that the study with price time series as input data accounts for the majority in the application examples in recent years, because the factors affecting the price of agricultural products are complicated and difficult to collect. However, the influence factor of price is the major cause of price formation and fluctuation, which contains a lot of important information. Therefore, the application of the prediction model based on price influencing factors should be further expanded in the future research.When evaluating the prediction performance of a model, different evaluation indicators will produce different comparison results. Scholars often use error as the evaluation index, such as RMSE, MAPE, etc. The error can reflect the proximity of the prediction value to the actual value to some extent. However, it is important to be able to accurately predict the directional change in the field of agricultural product price forecasting. Therefore, the performance of the model should be evaluated based on DS rather than just error-based metrics in the future research.A significant characteristic of most agricultural product price series is the seasonality. At present, the SARIMA model is the most popular and widely used technique for forecasting seasonal time series (Goh and Law, 2002; Hayat and Bhatti, 2013). However, the prediction performance may be very poor if the SARIMA built using linear assumptions for price time series with high nonlinearity is used. Among the common decomposition methods reviewed above, seasonal adjustment models (STL and SIA) can separate the seasonal components in the sequence to mitigate the effects of seasonal fluctuations. Therefore, seasonal adjustment models can be applied to the difficult seasonal forecasting tasks in the agriculture product prices in the future research.Scholars usually introduce optimization algorithms such as GA, PSO, GD and MEA to improve the prediction performance of the model in the above application examples. However, these single algorithms have flaws. For example, GD is very well suited to suboptimal local searching, but it cannot perform global optimization. The GA is capable of global optimization, but exhibits slow convergence properties near local optima. Therefore, a hybrid algorithm known as GD-GA is proposed by Zhang et al. (2018), which iteratively use a gradient descent algorithm to accelerate the seeking of local optima, and uses the GA to guarantee global optimization. The hybrid algorithm combines the GD and GA and overcomes the shortcomings of a single model. Therefore, hybrid optimization algorithm can be used to improve the prediction performance of the model in the future research.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide reference for researchers by reviewing the research advances and trend of agricultural product price forecasting methods in recent years.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper reviews the main research methods and their application of forecasting of agricultural product prices, summarizes the application examples of common forecasting methods, and prospects the future research directions.\nFindings: 1) It is the trend to use hybrid models to predict agricultural products prices in the future research; 2) the application of the prediction model based on price influencing factors should be further expanded in the future research; 3) the performance of the model should be evaluated based on DS rather than just error-based metrics in the future research; 4) seasonal adjustment models can be applied to the difficult seasonal forecasting tasks in the agriculture product prices in the future research; 5) hybrid optimization algorithm can be used to improve the prediction performance of the model in the future research.\nOriginality/value: The methods from this paper can provide reference for researchers, and the research trends proposed at the end of this paper can provide solutions or new research directions for relevant researchers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Factors influencing marketing channel choices for improved indigenous chicken farmers: insights from Baringo, Kenya
|
[
"Smallholder farmers",
"Market channels",
"Multinomial logit",
"Artificial neural networks",
"Baringo County",
"Kenya"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Poultry meat is one of the most important sources of animal proteins internationally (de Almeida, 2017) at a production of about 117m metric tons in 2016 (OECD-FAO, 2017). In developing countries, poultry is reared in small-scale and backyards to support the livelihood of the local rural community by providing proteins, nutrients (eggs and meat), manure and feather bio-products (Dwinger et al., 2001; Carrique-Mas et al., 2019) as a measure against food insecurity and poverty (Conan et al., 2012). Approximately 99,886 indigenous chicken farmers are involved in commercial poultry production in the East African region (Magothe et al., 2012). In Kenya, between 2011 and 2012, indigenous chicken production accounted for 70% of the total national poultry production (OECD-FAO, 2011). Therefore, indigenous chicken production affects the sustainability of the rural community socially, environmentally and economically (Gueye, 2000).A large percentage of the Kenyan population is in rural areas (Ade Freeman et al., 2004), characterized by high poverty levels, food insecurity and low income. To improve livelihood and access cheap animal proteins, most rural households rear backyard chicken, thus, making the venture a significant contributor in the rural socioeconomic life (Kingori et al., 2010). Poultry production in Kenya has created employment to about two million people directly (farming and marketing) and indirectly (input suppliers of feeds and veterinary services) (Wainaina et al., 2012). Additionally, indigenous chicken production plays a vital role in the achievement of Kenya's vision 2030 in terms of household livelihoods, income generation, employment creation, eradication of poverty, food security and enhancing environmental sustainability (World Bank, 2008; Vincent et al., 2010). However, small-scale farmers, especially in the rural areas, have low marketable surpluses, which translates to low returns, a factor that makes farmers remain in the low equilibrium poverty trap (Barrett et al., 2006). Henriksen and Rota (2014) reported that, the solution is the commercialization of agriculture with a focus on market-oriented production.Market access is one of the main factors which directly influences the success of small-scale agriculture in low- and middle-income countries (Barrett, 2008). Hence, improved market access is the key to enhancing rural smallholder agricultural production and increasing household income. Nyaga (2007) reported that, the markets for poultry and poultry products form a potential gateway for poverty reduction and sustainable development. However, in developing countries, marketing systems for indigenous chicken and other poultry are unorganized, weak and indeterminate (Mailu et al., 2012). Additionally, small-scale farmers face perpetual mainstream formal market-based constraints (Sigei et al., 2014). Therefore, most small-scale farmers opt for nonformal markets comprising mainly of individuals buying for various socialcultural imperatives (Hassan and Sikhweni, 2014).In Kenya, marketing and economic behaviors are determined by the extent of production, such as large-scale commercial farming, emerging commercial farming and subsistence farming (Omiti et al., 2006). The marketing of Kenya's poultry and poultry products is characterized by the movements of the products within the country and between Kenya and her neighbors (Aila et al., 2012). However, as already mentioned, the market channels of poultry and poultry products are not defined, the farmers sell their birds and products either directly (in the local markets) or to collectors/middlemen (intermediaries and brokers) who eventually sell in the markets (Tiongco et al., 2012). Gueye (2001) pointed out that the poultry marketing system in Kenya is mostly informal and poorly developed and can be considered as a three leveled market structure, i.e. primary/local, regional/secondary markets and the tertiary or terminal markets (Bett et al., 2011). Whereby, a small-scale local buyer sells to the urban markets or to tertiary traders who distribute the poultry and their products to various kiosks, restaurants and supermarkets in the urban areas.The choice of market channels plays a significant role in the productivity of indigenous chicken production in Kenya. However, these choices are multifaceted and are influenced by socioeconomical, demographic and farm characteristics. Kumar et al. (2011) presented a study on an evaluation of milk market channel choice among dairy farmers in Gujarat, India. The research established that farmers were likely to select formal marketing channels that their decisions were influenced by household size and the number of livestock. However, farmers choose informal channels where they cannot meet the standard threshold kept in terms of quality and quantity required in the formal markets (Louw et al., 2008). Other underpinning factors for the choice of informal markets include; low education levels, access to land and other production factors such as improved technologies in production (Mburu et al., 2007). Payment mode, time and other financial considerations are also crucial to farmers when making decisions on where to sell their products (Sanyang et al., 2009). Where farmers cannot get paid immediately, the security of payments must be guaranteed. A study by Shiferaw et al. (2008), on rural imperfections and institutional roles in collective action to enhance bad economies, showed that most farmers prefer to deal with intermediaries who dominated the rural economies because the intermediaries pay in cash. In contrast, other traders and market groups do not. Moreover, the social characteristics of a given set up or a community are also likely to affect their choice of market channels differently among different groups (Mburu et al., 2007; Kumar et al., 2011; Kuma et al., 2013). 1.1 Literature review\n2. Survey design and estimating strategies: 2.1 Survey design\n3. Results and discussions: This research applied a multinomial logit model to determine the factors that influence improved indigenous chicken farmers' choice of marketing channels. The decision to choose a given channel by a farmer is influenced by several socioeconomic, demographic, household and farm characteristics. The variables included buyer type, farm size, age, education, distance, group membership, flock attributes, transport costs, bargain costs, household size and cost of information as shown. Table 2 gives a presentation of the descriptive statistics of the variables used in this study.It was noted that a majority of interviewed households were nonmembers of agricultural groups. This study revealed that 72.7% of the total households were not members of any agricultural groups. As a social capital, group membership is very crucial in solving common challenges that farmers face in their various activities.Half (50.0%) of the interviewed household heads were aged between 41 and 50 years. Approximately 30.8% of the household heads were aged between 51 and 60 years, with 11.1% were aged 31-40 years. There were very few household heads aged above 60 years (6.1%) and 18-30 years (2.0%), as shown in Table 2.The level of formal education of the household head plays a vital role in farming. The majority of the interviewed household heads (35.4%) had a secondary level of education. About 21.7% attained primary, 13.6% had attained college education, with 19.2% had university level of education. However, 10.1% of the farmers had no formal education.A majority of the interviewed households (53.5%) were made up of four to six members. About 24.2% had between one and three adult members, while approximately 20.2% had seven to nine members. An approximation of (2.0%) of the households had 10 members and more. Household sizes greatly influence the expenditure on food and also the availability of family labor. This implies that most households could benefit from not only adequate but also cheaper family labor in their farming activities.The results in Table 2 further shows that, sampled farmers in the study area spent an average of Ksh. 120.69 on transport (with a SD of 109.85),The farmers' landholding size averaged at 1.65 ha. (With a SD of 2.306). On average, the farmers spend Ksh. 9,124.62 on information search (with a SD of 317.95), and Ksh. 358.08 on bargaining (with a SD of 73.43). Farmer's distance to the nearest market averaged at 2.963 km, with a SD of 7.468.This study focused on analyzing the determinants of improved indigenous chicken farmers' choice of market channels. The market channels based on the study area included; farmers selling their produce; processors such as hotels and restaurants, brokers (middlemen), supermarkets and wholesalers, as presented by Table 3.From Table 3, it can be observed that most farmers in the study area preferred to sell their poultry and products to wholesalers at 40.91% and supermarkets at 25.76%, while a few farmers preferred selling to brokers and processors, this can be attributed to the fact that brokers buy the products at low prices making most farmers prefer other outlets. 3.1 Estimating the factors that influence farmers market channel choice\n4. Conclusions and recommendations: The objective of this study was to assess the factors that affect improved indigenous chicken farmer's choice of market channel using household survey data from 198 households in Baringo County, Kenya. This study employed the use of multinomial logit regression analysis and ANN to analyze improved indigenous market channel choice decisions. Multinomial logit model results indicated that group membership, farm size, market distance, cost of information, education and cost of transport influenced the choice of different market channels. An increase in the number of marketing groups a farmer belonged to encouraged farmers to sell their chicken and products to processors. An increase in the size of farms owned by farmers saw a reduction in the possibility of farmers selling their products to brokers/neighbors. High education levels of farmers increased the probability of farmers participating in processor and supermarket channels. Increased transport costs increased the likelihood of farmers selling their products to processors and similarly, increased cost of information increased farmer's possibility of participating in informal markets, i.e. brokers and neighbors. In the neural network modeling analysis, it was established that cost of transport highly affects the choice of market channels while flock attributes have the least influence in MLP while age of household head had the least influence in RBF.It can be concluded that there was a significant difference in the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers taking part in different market channels. These different characteristics, coupled with observable transaction costs, guide the decision of a household to sell their poultry products to various marketing outlets. 4.1 Policy implications\nEthical considerations: Ethical clearance was obtained from the Director-General National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) of the Republic of Kenya, reference number NACOSTI/P/19/44405/27823. Ethical considerations pertaining to confidentiality, refusal to participate in the survey and anonymity were taken into account with adherence to the guidelines issued by NACOSTI.\nData availability: The data used to support the findings of this study are readily available from the corresponding author upon request.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Improved indigenous chicken is considered a sustainable agricultural practice with social, economic and environmental indicators. Therefore, the analysis of the choice of market channels is of considerable importance to farmers with reference to improved livelihoods and poverty alleviation in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence market channel choices among improved indigenous chicken farmers in Baringo County and to rank the determinants according to their level of importance in influencing farmer's choice of marketing channels.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A multistage sampling technique was employed to collect data from 209 households for the study conducted between April and July 2019, out of which, 198 useful responses were obtained. Multinomial logit regression and neural network models were used to analyze the factors influencing market channel choice based on socioeconomic, demographic and farm characteristics.\nFindings: It was established that group membership, education, market distance, transport costs, farm size, cost of information and bargain costs were statistically significant in the choice of market channels (wholesaler, brokers, processors and supermarkets). With the direct consumer as the base market choice. The cost of transport had the highest normalized importance in the prediction of a farmer's selection of market channels for both radial basis function (RBF) and multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural networks. However, flock attributes and age of household head had the least normalized importance in MLP and RBF, respectively.\nResearch limitations/implications: Due to the insufficiency of resources and time, this study only focused on a small part of the country (Baringo County). However, improved indigenous chicken farming is widely practiced in Kenya. Further studies can be carried out in other counties to validate the results of this study.\nPractical implications: The outcome can be used in policy implementation involving improved indigenous chicken production in Kenya.\nOriginality/value: This study suggests the methods aimed at enhancing poultry sector in other counties in Kenya as well as other developing countries.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Are green offices better than conventional? Measuring operational energy consumption and carbon impact of green office in Malaysia
|
[
"Performance measurement",
"Sustainable development",
"Green issues",
"Operations management",
"Energy consumption",
"Sustainable buildings"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Buildings and the built environment directly and substantially affect the natural environment and ecology (CIB, 1997; CIB and UNEP-IETC, 2002; Graham, 2003; IPCC, 2009; Williamson et al., 2003) and, given their long life spans, have the potential to impact well into the future (ASBEC, 2008). The scale of rapid urbanization and new buildings being constructed in developing countries calls for an urgent need for change in how the construction industry operates (CIB, 1997; CIB and UNEP-IETC, 2002; IPCC, 2009; WBCSD, 2009). Buildings play a big role in climate change impact, producing 30 per cent of global CO2 emissions, where 80-90 per cent of CO2 emissions are from the operational phase of existing buildings (UNEP-SBCI, 2010). Consequently, mitigation of CO2 emissions has affected the building industry in a number of countries in the South East Asian region, where countries like Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are already implementing energy efficiency legislation on newly built buildings (Zaid et al., 2015). However, the same cannot be said about the building industry in Malaysia, where such legislation does not exist for both new built and existing buildings (Shafii, 2008; Zaid et al., 2015).\nThe continued growth and evolution of green buildings: Extensive research and development has been done to enhance building performance through energy simulations and \"green\" design or architecture (GhaffarianHoseini et al., 2013; Zaid and Kiani, 2016). The term \"green\" architecture/building refers to how environment-friendly the building is, in terms of the design, techniques and technology used in the building (Zaid and Kiani, 2016). The green building revolution is presently being established through energy standards such as the European Energy Performance of Building Directive (EBPD), the French Low Energy Building Decree and the Norwegian Standard for Residential Passive House (Nilashi et al., 2015; Zaid and Kiani, 2016; Zaid et al., 2015). The GBI in Malaysia is starting to gain awareness locally among the building industry professionals, and more recently with the creation of MyCREST or the Malaysian Carbon Reduction and Environmental Sustainability Tool launched in 2016 by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB, 2016).\nMethodology: The methodology used in this study is comparative case study. This method is used when two or more similar case studies are considered and in-depth comparison is required between them (Mills et al., 2010). Case study buildings for this research have been chosen first from the GBI NRNC list of certified buildings, and second, the conventional baseline building is chosen carefully from commercial buildings, which have the similar number of floors and floor area for a fair and valid comparison (Zaid and Kiani, 2016). In total, 116 NRNC buildings in Malaysia have been awarded by GBI certification, 54 of which have been awarded GBI-certified certification, 18 have been awarded GBI silver certification, 39 have been awarded GBI gold certification and only 5 have been awarded GBI platinum certification (GBS, 2009).\nCase study and findings: The selected GBI-certified building was designed to perform at 150kWh/m2/year and has a total floor area of 43,943 m2, while the baseline building has a floor area of 41,249 m2 (Zaid and Kiani, 2016). Both buildings used double-glazed glass for their windows, and the GBI-certified building has a total of 15 lifts, while the baseline building had 12 lifts. A more detailed description of the building characteristics of the selected case studies is presented in Table IV (Zaid and Kiani, 2016).\nDiscussion and conclusions: This paper has measured and compared the environmental impacts of a \"green\" office and a conventional office using utilized electricity and UNEP-SBCI's CCM equation. Through the data analysis and findings, it was found that the selected non-residential GBI-certified building was performing better than the simulated or intended energy performance - it was consuming at average 111 kWh/m2/year, while it was designed to consume 150 kWh/m2/year. This finding is surprising in comparison with the literature found on performance gap where the actual measured performance is usually higher than the simulated or predicted measurement. Further in-depth research on the distribution of energy consumption by end-use could help explain these findings. However, through the comparative case study between a conventional non-GBI-certified building and a GBI-certified building, it was found that the conventional building was performing better than the GBI-rated building over time at 69 kWh/m2/year.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Global warming and climate change is one of the biggest issues facing humanity in this century; its effects are felt on the highest peaks of Mount Everest to the low-lying islands in the India Ocean. This century marked the highest amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted, breaking records of the past 650,000 years, and we have pushed the climate to \"a point of no return\". Much of the climate contribution has been linked to humanity's thirst for higher living standards and lifestyle, which has led to higher consumerism, depletion of earth's resources, production of massive waste and carbon emissions. Fast forward from the sustainability agenda of Brundtland set in 1987 and the increasing demand for energy consumption to cater for the current global inhabitants, many \"green\" efforts have been taken by the building industry to reduce the overall environmental impact. This purpose of this study is to compare energy performance of a conventional office building with a green certified building.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper tries to bridge the performance gap by comparing measured operational energy consumption and carbon emission of Green Building Index (GBI)-certified office buildings in Kuala Lumpur, to determine whether \"green buildings\" are performing as intended in reducing their environmental impact.\nFindings: This paper highlighted and compared operational energy consumption and carbon emissions of a GBI-certified office with a conventional office building in Malaysia. The paper also discusses the performance gap issue and its common causes, and aims to compare predicted energy and operational energy performance of buildings.\nOriginality/value: Initiatives such as \"green\" or \"sustainable\" design have been at the forefront of architecture, while green assessment tools have been used to predict the energy performance of a building during its operational phase. There is still a significant performance gap between predicted or simulated energy measurements to actual operational energy consumption. The need to measure actual performance of these so-called \"green buildings\" is important to investigate if there is a performance gap and whether these buildings can perform better than conventional buildings. Understanding why the performance gap occurs is a step in reducing actual and predicted energy performance in buildings.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Progress, traditions and future directions in research on disasters involving slow-onset hazards
|
[
"Climate change",
"Resilience",
"Disaster risk reduction (DRR)",
"Creeping crisis",
"Slow-onset disaster"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Hazards differ markedly in their pattern and speed of manifestation, which in turn greatly affects how researchers as well as authorities interpret and respond to them. Some hazards, such as earthquakes or some types of industrial accidents, can produce disastrous impacts in a matter of seconds if not mitigated. Other types of impacts are more gradual or creeping in their manifestation, such as those partially attributable to drought hazards. Disaster assessments reveal that the impacts of elusive and slow-onset hazards represent a large part of the global disaster burden (UN, 2015a; OCHA, 2011). However, conceptual and policy innovations developed by disaster researchers over the last century are mainly draws on research focussed on sudden-onset disasters (Hsu, 2017; Matthewman, 2015; Dynes, 2004; Rosenthal, 1998), such as the mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery phase notion, which assumes that disasters have relatively well-defined beginnings and ends. Little is known, therefore, about disasters involving slow-onset hazards and the unique challenges they pose for disaster risk reduction (DRR) theory and policy.\n2. Design: In the design of literature reviews, an essential consideration is whether it should be structured or unstructured. Although one type of design is not necessarily better than the other - as they serve different purposes - systematic reviews are highly appropriate for themes on which there exists little research and where the state-of-the-art needs to be explored (Jesson et al., 2011; Feak and Swales, 2009; Webster and Watson, 2002). Few topics in disaster research has received as little attention as disasters involving slow-onset hazards (a host of research is available on, e.g., droughts, desertification, etc., but few of these theorise onset speed or slow-onset hazard impacts in general), and this study therefore employs a semi-structured review design, sufficiently wide in scope to capture both the literatures directly focussed on slow-onset hazards and their impacts, as well as literatures only touching on the topic - either conceptually or empirically.\n3. Results: contributions to slow-onset disaster research and theory: A great many publications refer to slow-onset disaster or synonymous terms, but for the most part only in passing or as a means of delimiting the focus to sudden-onset disasters (e.g. empirical studies of disaster events noting that there are also slow-onset types, but their particular study is concerned with sudden-onset disasters; others focus on a drought episode and note that it is a slow-onset hazard but the study itself focusses only on droughts). Other research contributions have specific slow-onset hazards and their impacts as their focus, such as influential work carried out on droughts, gradually manifesting geological hazards or the adverse impacts of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation phenomenon, but these rarely make an effort to abstract their findings up to overall statements about slow-onset hazards and their unique preparedness and response demands. It should be noted, however, that from a long-term perspective, there are not necessarily any unique challenges posed by slow-onset hazards; both require reductions of vulnerability so as to reduce the prevalence and severity of disasters. Yet, as long as vulnerabilities persist, the manifestation, impact dynamics, disaster management demands and displacement patterns of disasters involving slow-onset hazards arguably pose a different set of challenges than sudden-onset disasters do. Table I provides an overview of published works identified as a part of this present review effort and represents a comprehensive (although perhaps not fully exhaustive) overview of contributions that have been made towards enhancing our understanding of slow-onset disasters as category and concept to date.\n4. Discussion: gaps and research needs: The small albeit emerging literature on disasters involving slow-onset hazards, including their nature, unique traits and distinct prevention and management challenges reveal both signs of progress and significant gaps. It is clear that research interest in slow-onset processes is on the fore and that we will see an increase in publications on this topic in the future. At the same time, the topic of disasters involving slow-onset hazards face some significant obstacles owing to previous conceptual debates surrounding the concept of disaster, which for a long time did not consider gradual processes as a part of the scope of disaster research (see, e.g. Stallings, 2005). As research on the topic increases, there are in particular three strands of analysis that could be particularly fruitful to pursue, and which are not adequately covered in the existing literature as revealed by this literature survey.\n5. Concluding remarks: Slow-onset, creeping and elusive types of hazard impacts have been subject to disproportionally little research compared to sudden-onset types. This paper aimed to provide a state-of-the-art overview of scholarship on slow-onset hazards and their synonyms. Looking both at literatures engaging with the concept directly as well as indirectly, this literature survey identified a number of themes. Chief among these is that most publications that mention the term do so only in passing, in the sense as noting that in addition to conventional disasters there are also slow-onset types. The majority of the contributions that directly engage with the concept are concerned with typologisation and conceptualisation, suggesting that research on disasters involving slow-onset hazards is still in its infancy and that there is a great need for more empirical research and theory building. An especially important aspect of this work will involve assessing the degree to which models and frameworks developed in the context of sudden-onset hazard impacts are appropriate for the study and management of slow-onset types.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The importance of onset speed has been stressed by disaster researchers and inter-governmental bodies for some time, but its meaning and knowledge frontier has not been explored in depth. The purpose of this paper is to contextualise disasters involving slow-onset hazards within the broader literature on disasters, assess the current state of knowledge and identify themes in the literature.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper employs a semi-structured review design with the purpose of identifying both scholarship engaging directly with the term and less obvious but related literatures.\nFindings: The majority of publications that mention slow-onset hazards and their adverse impacts do so only by means of delimitation. The paper finds that there is a great need for empirical and theoretical work on onset and manifestation speed and to test the degree to which existing theories and frameworks of disaster management are also relevant for the study of slow-onset hazard impacts.\nResearch limitations/implications: The review identifies several gaps in existing research disasters involving slow-onset hazards and proposes research on community, political, policy and practical challenges, including answering the question of how to secure proactive response to emerging slow-onset hazard impacts.\nPractical implications: In theory, hazards with a gradual and creeping onset are easier to manage and proactively respond to than that of sudden and unexpected ones. Not only do slow-onset hazards provide more lead time, but also a larger potential for proactive response, which in turn provides ample time to take early action to cushion their impacts. Yet, warnings often go unheard and response is put on hold until impacts become unnecessarily costly to reverse. More research on onset speed and gradual manifestation patterns should therefore be carried out.\nOriginality/value: Gradually occurring hazards have remained largely absent from the core literature on disasters, including most definitions of the term. This paper represents an initial effort to assess the state-of-the-art on the concept and the phenomenon of disasters involving slow-onset hazards.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The positive interaction of work and family roles: Using need theory to further understand the work-family interface
|
[
"Work identity",
"Family",
"Role conflict"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Increased prevalence of dual earner couples challenges the traditional gender roles of women working in unpaid positions within the home and men working in paid positions outside of the home. This traditional family dynamic is being replaced with a less gender-role prescribed model where men are more involved in parenting and women are more involved in paid work outside of the home. This change is paralleled with a greater need for both women and men to care for their aging parents, and greater amounts of participation in multiple roles.An abundance of research indicates that participation in both work (e.g. employee, volunteer) and family (e.g. parent, elder care provider) roles can lead to significant conflict that can result in substantive negative outcomes for the individual experiencing the conflict, including: higher instances of job and family distress (Frone et al., 1997a; Kelloway et al., 1999; Ford et al., 2007); poor health outcomes (Frone et al., 1992, 1994); and decreased job and life satisfaction (Carlson and Kacmar, 2000; Duxbury and Higgins, 2001; Ford et al., 2007). Work-family conflict can also result in negative outcomes for organizations such as: lower instances of organizational performance, lower morale, and higher turnover rates (Fu and Shaffer, 2001; Kossek and Ozeki, 1998). More recent research has focused on these relationships across the lifespan. For example, Gordon et al. (2007) found that conflict relates negatively with job satisfaction and positively with turnover intentions for older working women.Inarguably, high levels of participation in both work and family roles can lead to very serious negative outcomes for individuals and organizations. These findings are not surprising given that work-family research has been heavily dominated by the role strain perspective of the work-family interface (i.e. work-family conflict) (Barnett, 1998). Stemming from the scarcity hypothesis, this perspective suggests that responsibilities from different, separate domains compete for limited amounts of time, physical energy, and psychological resources (Moore, 1963). Less examined are the positive aspects of multiple role participation (Barnett and Hyde, 2001).In contrast to the role-strain perspective, work-family researchers are now asking whether work and family roles may facilitate, or enhance, one another (Barnett, 1998; Greenhaus and Powell, 2006; Grzywacz and Marks, 2000; Barnett and Hyde, 2001; Kirchmeyer, 1992). Consistent with boundary theory (Ashforth et al., 2000), these bodies of research conceptualize work and family domains as permeable, however not necessarily as conflictual. Although significantly more limited in comparison to the work-family conflict literature, research on role enhancement (Reid and Hardy, 1999), work-family facilitation (Frone, 2003), positive spillover (Crouter, 1984; Grzywacz and Marks, 2000), expansionist theory (Barnett and Hyde, 2001), and work-family enrichment (Greenhaus and Powell, 2006) support the notion that dual roles of work and family can be beneficial for mental health, physical health and performance, and can buffer the potential negative effects of other roles (Figure 1).There is currently a lack of theoretical models that examine the processes underlying work-family enrichment. Studies which examine the underlying processes involved in the positive a side of the work-family interface may address unanswered questions such as: \"Why do multiple roles lead to facilitation for some and distress for others?\" or \"What psychological processes lead to negative versus positive work-family spillover?\" This gap in the literature is described in The Work and Family Handbook by MacDermid and Harvey (2006, p. 573) who argue that:[...] the most compelling questions about work-family conflict and facilitation are how and why. How do work and family influence one another, and why are these effects stronger for some workers than for others? - these questions are at the cutting edge of our knowledge. In order to address them, researchers will need to emphasize process approaches.Additional research highlighting the need to examine the positive side of the work-family interface, states that, \"work-family facilitation has been dominated by the role strain hypothesis and is an area ripe for empirical investigation and theory building\" (Hill, 2005, p. 794). Similarly, Eby et al. (2005, p. 180) identified this problem in their comprehensive review of the industrial-organizational and organizational-behavior literature. Specifically, they state that:[...] notwithstanding the substantial support that exists for the conflict perspective [...] research on the favorable effects of work on family (and family on work) is critical to understand the complexities of work-family interaction.Therefore, more exploration is needed into the positive aspects of multiple role participation, particularly around explaining how and why multiple roles lead to positive spillover in some instances and negative spillover in other instances. Exploration into these psychological processes will lead to a greater understanding of the positive aspects of multiple role participation and allow for an alternate focus that enhances the facilitative effects of multiple roles, rather than reducing the negative effects of work-family conflict. While expansionist theory (Barnett and Hyde, 2001) and enrichment theory (Greenhaus and Powell, 2006) provide a well-needed step in this direction, more empirical research is needed to test the tenants of these theories and the processes by which they operate.It is the goal of the current paper to provide a framework from which to better understand the psychological processes underlying work-family enrichment and to identify ways in which work-family enrichment can be increased. Specifically, the author's draw upon need theory to identify antecedents of work-family enrichment. A literature review of the positive aspects of multiple role participation and need theory is provided, followed by a conceptual and testable model depicting the direct and indirect relationships involved in work-family enrichment.Positive aspects of multiple role participation\nProposed model and theoretical propositions: The subsequent theoretical model and propositions are based on the following bodies of literature: work-family conflict (Carlson and Kacmar, 2000; Duxbury and Higgins, 2001; Frone et al., 1992, 1994, 1997a; Fu and Shaffer, 2001; Kelloway et al., 1999; Kossek and Ozeki, 1998), positive and negative spillover (Grzywacz and Marks, 2000; Kirchmeyer, 1992), expansionist theory (Barnett and Hyde, 2001), enhancement hypothesis (Reid and Hardy, 1999), work-family enrichment (Greenhaus and Powell, 2006), social support (Cohen and Wills, 1985), and need theory (Deci and Ryan, 1983).Proposed model\nTheoretical implications: For many years, the scarcity hypothesis and work-family conflict perspective have guided research in this area to the exclusion of a more positive perspective. Despite the recent focus on positive spillover, work-family facilitation, expansionist theory, and role enhancement an overarching theory to guide these new directions and to build an understanding of the underlying mechanisms is lacking. Need theory has the potential to establish the link between these theories and the well-being outcomes found in recent research and to move the literature towards stronger theoretical development by explaining the why behind relationships between work-family variables (see Whetton, 1989, for a more detailed discussion on the importance of why in theory development).\nPractical implications: The theoretical model presented in this paper has several practical implications. First, there is a need for organizations to focus on ways to increase work-family enrichment, as opposed to a primary focus on the reduction of work-family conflict. Focusing on the reduction of conflict rather than fostering enrichment can be analogous to removing an organizational stressor versus providing proactive organizational support. Similar to the positive organizational and individual benefits of a supportive work environment (Carlson and Perrewe, 1999; Frone, 2003; Frone et al., 1997b), management who take the time to develop enrichment among their employees via need theory rather than the reduction of conflict will likely see more positive results.A second practical implication is the development of managers to support their employees' needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness at work as a way of buffering negative effects and increasing positive effects in the work-family spillover. Need theory in the form of SDT has been effective in several organizational contexts (Baard et al., 2004; Deci et al., 1989, 2001). Specifically, in Deci et al. (1989) study, the researchers found that employees with managers who supported their autonomy had higher levels of positive attitudes.In the increasingly demanding world of work, more and more employees need to be supported in their roles and yet companies are often resistant to reducing work-family conflict and increasing work-family enrichment. However, by establishing a link through SDT and identifying the potential benefits this may prove to be a powerful force in creating change. Similarly, in the family domain, counselors and therapists may be able to utilize SDT to reframe these issues and help parents to understand and draw from their internal (need based) resources.A third practical implication is that organizations may benefit from incorporating basic psychological need fulfillment into employees' training and developmental. Psychological need fulfillment has shown to relate to a variety of positive individual benefits (Deci and Vansteenkiste, 2004; Sheldon et al., 1996). The model presented in the current study suggests that these benefits could buffer the negative impact of other roles and increase enrichment. The workplace is a valuable arena from which to enhance need fulfillment and likely lead to organizational and individual benefits above and beyond those resulting from general organizational support.\nResearch implications: The first immediate benefit of focusing on SDT is the potential use of competence, autonomy, and relatedness as moderators in the WFC and individual outcomes literature. Although the theory fits best in a positive spillover context, the application of SDT within the current negative spillover perspective would allow for an alternative understanding of past conflict-outcome relationships. For example, the negative relationship between work-family conflict and life satisfaction may be moderated by competence and relatedness at work. Therefore, applying SDT within the current work-family conflict literature may explain additional variance in past relationships.Only one study to date has explored the relationship between elements of SDT and work-family outcomes. Senecal et al. (2001) found that individuals employed as therapists were more motivated to work and family when and reported less work-family conflict when they felt valued by their partner and autonomy supported by their employer. These results suggest, in a preliminary way, that competence and autonomy relate to work-family outcomes. More research needs to be conducted to strengthen and expand on these relationships.The second benefit of the application of SDT to work-family research is the opportunity to demonstrate that the effects of competence, autonomy, and relatedness are important across domains. Recent research by Ford et al. (2007) has demonstrated several work-family and family-work conflict variables have within and cross-domain impact (i.e. with family and job satisfaction), although cross-domain relationships are relatively lower than within domain relationships. A large amount of variance was unaccounted for in many of the correlations in Ford et al. (2007) study thus indicating that moderators may be operating.\nFuture research: This paper suggests several future directions that researchers can undertake to advance the understanding of both positive and negative linkages between work and family life. First, some of the propositions depicted in the model should be tested by examining the daily effects of psychological benefits on work-family enrichment. There has been a significant lack of attention given to the daily functioning of spillover in previous research (Butler et al., 2005). Studies regarding the transmission of daily stressors have lead to a deeper understanding of the process and operation of stressors and stress (MacEwen and Barling, 1994). Similarly, an understanding of the daily processes and mechanisms of positive spillover may provide insight into how spillover operates and how successful interventions can operate at the individual and daily level. The examination of the work-family interface at a daily level would allow for the exploration of these processes over time. This is important as recognized by MacDermid and Harvey (2006, p. 573) who state that, \"one key requirement when studying process is to address the time structure or the sequence in which processes unfold.\"An examination of the process of the work and family interface on a daily basis will allow for further exploration into how the work and family roles intersect by expanding current knowledge in how spillover actually occurs For example, take the exhausted executive returning home from work at the end of a difficult day who arrives home to see his smiling daughter waiting for him. Despite the potential for negative spillover this is mitigated by the positive feelings he has for his daughter and his awareness of her love for him.Second, the role of need theory in work-family enrichment should be empirically tested, allowing for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in one's experience of work-family enrichment versus work-family conflict. Specifically, the theoretical groundwork in the current paper should be used as a basis from which to empirically test the role of competence, relatedness, and autonomy in a person's work and family life. It is likely that at least a partial contributor of the increased levels of well being experienced by those in multiple roles (Barnett and Hyde, 2001; Kirchmeyer, 1992) is the greater satisfaction of their needs for competence, relatedness and autonomy. In other words, the diversification of needs through multiple roles can be a buffer when the person struggles in one particular role.\nConclusions: This paper provides a review of the predominant theoretical frameworks used to describe the interaction between work and family roles and presents an integrative model of work-family enrichment. This research addresses several gaps in the work-family research including the primary focus on the negative interaction between work and family and the lack of theoretical exploration into how and why multiple roles can lead to work-family enrichment. It is the goal of this research is to help better understand the psychological and instrumental processes underlying benefits associated with work and family roles, and to provide a theoretical basis from which empirical research in this area can be explored. It has become generally accepted that spillover between work and family domains can be both positive and negative. The model presented here provides an initial attempt at developing an integrated understanding of the relevant issues in positive spillover through the integration of need and family enrichment theories.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the predominant theoretical frameworks used to describe the interaction between work and family roles and present an integrative model of work-family enrichment. The goal is to better understand the psychological processes underlying work-family enrichment and to identify ways in which work-family enrichment can be increased. A conceptual and testable model depicting the direct and indirect relationships involved in work-family enrichment is provided.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A review of past theories describing the work-family interface is provided, followed by the presentation of a theoretical and testable model depicting the relationships between work-family enrichment and need theory.\nFindings: - It is suggested that the basic needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness are presented as important psychological benefits that directly impact affect within a domain and indirectly influence work-family enrichment and quality of life.\nResearch limitations/implications: - This paper suggests several future directions that researchers can undertake to advance the understanding of positive linkages between work and family. These future directions include: testing the propositions related to need theory through a daily study approach, examining organizational and personal antecedents and consequences associated with work-family enrichment, and testing the aspects of the presented model to further the new area of research, integrating work-family enrichment and need theory.\nPractical implications: - This paper highlights several practical recommendations for individuals and organizations. These include: the need to focus beyond work-family conflict towards work-family enrichment, incorporating basic psychological need fulfillment into employees' developmental goals, and for employees to seek psychological benefits to buffer any costs within a role when trying to balance work and family.\nOriginality/value: - This paper addresses several gaps in the previous work-family literature including: the primary focus on the negative interaction between work and family; the lack of theoretical exploration into how and why multiple roles can lead to work-family enrichment; and specifically, the integration of need theory as an explanation for work-family enrichment.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Enhancing the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education: the role of entrepreneurial lecturers
|
[
"Entrepreneurship education",
"Entrepreneurial intentions",
"Theory of planned behaviour",
"Entrepreneurial lecturers"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The issue of whether entrepreneurs are born or made, to a large extent, has been resolved (Fenton and Barry, 2011). There seems to be a common understanding and agreement among academics, governments and policymakers that entrepreneurship can be taught and learned (Ismail and Ahmad, 2013; Gerba, 2012b; Kumara, 2012). Thus, the issue is no longer whether entrepreneurs can be made or whether EE can influence students' entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) and behaviours. The real issues that need to be addressed according to Sirelkhatim and Ganji (2015), Solesvik et al. (2014) and Henry (2013) are as follows:\nProblem statement/rationale for the study: Youth unemployment is one of the challenges facing many countries today, particularly the developing countries (David, 2015; Ajufo, 2013; Gorlich et al., 2013). Available statistics shows that about 70.5 per cent of the world's unemployed are youths (ILO, 2016). In Nigeria, youth unemployment rate is estimated at 53.3 per cent of the total labour force (NBS, 2017). The resultant effects of youth unemployment are numerous, grievous and contagious. These include armed robbery, drug trafficking and addiction, human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping (or hostage taking), advance fee fraud, cultism, political thuggery, uprising and terrorism (Anene and Imam, 2011).\nLiterature review and hypotheses development: This section specifically reviews the related literature on EIs, antecedents to EIs, EE, direct impact of EE on students' EIs, the social learning theory and the role of entrepreneurial lecturers with a view to developing research hypotheses and framework.\nConceptual framework: The detailed literature review undertaken formed the basis for the development of the following conceptual framework. Thus, Figure 1 shows the mediating effect of entrepreneurial lecturers on the relationship between EE and students' EIs. The assumption here is that the impact of EE on students' EIs would be greater if EE is taught by entrepreneurial lecturers, who are perceived to be entrepreneurially inclined by the students. Henceforth, entrepreneurial lecturers shall be referred to as perceived entrepreneurial lecturers (PELs). Specifically, in Figure 1, EE is conceptualised to have a direct link with students' EIs. This suggests that EE is capable of affecting students' EIs directly, either positively or negatively. Also, EE is hypothesised to have a direct relationship with PELs. Additionally, PELs is conceptualised to have to a direct link with students' EIs, implying that PELs could predict students' EIs. Lastly, it is hypothesised that the relationship between EE and students' EIs is mediated by PELs, suggesting that PELs could absorb and transfer the influence of EE to students' EIs.\nMethods: This section explains the methods adopted in data collection and analysis and how the study's variables were operationalized.\nResults and discussion: This section presents and discusses the results of the data analysis carried out. More precisely, it presents and discusses the results of the measurement and the structural models examined.\nConclusions and implications: This study empirically explores the role of entrepreneurial lecturers in the relationship between EE and students' EIs. Specifically, this study aims to determine whether EE has a significantly positive relationship with students' EIs and to empirically establish whether entrepreneurial lecturers mediate the relationship between EE and students' EIs. As expected, the results of Model I showed that EE had a significantly positive relationship with students' EIs. Also, analysis of Model II revealed that entrepreneurial lecturers mediated the relationship between EE and students' EIs. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that, even though EE has been confirmed to have a strong positive impact on students' EIs, the impact would be greater if EE is taught by entrepreneurial lecturers, who are perceived to be entrepreneurially inclined by the students. This means that entrepreneurial lecturers enhance the effectiveness of EE in influencing students' EIs and behaviours. As a matter of fact, there is the likelihood that the lecturers' entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviours would rub off on students' EIs and behaviours. This is possible because many students see their lecturers as role models and even desire to be like them.\nLimitations and suggestions for future studies: Despite the significant contributions of this study, it has some notable limitations. First, this study was a single institutional study. Thus, the generalisability of its findings to other institutions is limited. Extending the research to other institutions and countries might be required to corroborate the findings presented.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Despite the inclusion of entrepreneurship education (EE) in the curricula of tertiary education institutions in Nigeria, graduate unemployment is still an issue of serious concern. This calls into question the effectiveness of EE in influencing students' entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) and behaviours. Perhaps, the issue is with the EE lecturers. The questions, which should be answered include: are the lecturers who teach EE entrepreneurially inclined? Can lecturers who are not entrepreneurially inclined teach students to become entrepreneurs? The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to empirically explore the role of entrepreneurial lecturers in the relationship between EE and students' EIs.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study adopted a quantitative approach. Thus, a self-reported questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 256 Higher National Diploma II students of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Nigeria, who were exposed to EE. To analyse the data collected, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was performed using SmartPLS 2.0.M3 software.\nFindings: Data analysis showed a significantly positive relationship between EE and students' EIs on the one hand and between EE and perceived entrepreneurial lecturers (PELs) on the other hand. It was also found that PELs had a significantly positive link with students' EIs. Further analysis indicated that PELs had a mediating effect on the relationship between EE and students' EIs.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study was a single institutional study. Thus, the generalisability of its findings to other institutions is limited. Extending the research to other institutions and countries might be required to validate the findings presented.\nPractical implications: This research work has some insightful implications for the teaching of EE. By implication, it provides an answer to the question: who should teach EE? To achieve greater impact of EE on students' EIs and behaviours, entrepreneurial lecturers are required. It implies that EE lecturers should be entrepreneurially inclined. They should demonstrate sufficient entrepreneurial attitudes, intentions and behaviours.\nSocial implications: It has been argued that graduate unemployment constitutes a social problem to the society. In this regard, the suggestions made in this paper, if applied, would help resolve the problem of graduate unemployment in Nigeria and other countries.\nOriginality/value: This study is the first to provide empirical evidence of the role of entrepreneurial lecturers in the relationship between EE and students' EIs. It has demonstrated that entrepreneurial lecturers could transfer the influence of EE to students' EIs. Also, it has confirmed that EE lecturers are critical in the EE-students' EIs relationship. Overall, this study makes a significant contribution to the discussion on how to enhance the effectiveness of EE in influencing students' EIs and behaviours.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The determinants of online loan applications from small businesses
|
[
"Virtual banking",
"Loans",
"Small enterprises",
"United States of America",
"Behaviour"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The development and application of advanced information technologies is fundamentally altering the banking industry (Sanders, 2000). So far, much of the available research has followed two paths. First, it has looked at the impacts of these profound technological changes on the banking industry, either in terms of the perceptions of banking executives (Aladwani, 2001), threats to existing market structures (Hensmans et al., 2001) or the relative importance of \"bricks\" (existing branch network) and \"clicks\" (degree of technological sophistication) (Corrocher, 2006). Second, it has sought to examine the way that the banking industry is seeking ways to reconfigure relational bonds with customers (Petersen and Rajan, 2002). Pivotal to this has been a general conceptual awareness of the importance of trust (Tapscott et al., 2000), given that this is both a barrier to electronic commerce (Gefen, 2000) and \"a significant antecedent of customers\" willingness to engage in a transaction with web merchants (Yousafzai et al., 2003, p. 847). Hence, there has been a concentration upon the nature of the good/service (Hsieh et al., 2005), bank reputational effects (Beck, 2001) and technological competence (Lee and Turban, 2001).In this paper, we examine the online loan application behaviour of small business customers. We examine three aspects not fully covered in the prior research. First, we seek to provide empirical evidence of how online banking applications are mediated by the nature of existing relational bonds between applicants and banks, geographic distance and the type of existing financial institution providing loans. Our second concern is to examine the individual characteristics of the applicant. More generic research on trust and networks has emphasised not only the importance of existing relational bonds (Uzzi, 1999), but also the importance of the human capital (e.g. education, ethnicity and age) in explaining why individuals develop particular forms of trust (Granovetter, 1985). The importance of these factors is under-researched in this area. Finally, a third important moderating influence is likely to be the characteristics of the venture. Prior research has indicated that the size and structure of the banking industry has a strong impact on technology adoption and diffusion (e.g. Saloner and Shepard, 1995; Courchane et al., 2002; Corrocher, 2006). Here we investigate if the size and structure of the individual venture also has an impact on online loan applications.The paper is structured as follows. In the next part, we develop hypotheses to explore our three contributions. We then present the methodology and the results. We conclude by exploring what the implications are of this study.\nHypotheses development: Advanced information technologies have been developed significantly over the last decades allowing banks to develop electronic lending and credit decision making systems and, thereby, fundamentally lower the costs of lending (Allen et al., 2002). Berger (2003) has also shown that banks and their customers benefit from the improved technologies and overall productivity growth in terms of improved quality and variety of banking services to the extent that the large banking organizations have increased their share of small business loans by 8.4 per cent on average, or $4 billion per institution (Frame et al., 2001).Although there are seeming benefits to electronic banking, prior research has tended to consider the bank-business consumer nexus from the perspective of the supplier of finance. A number of prior features emerge from these studies. In essence, the evidence points to the importance of relationship lending in improving both the availability of finance and reducing its cost (Petersen and Rajan, 1994; Berger and Udell, 1995). This is because relationship lending alleviates the problems of moral hazard and adverse selection since banks are surer of the quality and behaviour of loan applicants. This means they can potentially increase the availability and quantity of loans to their business customers (Degryse and Ongena, 2005) since the collection of information is easier and cheaper (Ang, 1991).It may, however, be anticipated that the development of online loan applications, particularly for smaller business customers, will alter this relationship. This may be of positive benefit. Some customers, for example, who have strong relationship bonds with their bank developed over a period of time may welcome online applications as it reduces transportation costs and searching costs. Indeed, Degryse and Ongena (2005) found that spatial price discrimination is caused by transportation costs and as a result loan rates decrease with the distance between the venture and the lending bank. Equally, online loan applications may be more likely to be conducted if the lender itself is seen as having reputational capital to mitigate against security concerns of the applicant. Indeed, a discernable difference is evident with depository financial institutions being more likely to be used and valued than non-depository financial or non financial institutions (Bitler et al., 2001).Whilst these factors may increase the trust and, thereby the likelihood of applications, trust may be inhibited if applicants are used to dealing in a personal way with key contacts in their locality. Another feature of the relationship between supplier and consumer is that the Internet al.lows for the development of what Uzzi (1997) terms \"arms length\" relationships where market transactions are mediated by both the cost of search and the actual cost of goods/services. Uzzi (1999) and Uzzi and Lancaster (2003) suggest that there is ample evidence that these arm length relationship are not necessarily valued in the bank-consumer nexus but, still, given superior knowledge of online financial services, online loan applications may be affected by the changing technology dynamic in banking.Given these potentially contradictory impacts, there is no clear unequivocal evidence. Nonetheless, the sense is that closer relationships between customers and suppliers of finance should impact favourably on online loan applications:H1. Online loan applications are more likely when there is a closer bank-consumer nexus.Whilst the nature of transactional or relationship based ties may impact on online behaviour, a more under-researched aspect is how the human capital of the individual business consumer impacts on online behaviour. In the cognate field of bank lending research, particular features emerge which may guide the likelihood of online loan applications. First, the approval and pricing of loans are found to be highly related to the observable signals (Berger and Udell, 1990). This particularly pertains in relation to smaller business consumers since they are often dominated by single or small numbers of individuals, suggesting that patterns of financial services mimic those of these principal individuals. Similarly, Carow and Staten (1999) have found that there is a strong link between the human capital of individuals (e.g. age, sex, education) and the use of payments technologies like debit cards and electronic bill payment. For example, they suggest that debit card usage is negatively related to age and positively related to being middle-income, having more education, being married, owning a home, and holding more credit cards. Mantel (2000) also finds that the use of electronic bill payment services is positively related to age, income, homeownership, holding a credit card, and being female (see also Mantel and McHugh, 2001).If applied to online loan applications it may be that individuals with greater human capital that is observable to the finance supplier will be more willing to countenance the use of such technology. This is because such individuals are less informationally opaque. Furthermore, the availability of formal information (e.g. tax forms and bank statements) implies greater transparency to outsiders, hence reducing the search and monitoring costs. In general, therefore, it may be anticipated that the following will hold:H2. Online loan applications are more likely when the individual business consumer has evident human capital attributes.Banks, however, do not just look at the principals concerned in any venture. Being principally interested in low returns for low risks, they also pay particular attention to the financial vitality of the venture. Research on this area in relation to online loans has been limited, but it is clear that the available research suggests key features. First, what is likely to improve the financial capability of a venture is the breadth of ownership structure given that Petersen and Rajan (2002) argue that those with more dispersed shareholders are more palatable to outside investors. Second, smaller ventures are particularly prone to failure in situations when they are young or under-capitalised. This, though, may not mean that older ventures see advantages in pursuing online loan applications. As with younger individuals, younger ventures may be less used to particular ways on dealing with their funding requirements and, therefore, more open to using new technologies. In other words, because their business has, ceteris paribus, weaker relationship bonds with prospective or actual finance suppliers, they may be more prone to considering alternative mechanisms. The suggestion, therefore, is that:H3. Online loan applications are more likely when the venture has weaker relationship bonds with finance suppliers.\nData: To understand the nature of online loan applications, the empirical evidence is drawn from the US Survey of Small Business Finances (SSBF98) which is a large scale and representative survey of smaller businesses. The dataset contains 3,561 sample ventures, representing 5.3 million small businesses in the USA These ventures are selected on the basis that they are all for-profit, non-financial, non-farm, non-subsidiary businesses with fewer that 500 employees with the view to understanding the opaque but general use of credit by smaller ventures\nVariables and estimation procedure: Crucially, the survey does consider online loan applications which as the dependent variable is coded as 1 if the sample venture applies for loans or other forms of credit online (credit card, credit line, motor vehicle loan, equipment loan and other loan) (zero otherwise). For the independent variables - and following on from the hypotheses - we group these into three categories: finance supplier; principal characteristics; and venture characteristics. The particular characteristics of the variables and summary statistics for these variables are identified in Table I. Principally, the main interest is in using a logistic estimation procedure for the 2,642 available observations. We control the sample ventures by only looking at those ventures with external finance demands (credit card, credit line, motor vehicle loan, equipment loan and other loan). Not reported (but available upon request) are fifteen control variables including eight industry binary variables based on two-digit SIC code, one dummy of Metropolitan Statistical Area, three dummies representing the region where sample venture headquarters, and two binary variables indicating the market concentration.\nResults: Table II lists the regression results of the logistic model. In terms of H1, use is made of six measures to understand the nature of the bank-consumer nexus. These proxies look at the complex nature of relationship bonds by looking at the influence of geographical distance, the length of relationship and the number of the sources of finance used by the principal to see if there are any evident explanations for the use of online loan applications. A further twelve variables are used to identify the nature of the human capital of the principal. Some of these relate to standard human capital attributes (e.g. gender, ethnicity, age, business experience and financial wealth) but included are also measures of credit card use and their capacity to provide formal business information (e.g. bank statement record user, tax forms). Finally, the third set of data provides information on venture characteristics to establish how well established in age, ownership or in capitalisation they are.In terms of our first hypothesis that online loan applications are impacted by the bank-consumer nexus, there is some evidence to suggest that these factors do impact. Principally, what Table II shows is that business consumers are more likely to make online loan applications if they have a longer relationship with their primary financial service provider than those with other providers. There are two possible reasons for this effect. One is that online application complements the trust built up through personal contacts and lowers the transaction costs for both small business borrowers and primary lenders (Uzzi, 1999). This interpretation is based on the assumption that small business borrowers apply loan online from the primary institution. It is not implausible because the primary financial service provider has the advantage of prior monitoring information which, in turn, encourages their consumers to use online applications to lower the cost to the consumer.Further support for this view is evident in terms of physical distance. Table II suggests that distance is positively associated with the likelihood of applying for a loan online, indicating that online loan application reduces the transaction costs. However, Table II also indicates that the probability of applying loan online is positively associated with the number of financial services used. This also supports H1. Overall, it appears that the closer the relationship, the less likely the business applies loans online. This is because the benefits of private information collection in close relationship are favourable for both the bank and their customer since concentrated relationships provide: stronger incentives for banks to invest in producing information; and borrowers may benefit from this with easier access to finance (Petersen and Rajan, 1994) and favorable contract terms, such as lower costs (Berger and Udell, 1995).Table II identifies that there are few principal characteristics that influence online loan applications. Of note, however, is that the probability of applying loan online decreases with the age of entrepreneur. Interestingly, however, the obverse holds for those with greater business experience since they are more likely to perceive, as with credit card users, advantages in online loan applications. On the whole, these points aside there is little wholesale evidence for the impact of these factors and H2 is partially supported. Meanwhile, none of the suggested variables characterising the venture (H3) have any impact, pointing to the suggestion that younger ventures or those with potentially weaker capital structures are no more likely to apply online.\nConclusions: The aim of this paper was to investigate three particular aspects of online loan applications. In particular, we wished to deepen our understanding of the nature of the bank-consumer nexus given the development of advanced information technologies and how these have altered finance. Prior research has indicated that these relationship bonds are principally moderated by notions of trust. Online banking developments, whilst they potentially offer both the bank and the business consumer significant cost advantages have not, based upon these results, had a significant early impact on the relationships. Instead of preferring \"arms length\" transactional savings (Uzzi, 1999), the evidence presented here argues that the intangible nature of personal contact is sticky and remains pivotal. This situation is likely to be fluid. The paper finds evidence that business experience impacts favourably on the likelihood of loan applications, indicating that there are some learning effects. One implication, therefore, may be that practitioners have to continue to strive to explore and extend their marketing strategies to embed the advantages of online loan applications. Whilst it may be clear to the banking industry that there are clear cost advantages, business consumers still appear to perceive fewer advantages. Given that there is still a need to understand the logic of personal trust, one further implication is the need to consider how such technologies can be used to put their business customers \"arms around\" rather than keep them at \"arms length\".\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to examine both the characteristics of the business customers and the types of venture which make use of online loan applications. Despite the growth in the use of technology in banking and the advent of online banking, little research has been conducted on the factors underlying online loan application behaviour amongst business banking customers.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A multivariate analysis is conducted on a USA dataset to empirically test the hypotheses derived in this paper. The empirical evidence is drawn from the US Survey of Small Business Finances, which contains 3,561 sample ventures, representing 5.3 million small businesses in the USA.\nFindings: - The paper finds that online loan behaviour is largely determined by the characteristics of the entrepreneur, rather than that of the venture. It is also found that factors that trust, evident in the length of the relationship between the applicants and their primary lender, is important. Moderating these effects is further evidence that suggests the number of lenders and distance between lenders and applicants has a marked effect on online loan behaviour.\nOriginality/value: - This paper identifies the factors determining small business online loan application behaviour. This is important because the nature of online loan behaviour is changing the existing relationships between banks and customers. Whilst online loan applications afford banks the opportunity to substantially reduce costs, the danger is that long term relationships with customers are harder to cement.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Linking leader-member exchange differentiation to work team performance
|
[
"Team performance",
"Leader-member exchange differentiation",
"Team affective climate",
"Team-member exchange"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: With growing interest in emphasizing the use of work teams for organizational effectiveness, understanding the implication of different supervisor-subordinate relationships - leader-member exchanges (LMX) for team processes and outcomes - has become increasingly important because LMX relationships operate in a border social network that influences other exchange relationships within work teams (see Liden et al., 2006; Tse et al., 2008, 2012). LMX differentiation refers to the degree of within-team variability in the quality of LMX relationships between a supervisor and members within a work team (Erdogan and Liden, 2002). Research has demonstrated that employees are aware of their relative standing in a set of differentiated LMX relationships in their work team (Henderson et al., 2008; Tse et al., 2012; Vidyarthi et al., 2010). Thus, the degree of within-team LMX differentiation is present within the vast majority of work teams, and has been observed as playing a crucial role in shaping team processes and outcomes (Boies and Howell, 2006; Henderson et al., 2009; Le Blanc and Gonzalez-Roma, 2012). When a supervisor differentiates, the varied levels of LMX relationships operating within the work team are likely to influence the way members react toward their supervisor and to other members for achieving team effectiveness (Le Blanc and Gonzalez-Roma, 2012; Liden et al., 2006).\nTheoretical background and proposition development: LMX differentiation: conceptualization and empirical work\nDiscussion: In this study, we developed an integrated team-level model to understand when and how LMX differentiation is related to team performance (Figure 1). In particular, we highlight several aspects of our model again. First, within-team LMX differentiation is theorized to be negatively associated with TMX. Second, TMX is proposed to have a positive impact on team performance, and it also serves as an important mechanism mediating the LMX differentiation-team performance relationship. Third, LMX differentiation is expected to interact with team affective climate to influence TMX. Lastly, we also theorize that indirect effect of LMX differentiation on team performance when team affective climate is strong rather than it is weak.\nConclusion: This study informs the current literature on LMX differentiation. It increases our understanding of whether LMX differentiation is related to team performance, as it is the first to propose a team-level moderated-mediation model of understanding the effects of a psychological process (TMX) and a boundary condition (affective climate) simultaneously on the LMX differentiation-team performance relationship. Our proposed model suggests that the conditional indirect effect of LMX differentiation on team performance only occurs when the levels of affective climate are high rather than low in work teams.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model that delineates the psychological process and boundary condition of how leader-member exchange (LMX) differentiation influences team performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Based on theories of LMX and social information processing, it is argued that several important mechanisms underpin the relationship between LMX differentiation and team performance. The role of these variables in the relationship is discussed.\nFindings: The team mechanisms such as affective climate and team-member exchange (TMX) serve as a boundary condition and psychological process to influence the LMX differentiation-team performance relationship. Their conceptual significance and how they affect the relationship are discussed.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study focusses on theorizing TMX and affective climate as key variables in the LMX differentiation-team performance relationship. Future research considers examining the relative importance of other variables such as team potency or team cohesion to advance the understanding of the precise mechanisms that explain the relationship.\nPractical implications: The proposed model increases the understanding of the role of affective climate in the relationships between LMX differentiation, TMX and team performance. It helps minimize the negative effect of LMX differentiation, and may ultimately lead to better team performance.\nOriginality/value: Although the implication of LMX differentiation has been discussed extensively, the research has not yet led to a firm conclusion as to its relationship with team outcomes. This study is one of the first to theorize affective climate and TMX as an important psychological mechanism and boundary condition to simultaneously influence the LMX differentiation - team performance relationship.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Face-saving tactics as an aid to construction negotiation in Hong Kong
|
[
"Conflict resolution",
"Construction management",
"Disputes",
"Face",
"Face-saving tactics",
"Negotiating"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Construction negotiation is a highly complicated process, involving multi-disciplinary inputs provided by each contracting party. It is a pervasive way of settling project claims or disputes in the construction industry. This dispute resolution method is less time-consuming, less costly and can preserve the relationship among negotiating parties (Ren et al., 2003). Despite its pervasive adoption and advantages over litigation and arbitration, construction negotiation is commonly found to be inefficient due to the complex behavioral interaction of construction participants (Ren et al., 2002). At the negotiation table, each member is typically drawn from different organizations to form a negotiation team. This team is thus constituted of members who have a complex set of interrelated relationships requiring cooperation and collaboration. Each member has goals and needs, and tries to maximize their own benefits (Cherns and Bryant, 1984; Walker, 1989). Given these differences, it is inevitable that the negotiation table is often flooded with conflicts (Ren et al., 2002). This is due to the fact that the multi-disciplinary professionals are of various individual biases, egos, personalities, attitudes, histories of past dealings and psychologies, making them divided on both sides of the negotiation table (Zack, 1994). Notwithstanding the complexity of each construction negotiation, each member shares a common objective, which is to achieve a desirable negotiation outcome that benefits their own organizations. This usually creates conflicts which may eventually lead to a stalemate or withdrawal. In order to achieve a desirable negotiation outcome, human interactions involved in the negotiation process should be taken into account (Loosemore, 1999). Any research methods that can drill down to investigate these interactions are often welcomed by construction practitioners and academics. Among the various factors affecting human interactions involved in a negotiation process, \"face\" is one of the intangible factors that play a tangible and pivotal role in construction negotiations.\nConceptual explanations of face: The concept of face stems from the research efforts in the field of communications (Oetzel and Ting-Tommey, 2003; Lim and Bowers, 1991; Rogan and Hammer, 1994). It represents an individual's claimed sense of positive image in the context of social interaction (Oetzel and Ting-Tommey, 2003). The definition of face has been changing along with its development as a concept. Redding and Ng (1982) defined it as the individual's assessment of the way in which others view oneself. This concept was further developed by Brown and Levinson (1987) identified positive face and negative face. Positive face is the consistent self-image or personality, while negative face is the basic claim to territories, personal preserves, rights to non-distraction, i.e. to freedom of action and freedom from imposition (Brown and Levinson, 1978, 1987). Recently, Ting-Toomy (1994) offered a more comprehensive view of face, explaining how different cultures view face and manage conflicts. Typically, scholars define face on the individual level. It is the respect, the pride and the dignity of an individual as a consequence of one's social achievement (Leung and Chan, 2003), and the assessment of the way in which others view oneself (Redding and Ng, 1982). Interestingly, subtle differences are noticed among the definitions of face from scholars. Eastern scholars identify \"face\" as having two dimensions, \"Lien\" and \"Mian\". \"Lien\" is the moral face which is associated with an individual's dignity based on the moral code and social expectations in one's social circle (Hu, 1944), and \"Mian\" is defined as an individual's social face which is related to reputation, prestige, self-esteem, social, personal and relational identity (Yu and Gu, 1990; Gao, 2006). The key difference between \"Mian\" and \"Lien\" is that \"Lien\" cannot be manipulated because it is internalized while \"Mian\" can be monitored as it is externalized (Hu, 1944; Brunner et al., 1989; King, 1993; Lam and Wong, 1995).\nObjectives: The main objectives of this paper are: first, to develop the generic types of face-saving tactics used in construction negotiation; second, to investigate the relationships between the use of these tactics and the respective outcomes (the \"tactic-outcome relationships\" hereafter); and third, the effects of face-inducement factors on the tactic-outcome relationships are examined. In line with the foregoing discussion, the following hypotheses were tested in order to achieve objectives (2) and (3).\nMethods: To achieve objective (1), the generic type of face-saving tactics was developed by the use of principal component factor analysis (PCFA). In order to accomplish the research objectives, a questionnaire survey has been conducted in Hong Kong to collect case-specific data from respondents, i.e. based on their real negotiating experience. Stratified random sampling technique has been applied to separate the population into non-overlapping groups called strata. Each stratum represents one construction organization such as a contractor or consultant. Simple random samples were then selected from each stratum. This technique has been well adopted from a number of construction management researches (Love 2002; Love et al. 2005; Luck and Rubin, 1987; Yiu and Lee, 2011). The questionnaire consists of four parts. The first part required the respondents to provide their personal information such as race, type of organization and experience in the construction industry. Next, the respondents were asked to rate the likelihood of being induced to give face if the other side holds a senior position; has greater decision-making power; has extensive work experience; and holds more recognized titles. A seven-point Likert scale was used to measure the likelihood (1: extremely unlikely; 2: somewhat unlikely; 3: unlikely 4: neutral 5: likely; 6: somewhat likely and 7: extremely likely). The last two parts were designed to identify the face-saving tactics and the respective outcomes based on the items in Table II.\nResults and discussions: A total of 78 valid responses were returned and the response rate was 31.0 percent. Among them, 67.9 percent of respondents had more than 15 years of work experience. The majority of the respondents are working in the public sector (44.9 percent) and consultancy firms (29.5 percent). A profile of the respondents' background is shown in Table IV. In this survey, all of the respondents are found to be Chinese. This is not surprising as more than 90 percent of Hong Kong's population is Chinese. Due to the fact that face is important in Chinese society, data collected from this ethnic group would be considered as justifiable, and the findings would be relevant to our research questions.\nConclusion: Human interaction is always involved in the negotiation process. Notwithstanding the importance of face in negotiation, rarely has it been studied within the context of construction industry. This paper reports a study on an examination of one of the factors, \"face,\" which would affect this human interaction in construction negotiation. The authors examined the relationships between the use of face-saving tactics and their outcomes, applying a well-established statistical method, called MMRs study how face-inducement factors affect these tactic-outcome relationships. The findings obtained from this research do advance the theoretical knowledge in construction negotiation. Furthermore, the contributions of this study also extend to the practical side. In the business world, it goes without saying that \"people would do business with people they like and trust\". Giving face has already proven to make your counterpart feel good and help to strengthen business relationships. Construction practitioners should be able to understand the implications of face-saving tactics, and help them to get prepared for their negotiations. China, as a big emerging market in the world, has a rapid infrastructure development. The study of face shall be one of the key soft skills to be survival in the Asian market.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: In construction, the involvement of complex human interactions and incompatible interests among negotiating parties would pose as an obstacle in any negotiation process. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of face in governing the behaviour of negotiating parties.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper identified the generic types of face-saving tactics used by construction negotiators, investigated the tactic-outcome relationships and examined the effects of face-inducement factors on these relationships with the use of moderated multiple regression (MMR).\nFindings: A taxonomy of face-saving tactics has been developed by employing the technique of principal component of factor analysis. The results suggest that the use of face-saving tactics in construction negotiation would statistically result in an achievement of mutual agreement, maintenance of harmony and avoidance of offending situations. The MMR models finally affirm that some tactic-outcome relationships would significantly depend on the face-inducement factors.\nResearch limitations/implications: This research highlights the usefulness of face-saving tactics in construction negotiation.\nPractical implications: The findings revealed that these tactics can help facilitate the achievement of mutual agreement, maintain harmony and avoid offending situations. In this connection, an awareness of the proper use of face-saving tactics is worth-noticing in order to have successful dealings in negotiating project disputes.\nOriginality/value: In construction, there are some distinct features which may influence the use of face-saving tactics and the behaviour of project dispute negotiators. The findings of this research would provide an insight into promoting proactive and collaborative project dispute resolution.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Achieving a competitive supply chain network for a manufacturer: A resource-based approach
|
[
"RBV",
"Dynamic capability",
"Extended RBV",
"Supply chain network capabilities",
"Supply chain network practices",
"Supply chain network resources"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: With increasing globalization, the resources needed for a manufacturing firm's products are dispersed geographically. It is difficult for the firm to own every resource and control every step of a manufacturing process. Instead, the manufacturing firm needs to cooperate with other companies (e.g. suppliers) in the firm's supply chain network (SCN) to obtain competitive performances (Andresen et al., 2012; Johansen et al., 2005). In this integrated network context, a manufacturing firm faces three challenging questions: What are the strategic SCN resources that distinguish a firm from its competitors? What are the SCN capabilities that lead to a competitive advantage over time? What are the SCN practices that the firm can use to exchange, share and co-develop network resources and improve network capabilities?\n2. RBV and its extensions: RBV, DCT, and ERBV are frequently used for analyzing differences of competitive advantages among organizations within the same industry segment (Barney and Clark, 2007; Lewis et al., 2010; Teece, 2007). Barney (1991) proposes four characteristics of strategic resources needed to hold a sustained competitive advantage. The resources should be valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable, and non-substitutable. Furthermore, strategic resources are extremely difficult for other firms to adopt if the resources are properly protected (Rumelt, 1991) or are rooted in the historical path and the social complexities of an organization (Barney and Clark, 2007). Because the performance of a firm is profoundly influenced by an ever-changing environment (Jammernegg and Kischka, 2005), it is necessary to expand the traditional RBV's focus on a firm's internal resources to include the dynamic nature of the network resources.\n3. SCN resources, capabilities, practices, and firm performance: This section uses RBV related theories to discuss constructs of a conceptual framework proposed in the next section. Table I summarizes definitions and examples for components of major constructs. References for construct examples are also provided in the table.\n4. The research model: This section proposes a conceptual framework to explore relationships between strategic network recourses, dynamic network capabilities, practices to facilitate the development of these resources and capabilities, and the influences of these strategic capabilities on firm performance.\n5. Case discussions of SCN: In order to provide a better understanding of this research's conceptual model (Figure 1), two cases are discussed in this section, focussing on two SCN practices, respectively. In 5.1, the influence of modularity in the Dutch floriculture industry is discussed. The Dutch floriculture industry is chosen because it has a successful SCN and it is renowned for the specialization of supply chain members and the collaboration among these members. Specialization and collaboration are closely related to modularity and SCN resources in our research model. In 5.2, GE is discussed with three studies in the automotive and motorsport industry. We choose this industry because it is a major manufacturing industry and has a wide utilization of GE in its SCN. In such a network, the benefits of GE on both suppliers and manufacturers can be identified.\n6. Conclusion: Global competition in manufacturing industries has led to firms not only looking for cost cutting and value enhancing measures within the firm but also directing its attention to the SCN. A manufacturing firm's success is closely related to the performance of network members (Jammernegg and Kischka, 2005). Resources embedded in the SCN and network capabilities and practices emerge as important factors for successfully implementing a manufacturing firm's production process (Dagnino, 2004). A firm's competitive position fundamentally depends on its resources and can be adjusted by its capabilities or practices (Teece et al., 1997). In that sense, SCN resources form the basis of a manufacturing firm's competitive advantage, and SCN practices guide the way for network capability development for achieving competitiveness.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Collaboration in supply chain networks (SCN) becomes extremely important for manufacturers seeking a sustainable competitive advantage. Such competitiveness depends on the SCN resources a manufacturing firm can allocate, the capabilities to identify and deploy these network resources effectively, and practices and applications the firm arranges for these resources. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework that investigates the relationships between these network constructs and their influences on firm performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: An extensive literature review of supply chain management was conducted to explicate why some manufacturers outperform others. A resource-based view, dynamic capability theory, and extended resource-based view were employed to develop a conceptual model that investigates relationships between the resources, capabilities, and practices of a SCN. The relationships were then examined to analyze their influences on firm performance. Several cases and practical examples were included in the study to give a better understanding of the conceptual research model. Various keywords were used in searching literature for the constructs of the research model. For example, \"knowledge\" and \"supply chain network\" were used to search the literature regarding the SCN intangible resources.\nFindings: This study uses a conceptual model to identify SCN resources that are dispersed in the internal territory among different network members, SCN capabilities that are developed based on these network resources and lead to the firm's competitive performance, and SCN practices used to acquire network resources and build network capabilities.\nResearch limitations/implications: The conceptual model of SCN resources, capabilities, and practices needs further empirical validation.\nPractical implications: The conceptual model provides a framework for managers to identify the critical resources, capabilities, and practices of a SCN that help a firm achieve sustainable competitive performance.\nOriginality/value: This research builds a comprehensive picture of relationships between a manufacturing firm's strategic resources, capabilities, and practices in a SCN. It also provides a theoretical foundation for future research on developing instruments for resources, practices, and capabilities of a SCN and empirically testing the relationships among the appropriate constructs.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Can CSR help achieve sustainable development? Applying a new assessment model to CSR cases from Egypt
|
[
"Egypt",
"Corporate social responsibility",
"Sustainable development",
"Corporate social performance",
"Sustainable business"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: CSR global significance and context specificity: Discourses on corporate social responsibility (CSR) have globally gained priority in theory and practice due to the advent of globalization and international trade movement. Transnational corporations (TNCs) witnessed an expansion in scale and power, and they are directly influencing a set of actors to an extent where liabilities of the business have expanded beyond employees to suppliers, distributers, governments and - most importantly - consumers and communities. TNCs extensive physical outreach has exceeded that of governments in most cases (Jamali and Keshishian, 2009), increased the challenges of policy makers and contested the legitimacy of local, regional and national governments (Buckley and Ghauri, 2004). These trends complicated the relationship between governments and businesses, whereby calls for more responsive and transparent corporate behavior raised in a climate of heightened scrutiny, particularly after corporate scandals (Cherry and Sneirson, 2011).\n2. Types of CSR: Identifying the CSR type determines its characteristics. Therefore, CSR type is one element of the assessment model. Each of the sub-Sections, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3, introduces one type of CSR. According to Expanding Horizons in Development: the rising role of the Private Sector report (UNDP, 2016; Hopkins, 2012), two types of CSR are prevalent in developing countries, taking the Egyptian context as an example:\n3. Existing assessment models of CSR: The proposed assessment model depends on two complementary conceptualizations of CSR: Archie Carroll's model of Hierarchy of Corporate Responsibilities (1979, 2010) and Donna Wood's Corporate Performance Model (1991). The proposed framework for assessing CSR capitalizes on the integrative nature of the two models and their complementarities, combining the assessment of principles/strategies with processes and then adding to them sustainable development imperatives in terms of impacts of CSR, all in one methodology for analyzing and evaluating corporates' contribution toward their social responsibility.\n4. CSR in Egypt: Most of the studies undertaken on CSR in Egypt have pointed out that it is embedded in religious beliefs and culture and did not transcend this level so far. This paper seeks to move away from the normative narratives on CSR to a more practical understanding in complex settings with overlapping discourses on the discipline that tend to overshadow reality on the ground. To elucidate this vagueness, the conceptual model of CSR assessment elaborated in the previous section was applied to two case studies from the Egyptian context to demonstrate its applicability in similar contexts.\n5. Case studies of CSR in Egypt: In order to examine the newly developed sustainable development model of CSR in the Egyptian context, two CSR practices of Egyptian corporates are taken as case studies. The study used purposive sampling and qualitative research methods for the selection of the two case studies: the CSR of a family owned business and the CSR of a multinational company. Qualitative methods are employed in the case study to analyze CSR features within their context specificity to understand their conceptual models by exploring the contours of CSR-corporate operations.\n6. Applying the proposed CSR assessment model on the cases studies: Table IV summarizes the findings drawn from the analytical approach undertaken for the two case studies. The Globalist CSR model adapted in Egypt refers to the multinational CSR after localizing its strategy through its subsidiary in Egypt. The institutional/local CSR refers to the domestic CSR representing the local family business.\n7. Findings and conclusion: The proposed assessment model is useful in identifying gaps in the CSR practices or the environment in which it is conducted. It provides a frame for taking full stock of CSR practices, including its strategic position, operational processes and final results or impacts. Embedding sustainable development indicators throughout the three parts of the assessment model ensures that CSR entities are being assessed in terms of their contribution to the SDGs and their alignment with the global sustainable development agenda. The value of the model is that it not only fits for assessment of CSR entities, but it can also be used as guidelines for the design of CSR efforts, indicating what needs to be there in terms of principles and strategies, implementation mechanism and what impacts to target from the beginning.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop an assessment model for corporate social responsibility (CSR) that is interlinked to sustainable development and examine the model on CSR cases in Egypt, exploring whether CSR is embedded into the core agenda of the corporations. This analysis helps in understanding the state of CSR in Egypt and countries with a similar socio-economic background.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study presents a sustainable development assessment model for CSR, based on combining and modifying Archie Carroll's model of Hierarchy of Corporate Responsibilities (1979, 2010) and Donna Wood's Corporate Performance Model (1991) to include sustainable development imperatives. The proposed model analyzes two CSR practices of corporates. Qualitative analysis using in-depth interviews was conducted in the two case studies: a global multinational company represented in Egypt and a family business typical of many Egyptian corporates.\nFindings: Generalizing from the results of the assessment in Egypt and countries with similar circumstances, most CSR practices in such a context still fall under philanthropy and few under human development or the business case. The lack of the formal institutional framework for organizing the role of the State in CSR promotion leads to missing the opportunity of linking CSR to the Sustainable Development Goals or similar strategies.\nOriginality/value: The paper presents a CSR assessment model adopted in developing countries, with a focus on incorporating sustainable development indicators since the 1990s. This methodological development since 2010 is timely and particularly useful for relating CSR to the recent global focus on sustainable development.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The formation of research ethics for data sharing by biological scientists: an empirical analysis
|
[
"Utilitarianism",
"Research ethics",
"Data sharing",
"Consequentialist perspective of ethics",
"Egoism",
"Practice norm",
"Biological sciences"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Researchers in science fields encounter challenges and opportunities to share and reuse research data that have been collected and deposited by other scientists. With the fast-paced development of technology to effectively process the large quantities of data and the growing complexity of research problems, researchers in the science fields are discovering that these challenges have only grown. Previously scientists had shared data through informal communication channels such as e-mail and web file sharing; however, they can now share data through formal communication channels such as disciplinary and/or institutional data repositories. With more data accessible to researchers through research data centers and institutional repositories on the web, data sharing has become one of the crucial aspects in recent scientific research activities. In this research, data sharing is defined as providing raw data to other scientists when scientists are expected to provide their data by depositing it into data repositories, or by sending it via personal communication methods upon request.\n2. Literature review: Scientific data sharing varies across different disciplines because of disciplinary cultures, institutional settings and human/technological supports (Tenopir et al., 2015; Kim and Stanton, 2012; Tenopir et al., 2011). Kim and Stanton (2016) argued that scientists' data sharing factors differ across disciplines because each discipline has their own practice of data sharing based on their institutional contexts and individual scientists' motivations. In order to better understand biological scientists' data sharing behaviors and their influencing factors, we have reviewed diverse data sharing factors studied within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines in general. Scholars have investigated the diverse factors affecting scientists' data sharing behaviors in STEM disciplines, and those factors can be categorized into institutional pressure and individual motivation factors.\n3. Perspectives of ethical theories: Darch and Knox (2017) posit that most of the data sharing studies focus on perceived costs and benefits, but that the influence of researchers' ethical perspectives on their data sharing decision has not been explored enough. By echoing this issue, the current study employs the consequential theorists' perspective of ethics in order to examine how egoism, utilitarianism and practice norm factors contribute to biological scientists' formation of research ethics toward data sharing.\n4. Research model and hypothesis development: 4.1 Research model\n5. Research methods: 5.1 Target population and sampling\n6. Data analysis and results: In order to validate the theorized research model based on the meta-theory of ethics, we utilized the partial least square (PLS)-based structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis method as the major data analysis technique for this research. The hypothesized relationships in the research model were evaluated by using SmartPLS 2.0 (Ringle et al., 2005). This research followed the two-stage approach, including measurement and structural model evaluations as recommended by Anderson and Gerbing (1988) for PLS-SEM. The measurement model was used to examine the validity and reliability of research constructs, and the structural model was used to evaluate the research model of biological scientists' research ethics for data sharing and its hypothesized relationships.\n7. Discussion: Our research investigated which factors form biological scientists' research ethics, and to what extent those factors influence their data sharing intentions. Prior studies about data sharing were examined and we crafted the present study based on various factors (individual, community, norm, pressure, etc.) while also adding a new research ethics lens based on the consequentialist perspective of ethics (McCain, 1995; Campbell et al., 2002; Campbell and Bendavid, 2003; McCullough et al., 2008; Savage and Vickers, 2009; Tenopir et al., 2011). As the results of hypothesis testing indicated, egoism, utilitarianism and practice norm factors all influenced biological scientists' formation of research ethics toward data sharing, this eventually led to their data sharing intentions.\n8. Conclusion: Although there is a sizable body of literature about data sharing in general, few studies empirically examined how biological scientists formulated their data sharing intentions as it concerns the ethical perspective. Through the theoretical lens of the consequentialist perspective of ethics, the current study suggests that egoism factors (perceived reputation, perceived risk, perceived effort), utilitarianism factors (perceived community benefit and perceived reciprocity) and norm of practice factors (perceived pressure by funding agency, perceived pressure by journal, and norm of data sharing) all contribute to the formation of research ethics for biological scientists' data sharing intention. Among these factors, egoism is the strongest factor influencing biological scientists' sense of research ethics, affecting data sharing intention. The current findings provide further support for the inclusion of ethical perspectives associated with data sharing in the context of other disciplines such as social scientists, and those findings pave a way to research how other factors such as individual differences or organizational situations influence their data sharing intention and behaviors.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how biological scientists form research ethics for data sharing, and what the major factors affecting biological scientists' formation of research ethics for data sharing are.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A research model for data sharing was developed based on the consequential theorists' perspective of ethics. An online survey of 577 participants was administered, and the proposed research model was validated with a structural equation modeling technique.\nFindings: The results show that egoism factors (perceived reputation, perceived risk, perceived effort), utilitarianism factors (perceived community benefit and perceived reciprocity) and norm of practice factors (perceived pressure by funding agency, perceived pressure by journal and norm of data sharing) all contribute to the formation of research ethics for data sharing.\nResearch limitations/implications: This research employed the consequentialist perspective of ethics for its research model development, and the proposed research model nicely explained how egoism, utilitarianism and norm of practice factors influence biological scientists' research ethics for data sharing, which eventually leads to their data sharing intentions.\nPractical implications: This research provides important practical implications for examining scientists' data sharing behaviors from the perspective of research ethics. This research suggests that scientists' data sharing behaviors can be better facilitated by emphasizing their egoism, utilitarianism and normative factors involved in research ethics for data sharing.\nOriginality/value: The ethical perspectives in data sharing research has been under-studied; this research sheds light on biological scientists' formation of research ethics for data sharing, which can be applied in promoting scientists' data sharing behaviors across different disciplines.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Global supply chain strategy: a Chinese market perspective
|
[
"Supply chain management",
"Globalization",
"China"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Increasingly, China is becoming an engine for growth across Asia. It achieved an ambitious national goal set in 1974 by quadrupling its GDP during the last quarter of the twentieth century. The average of its annual growth rate has been more than 8 percent over the past ten years. With the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, more attention is being paid to China, which is growing as a supply chain base on multiple fronts:* it provides a labor intensive manufacturing base;* it demands enormous amounts of raw materials (e.g., mineral, fuel and steel) for its manufacturing; and* it purchases substantial levels of low-, medium- and high-tech products for its infrastructure development (Lambert and Cooper, 2000; Martinsons and Tseng, 1995; Pyke et al., 2000; Yan, 2004).The growing importance of China's economy has directed our interest towards effective long term strategies in and through the Chinese market. One useful approach to understanding the growing China's economy is through the global supply chain perspective. In view of its growing influence in the world, many firms have implemented global supply chain strategies in and through China.The purpose of this paper is to provide a useful framework for managing effectively the information flows of firms that participate in a global supply chain network. This paper presents an appropriate and useful framework for analyzing the practices of global firms from a Chinese market perspective. We first present key statistics that describe the context of China's market - its growing economy in relation to other economic powers of the world. Then, a two dimensional typology is used to illustrate four types of Chinese market penetration and development, in terms of the level of foreign management control and the level of foreign ownership control. In this paper, a global supply chain strategy in and through the Chinese market is illustrated through examples of USA firms (e.g., Boeing, Ford, Coca Cola, and Kodak), Korean firms (e.g., Samsung and LG Electronics), and Chinese firms (e.g., Hongfujin, Shanghai Dafeng, and Legend). Finally, theoretical and managerial implications are addressed.\nContext of China's growing economy: With 1.3 billion people, China is the largest country in the world in terms of population. A realistic assessment of the Chinese market is essential for firms to formulate a global supply chain strategy. In this section key statistical information is presented for assessing the context of the Chinese market. We deliberately limit our focus to three areas:1. the size of China's economy measured by GDP and its portion of the world market;2. the level of foreign direct investment and its origin, to measure investor confidence; and3. the size and nature of China's trade sector to assess it as an engine of market growth.As shown in Table I, China has maintained a relatively high rate of economic growth (average about 8 percent per year) since 1998. In 2001, China surpassed Italy in GDP (Gross Domestic Product). As of 2002, China became the sixth largest economy in the world. The size of China's GDP is approximately 2.5 times that of South Korea, a little smaller than that of France, 2.7 that of Japan and 1.8 that of the USA, positioning it as a global economic power (see Table I).One indication of the growing level of investor confidence in China is reflected in the increasing amount of foreign direct investment, that has been sustained over the years. China is comparable to France and Germany in terms of total foreign direct investment, and it a larger amount than Brazil, South Korea and Japan (see Table II). Foreign firms invest in China primarily to take advantage of low labor cost, new market expansion, and raw materials acquisition (Fung et al., 2003).Table III demonstrates the source of foreign direct investment in China. From 1992 to 1998, the amount of foreign investment increased from $11 billion to $41.7 billion (see Table III). The majority of foreign investment was from four regions (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Macau) that were closely related to overseas Chinese capital. Their total investment was more than 80 percent in 1992. By 1998, the amount of investment from such overseas Chinese regions decreased to 53 percent (see Table III). The absolute amount of overseas Chinese investment, however, had continually increased ($8.7 billion in 1992 and $25 billion in 1998). This indicates that foreign firms were beginning to invest more money in China as part of their global business operations. Ethnic Chinese business firms also continue to expand their operations in China in search of new world markets (Li, Khatri and Lam, 1999; Yan, 2004).In most advanced countries the relative importance of manufacturing is steadily declining (see Table IV). However, in China it is growing very fast as a result of China's huge exports of labor-intensive manufactured goods and large foreign investment in China. Because of inexpensive labor and significant market growth opportunities, manufacturing in China will continue to expand.Table V shows the amount of exports by country. China's export value is larger than that of South Korea and India, and similar to that of France, and its export growth rate is the highest among all major countries. In a sense, Chinese economy is driven by exports, since the combined value its trade sector (exports and imports) is almost 50 percent of China's GDP.The key trading partners of China are the USA, Japan, South Korea, and Germany, accounting for more than 60 percent of its total exports (see Table VI). China's exports to these countries keeps increasing, due to the popularity of China's products, making exports the engine for China's economic growth.In summary, the engines of China's growth are:* foreign direct investment;* the trade sector (i.e. exports and imports are about 50 percent of GDP); and* the manufacturing sector.\nSupply chain framework typology: According to Lambert and Cooper (2000), \"one of the most significant paradigm shifts of modern business management is that individual businesses no longer compete as solely autonomous entities, but rather as supply chains ... Instead of brand versus brand or store versus store, it is now suppliers - brand - store versus suppliers - brand -- store, or supply chain versus supply chain.\" Many firms no longer compete as autonomous entities, but as supply chains that affect their global operations. Such a paradigm shift is most evident in the way global firms compete in China. Many foreign firms invest in China, based on their rich business experiences in their home and other countries. Their entrance into the Chinese market is related to the development and sustenance of their global supply chains (Humphreys et al., 1998; Nolan and Zhang, 2002; Nolan and Zhang, 2003). In this article, \"global firms\" will refer to firms that compete with products and services produced and delivered across multiple nations. From a global supply chain perspective, the Chinese market provides rich opportunities in multiple fronts: as raw material suppliers, component manufacturers, logistical hubs, and end customers. To analyze the growing complexity of supply chain practices of global firms in China, we first identify two critical dimensions.First, in analyzing global supply chain practices in China, we consider the level of foreign management control, which is the extent of foreign firm rights to ensure overall operating coherence and integrity in producing goods and services in China (Otley, 1994). Historically, global firms enter China with their own unique management control practices. Their advantages are embedded in management know-how that is the source of their business success. In the early stages of their entrance, global firms maintain a high level of management control to secure a business advantage in China. Global firms give up management control only for legitimate reasons. A gradual reduction of foreign management control is possible through a high degree of Chinese participation. As global firms share more of their management control, they also reap the benefits of implementing effective management practices (e.g., just-in-time, cost management, team solving processes, and quality management) through Chinese managers (Yan, 2004). In the later stages of growth the level of foreign management control tends to become quite low.Second, in analyzing global supply chain practices in China, we also consider the level of foreign ownership control. Ownership control refers to the extent that firm exercise their rights to utilize and dispose of assets (Putterman, 1993). In this paper, foreign ownership control is defined as the extent of claims on the profit realization potential of particular products and services. Many global firms in China relegate production and assembly aspects to Chinese suppliers and manufacturers. Their main concern is not about business ownership of their suppliers. Yet they pay careful attention to the ownership of products or components they purchase from Chinese suppliers. Ownership of these products allows global firms to sell them at high margin in their intended market outside China (Agarwal and Wu, 2003; Nolan and Zhang, 2003).Transition in ownership control occurs as the dynamics of power change between Chinese suppliers and global firms in China. In the early stages global firms may take a high portion of realized profit potential (i.e. high ownership control) through the products provided by their Chinese suppliers. As their business capabilities grow, Chinese suppliers may increase their bargaining power over the profit realization potential for the products they produce. Their increasing business experience with global firms enables them to demand higher profit margins from their products than before. In that sense, the extent of foreign firm profit realization potential (i.e. foreign ownership control) is reduced as Chinese suppliers gain more negotiation power. This is the essence of the changing nature of foreign ownership control. In brief, changes in management control are internal in that they have to do with the transition of power between global firms and their Chinese managers. On the other hand, changes in ownership control are external in that they have to do with the profit realization potential between global firms and Chinese suppliers.The typology in Figure 1 shows four types of businesses in the Chinese market, based on two dimensions:1. the level of the internal factor (i.e. foreign management control); and2. the level of the external factor (i.e. foreign ownership control).Business risks and benefits are associated with the level of ownership control and management control (Luo, 1997; Luo and Park, 2001; Wei et al., 2002). In the following section, we explain how foreign global firms determine the levels of ownership control and management control.Brand-conscious manufacturers\nIssues in relation to transitions: As global firms expand in China, they tend to move toward business process redesign throughout the supply chain (Lee and Dale, 1998). In general, supply chain integration includes four noticeable steps:1. sharing information;2. exchanging decision rights;3. exchanging tasks; and4. sharing risks and benefits (Pyke et al., 2000).In our framework, global firms also experience changes in their business practices. Broadly speaking, changes occur on two fronts - ownership control (external orientation) and management control (internal orientation). Specifically, changes in management control include sharing information, and exchanging decision rights and tasks. Ownership control has to do with sharing risks and benefits. Figure 2 depicts the paths of such transitions, with each path discussed in more detail in the following.Brand-conscious manufacturers move towards offshore sourcing\nSummary and conclusion: The growing importance of China's economy directs many enterprises, both large and small, towards effective access strategies in and through the Chinese market, as a part of a growing global supply chain network. Increasingly, designing and managing effective information flows requires an appropriate framework to describe the practices of global firms from a Chinese market perspective. By joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China signified a growing confidence in its relation to the world market. Chinese products have gained greater access to the world market and at the same time, other WTO member countries have been permitted increased access to the growing Chinese market (Agarwal and Wu, 2003). The continuous success of many global firms in the Chinese market may depend upon the level that global firms are willing to share their management and ownership control with Chinese managers (McAdam and McCormack, 2001; Martinsons and Tseng, 1995). Some theoretical and managerial implications need to be considered.Theoretical implications\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of changing business control patterns that may be critical for firms, in order to manage effective enterprise information infrastructures in and through the Chinese market.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This paper presents a typology that shows four types of Chinese market penetration and development, in terms of level of foreign management control and level of foreign ownership control. The model is illustrated through case examples of US, Korean, and Chinese firms.\nFindings: - The paper shows that sustainable design and management of enterprise information infrastructures require continuous awareness of changes in corporate management and ownership control.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The transition paths among the four different types of global operations provide a rich basis for further theory development in the areas of the global supply chain practices beyond the Chinese market. Future research is needed to identify key variables that define the level of management and ownership control.\nPractical implications: - The typology and transitions paths presented in this paper may be a valuable road-map for firms that are considering the Chinese market. In the course of implementing global supply chain strategies, foreign firms operating in China face complex business challenges, including multiple performance requirements, environmental regulations and cultural differences. In designing and managing effective enterprise information infrastructures, firms need to be conscious of both internal and external changes related to their management and ownership control. An understanding of changing business control patterns is critical if firms are to sustain effective enterprise information infrastructures in and through the Chinese market.\nOriginality/value: - China is a potential global supply chain base. Global firms must consider carefully the extent of foreign management and ownership control with which they enter the Chinese market. These two dimensions are useful in analyzing the behavior and strategic options of global firms in this market.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The six emotional stages of organizational change
|
[
"Coping",
"Organizational change",
"Organizational behaviour",
"Employee-organization relationship"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The purpose of organizational change is to improve the current state of the organization to achieve better adaptation to its environment or to adjust to the changes in mission and objectives. Although organizational change should foster resource optimization and organizational adaptation, literature shows numerous examples where it produced the opposite effect, reducing productivity and shareholder value while increasing direct and indirect costs (Bowman and Singh, 1993; Bowman et al., 1999). Organizational managers might not consider the impact of organizational changes on morale, productivity (Cascio et al., 1997) and satisfaction (Wah, 1999) of employees because their future predictions are based solely on beliefs or past experiences (Kotter and Schlesinger, 2008). This planning error in the change process has serious consequences for the organization, such as desertion (Brennan and Skarlicki, 2004) or absenteeism (Martin et al., 2005). Currently the world economy is going through a period of economic and financial crisis that affects, among others, organizations. This situation sometimes forces them to make changes in order to overcome the difficulties, for example by delocalizing companies (Daly and Geyer, 1994), the employee's wage freeze (Schaubroeck et al., 1994) and the destruction of employment (Burke and Cooper, 2004). Based on this last one, we can observe that in the year 2012, when the crisis hit Spain the hardest, the employment regulation records (ERE, for its acronym in Spanish) increased by 56.3 percent, reaching 33,075 organizations (data base In the Bulletin of Labour Statistics of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security). While it is true that these data represent a problem, they are nothing compared to the long-term consequences.\nLiterature review: Emotions in organizational change\nMethodology and analysis: Selection of study methodology\nResults: The results of the qualitative analysis are threefold. First, a model of the emotional stages experienced by the individuals during a negatively perceived organizational change was defined. It has six emotional stages, which arose from a modification of the Kubler model, wherein two stages of grief were combined, and the addition of two stages identified by Schalk and Roe (2007). No evidence of a balance stage was found, but it may exist. Second, transitions between emotional stages were established. Relationships between the emotional stages and how employees can jump from one state to another were identified. Third, the influence of an individual' social environment (friends, family, co-workers, supervisor and organization) on these emotions was elucidated.\nDiscussion: One purpose of this research was to define a model of the evolution of individuals' emotional stages during a negatively perceived organizational change process that will help explain the evolution of individuals' behavior patterns and how individuals' relationships with their social environments (family, friends, co-workers, supervisor and organization) is affected. The starting point, the adapted Kubler model of stages of grief, was applied in this context because the model has already been used in previous studies of organizational change. The stages used in the field of medicine were always applied (e.g. Blau, 2008; Davey et al., 2013; Marks and Mirvis, 2001; Zell, 2003), so this study was designed specifically to verify the adaptability of the five stages of grief to the context of negatively perceived organizational change. Although the literature defines some models of emotional stages during change processes (Liu and Perrewe, 2005), the extant research does not focus on the feelings of loss that individuals experience during these processes (e.g. Rafferty and Griffin, 2006; Scheck and Kinicki, 2000). The Kubler model has been applied to loss processes Worden et al. (1997) and was therefore adapted to organizational change processes.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to define a model that both describes the evolution of the emotional stages of individuals during perceived negative organizational change and explains the evolution of their behavioral patterns and the effects on relationships with social environments (family, friends, co-workers, supervisor and organization).\nDesign/methodology/approach: A qualitative methodological research design was adopted, using individual interviews as the primary method of qualitative data collection. In total, 15 people who experienced perceived negative organizational changes participated in this research.\nFindings: Through empirical qualitative research, an adapted Kubler (1969) model was used as a starting point. Co-occurrence analysis of the interviews led to the combination of the first two stages (denial and anger) of this model because they always appeared together. Two new stages (revising and deserting), based on the research of Schalk and Roe (2007), complete the model. Subsequently, the model comprised six emotional stages: denial and anger, bargaining, depression, revising, deserting and acceptance. The results show that individuals can move freely between the first four stages, but deserting and acceptance are always the final stages. Experiencing these emotional stages can influence the relationships between individuals and their social environments. During \"denial and anger\" and \"bargaining,\" the relationships with family, friends and co-workers improve; but during depression, the relationships with family and friends deteriorate, but because co-workers become much more important, those relationships improve. Relationships with supervisors deteriorate during denial and anger and depression but remain stable during bargaining.\nResearch limitations/implications: Time's passage became an inconvenience accounted for during data collection. Over time, separate events can be confused, and nuances that were once determinants can be eliminated. Longitudinal studies at various stages of the change process would complement these results.\nPractical implications: These results can guide managers in foreseeing and anticipating the actions that would reduce the emotional impact of organizational change and mitigate the impact of individuals' negative emotions on the organization.\nOriginality/value: This paper extends the existing theory about the strategies of coping and organizational changes.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Investigating the factors of hospitality company-branded Line stickers that influence users' attitudes toward hospitality companies
|
[
"Social media",
"Attitudes",
"Company-branded line stickers",
"Mobile messaging apps"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nResearch background and purpose: Currently, mobile messaging apps (e.g. Line, WhatsApp, MessageMe and Viber) are becoming further prevalent because these append different social communicating traits. Line, created in June 2011, has been ranked as the top messaging app in Japan (Report from about.com, 2015). Apart from instant text messaging and free voice calls with friends, Line provides a built-in camera app for sharing pictures, as well as games that users can play with their Line friends. Also, the mobile Line app provides typical cartoon stickers that are designed to make communicating more fun by serving as emoticons. What are messaging application stickers? Basically, these are a form of rich emoticons that enhance users' experience with messaging apps (Naidu, 2013). Because communication via mobile devices has become more image-based, through the use of emoticons and stickers, companies, such as Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, KY Fried Chicken, 7-Eleven, Disney, Ikea, Coca-Cola, Comedy Central and others, have begun to create their own brand emoticons to engage potential customers in a new way (Awuah, 2016; Matsumoto et al., 2014; Yang, 2015). When company-related stickers are branded on users' memory, users may transfer the emotions they associate with the stickers to the company. Therefore, creating company-branded stickers may prove to be a very powerful and non-intrusive way for companies to reach potential customers.\nTheories and the raised research model: Traditional printed stickers vs. messaging application stickers\nResearch methodology: Measures\nData analysis: Assessment of measurement model\nDiscussion: Theoretical implications\nLimitations and future research: This study's outcomes should be cautiously explained because the investigation data have definite essential limitations. First, a sample bias exists; thus, the results may not be generalizable. Second, the survey participants were Line users in Taiwan. Culture and lifestyle may be dissimilar among regions; thus, a cross-lifestyle validation using another big data collected somewhere else should be necessary for further inference of this study's consequences. Third, this empirical research was performed by a snapshot way, so that longitudinal studies are required to assess the outcomes of this study. Therefore, performing a longitudinal study would be a better approach to improve our comprehension of relationships between the variables that are significant in influencing users' attitudes toward hospitality companies. Besides, performing such a longitudinal study may improve to recognize which types of Line users are more likely to adopt companies' brand Line stickers, and also generate positive attitudes or feelings toward the companies creating and providing stickers. Fourth, to achieve parsimony for the research model, we strove to capture a small number of factors and simpler hypothesized relationships. This empirical study represents the first attempt to test the above relationships among key variables. Future studies can put their attention on finding additional elements to enhance our understanding of what other elements might influence users' attitudes toward hospitality firms sponsoring brand Line stickers. Fifth, researchers interested in this area can make an effort to explore whether or not the results of this research work could be generated to other mobile messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Viber, WeChat and so on.\nConclusions: In brief, the contribution of this study is illustrated as follows. First, this empirical study suggests a research framework involving two sorts of determinants that appear to be greatly related to the perceptions of Line app participants. The suggested framework is innovative because there is not any extant paper that proposes a research framework with identical variables and links among variables as those which have been shown herein. Second, the findings have exhibited the significance of the suggested determinants in influencing Line users' attitudes toward hospitality companies that offer Line stickers for users. Third, all of the proposed variables, perceived usefulness, perceived social presence, perceived richness, perceived enjoyment, perceived novelty and perceived appeal, were demonstrated to be vital components saliently influencing users' attitudes. Ultimately, all the salient determinants approximately explained about 67.5 per cent of the variance in attitudes. This demonstrates that these appropriately express the opinions of Line users. The outcomes of this research work can help hospitality managers and practitioners better understand the feelings of Line users, while also providing insights into investigation on contemporary technology's impact on the hospitality-related businesses.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine a new research model which includes both hedonic and utilitarian determinants that influence Line users' attitudes toward hospitality companies that offer free Line stickers for potential users.\nDesign/methodology/approach: To target the right population, Line users who had used hospitality company-branded Line stickers are recruited as participants. Data from 372 usable questionnaires are tested against the research model by using the structural equation modeling approach.\nFindings: The results show that all of the proposed variables, perceived usefulness, perceived social presence, perceived richness, perceived enjoyment, perceived novelty and perceived appeal, were found to be critical factors significantly influencing users' attitudes.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study targets Line users who had experiences in using hospitality company-branded Line stickers. Therefore, a validation using another large sample gathered elsewhere is required to generalize the findings.\nPractical implications: The findings can give hospitality managers an increased understanding of the attitudes of Line users toward the companies providing stickers to them; the results may be used as a guideline to develop more appropriate business strategies for hospitality organizations with which to promote their products/services.\nOriginality/value: The proposed model is new; little research has been done on examining Line users' attitudes toward hospitality companies that offer free Line stickers for users. This study contributes to an understanding of the factors that actually influence users' attitudes toward those hospitality companies offering brand Line stickers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Perceptions of pet owners in urban Latin America on protection of their animals during disasters
|
[
"Colombia",
"Costa Rica",
"Mexico",
"Developing countries",
"Disaster management",
"Urban areas",
"Animals",
"Pet owners",
"Risk reduction",
"Urban risk",
"Contingency planning"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Disasters have affected humans since the existence of humanity, costing lives and destroying crops, houses and livelihoods. However, developments such as population growth, pushing often already marginalized people to settle in areas of increased risk, and the increase in intensity and frequency of disasters due to climate change have given reduction of disaster risk greater political attention and urgency (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007). Disaster risk is not evenly distributed. Developing countries suffer a disproportionate share of the risk and within a country it is often the poorest members of populations that are most strongly affected (United Nations, 2009).As disasters divert resources from development to relief, they also pose a real threat to development and have been cited as a reason why millennium development goals could not be achieved (DIFID, 2004).Urban areas are especially vulnerable to disasters due to factors such as the human modification of the environment, failure to implement effective building regulations and an increase in urban migration (UN Habitat, 2009; United Nations, 2009). An increase in urbanization is both a consequence and a cause of disasters. People who have lost their livelihoods in rural areas, possibly due to a disaster, migrate to urban areas settling in informal settlements. The unregulated building structure of these settlements makes them more vulnerable to any potential hazards such as landslides, floods and fires. In economically richer areas, construction of high-rise buildings and the increase in urban population mean that, in emergencies such as earthquakes, rescue workers and emergency agencies face a huge challenge to provide an adequate response. A strong focus on sustainable development and risk reduction combined with appropriate planning, risk reduction measures and preparedness is required to mitigate risks to the urban population located in such areas. By 2008, over half the global population was living in urban areas, and by 2010 it is projected that 73 per cent of the world's urban population and most of its largest cities will be in developing countries, so reduction of disaster risks in urban areas is of ever-increasing importance (United Nations, 2009).In the past, risk reduction, preparedness and contingency planning have rarely included animals in developing countries. However, the importance of including animals in the planning for a successful human response was demonstrated after Hurricane Katrina in the USA in 2005. Rescue workers reported numerous incidents where people refused to evacuate without their animals, which severely delayed the operation and impacted the health and safety of the population. The strength of emotional links between owners and animals has frequently surprised decision makers.A disaster preparedness report from one US county stated that in a survey of pet owners, up to 25 per cent would refuse to evacuate because of their animals. This represented 5-10 per cent of the total population that would be directed to evacuate. Furthermore, 50-70 per cent of people leaving animals behind would attempt to re-enter a secure site to rescue their animals, representing 5-15 per cent of the evacuated population (The Columbia County Animal Care & Control Department and Emergency Management Agency, 2006). On the basis of such figures, the USA and several other countries have made it a legal requirement to include animals in contingency plans (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS), 2006). In many other countries, however, there are no such developments. Frequently the only consideration of animals in disasters in developing countries has been in relation to disease and population control, because of a perceived threat of zoonotic diseases (such as rabies and leptospirosis) to the human population. It appears to be a common perception, that in developing countries owners are less attached to their pets and that evacuation would not be as strongly affected as it was, for example, in the USA. This perception needs to be tested, and a better understanding of the role of pets in the urban context of disaster risk reduction is needed for developing countries.Since 2008 the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has developed a risk reduction programme in countries in Latin America and Asia. The overall aim is to reduce the risk to animals (both livestock and pets) from the impact of disasters. The programme includes the formation of Veterinary Emergency Response Units (VERU) at veterinary faculties, establishing a response capacity for veterinary needs in disasters. This paper reports an initial component of preparedness planning work for animals in Latin American urban areas. The work provides information on the perceptions and behaviour of pet owners with respect to disasters, and on what role these should play in contingency planning for pets.\nMethods: The study areas\nResults: Most respondents in the study owned dogs; about a fifth owned cats or other pets. A low proportion owned both dogs and cats (Table II). Households with dogs and cats had a median of one of each in each country and overall.Husbandry and veterinary care\nDiscussion: A large majority of owners in this study stated that they would take their animals with them in a disaster, even if this affected their own safety or if they had only a few minutes' warning for evacuation. This stresses the importance of including animals in contingency planning for emergencies to ensure fast evacuation. Although this was a theoretical question, it was supported by responses from people who had previously experienced a disaster: a very low proportion of these had left their animals behind.While the work in Costa Rica and Colombia was based on convenience samples, which might be biased towards more attached pet owners, this was not the case in Mexico, and many results of this study were similar in the three countries.Although this study only evaluated anticipated behaviour, the results are similar to an US study, in which a significant proportion of owners would not evacuate without their animals or returned to the risk area to save their pets (Heath et al., 2001; The Columbia County Animal Care & Control Department and Emergency Management Agency, 2006). Similar observations were made during Hurricane Katrina (Gibbs, 2007). The strength of bonds between owners and pets and the associated importance of including animals in contingency planning has also been shown in other studies. Shore found that forced abandonment of a companion animal during evacuation adds considerably to acute trauma and long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (Shore et al., 2006). Heath observed that people who could not take their animals with them refused medical treatment until a pet's health could be assured (Heath and Champion, 1996).The answers to the question of how people would evacuate their pets suggested that the majority do not have special animal transport facilities. Less than 10 per cent mentioned transport cages. Most would attempt to carry their pet or take it on a leash or did not further specify. This suggests that owners determined to take their animals with them in a disaster may be delayed, as animals may react differently and be harder to handle than in normal circumstances. So if humans and animals are to be jointly evacuated, it would be prudent to anticipate a large need for pet transport facilities, although for detailed planning the number of households with such facilities would need to be further investigated. Lack of transport facilities also appeared to be the main reason why people would leave their animals behind. Thus both awareness raising about the benefits of transport planning and provision of transport facilities during evacuation may further decrease the proportion of pets left behind. This possibility is supported by a North American study that found logistical challenges to transporting pets contributed substantially to pet evacuation failure (Heath et al., 2001).For all those people who had left animals behind in a previous disaster, the disasters in question had been earthquakes. As earthquakes have faster onset and less predictable impact than other disasters, it is likely that despite strong intentions to take animals, owners may leave them behind if experiencing panic themselves. For animal-related contingency planning, this may imply that fast-onset disasters accompanied by panic require greater input to animal rescue than others, to manage increased numbers of abandoned pets.People who claimed to have an animal emergency plan in place were no more specific than others about how and where they would evacuate their animal. The question may have been misunderstood, or understanding of the meaning of an emergency plan may have varied. Future campaigns to increase preparedness of pet owners could provide checklists for preparation of a pet emergency plan, including transport facilities and planned destinations of animals. The majority of respondents claimed to take their animals regularly to the veterinarian, so awareness campaigns on contingency planning that are publicized in veterinary practices could reach over half of pet owners. To reach the same proportion in lower income classes, though, additional awareness measures are likely to be needed.A common answer to the question of where evacuated pets would be taken was \"friends and families\", consistent with the retrospective study by Heath et al. (2001). This could mean that, provided the disaster is small enough for people to leave the affected area, there may not be a large need for sheltering of pets. However, this would not be so if people need to be accommodated in shelters themselves. From the answers provided, at least 80 per cent of the 81 per cent of respondents who said they would evacuate their animals, would attempt to bring their animals with them which equals 64 per cent of all pet owners (80x81 per cent). Data on the proportion of households owning pets in Latin America is limited, but information from the USA, Mexico and Costa Rica indicates that between 30 and 73 per cent of households own a cat or a dog (American Veterinary Medical Association, 2007; APPMA & American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, 2006; Drews, 2001; Ortega-Pacheco et al., 2007). In the present study, the median number of either dogs or cats kept in a household was one. For logistical planning of shelter needs, it can therefore be assumed that the number of places needed for animals in shelters is at least 20 per cent (64x30 per centx1) that of the number of households in the area, but is likely to be much higher.As people in the lower income classes are less likely to take their pets if their safety was affected, it can be expected that in a fast-onset disaster with a short-notice evacuation warning or none, the majority of animals left behind will be in lower income areas. Therefore these areas should be prioritized for search and rescue efforts of pets, if resources permit. In this study, most dogs were kept indoors, rather than outside, so these would need to be rescued from buildings. In a related study conducted in the USA, it was found that pets kept outside would be more likely to be left behind in a disaster (Heath et al., 2001). The intention to leave animals behind in danger may indicate decreased attachment, which may lead to less successful re-union of animals with their owners. Therefore provisions for re-homing of sheltered animals should also form part of the planning process. The proportion of unidentifiable dogs and cats was high in this study and in case of a fast onset disaster where people are separated from their animals it may be very difficult to match owners and their pets. Therefore promotion of appropriate pet identification and in parallel an efficient matching system, such as phone lines and web sites allowing people to find their animals if separated, should form an integral part of contingency planning in this context.The issue of pets left behind and how to deal with them raises an additional important topic: the potential spread of infectious diseases by animals. This is frequently quoted as a concern by authorities, and the threat of rabies is often mentioned in media coverage of disasters. In this survey more than 60 per cent of respondents claimed to vaccinate their animals regularly. This is a conservative estimate based on the lowest proportion found in this study: among the low socio-economic class in Costa Rica, 30 per cent of respondents said that they did not vaccinate their animals. Although it might appear that the high frequency of vaccination recorded could have been influenced by surveying at veterinary clinics and vaccination points in Colombia and Costa Rica, the same result was found in Mexico in a representative household survey with stratified random selection. A related study also reported over 90 per cent vaccination cover for rabies in a urban area of Mexico (Ortega-Pacheco et al., 2007). These results suggest that the real threat of a rabies outbreak in urban areas during a disaster is low, at least while routine vaccination campaigns are maintained.In conclusion, this study showed that most people in urban areas in Latin America anticipate evacuating their animals in disasters, even if it may affect their own safety. Planning for this is considered important even though the majority of respondents did not currently have a plan for their animals. These two important factors indicate both the need and the likely success of an animal contingency planning process in urban areas of Latin America. People in lower socio-economic levels are less likely to take their animal to the vet, or to vaccinate or identify them clearly, and are more likely to leave their animal behind during evacuation. To improve the chances of success of an animal contingency and preparedness planning programme, priority should be assigned to this socio-economic group. In addition further attention should be paid to the enhancement of the human-animal bond, which has been shown to be an important factor in the successful evacuation of animals (Heath et al., 2001).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Inclusion of animals in emergency contingency planning is not yet common practice in many countries. The purpose of this paper is to assess the need for and viability of such inclusion in Latin America.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The study surveyed 1,882 pet owners in urban areas in Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico to evaluate perceptions of pet owners with regard to their animals in emergencies.\nFindings: - Overall 74.5 percent (confidence interval 72.5-76.5) said they would take their animals if evacuated. Only 16 percent (14.5-17.8) would leave their animals behind. Regular vaccination was carried out by 70.5 percent of owners (68.0-72.5): from 63.6 percent (60.8-66.2 percent) in Mexico to 87.5 percent (84.3-90.0) in Colombia. People in lower socio-economic levels were less likely to take animals to the vet, or to vaccinate or identify them, and more likely to leave their animal behind during evacuation.\nPractical implications: - Results indicate both the need and the likely success of an animal contingency planning process in urban areas of Latin America.\nOriginality/value: - This is the first survey of its kind concerning disaster preparedness for pets in developing countries, and counters the common perception that in such countries owners are less attached to their pets and that inclusion of animals in emergency contingency planning is not important.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
New directions for customer-to-customer interaction research
|
[
"Consumer behaviour",
"Services marketing",
"Social interaction",
"Marketing models",
"Consumer research"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: An executive summary for managers and executive readers can be found at the end of this article.\nIntroduction: In recent years service researchers have increasingly given attention to the multitude of relationships that may occur in the production, delivery and consumption of services. An important driver of this tendency has been the rise of the relationship marketing paradigm. This paradigm has equipped marketing management with a theoretical foundation for going beyond the customer-supplier dyad and incorporating other relationships. The customer-to-customer relationship is one such relationship. Although it can occur in a number of different contexts, this paper concentrates on direct interactions between customers taking place in physical service settings, that is, customer-to-customer interaction (CCI). The paper seeks to answer two questions:1. What have been the main accomplishments of CCI research?2. What directions might be fruitful for advancing our understanding of CCI and its management?It is now two decades since the publication of Martin and Pranter's (1989) seminal paper on CCI. Their article was the first paper to be published in an international journal that presented and explored CCI in a comprehensive manner. Prior to this, apart from some theoretical service frameworks, the theme received scant attention. Exceptions to this include contributions by Cowell (1984), Maister (1985), and Shamir (1980). Since 1989 there has been a steady flow of literature on CCI. Indeed, it is no longer accurate to describe the body of research on CCI as negligible or insignificant. A wide range of insights into CCI have been achieved. This paper draws thematically on the CCI literature to highlight the main aspects of CCI which have been deeply researched and, crucially, identifies a number of CCI topics which have received only passing attention. Given the pervasive impact of the service-dominant logic perspective, instigated by Vargo and Lusch (2004), and in particular the portrayal of customers as operant resources, the rationale of researching CCI possesses an enhanced theoretical foundation. The SDL debate is stimulating a major re-conceptualisation of the whole understanding of the customer's role. This is likely to significantly increase the receptiveness of the services marketing community to research contributions on CCI.\nResearch into CCI - ten core achievements: This section is based on an examination of over 100 papers relating to CCI. It is not intended to be an exhaustive review but rather to identify the core achievements of research into CCI. As such, rather than follow a paper-by-paper approach, overarching dominant CCI themes are identified - nevertheless, a chronological review of a selection of the literature on CCI is also provided (see Table I). Ten significant achievements are highlighted and a carefully selected range of studies providing supporting evidence are cited. This provides a useful background from which to proceed and establish what remains to be achieved.Conceptual clarification of CCI\nChallenges ahead: This section discusses ten new directions for CCI research. These are: the frontline employee perspective; CCI-driven services; the service recovery role of other customers; a global approach to CCI; inter-cultural CCI; the \"non-customer\"; self-service technology; e-CCI; CCI in rural service settings; and specialist contributions to CCI. For each of these directions wide-ranging proposals for future research into CCI are put forward.The frontline employee perspective\nSummary: This paper has provided a wealth of evidence to show that the topic of CCI has come of age. Stimulated by conceptual advances and empirical studies, CCI has been shown to be both widespread and significant. Increasingly the myths surrounding CCI are being exposed. For example, it is no longer claimed that CCI cannot be managed. This paper argues that, following two decades of steady and serious research, the study of CCI has now joined the mainstream of service management research and should no longer be regarded as a Cinderella topic to be overlooked, or just mentioned in passing.Significantly, the paper has contemplated and specified directions for further research into CCI. These directions include investigation into: the front-line employee perspective on CCI; inter-cultural CCI; the concept of the \"non-customer\"; CCI in self-service technology settings; e-CCI; and CCI in rural service settings. A wide range of research opportunities have been identified.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper aims to identify new directions for research into customer-to-customer interaction (CCI). It also aims to examine thematically the main achievements of two decades of CCI research.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Consultations both with CCI experts and with experts from a selection of management fields were undertaken. A selective literature review, based on an extensive search of the CCI literature, was conducted.\nFindings: - A large number of opportunities for future investigation are identified. A significant quantity of CCI literature is revealed. CCI is shown to be conceptually quite complex. Convincing evidence supports the claim that CCI has now joined the mainstream of services marketing.\nPractical implications: - For service management researchers, a number of service management topics, such as service recovery, SST, e-service, and ergonomics, are shown to have CCI-related aspects worthy of research attention. For service managers, the emphasis on showing the relevance of CCI, and the possibilities for influencing CCI, should encourage them to incorporate CCI considerations into their strategic and operational plans.\nOriginality/value: - The wide-ranging proposals for future research into CCI will undoubtedly stimulate investigation of many new avenues of CCI. Service management researchers are provided with a concise, thematic guide to the most influential CCI literature; the article contributes to the service-dominant logic literature by broadening the discussion of the customer as an operant resource.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
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